As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2026.
Registration No. 333-[●]
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands | | 6770 | | 98-1639527 |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
| (Primary Standard Industrial |
| (I.R.S. Employer |
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Tel: (310) 745-8669
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
James A. Graf
Chief Executive Officer
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400
The Woodlands, Texas, 77380
Tel: (310) 745-8669
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | | 7941 | | 42-3511854 |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
| (Primary Standard Industrial |
| (I.R.S. Employer |
For Co-Registrants, see “Table of Co-Registrants” on the following page.
429 Lenox Ave, Suite 421
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Telephone: (800) 528-6276
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Jeffrey Kwatinetz
Chief Executive Officer
429 Lenox Ave, Suite 421
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Telephone: (800) 528-6276
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Joel L. Rubinstein | | Daniel Lee | | Benjamin S. Reichel |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective and all other conditions to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement described in the included proxy statement/prospectus have been satisfied or waived.
If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box. ☐
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | | ☐ | Accelerated filer | | ☐ |
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| ☒ | Smaller reporting company |
| ||
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| Emerging growth company |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:
| ☐ Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) | ☐ Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) |
The registrants and co-registrant hereby amend this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
* | Prior to the consummation of the Business Combination described herein, the Registrant intends to effect a deregistration under Section 206 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and a domestication under Section 388 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, pursuant to which the Registrant’s jurisdiction of incorporation will be changed from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware. All securities being registered for issuance in the Domestication will be issued by Graf Global Corp. (after its domestication as a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware), the continuing entity following the Domestication. |
TABLE OF CO-REGISTRANTS
Exact Name of Co-Registrant as Specified in its Charter(1)(2) | | State or Other | | Primary | | I.R.S. |
|
BIG3 HoldCo LLC | | Delaware | | 7941 | | 33-3813018 | |
| (1) | The Co-Registrant has the following principal executive office: |
BIG3 HoldCo LLC
429 Lenox Ave, Suite 421
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Telephone: (800) 528-6276
| (2) | The agent for service for the Co-Registrant is: |
O’Shea Jackson Sr.
Chief Executive Officer
429 Lenox Ave, Suite 421
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Telephone: (800) 528-6276
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement contains two prospectuses, as set forth below.
| ● | Primary Offering Prospectus of Post-Domestication SPAC. A primary offering prospectus of Graf Global Corp. with respect to the issuance of (i) up to 14,159,633 shares of Common Stock of Post-Domestication SPAC that will be issued in the Domestication upon the conversion of an equal number of Class A ordinary shares of SPAC, (ii) 17,500,000 warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock of Post-Domestication SPAC that will be issued in the Domestication upon the conversion of an equal number of warrants of SPAC, and (iii) 17,500,000 shares of Common Stock of Post-Domestication SPAC issuable upon the exercise of such warrants. The securities of Post-Domestication SPAC to be issued in the Domestication will be issued as an intermediate and transitory step in the Business Combination; |
| ● | Primary Offering Prospectus of Pubco. A primary offering prospectus of Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. (which will be renamed “Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.” following the consummation of the Business Combination described herein) with respect to the issuance of up to 20,210,627 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 17,500,000 Pubco Warrants in connection with the completion of the Business Combination, and the issuance of up to 17,500,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Pubco Warrants; and |
| ● | Resale Prospectus. A resale prospectus with respect to the resale by the Selling Securityholders named therein of up to 3,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 6,000,000 Pubco Warrants, and of up to 6,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Pubco Warrants. |
The resale prospectus is substantively identical to the primary offering prospectus, except for the following:
| ● | the resale prospectus contains a different cover page; |
| ● | a “Selling Securityholders” section is included in the resale prospectus; and |
| ● | an alternate “Plan of Distribution” section is included in the resale prospectus. |
This registration statement includes a set of alternate pages after the end of the primary offering prospectus (the “Alternate Pages”) that form a part of the resale prospectus and not the primary offering prospectus. The primary offering prospectus excludes the Alternate Pages and will be used for the primary offering by Post-Domestication SPAC in connection with the Domestication and by Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. (which will be renamed “Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.” following the consummation of the Business Combination described herein) in connection with the Mergers. The resale prospectus adds and substitutes the Alternate Pages and will be used for the resale offering by the Selling Securityholders named therein.
The information in this preliminary proxy statement/prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be issued until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary proxy statement/prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and does not constitute the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY — SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED OCTOBER 27, 2026
PROXY STATEMENT FOR EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS OF
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
(A CAYMAN ISLANDS EXEMPTED COMPANY)
AND
PROSPECTUS FOR
UP TO 14,159,633 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND 17,500,000 WARRANTS OF GRAF
GLOBAL CORP., AND 17,500,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF SUCH WARRANTS (IN EACH CASE, AFTER ITS
DOMESTICATION AS A CORPORATION INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF
DELAWARE)
AND
PROSPECTUS FOR
UP TO 20,210,627 SHARES OF PUBCO CLASS A COMMON STOCK, 17,500,000 PUBCO
WARRANTS, AND 17,500,000 SHARES OF PUBCO CLASS A COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE
UPON THE EXERCISE OF SUCH PUBCO WARRANTS, IN EACH CASE, OF
HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC. (WHICH WILL BE RENAMED “BIG3 BASKETBALL
HOLDINGS, INC.”)
On June 12, 2026, the board of directors (the “SPAC Board”) of Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), unanimously approved the Business Combination Agreement, dated June 12, 2026 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among SPAC, Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pubco”), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Company Merger Sub” and together with SPAC Merger Sub, the “Merger Subs”), and BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with its successors, the “Company”), pursuant to which the following will occur: (i) SPAC will, as an intermediate and transitory step in the business combination transaction, transfer by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to re-domicile as and become a Delaware corporation pursuant to Part 12 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”) and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) (the “Domestication”, and SPAC after the Domestication, “Post-Domestication SPAC”), (ii) following the Domestication, SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into Post-Domestication SPAC, with Post-Domestication SPAC continuing as the surviving entity (the “SPAC Merger”), (iii) following the SPAC Merger, Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity (the “Company Merger”, and together with the SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”), (iv) as a result of the Mergers, Post-Domestication SPAC and the Company will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco, and Pubco will be renamed “Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.” and become a publicly traded company, and (v) the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and documents related thereto (such transactions, together with the Domestication and the Mergers, the “Business Combination”). A copy of the Business Combination Agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A.
The Company is in the sports media business and is the holding company for BIG3 Basketball, LLC (“OpCo”), which operates a professional three-on-three basketball league. The Company has generated revenue through its existing operations, including revenue from team sales, sponsorships, advertising, event ticket sales and merchandise sales.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, immediately prior to the Domestication the following will occur:
| (1) | the SPAC Public Shareholders (as defined below) will have the opportunity to redeem their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (as defined below) (the “Redemption”); |
| (2) | each unit of SPAC (“SPAC Public Unit”) that is issued and outstanding will be automatically separated into one Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC (the “SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares”) and one-half of one warrant (the “SPAC Public Warrants”), with each whole warrant exercisable for one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (collectively, the “Unit Separation”); |
| (3) | after the Unit Separation, all SPAC Public Units will be automatically cancelled and cease to exist, and all former holders will cease to have any rights with respect to them, except as otherwise provided in the Business Combination Agreement; |
| (4) | the Sponsor (as defined below) will surrender the Sponsor Forfeited Shares (as defined below); and |
| (5) | the Sponsor and each of the SPAC’s independent directors (the “Independent Directors”) will convert, on a one-for-one basis, each Class B ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC (each, a “SPAC Class B Ordinary Share” and, together with SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, the “SPAC Ordinary Shares”) held by it into one (1) SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (the “SPAC Class B Share Conversion”). Following the conversion of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares to SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares on June 18, 2026, the Sponsor owns the sole issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Share. |
One day prior to the effective time of the SPAC Merger (the “SPAC Merger Effective Time”), and subject to (i) the approval of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares by way of special resolution in accordance with the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of SPAC (“SPAC Organizational Documents”) and (ii) SPAC duly filing (1) the documents required to be filed in order to give effect to the Domestication (the “Cayman Conversion Documents”) with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies (“Cayman Registrar”) and (2) the documents required to be filed to give effect to the Domestication (“Delaware Conversion Documents”) with the State of Delaware, SPAC will complete the Domestication. In connection with the Domestication, Post-Domestication SPAC will adopt the proposed certificate of incorporation of Post-Domestication SPAC (the “Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Charter”) and the proposed bylaws of Post-Domestication SPAC (the “Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Bylaws”).
At the effective time of the Domestication, by virtue of the Domestication, and without any action on the part of any SPAC securityholder:
| (1) | each then issued and outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (for the avoidance of doubt, after effecting the Redemption, Unit Separation, and Class B Share Conversion) will convert automatically into one share of common stock of Post-Domestication SPAC (“Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock”) and |
| (2) | each then issued and outstanding whole warrant of SPAC (the “SPAC Warrants”) will automatically become exercisable for one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock in lieu of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share, pursuant to the Existing Warrant Agreement (as defined below) (such warrants, the “Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants”). No fractional share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and no fractional warrants, or certificates or scrip, will be issued upon the conversion of the SPAC Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants pursuant to the Domestication. Instead, any fractional share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and fractional Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares or warrants, respectively. |
Following the Domestication, at the SPAC Merger Effective Time, the SPAC Merger will occur. Pursuant to the SPAC Merger, (i) each outstanding share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock will automatically convert into the right to receive one share of Class A common stock of Pubco, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Pubco Class A Common Stock”), and will thereupon be cancelled and cease to exist, and (ii) each Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant will convert into one Pubco Warrant (as defined below). Each Pubco Warrant will have substantially the same terms as the corresponding Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant, except it will represent the right to acquire Pubco Class A Common Stock instead of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock, pursuant to the Warrant Assumption Agreement (as defined below).
Immediately following the SPAC Merger, the Company Merger will occur. Pursuant to the Company Merger, (i) each Company Interest (as defined below) issued and outstanding will be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive its portion of the Merger Consideration (as defined below), (ii) each warrant to purchase any equity interests of the (“Company Warrant”) that is outstanding will be converted into and become a warrant exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock (as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there are no Company Warrants outstanding), (iii) any outstanding Company Convertible Securities (as defined below) (excluding Company Warrants that are converted into warrants exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock, of which none are outstanding as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus) and preferred membership interests and preferred units of the Company (the “Preferred Units”) (other than Preferred Units that are converted into Merger Consideration), if not exercised or
converted prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, will be cancelled, retired and terminated and cease to represent a right to acquire, be exchanged for or convert into membership interests of the Company (“Company Interests”) or any other securities.
The aggregate consideration (the “Merger Consideration”) to be paid or payable to holders of securities of the Company will consist of a number of newly issued shares of Pubco Common Stock (as defined below) equal to (x) the result of (i) $290,000,000 plus (ii) the Company’s cash position at the Company Merger Effective Time, divided by (y) $10.83. The holders of Company Interests, other than Jeffrey Kwatinetz and O’Shea Jackson Sr. (or any of their affiliates) and BigFourH Holdings LLC (collectively, the “Big3 Founders”), will receive Merger Consideration in the form of Pubco Class A Common Stock. The Big3 Founders will receive Merger Consideration in the form of shares of Class B common stock of Pubco, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Pubco Class B Common Stock” and, together with the Pubco Class A Common Stock, the “Pubco Common Stock”).
Pubco’s proposed certificate of incorporation (the “Proposed Pubco Charter”) will authorize two classes of Pubco Common Stock: Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock. Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holders thereof to one vote per share on all matters on which the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will be entitled to vote, and Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holders thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. Based on the 20,210,627 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 19,976,476 shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock expected to be outstanding immediately following the completion of the Business Combination (the “Closing”) (assuming no additional SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares initially issued in the SPAC’s initial public offering (the “SPAC Public Shares”) are redeemed, which we refer to as the “No Additional Redemptions Scenario”, no Transaction Financing (as defined below), the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, but including the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares (as defined below), which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assuming the Company’s cash position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026)), the holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock are expected to have 20,210,627 votes in the aggregate and the holders of Pubco Class B Common Stock are expected to have 199,764,760 votes in the aggregate on all matters submitted to the holders of shares of Pubco Common Stock for a vote. The Pubco Class B Common Stock will be exclusively held by the Big3 Founders. Accordingly, the dual class structure described herein (the “Dual Class Structure”) will increase the voting power of the Big3 Founders. If additional shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock are issued after the Closing (which will be permitted pursuant to the Proposed Pubco Charter in connection with a dividend or stock adjustment), the effect of the Dual Class Structure on the concentration of voting control may increase. The Pubco Class A Common Stock and the Pubco Class B Common Stock have identical economic rights on a per share basis, including dividend and liquidation rights. For more information, see “Description of Pubco’s Securities — Authorized Share Capital.”
Further, each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Pubco Class A Common Stock on the earliest of (a) the date specified by the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, or in the affirmative written election executed by the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, (b) the date fixed by the board of directors of Pubco (the “Pubco Board”) that is no less than 10 days and no more than 30 days following the date that the number of outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock held by the Big3 Founders and their Permitted Transferees (as defined in the Proposed Pubco Charter) represents less than one-third of the aggregate number of shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock outstanding immediately following the Business Combination, or (c) the date that is ten (10) years from the Closing (collectively, the “Final Conversion Date”).
In addition, each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock held by a Big3 Founder will automatically convert into one fully paid and non-assessable share of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon the earliest of: (a) 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day immediately following the date on which that Big3 Founder ceases to hold at least 50% of the Pubco Class B Common Stock it held immediately following consummation of the Business Combination (as equitably adjusted for any reclassification, stock dividend, subdivision, combination or recapitalization of Pubco Class B Common Stock); (b) any transfer, assignment, sale, conveyance, hypothecation or other disposition, whether voluntary, involuntary, for value or by operation of law, other than to a Permitted Transferee; and (c) the death, incapacity, or adjudicated incompetency or placement under guardianship or conservatorship of a Big3 Founder. Each such conversion occurs automatically, without further action by the holder and regardless of whether any certificate representing the converted shares is surrendered; immediately upon conversion, the holder is treated for all purposes as a holder of Pubco Class A Common Stock into which the Pubco Class B Common Stock converted. Separately, each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock is convertible at any time at the holder’s option into one fully paid and non-assessable share of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon written notice to Pubco. See “Risk Factors — Pubco will have a dual-class common stock structure under which each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock carries ten votes and each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock carries one vote, concentrating voting control with the Big3 Founders.”
At the Closing, Pubco will cause the holders of Company Interests immediately prior to the Closing (collectively, the “Earnout Participants”) to be issued an aggregate of an additional two million (2,000,000) shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock (subject to adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits, and the like, the “Earnout Shares”), which will be unvested and subject to forfeiture.
The Earnout Shares will vest upon the first to be satisfied of the following conditions:
| (1) | if, at any time during the period beginning on the date of the Closing (the “Closing Date”) and ending on the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing (the “Earnout Period”), the closing price of the Pubco Class A Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange, NYSE American or another national securities exchange as mutually determined by SPAC and the Company prior to the Closing (the “Stock Exchange”) is greater than or equal to $15.00 (which is subject to adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits, and the like, the “Earnout Price”) for a period of at least 20 days (which need not be consecutive) out of 30 consecutive trading days, all of the Earnout Shares will immediately vest; and |
| (2) | in the event that there is a Sale of Pubco (as defined below) during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price (as defined below) that is greater than or equal to the Earnout Price, all of the Earnout Shares will immediately vest. For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The Earnout.” |
The Business Combination Agreement requires SPAC to use its reasonable best efforts to enter into financing agreements with accredited investors for one or more transaction financings by Pubco, on such terms and structuring, and using such strategy, placement agents and approach, as SPAC and the Company reasonably agree (the “Transaction Financing”). Each of SPAC, the Company, and Pubco will use its reasonable best efforts to consummate such transaction financings on or prior to the Closing. These financings may be structured as one, or a combination of, common equity, preferred equity, convertible equity or debt, non-redemption or backstop arrangements with respect to the funds held in SPAC’s trust account (the “Trust Account”), a committed equity facility, debt facility and/or other sources of cash or cash equivalents, in each case, whether such investment is into SPAC, the Company or Pubco. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there has been no binding agreement for a Transaction Financing.
Under the Business Combination Agreement, the obligations of the parties to consummate the Business Combination are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions of the respective parties, including, without limitation: (i) aggregate cash proceeds of $50,000,000 (the “Minimum Cash Condition”), consisting of (a) the aggregate cash proceeds available for release to SPAC or Pubco from the Trust Account in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Transactions”) after giving effect to the Redemption, plus (b) the aggregate cash proceeds received by SPAC or Pubco in respect of any Transaction Financing, minus (c) unpaid expenses of SPAC and the Company; (ii) the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination having been approved for listing on the Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance; (iii) the Registration Statement of which this prospectus forms a part (the “Registration Statement”) having been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement being in effect, and no proceedings for purposes of suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement having been initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC; (iv) the approval and adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and transactions contemplated thereby by the requisite vote of the holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares; (v) written consents from the holders of securities of the Company (the “Sellers”) to approve the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and the Transactions (the “Seller Written Consents”); (vi) delivery by the Company to SPAC of evidence showing that all indebtedness of the Company has been fully repaid or converted into issued and outstanding Company Interests that are converted into Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 1.9 of the Business Combination Agreement; and (vii) the written consent or approval of each holder of promissory notes of the Company for the conversion of such notes into Company Interests prior to Closing. We cannot assure you as to whether these conditions will be satisfied or waived.
The Minimum Cash Condition described above is for the benefit of the Company only and is subject to waiver by the Company. Conditions (ii) through (iv) above are for the benefit of both SPAC and the Company, and are subject to waiver by both SPAC and the Company. Conditions (v) through (vii) above are for the benefit of SPAC and are only subject to waiver by SPAC. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment (as defined below) has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. The parties intend to satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition through Transaction Financing and through amounts released from the Trust Account, however, there are no agreements with respect to Transaction Financing or the retention of SPAC Public Shares as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, waive the Minimum Cash Condition. If the Company
waives the Minimum Cash Condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of such event, however such condition may be waived at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, and, given such timing, you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The Business Combination Agreement — Conditions to Closing.”
In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on June 12, 2026, SPAC entered into a sponsor support agreement (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”) with the Sponsor, each of SPAC’s Independent Directors (together with Sponsor, the “Insiders”), Pubco and the Company, pursuant to which the Insiders agreed to, among other things, vote in favor of the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters (as defined below) and otherwise support the Business Combination. In addition, the Sponsor Support Agreement prohibits each Insider from, among other things, selling, assigning or transferring any SPAC Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants held by such Insider except to certain permitted transferees, until the earliest of (a) the date of the Closing; (b) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; (c) the liquidation of SPAC; (d) the written agreement of each of the terminating Insider(s), SPAC, Pubco and the Company with respect to terminating the rights and obligations under the Sponsor Support Agreement of a specific Insider or a subset of Insiders; and (e) the written agreement of all Insiders, SPAC, Pubco and the Company to terminate the Sponsor Support Agreement in its entirety.
Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement (i) each Insider unconditionally and irrevocably agreed not to redeem any SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares owned by it in connection with the Business Combination, and (ii) the Sponsor also agreed, effective as of immediately prior to the Domestication and conditioned upon the Closing, to forfeit and surrender to SPAC an aggregate of 2,750,000 Founder Shares (as defined below) held by the Sponsor (the “Sponsor Forfeited Shares”).
Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement (i) the Sponsor may, in its discretion, transfer to third parties up to an additional 500,000 Founder Shares held by it to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into SPAC or Pubco (the “Discretionary Founder Shares”), provided that any portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares that are not so transferred will be forfeited, and (ii) 500,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be held by the Sponsor as of the Closing (the “Sponsor Earnout Shares”) will be subject to vesting and will vest upon the following conditions: (a) if the funds in the Trust Account plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of the SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, and (c) if there is a sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a sale price that is greater or equal to the Earnout Price.
Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, Sponsor agreed to provide financing support in connection with the Business Combination. If the aggregate cash proceeds available for release to SPAC or Pubco from the Trust Account in connection with the Transactions after giving effect to the Redemption, plus the aggregate cash proceeds received by SPAC or Pubco in respect of any Transaction Financing, minus unpaid expenses of SPAC and the Company (collectively, “Closing SPAC Cash”) is less than $100,000,000, the Sponsor will be required to invest, or cause its affiliate or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing (the “Sponsor Investment”). If Closing SPAC Cash is greater than $100,000,000, then Sponsor has the option to make the Sponsor Investment. The purchase price of the Sponsor Investment will be equal to the lowest purchase price paid by any other investor in the Transaction Financing and will be made upon such other terms that are no less favorable to the Sponsor (or such affiliate or designee) than the terms offered to any other investor in any Transaction Financing.
On June 12, 2026, the Company obtained and delivered to the SPAC the written consent of a sufficient number of Company Interests required to approve the Business Combination Agreement and the Company Merger and each ancillary agreement to which the Company is a party.
Concurrently with the Closing, the BIG3 Founders and other Sellers holding greater than 3% of the outstanding Company Interests, the Sponsor, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., the underwriter (the “IPO Underwriter”) of SPAC’s initial public offering (the “SPAC IPO”), and each director of SPAC will enter into a lock-up agreement (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), pursuant to which such person (the “Lock-up Securityholder”) will agree not to (i) lend, offer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, donate, assign, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Pubco Common Stock and Pubco Warrants to be received by such Lock-up Securityholder in the Business Combination, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such shares of Pubco Common Stock and Pubco Warrants, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing from the Closing and ending (x) on the date that is six (6) months after the Closing for the Pubco Common Stock, or (y) on the date that is thirty (30) days after the Closing for the Pubco Warrants, subject to certain customary transfer exceptions. SPAC estimates that approximately 30.8 million shares of Pubco
Class A Common Stock and 6.0 million private warrants of Pubco (the “Pubco Private Warrants”) will be subject to lockup pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreement immediately following the Closing, representing approximately 76.7% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock in the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and 34.3% of the total issued and outstanding Pubco Warrants following the Business Combination. For more information, see “Ancillary Documents – Lock-Up Agreements.”
Concurrently with the Closing, Pubco, the Sponsor, the IPO Underwriter, SPAC’s officers and directors, and certain Sellers, and the Non-Redeeming Shareholders (as defined below) with respect to the Assigned Shares (each as defined below) will enter into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Pubco will agree that, within 30 days after the Closing Date, Pubco will file with the SEC (at Pubco’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of certain securities held by or issuable to the parties thereto (the “Resale Registration Statement”), and Pubco will use its reasonable best efforts to have the Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. Such holders will also be entitled to customary piggyback registration rights and demand registration rights pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement. SPAC estimates that approximately 27.2 million shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 6.0 million Pubco Private Warrants will be subject to registration rights pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement immediately following the Closing, representing approximately 67.7% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock in the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and 34.3% of the total issued and outstanding Pubco Warrants following the Business Combination. For more information, see “Ancillary Documents – Registration Rights Agreement.”
Concurrently with the Closing, SPAC, Pubco, and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), will enter into a warrant assignment, assumption and amendment agreement (the “Warrant Assumption Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, SPAC will assign to Pubco all of SPAC’s right, title and interest in and to, and Pubco will assume all of SPAC’s liabilities and obligations under, the certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2024, between SPAC and the Warrant Agent (the “Existing Warrant Agreement”). As a result, at the Closing, each SPAC Warrant will automatically cease to represent a right to acquire SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and instead will represent a right to acquire Pubco Class A Common Stock pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Existing Warrant Agreement (as amended by the Warrant Assumption Agreement). For more information, see “Ancillary Documents – Warrant Assumption Agreement.”
Concurrently with the Closing, Pubco, the Company, and the Sponsor will enter into an indemnification agreement (the “Sponsor Indemnification Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Pubco and the Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sponsor and its shareholders, members, directors, managers, and officers (each, a “Sponsor Indemnified Person”) from and against any and all Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities (as defined in the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement) arising out of or relating to any pending or threatened action, cause of action, suit, litigation, investigation, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration or claim against any of them or in which any of them may be a participant or may otherwise be involved (including as a witness) that arise out of or relate to SPAC’s operations or conduct of its business, the Business Combination, and/or any claim against the Sponsor and/or a Sponsor Indemnified Person alleging any expressed or implied management, control or endorsement of any activities of SPAC, or any express or implied association with Pubco, the Company, or SPAC, or any of their respective affiliates. The Sponsor Indemnification Agreement will not however apply to claims arising primarily out of (a) any breach by such Sponsor Indemnified Person of any other agreement between such Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and Pubco, the Company, SPAC, or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the other hand, or (b) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of such Sponsor Indemnified Person. For more information, see “Ancillary Documents – Sponsor Indemnification Agreement.”
After careful consideration, the SPAC Board has unanimously determined that the Business Combination is fair, advisable and in the best interests of the SPAC and all of its shareholders, unanimously approved the Business Combination and unanimously recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement, and approval of the Transactions, including the Domestication and Mergers, and “FOR” all other proposals presented to the SPAC Shareholders in this proxy statement/prospectus. The Business Combination was not structured to require the approval of at least a majority of SPAC’s unaffiliated shareholders because such a vote is not required under Cayman Islands law. When you consider the recommendation of the proposals herein by the SPAC Board, you should keep in mind that the Sponsor and SPAC’s directors and officers and their affiliates have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See the section entitled “The Business Combination - Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” for a further discussion of these considerations.
Immediately following the Closing, assuming the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, no Transaction Financing, the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, but including the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assuming the Company’s Cash Position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026) and without giving effect to any dilutive instruments, it is expected that (i) SPAC Public Shareholders will own approximately 20.9% of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 3.8% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock, (ii) the holders of Founder
Shares, which includes the Sponsor and SPAC’s Independent Directors, will collectively own approximately 7.5% of the Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 1.4% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock (which includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, which may be used to incentivize non-redemptions by SPAC Public Shareholders, among other uses, and if not used will be forfeited), (iii) the Big3 Founders will collectively own approximately 53.4% of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 91.5% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock (which includes their pro rata portion of the Earnout Shares), and (v) the Company equityholders other than the Big3 Founders will own approximately 18.2% of the Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 3.3% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock (which includes their pro rata portion of the Earnout Shares).
Material Financing Transactions
Prior to the SPAC’s IPO, on November 24, 2021, the Sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 for 7,187,500 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares (including the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, the “Founder Shares”), or approximately $0.003 per share. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. The number of Founder Shares outstanding was originally determined based on the expectation that the total size of the SPAC IPO would be a maximum of 23,000,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares, assuming the over-allotment option was exercised in full, and therefore that such Founder Shares would represent approximately 20% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares after the IPO. Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, the Sponsor and the IPO Underwriter, respectively, purchased 4,000,000 and 2,000,000 private placement warrants (the “SPAC Private Warrants”) at a price of $1.00 per SPAC Private Warrant in a private placement, generating gross proceeds to the SPAC of $6,000,000. Of the 5,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor following the February 8, 2024 surrender, (i) 90,000 Founder Shares were transferred to three Independent Directors (30,000 Founder Shares each) on June 7, 2024, (ii) 2,750,000 Founder Shares will be forfeited and surrendered immediately before the Domestication, (iii) 500,000 Founder Shares may be transferred by the Sponsor, in its discretion, to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco and if not so transferred or used will be forfeited, and (iv) 500,000 of the Founder Shares will be subject to an earnout provision.
On June 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden Circle Investments LLC (“Harraden”), and James A. Graf entered into a convertible promissory note (the “Convertible Promissory Note”), replacing a prior promissory note dated June 4, 2026, and consolidating $200,000 in working capital advances previously made by Harraden into a fully drawn, non-interest bearing, unsecured loan (the “Loan”) that was fully outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and is due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or SPAC’s liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, with Harraden also entitled to one warrant per dollar funded, issuable immediately prior to Closing on terms identical to the SPAC Private Warrants issued to the Sponsor.
Subsequently, on August 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into a second, separate convertible promissory note (the “August Convertible Promissory Note”), under which SPAC may borrow up to an additional $300,000 for working capital and general corporate purposes (the “August Loan”) on similar non-interest bearing, unsecured terms due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or liquidation. The August Loan has been fully drawn as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. At Harraden’s discretion, the August Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share (the “Conversion Shares”), and for each dollar funded Harraden is entitled to one warrant to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share on terms identical to the SPAC Private Warrants (the “Issuance Warrants”), plus one unrestricted SPAC Ordinary Share transferred by the Sponsor (the “Transferred Shares”), each issuable immediately prior to Closing. Under both the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, in lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares, Issuance Warrants, and/or Transferred Shares, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy SPAC’s related obligations.
Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, Sponsor agreed to provide financing support in connection with the Business Combination. If the Closing SPAC Cash is less than $100,000,000, the Sponsor will be required invest, or cause its affiliate
or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing (the “Sponsor Investment”). If Closing SPAC Cash is greater than $100,000,000, then Sponsor has the option to make the Sponsor Investment. The purchase price of the Sponsor Investment will be equal to the lowest purchase price paid by any other investor in the Transaction Financing and will be made upon such other terms that are no less favorable to the Sponsor (or such affiliate or designee) than the terms offered to any other investor in any Transaction Financing.
Further, if necessary in order to finance transaction costs in connection with the Business Combination, the Sponsor or certain of the SPAC’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the SPAC funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If SPAC completes the Business Combination, SPAC would repay any such Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to SPAC, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into SPAC Private Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant; provided that, for purposes of such $1,500,000 limit, the Convertible Promissory Note and August Convertible Promissory Note, each with Harraden, will be treated as Working Capital Loans and will count toward such limit. Such warrants would be identical to the SPAC Private Warrants sold in the private placement consummated simultaneously with the IPO. In the event that SPAC does not consummate an initial Business Combination, no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there was a total of $500,000 of outstanding Working Capital Loans, consisting of the Convertible Promissory Note and August Convertible Promissory Note with Harraden.
Compensation to be Received by the Sponsor and SPAC’s Officers and Directors in Connection with the Business Combination
In connection with the Business Combination, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors will receive securities of Pubco. The Sponsor will receive (A) 2,410,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 2,410,000 shares of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock held by the Sponsor at Closing (which is the result of the 7,187,500 Founder Shares originally purchased by the Sponsor prior to the IPO minus (i) 1,437,500 Founder Shares surrendered by the Sponsor prior to the IPO, (ii) 90,000 Founder Shares transferred to the three Independent Directors of SPAC in June 2024, (iii) 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares which will be used or forfeited, and (iv) 2,750,000 Founder Shares that will be forfeited by the Sponsor before the Domestication), which were initially purchased by the Sponsor prior to the SPAC IPO for an aggregate $25,000, of which 500,000 will be subject to vesting pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement as described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, and (B) 4,000,000 Pubco Private Warrants upon the assumption of 4,000,000 Post-Domestication SPAC Private Warrants, which were initially purchased in a private placement that closed concurrently with the SPAC IPO for $1.00 per warrant. Additionally, to the extent that the Sponsor Investment is made in the form of equity or equity-linked securities, the Sponsor will receive such additional equity pursuant to such investment. The number of such potential equity interests will not be calculable until definitive agreements for any Sponsor Investment are entered into, if any. The SPAC’s three Independent Directors will each receive 30,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of the 30,000 Founder Shares currently held by each director, which were originally transferred to the directors by the Sponsor on June 7, 2024. The Independent Directors are not members of the Sponsor. The securities to be issued to the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors may result in a material dilution of the equity interests of non-redeeming SPAC Public Shareholders. See “Dilution,” “The Business Combination - Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination,” and “The Business Combination - Compensation to be Received by the Sponsor and SPAC’s Officers and Directors in Connection with the Business Combination.”
The Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors will also be reimbursed for loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them related to identifying, negotiating, investigating and completing the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there are no advances or out-of-pocket reimbursable expenses to the Sponsor or any of SPAC’s officers and directors other than: (i) $320,000 in accrued administrative support services fees due to an affiliate of the Sponsor, and (ii) approximately $3,000 in accrued expenses owed to James A. Graf. Additionally, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors will be entitled to continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. Further, [●], a [director/officer] of SPAC, is expected to serve as a [director/officer] of Pubco after the Closing and, as such, in the future, he may receive compensation for his service to Pubco as determined by the Pubco Board.
None of the funds in the Trust Account will be used to compensate SPAC’s officers or directors. Except as set forth above, no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, have been paid or will be paid to the Sponsor or SPAC’s officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of the Business Combination. The reimbursement of expenses and advances to the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors may result in a material dilution of the equity interests of non-redeeming SPAC Public Shareholders. See “Dilution,” “The Business Combination Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination,” and “- Compensation to be Received by the Sponsor and SPAC’s Officers and Directors in Connection with the Business Combination.”
Potential Conflicts of Interest in Connection with the Business Combination
If SPAC does not complete the Business Combination with the Company or another initial business combination by November 27, 2026 (provided that the SPAC Board may, in its discretion, extend such date up to one additional time in a one month increment to up to December 27, 2026), SPAC will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter (and subject to lawfully available funds therefor), redeem the SPAC Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account not previously released to SPAC (less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then-outstanding SPAC Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the SPAC Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of SPAC’s remaining shareholders and the SPAC Board, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. The Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have no rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Founder Shares and any SPAC Public Shares held by them if SPAC fails to complete an initial business combination, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from assets outside the Trust Account. If SPAC fails to complete an initial business combination, the SPAC Private Warrants held by the Sponsor and the IPO Underwriter will expire and be worthless.
On June 18, 2026, the Sponsor and certain members of the SPAC Board — Louis Bélanger-Martin, Kenneth Weinstein, and Fred Zeidman — irrevocably exercised their right to convert an aggregate of 5,749,999 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, on a one-for-one basis into an aggregate of 5,749,999 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, pursuant to the terms of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares and the SPAC Organizational Documents (the “Conversions”). The SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares issued in the Conversions remain subject to the same restrictions that applied to the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares before conversion, including certain transfer restrictions and the waiver of redemption rights, described in more detail elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
On June 26, 2026, SPAC held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “Extension Meeting”), at which shareholders approved an amendment to the SPAC Organizational Documents to extend the date by which SPAC has to consummate an initial business combination from June 27, 2026 to September 27, 2026, and provided that SPAC has executed a definitive agreement for an initial business combination by September 27, 2026 but has not consummated an initial business combination by such date, to permit the SPAC Board, in its sole discretion, to further extend such date up to three times in one-month increments, to up to December 27, 2026 (the “Extension”). As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the SPAC Board has extended the date to consummate the initial business combination to November 27, 2026.
In connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC Public Shareholders holding an aggregate of 14,590,367 SPAC Public Shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for approximately $10.86 per share from the funds held in the Trust Account, leaving approximately $91.4 million in cash in the Trust Account after satisfaction of such redemptions. Following such redemptions, SPAC had an aggregate of 14,159,633 ordinary shares outstanding, of which 14,159,632 were SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and 1 was a SPAC Class B Ordinary Share.
On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements (the “Non-Redemption Agreements”) with certain existing shareholders unaffiliated with SPAC, the Sponsor, or SPAC’s officers and directors (the “Non-Redeeming Shareholders”), covering an aggregate of 4,256,015 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Non-Redemption Shares”). Under the Non-Redemption Agreements, the Non-Redeeming Shareholders agreed not to redeem, or to rescind any prior redemption requests with respect to, the Non-Redemption Shares in connection with the vote at the Extension Meeting. In exchange, the Sponsor agreed to transfer to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders, promptly following Closing, an aggregate of 425,602 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor (the “Assigned Shares”), subject to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders not exercising (or rescinding) their redemption rights, approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, and consummation of the Business Combination. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders will receive registration rights with respect to the Assigned Shares under the Registration Rights Agreement at the Closing. The Assigned Shares will be drawn from the Discretionary Founder Shares allocation. The Non-Redemption Agreements increased the funds remaining in SPAC’s Trust Account following the Extension Meeting relative to the amount that would have otherwise remained.
The SPAC Public Units, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants are listed on NYSE American under the symbols “TONT U,” “TONT,” and “TONT WS”. On June 11, 2026, the last trading date prior to the public announcement of the signing of the Business Combination Agreement, SPAC Public Units, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants closed at $11.10, $10.82 and $0.15, respectively. As of October 20, 2026, the closing prices of the SPAC Public Units, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants were $11.01, $10.93 and $0.25, respectively. Pubco intends to apply for listing, to be effective at Closing, of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants on the NYSE, and intends to retain the trading symbols “TONT” and “TONT WS.” It is a condition to SPAC’s and the Company’s obligations to consummate the Business Combination that the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants to be issued in connection with the Business Combination Agreement be approved for listing on the Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance. SPAC and the Company believe that SPAC will satisfy the initial listing requirements of the NYSE at the Closing, but there can be no assurance such listing condition will be met. If such listing condition is not met, the Business Combination may not be consummated unless such condition is waived by SPAC and the Company. The Stock Exchange listing condition may be waived by SPAC or the Company at any time prior to Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. It is important for you to consider that, at the time of the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, Pubco may not have received from NYSE either confirmation of the listing of the Pubco Common Stock and Pubco Warrants or confirmation that approval will be obtained prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, and you will not be notified prior to the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting if Pubco has not yet received such approval or confirmation. As a result, you may be asked to vote to approve the Business Combination and the other proposals included in this proxy statement/prospectus without knowing whether the Pubco Common Stock and Pubco Warrants will be listed on the NYSE or another securities exchange and, further, it is possible that such listing may never be achieved and the Business Combination could still be consummated if such condition is waived.
SPAC is, and Pubco will be, an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and has elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in Pubco Common Class A Stock and Pubco Warrants involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 77 of this proxy statement/prospectus for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in Pubco’s securities.
This proxy statement/prospectus covers (A) the issuance by Post-Domestication SPAC of (i) up to 14,159,633 shares of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock that will be issued in the Domestication upon the conversion of an equal number of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (for the avoidance of doubt, after effecting the Redemption, Unit Separation, and Class B Share Conversion), (ii) 17,500,000 Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants that will be issued in the Domestication upon the conversion of an equal number of SPAC Warrants, and (iii) 17,500,000 shares of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants; and (B) the issuance by Pubco of (i) up to 20,210,627 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon (x) the conversion of up to 11,409,633 shares of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock (after effecting the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares) and (y) the issuance of Merger Consideration and Earnout Shares to non-consenting BIG3 shareholders, (ii) 17,500,000 Pubco Warrants upon the conversion of 17,500,000 Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants, and (iii) 17,500,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Pubco Warrants. This proxy statement/prospectus also covers the resale by the Selling Securityholders named therein of up to 3,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, 6,000,000 Pubco Warrants and 6,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Pubco Warrants to be received by such Selling Securityholders in the Business Combination. The Selling Securityholders are each deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act. Each Selling Securityholder may sell all, some or none of such Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants to be received by such Selling Securityholder in the Business Combination. Pubco will not receive any proceeds from any such offer or sale by the Selling Securityholders, except to the extent that the Pubco Warrants are exercised for cash. The securities of Post-Domestication SPAC to be issued in the Domestication will be issued as an intermediate and transitory step in the Business Combination
This proxy statement/prospectus provides you with detailed information about the Business Combination and other matters to be considered at the Extraordinary General Meeting. SPAC encourages you to carefully read this entire document. You should also carefully consider the risk factors described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 77.
When you review the information included in this proxy statement/prospectus and consider the SPAC Board’s recommendation to vote in favor of the proposals described herein, you should keep in mind that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. For instance, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors will benefit from the completion of a business combination and may be incentivized to complete an acquisition of a less favorable target company or on terms less favorable to shareholders rather than liquidating SPAC. See the sections entitled “The Business Combination - Interests of Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” and “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” in this proxy statement/prospectus for a further discussion.
NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
This proxy statement/prospectus is dated [●] and is first being mailed to SPAC Shareholders on or about [●].
Graf Global Corp.
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Tel: (310) 745-8669
NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
TO BE HELD ON [●], 2026
To the Shareholders of Graf Global Corp.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an extraordinary general meeting (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) of shareholders of Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), will be held at [●] a.m., Eastern Time, on [●]. The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held virtually, conducted via live webcast at [●]. For purposes of Cayman Islands law and SPAC’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended (the “SPAC Organizational Documents”), the physical location of the Extraordinary General Meeting will be at the offices of White & Case LLP at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. You are cordially invited to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting, which will be held for the following purposes:
| (1) | Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt, by ordinary resolution, the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2026 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among SPAC, Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pubco”), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Company Merger Sub” and together with SPAC Merger Sub, the “Merger Subs”), and BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with its successors, the “Company”), pursuant to which the following will occur: (i) SPAC will, as an intermediate and transitory step in the business combination transaction, transfer by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to re-domicile as and become a Delaware corporation pursuant to Part 12 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”) and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”) (the “Domestication”, and SPAC after the Domestication, “Post-Domestication SPAC”), (ii) following the Domestication, SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into Post-Domestication SPAC, with Post-Domestication SPAC continuing as the surviving entity (the “SPAC Merger”), (iii) following the SPAC Merger, Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity (the “Company Merger,” and together with the SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”), (iv) as a result of the Mergers, Post-Domestication SPAC and the Company will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco and Pubco will be renamed “Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.” and will become a publicly traded company, and (v) the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and documents related thereto (together with the Domestication and the Mergers, the “Business Combination”). A copy of the Business Combination Agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A. We refer to this proposal as the “Business Combination Proposal.” |
| (2) | Proposal No. 2 - The Domestication Proposal – To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve, by special resolution of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, the Domestication, whereby the SPAC will deregister from the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies (“Cayman Registrar”) by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to migrate to and domesticate as a Delaware corporation in accordance with the SPAC Organizational Documents, Section 388 of the DGCL and Part 12 of the Companies Act. The Domestication is expected to be effected at least one business day prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time by (1) filing the Cayman Conversion Documents (as defined in this proxy statement/prospectus) with the Cayman Registrar, (2) filing the Delaware Conversion Documents (as defined in this proxy statement/prospectus) with the State of Delaware, and (3) adopting the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Charter and Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Bylaws (each as defined below). Upon the effectiveness of the Domestication, Post-Domestication SPAC will become a Delaware corporation, as described in more detail in this proxy statement/prospectus. We refer to this proposal as the “Domestication Proposal.” |
| (3) | Proposal No. 3 - The SPAC Merger Proposal – To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve, by a majority of the shares outstanding, (i) the SPAC Merger and (ii) the certificate of merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) to be adopted in connection with the SPAC Merger. We refer to this proposal as the “SPAC Merger Proposal.” |
| (4) | Proposal No. 4 —The Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal – To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve, by special resolution of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, that, with effect from the Domestication, the SPAC Organizational Documents be amended and restated by the deletion in their entirety and the substitution in their place of the proposed certificate of incorporation of Post-Domestication SPAC (the “Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Charter”) and the proposed bylaws of Post-Domestication SPAC (the “Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Bylaws”, and together with the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Charter, the “Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Organizational Documents”). The form of each of the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Charter and the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Bylaws is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B and Annex C, respectively. We refer to this proposal as the “Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal.” |
| (5) | Proposal No. 5 —The Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals — To consider and vote upon 11 separate proposals to approve, by ordinary resolution, on a non-binding and advisory basis, the material differences between the SPAC Organizational Documents, as in force and effect under the Companies Act prior to the Domestication, on the one hand, and the proposed amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Pubco (the “Proposed Pubco Charter”) and the proposed amended and restated bylaws of Pubco (the “Proposed Pubco Bylaws” and together with the Proposed Pubco Charter, the “Proposed Pubco Organizational Documents”), which will take effect at the Company Merger Effective Time, on the other hand. The form of each of the Proposed Pubco Charter and the Proposed Pubco Bylaws is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D and Annex E, respectively. We refer to these separate proposals as the “Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals.” |
| (6) | Proposal No. 6 – The Equity Incentive Plan Proposal - To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt, by ordinary resolution, the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2026 Equity Incentive Plan”), a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex K. We refer to this proposal as the “Equity Incentive Plan Proposal.” |
| (7) | Proposal No. 7 — The Adjournment Proposal — To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve, by ordinary resolution, the adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or desirable in the reasonable determination of SPAC. We refer to this proposal as the “Adjournment Proposal.” |
Approval of each of the Business Combination Proposal, the Domestication Proposal, the SPAC Merger Proposal, the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposals, and the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal is a condition to consummating the Business Combination. We refer to such proposals, collectively, as the “Condition Precedent Proposals.”
Only holders of record of Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (“SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares”), and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (“SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares”), of SPAC at the close of business on [●], 2026 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at and to have their votes counted at the Extraordinary General Meeting and any adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting.
This proxy statement/prospectus and the accompanying proxy card is being provided to the SPAC Shareholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies to be voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting and at any adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting, all of the SPAC Shareholders are urged to read this proxy statement/prospectus, including the Annexes and the documents referred to therein, carefully and in their entirety. You should also carefully consider the risk factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 77 of this proxy statement/prospectus.
After careful consideration, the SPAC Board has unanimously determined that the Business Combination is fair, advisable, and in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders, unanimously approved the Business Combination and unanimously recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement, and approval of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Domestication and Mergers, and “FOR” all other proposals presented to the SPAC Shareholders in this proxy statement/prospectus. The Business Combination was not structured to require the approval of at least a majority of SPAC’s unaffiliated shareholders because such a vote is not required under Cayman law. The SPAC Board did not receive a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in connection with the approval of the Business Combination. When you consider the recommendation of the proposals herein by the SPAC Board, you should keep in mind that the Sponsor and SPAC’s directors and officers and their affiliates have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” for a further discussion of these considerations.
Pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents, a holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares initially issued in the SPAC’s initial public offering (such shares, the “SPAC Public Shares,” such holder, a “SPAC Public Shareholder,” and such offering, the “SPAC IPO”), other than the Sponsor and the other holders of Founder Shares, may request that SPAC redeem all or a portion of his, her, or its SPAC Public Shares for cash if the Business Combination is consummated. As a holder of SPAC Public Shares, you will be entitled to receive cash for any SPAC Public Shares to be redeemed only if you:
| (i) | hold SPAC Public Shares or hold SPAC Public Shares through SPAC Public Units and you elect to separate your SPAC Public Units into the underlying SPAC Public Shares and SPAC Public Warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the SPAC Public Shares; |
| (ii) | submit a written request to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”), SPAC’s transfer agent, including the legal name, phone number and address of the beneficial owner of the SPAC Public Shares for which redemption is requested, that SPAC redeem all or a portion of your SPAC Public Shares for cash; and |
| (iii) | tender or deliver your SPAC Public Shares (and share certificates (if any) and other redemption forms) to Continental, physically or electronically through The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). |
Holders must complete the procedures for electing to redeem their SPAC Public Shares in the manner described above prior to [●], Eastern Time, on [●] (two business days before the scheduled date of the Extraordinary General Meeting) in order for their SPAC Public Shares to be redeemed.
Holders of SPAC Public Shares (other than the Sponsor and the other holders of Founder Shares) may elect to redeem all or a portion of their SPAC Public Shares regardless of if or how they vote in respect of the Business Combination Proposal and regardless of whether they hold SPAC Public Shares on the Record Date. If the Business Combination is not consummated, the SPAC Public Shares will be returned to the respective holder, broker or bank.
If the Business Combination is consummated, and if a SPAC Public Shareholder (other than the Sponsor and the other holders of Founder Shares) properly exercises its right to redeem all or a portion of the SPAC Public Shares that it holds, including timely delivering such shares to Continental, SPAC will redeem such SPAC Public Shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account established at the consummation of the SPAC IPO (the “Trust Account”) (including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to SPAC, less taxes payable), calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Redemption Price”). For illustrative purposes, as of the Record Date, this would have amounted to approximately $[●] per issued and outstanding SPAC Public Share. Prior to exercising redemption rights, SPAC Public Shareholders should verify the market price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, as they may receive higher proceeds from the sale of their SPAC Public Shares in the public market than from exercising their redemption rights if the market price per share is higher than the Redemption Price. SPAC cannot assure shareholders that they will be able to sell their SPAC Public Shares in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the Redemption Price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares when SPAC Public Shareholders wish to sell their shares. If a SPAC Public Shareholder exercises its redemption rights in full, then it will be electing to exchange his, her or its SPAC Public Shares for cash and will no longer own SPAC Public Shares. See “Extraordinary General Meeting — Redemption Rights” for a detailed description of the procedures to be followed if you wish to redeem your SPAC Public Shares for cash.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a SPAC Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such SPAC Public Shareholder or any other person with whom such SPAC Public Shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming his, her or its SPAC Public Shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the SPAC Public Shares without SPAC’s prior consent. Accordingly, if a SPAC Public Shareholder, alone or acting in concert or as a group, seeks to redeem more than 15% of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, then any such shares in excess of that 15% limit would not be redeemed for cash without SPAC’s prior consent.
Under the Business Combination Agreement, the obligations of the parties to consummate the Business Combination are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions of the respective parties, including, without limitation: (i) aggregate cash proceeds of $50,000,000, consisting of (a) the aggregate cash proceeds available for release to SPAC or Pubco from the Trust Account in connection with the Transactions after giving effect to the Redemption, plus (b) the aggregate cash proceeds received by SPAC or Pubco in respect of any Transaction Financing, minus (c) unpaid expenses of SPAC and the Company (the “Minimum Cash Condition”); (ii) the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination having been approved for listing on the Stock Exchange, as mutually determined by SPAC and the Company, subject to official notice of issuance; (iii) the Registration Statement having been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement being in effect, and no proceedings for purposes of suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement having been initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC; (iv) the approval and adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and Transactions contemplated thereby by the requisite vote of the holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares; (v) written consents from the holders of securities of the Company (the “Sellers”) to approve the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and the Transactions (the “Seller Written Consents”); (vi) delivery by the Company to SPAC showing that all indebtedness of the Company has been fully repaid or converted into issued and outstanding membership interests of the Company (“Company Interests”) that are converted into Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 1.9 of the Business Combination Agreement; and (vii) the written consent or approval of each note holder for the conversion of the notes into Company Interests prior to Closing. We cannot assure you as to whether these conditions will be satisfied or waived. The Minimum Cash Condition described above is for the benefit of the Company and is only subject to waiver by the Company. Conditions (ii) through (iv) above are for the benefit of both SPAC and the Company, and are subject to waiver by both SPAC and the Company. Conditions (v) through (vii) above are for the benefit of SPAC and are only subject to waiver by SPAC.
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. The parties intend to satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition through Transaction Financing and through amounts released from the Trust Account however, there are no agreements with respect to Transaction Financing or the retention of SPAC Public Shares as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied due to redemptions of the SPAC Public Shares, which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account, and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, waive the Minimum Cash Condition. If the Company waives the Minimum Cash Condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of such event, however such condition may be waived at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, and, given such timing, you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The Business Combination Agreement — Conditions to Closing.”
Only holders of record of SPAC Ordinary Shares at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of and to have their votes counted at the Extraordinary General Meeting and any adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents and Cayman law, each of the Business Combination Proposal, the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal, the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal (if submitted to SPAC Shareholders for a vote) requires approval by ordinary resolution at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents and Cayman law, each of the Domestication Proposal and the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal requires approval by special resolution of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
The approval of the SPAC Merger Proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the SPAC Ordinary Shares outstanding.
The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by them in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own 5,750,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares, or approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, if all issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares vote on each of the Business Combination Proposal, Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and Adjournment Proposal, we would need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the such proposals in order to have them approved and adopted. If only a minimum quorum is present and votes on each of the Business Combination Proposal, Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and Adjournment Proposal, we would not need any SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of such proposals in order to have them approved and adopted. Similarly, we will need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the SPAC Merger Proposal in order to have the SPAC Merger Proposal approved and adopted.
The Sponsor owns the sole issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Share. The holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will have no right to vote on the Domestication Proposal or the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal in accordance with Article 47 of the SPAC Organizational Documents. Accordingly, each of the Domestication Proposal and the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal is expected to be approved.
In connection with the SPAC IPO, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors entered into a letter agreement with SPAC (the “Insider Letter”), pursuant to which they agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and SPAC Public Shares in connection with the completion of an initial business combination. Such redemption rights waiver was provided at the time of the SPAC IPO without any separate consideration paid. Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor
and each holder of Founder Shares agreed not to redeem any SPAC Ordinary Shares held by them in connection with the Business Combination. Such redemption rights waiver was provided without any separate consideration paid.
Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting, please vote as soon as possible by following the instructions in this proxy statement/prospectus to make sure that your shares are represented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If you hold your shares in “street name” through a bank, broker or other nominee, you will need to follow the instructions provided to you by your bank, broker or other nominee to ensure that your shares are represented and voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement will be consummated only if the Condition Precedent Proposals are approved at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and if the other conditions to Closing are satisfied or waived.
If you sign, date and return your proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be voted “FOR” each of the proposals presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If you fail to return your proxy card or fail to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote, and do not attend the Extraordinary General Meeting in person, the effect will be, among other things, that your shares will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Extraordinary General Meeting and will not be voted. An abstention or broker non-vote will be counted towards the quorum requirement but will not count as a vote cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and otherwise will have no effect on any proposal except for the SPAC Merger Proposal (which requires the affirmative vote of a majority the outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares), because each other proposal requires the affirmative vote of a particular number of votes cast and an abstention is not a vote cast. If you are a shareholder of record and you attend the Extraordinary General Meeting and wish to vote in person, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person.
Your attention is directed to the remainder of this proxy statement/prospectus following this notice (including the Annexes and other documents referred to herein) for a more complete description of the Business Combination and related Transactions and each of the proposals. You are encouraged to read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully and in its entirety, including the Annexes and other documents referred to therein. If you have any questions or need assistance voting your SPAC Ordinary Shares, please contact [●], our proxy solicitor, by email at [●]. Individuals may also call [●] toll free; banks and brokers may call [●]. This notice of Extraordinary General Meeting and the proxy statement/prospectus are available at [●].
Thank you for your participation. We look forward to your continued support.
By Order of the Board of Directors, | |
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| James A. Graf |
| Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Director |
| [Date] |
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on [●]: This notice of Extraordinary General Meeting and the related proxy statement will be available at [●].
IF YOU RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD SIGNED AND WITHOUT AN INDICATION OF HOW YOU WISH TO VOTE, YOUR PROXY CARD WILL APPOINT JAMES A. GRAF AS YOUR PROXY TO VOTE YOUR SHARES IN HIS DISCRETION. MR. GRAF WILL VOTE ANY UNDIRECTED PROXIES IN FAVOR OF EACH OF THE PROPOSALS. TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU MUST (1) SUBMIT A WRITTEN REQUEST TO CONTINENTAL AT LEAST TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED VOTE AT THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING, WHICH REQUEST MUST INCLUDE THE LEGAL NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE SPAC PUBLIC SHARES FOR WHICH REDEMPTION IS REQUESTED, THAT YOUR SPAC PUBLIC SHARES BE REDEEMED FOR CASH, AND (2) TENDER OR DELIVER YOUR SPAC PUBLIC SHARES (AND SHARE CERTIFICATES (IF ANY) AND OTHER REDEMPTION FORMS) TO CONTINENTAL, PHYSICALLY OR ELECTRONICALLY USING THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY’S DWAC (DEPOSIT/WITHDRAWAL AT CUSTODIAN) SYSTEM, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. IF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION IS NOT CONSUMMATED, THEN THE SPAC PUBLIC SHARES WILL NOT BE REDEEMED FOR CASH. IF YOU HOLD THE SHARES IN STREET NAME, YOU WILL NEED TO INSTRUCT THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT YOUR BANK OR BROKER TO WITHDRAW THE SHARES FROM YOUR ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS. SEE “THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING — REDEMPTION RIGHTS” IN THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS FOR MORE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS.
This proxy statement/prospectus is dated [●] and is first being mailed to shareholders on or about [●].
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
This document, which forms part of a registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC by SPAC, Pubco and the Company, constitutes a prospectus of (i) Post-Domestication SPAC under Section 5 of the Securities Act with respect to the Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants to be issued in connection with the Domestication pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement if the Business Combination described herein is consummated, and the Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Post-Domestication Warrants, and (ii) Pubco under Section 5 of the Securities Act with respect to the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants to be issued under the Business Combination Agreement if the Business Combination described herein is consummated, and the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Pubco Warrants. This document also constitutes a notice of meeting and a proxy statement of SPAC under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Extraordinary General Meeting of SPAC at which SPAC Shareholders will be asked to consider and vote upon proposals to approve the Business Combination by the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement, among other matters.
This document also contains a resale prospectus with respect to the resale by the Selling Securityholders from time to time of up to 3,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 6,000,000 Pubco Warrants to be received by them in the Business Combination, and of up to 6,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Pubco Warrants. The Selling Securityholders may sell all, some or none of such Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants. Pubco will not receive any proceeds from any such offer or sale by the Selling Securityholders, but will receive proceeds to the extent that the Pubco Warrants are exercised for cash.
The two prospectuses contained in this registration statement (i.e., the primary offering prospectus and the resale prospectus) are substantively identical in all respects, except that the resale prospectus contains a different cover page, a “Selling Securityholders” section and an alternate “Plan of Distribution” section, each of which is set forth in the Alternate Pages.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from that contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this proxy statement/prospectus. This proxy statement/prospectus is dated as of the date set forth on the cover hereof. You should not assume that the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus is accurate as of any date other than that date. Neither the mailing of this proxy statement/prospectus to SPAC Shareholders nor the issuance by Post-Domestication SPAC of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants or by Pubco of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants in connection with the Business Combination will create any implication to the contrary.
Information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus regarding SPAC has been provided by SPAC and information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus regarding the Company has been provided by the Company.
This proxy statement/prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or the solicitation of a proxy, in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom it is unlawful to make any such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
| | Page |
|---|---|---|
| i | |
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 10 | |
| 12 | |
| 47 | |
| 77 | |
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information | | 133 |
| 148 | |
| 152 | |
| 160 | |
| 205 | |
| 208 | |
Proposal No. 4 — The Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal | | 210 |
Proposal No. 5 — The Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals | | 212 |
| 217 | |
| 225 | |
| 226 | |
| 246 | |
| 247 | |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of SPAC | | 267 |
| 274 | |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of The Company | | 284 |
| 294 | |
| 297 | |
| 301 | |
| 303 | |
| 308 | |
| 316 | |
| 326 | |
| 328 | |
| 331 | |
| 332 | |
| 333 | |
| 334 | |
| 335 | |
| 335 | |
| 336 | |
| 337 | |
| 338 | |
| 339 | |
| 340 | |
| F-1 |
ii
| | Page |
| A-1 | |
Annex B – Form of Post-Domestication Certificate of Incorporation of Graf Global Corp. | | B-1 |
Annex C – Form of Post-Domestication Bylaws of Graf Global Corp. | | C-1 |
Annex D – Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. | | D-1 |
Annex E – Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. | | E-1 |
| F-1 | |
| G-1 | |
| H-1 | |
| I-1 | |
| J-1 | |
| K-1 | |
Annex L – Certificate of Merger | | L-1 |
| M-1 |
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION
SPAC
The historical unaudited condensed financial statements of SPAC as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and the historical audited financial statements of SPAC as of and for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and are denominated in U.S. dollars.
The Company
The Company was formed as a limited liability company in Delaware on September 18, 2024. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2026 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 and the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are denominated in U.S. dollars.
Pubco
Pubco was incorporated in Delaware on June 5, 2026, for the purpose of effectuating the Business Combination described herein. Pubco currently has no material assets and does not currently operate any businesses. The Merger Subs are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco. The consolidated financial statements of Pubco have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Rounding and Negative Amounts
Certain numerical information and other amounts and percentages in this proxy statement/prospectus, including financial data, have been rounded. Accordingly, in certain instances, the sum of the numbers in a column or a row in tables may not conform exactly to the total figure given for that column or row or the sum of certain numbers presented as a percentage may not conform exactly to the total percentage given.
In preparing the audited and unaudited historical financial statements of SPAC, certain numerical figures are presented in thousands. For the convenience of the reader of this proxy statement/prospectus, certain numerical figures in this proxy statement/prospectus are rounded to the nearest thousand. As a result of this rounding, certain numerical figures presented herein may vary slightly from the corresponding numerical figures presented in SPAC’s financial statements.
In tables, negative amounts are shown between parentheses. Otherwise, negative amounts may also be shown by “—” before the amount.
Currency Presentation
The financial statements of SPAC, the Company and Pubco are measured and presented using United States dollars.
References to “$,” “US$” and “U.S. dollar” each refer to the United States dollar.
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TRADEMARKS, TRADE NAMES AND SERVICE MARKS
This document contains references to trademarks, trade names and service marks belonging to the Company or to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus may appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
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MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA
SPAC, the Company, and Pubco are responsible for the disclosure contained in this proxy statement/prospectus. Information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus concerning the market and the industry in which the Company competes, including its market position, general expectations of market opportunity, size and growth rates, is based on information from various third-party sources, on assumptions made by the Company based on such sources and the Company’s knowledge of the markets for its services and solutions. This information and any estimates provided herein involve numerous assumptions and limitations, and third-party sources generally state that the information contained in such source has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. The industry in which the Company operates is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk. As a result, the estimates and market and industry information provided in this proxy statement/prospectus are subject to change based on various factors, including those described in “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Industry publications, research, studies and forecasts generally state that the information they contain has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed. Although SPAC, the Company, and Pubco have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of third-party information, SPAC, the Company, and Pubco believe the industry and market information included in this proxy statement/prospectus is reliable. Forecasts and other forward-looking information obtained from these sources are subject to the same qualifications and uncertainties as the other forward-looking statements in this proxy statement/prospectus. These forecasts and forward-looking information are subject to uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described under “Risk Factors.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in any forecasts or estimates.
Notwithstanding anything in this proxy statement/prospectus to the contrary, SPAC, the Company, and Pubco are responsible for all disclosures in this proxy statement/prospectus.
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FREQUENTLY USED TERMS
In this proxy statement/prospectus, the following terms have the following meanings:
“25% Redemptions Scenario” means the redemptions scenario that assumes that 2,102,408 SPAC Public Shares are redeemed, or approximately 25% of the SPAC Public Shares, for an aggregate payment of approximately $22.8 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026.
“50% Redemptions Scenario” means the redemptions scenario that assumes that 4,204,816 SPAC Public Shares are redeemed, or approximately 50% of the SPAC Public Shares, for an aggregate payment of approximately $45.7 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026.
“75% Redemptions Scenario” means the redemptions scenario that assumes that 6,307,224 SPAC Public Shares are redeemed, or approximately 75% of the SPAC Public Shares for an aggregate payment of approximately $68.5 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026.
“100% Redemptions Scenario” means the redemptions scenario that assumes that 8,409,633 SPAC Public Shares are redeemed, or 100% of the SPAC Public Shares, for an aggregate payment of approximately $91.4 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026.
“Action” means any notice of noncompliance or violation, or any claim, demand, charge, action, suit, litigation, audit, settlement, complaint, stipulation, assessment or arbitration, or any request (including any request for information), inquiry, hearing, proceeding or investigation, by or before any Governmental Authority.
“Ancillary Documents” means each agreement, instrument or document attached hereto as an Exhibit, and the other agreements, certificates and instruments to be executed or delivered by any of the Parties hereto in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement.
“Audited Financials” means the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for each of the twelve (12) months ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025, consisting of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025, and the related audited consolidated income statement, changes in members’ equity and statement of cash flows for the twelve (12) months then ended, and the related notes thereto, audited by a PCAOB qualified auditor in accordance with PCAOB auditing standards.
“Benefit Plans” of any person means any and all deferred compensation, executive compensation, incentive compensation, phantom equity, option, stock appreciation right, restricted stock, restricted stock unit, equity purchase or other equity-based compensation plan, employment or consulting, severance, change in control, retention or termination pay, employee or consultant loan program, vacation, sick, or other bonus, deferred compensation plan or practice, hospitalization or other medical, life, death, disability or other insurance, fringe benefit, Section 125 cafeteria plan, welfare, supplemental unemployment benefits, profit sharing, pension, or retirement plan, program, agreement, commitment or arrangement, Foreign Pension Plan, and each other employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, including each “employee benefit plan” as such term is defined under Section 3(3) of ERISA (including any similar plan subject to laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States), maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed to by a person for the benefit of any employee or former employee of such Person, or with respect to which such person has any Liability, whether direct or indirect, actual or contingent, whether formal or informal, and whether legally binding or not.
“Big3 Basketball” means the professional 3-on-3 half-court basketball league founded in 2017.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, a legal holiday on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized to close for business (excluding as a result of “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems, including for wire transfers, of commercially banking
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institutions in New York, New York are generally open for use by customers on such day) or, for so long as SPAC remains domiciled in Cayman Islands, a day on which Governmental Authorities in the Cayman Islands are authorized or required by law to close.
“Business Combination Deadline” means the SPAC’s deadline to complete a business combination under the SPAC Organizational Documents, which is currently up to December 27, 2026.
“Cash Position” means (x) the amount of cash held by the Company minus (y) the Target Companies’ aggregate Indebtedness amount pursuant to that certain loan and/or secured promissory note with Yeezy, LLC or an affiliate thereof having a principal amount of $5.0 million (including principal and any accrued but unpaid interest or other obligations), in each case, as of a particular time. For the avoidance of doubt, “Cash Position” may be a negative number.
“Cayman Conversion Documents” means the documents required to be filed with the Cayman Registrar in order to give effect to the Domestication pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents and the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
“Cayman Registrar” means the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands.
“Class A Units” means the issued and outstanding Class A Units of the Company pursuant to the Company Operating Agreement.
“Class B Units” means the issued and outstanding Class B Units of the Company pursuant to the Company Operating Agreement.
“Closing” means the closing of the Business Combination.
“Closing Date” means the date of the closing of the Business Combination.
“Closing SPAC Cash” means, without duplication, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate cash proceeds available for release to SPAC or Pubco from the Trust Account in connection with the Transactions after giving effect to the Redemption, plus (b) the aggregate cash proceeds received by SPAC or Pubco in respect of any Transaction Financing, minus (c) unpaid Expenses of SPAC and the Company.
“Combination Period” means the period of time by which SPAC is required to consummate the Business Combination, as such period may be extended from time to time in accordance with the SPAC Organizational Documents and the Trust Agreement.
“Companies Act” means the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands.
“Company Convertible Security” or “Company Convertible Securities” means, collectively, any options, warrants or rights (other than any Company Interests) to subscribe for or purchase any equity securities of the Company or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for, or that otherwise confer on the holder any right to acquire any equity securities of any the Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any convertible promissory notes).
“Company Interests” means, collectively, the issued and outstanding membership interests of the Company. The Company Interests consist solely of Class A Units, Class B Units and Preferred Units.
“Company Securities” means all equity securities of the Company and securities convertible into equity securities of the Company, including, without limitation, Company Interests, Company Convertible Securities, Preferred Units and Company Warrants.
“Company Warrants” means all warrants to purchase any equity interests of the Company. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, all previously-issued Company Warrants have expired and there are no Company Warrants outstanding.
“Condition Precedent Proposals” means each of the Business Combination Proposal, the Domestication Proposal, the Merger Proposal, the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal, and the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal.
“Delaware Conversion Documents” means the documents required to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State to give effect to the Domestication pursuant to the DGCL.
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“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Final Conversion Date” means, with respect to the Pubco Class B Common Stock, the earlier of (a) the date specified by the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, or in the affirmative written election executed by the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, (b) the date fixed by the Pubco Board that is no less than 10 days and no more than 30 days following the date that the number of outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock held by the Big3 Founders and their Permitted Transferees (as defined in the Proposed Pubco Charter) represents less than one-third of the aggregate number of shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock outstanding immediately following the Business Combination, or (c) the date that is ten (10) years from the closing of the Business Combination.
“Financing Agreement” means a financing agreement with accredited investors for one or more Transaction Financings by Pubco on such terms and structuring, and using such strategy, placement agents and approach as SPAC and the Company reasonably agree.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local, foreign or other governmental, quasi-governmental or administrative body, instrumentality, department or agency or any court, tribunal, administrative hearing body, arbitration panel, commission, or other similar dispute-resolving panel or body.
“High Vote Sellers” means Jeffrey Kwatinetz and O’Shea Jackson Sr. (or any of their affiliates) and BigFourH Holdings LLC, in each case, insofar as such person is a Seller as of immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time.
“Indebtedness” of any person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such person for borrowed money (including the outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest), (b) all obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (c) any other indebtedness of such person that is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture, credit agreement or similar instrument, (d) all obligations of such person under leases that should be classified as capital leases in accordance with GAAP, (e) all obligations of such person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any line or letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, guarantee or similar credit transaction, in each case, that has been drawn or claimed against, (f) all obligations of such person in respect of acceptances issued or created, (g) all interest rate and currency swaps, caps, collars and similar agreements or hedging devices under which payments are obligated to be made by such person, whether periodically or upon the happening of a contingency, (h) all obligations secured by a Lien on any property of such person, (i) any premiums, prepayment fees or other penalties, fees, costs or expenses associated with payment of any Indebtedness of such person and (j) all obligations described in clauses (a) through (i) above of any other person which is directly or indirectly guaranteed by such person or which such person has agreed (contingently or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire or in respect of which it has otherwise assured a creditor against loss.
“IPO” means the initial public offering of SPAC Public Units (and any successor equity thereto) pursuant to the IPO Prospectus.
“IPO Prospectus” means the final prospectus of SPAC, dated as of June 25, 2024, and filed with the SEC on June 27, 2024 (File No. 333-279889).
“IPO Underwriter” means Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
“IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (or any successor Governmental Authority).
“Merger Consideration” means the aggregate consideration to be paid or payable to holders of the Company Securities as of the Company Merger Effective Time, which will consist of a number of newly issued shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (x) the result of (i) $290,000,000 plus (ii) the Company’s Cash Position at the Company Merger Effective Time, divided by (y) $10.83.
“No Additional Redemptions Scenario” means the redemptions scenario that assumes that no additional SPAC Public Shares are redeemed.
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“Notes” means the convertible promissory notes issued or assumed by the Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, including the convertible promissory notes issued in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 having an aggregate principal amount of approximately $24,139,000 as of December 31, 2025.
“NYSE American” means the NYSE American LLC.
“OpCo” means BIG3 Basketball, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Per Share Price” means $10.83.
“Percentage Merger Consideration” means a number of shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (a) the aggregate number of shares of Pubco Common Stock in the Merger Consideration, multiplied by (b) the percentage set forth opposite such Seller’s name on Schedule 1.9 of the Business Combination Agreement.
“Preferred Units” means, collectively, the preferred membership interests and preferred units of the Company.
“Proposed Pubco Bylaws” means the proposed amended and restated bylaws of Pubco, the form of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex E.
“Proposed Pubco Charter” means the proposed amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Pubco, the form of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D.
“Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Bylaws” means the proposed bylaws of Post-Domestication SPAC, the form of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex C.
“Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Charter” means the proposed certificate of incorporation of Post-Domestication SPAC, the form of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B.
“Pubco Class A Common Stock” means the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, entitling the holders thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters on which the holders of Pubco Common Stock are entitled to vote.
“Pubco Class B Common Stock” means the shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, which will (i) have ten (10) votes per share for so long as the High Vote Seller holding such share owns a percentage of Pubco Common Stock to be specified in the Proposed Pubco Charter, (ii) not be transferrable except for certain permitted transfers as set forth in the Proposed Pubco Charter and (iii) have such other obligations and other terms as set forth in the Proposed Pubco Charter.
“Pubco Common Stock” means Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock, along with any equity securities paid as dividends or distributions after the Closing with respect to such shares or into which such shares are exchanged or converted after the Closing.
“Pubco Private Warrants” means one whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) share of Pubco Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, which will continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms as the SPAC Private Warrants (other than the fact that it will be exercisable for one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock in lieu of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share) and will be governed by the Warrant Agreement, as assigned to and assumed by Pubco pursuant to the Warrant Assumption Agreement.
“Pubco Public Warrants” means one whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) share of Pubco Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, which will continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms as the SPAC Public Warrants (other than the fact that it will be exercisable for one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock in lieu of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share) and will be governed by the Warrant Agreement, as assigned to and assumed by Pubco pursuant to the Warrant Assumption Agreement.
“Pubco Securities” means the Pubco Common Stock and the Pubco Warrants, collectively.
“Pubco Stockholders” means the holders of Pubco Common Stock.
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“Pubco Warrants” means Pubco Private Warrants and Pubco Public Warrants, collectively.
“Sale of Pubco” means (a) any transaction or series of related transactions (whether by merger, consolidation, tender offer, exchange offer, stock transfer or otherwise) that (A) results in any person acquiring beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of equity securities of Pubco that represent more than 50% of (i) the issued and outstanding Pubco Common Stock or the equity interests of the Company Surviving Subsidiary or (B) in which holders of equity securities of Pubco own less than 50% of the surviving entities’ (or direct or indirect parent of surviving entities’) equity securities immediately after the transaction, or (ii) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting equity securities of Pubco, or (b) any sale, transfer or other disposition to a person of all or substantially all of the assets (by book value), of Pubco and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis based on the most recent annual audited financial statements of Pubco (other than licensing, partnering or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business).
“Sale Price” means the price per share of Pubco Common Stock paid or payable to the holders of outstanding Pubco Common Stock in a Sale of Pubco, inclusive of the net present value of any contingent deferred purchase price or earnouts; provided that, if and to the extent such price is payable in whole or in part in the form of consideration other than cash, the price for such non-cash consideration will be with respect to any securities, (i) pursuant to the methodology of valuation of securities in the definitive agreement for the Sale of Pubco, (ii) if such methodology is not available, the volume weighted average of the closing prices of the sales of such securities on all securities exchanges on which such securities are then listed over a period of at least 20 days (which days need not be consecutive) out of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date of determination, or (iii) in the absence of (i) and if the information contemplated by the preceding clause (ii) is not practically available, then the fair value of such securities as of the date of valuation as determined by an independent, nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the board of directors of Pubco, on the basis of an orderly sale to a willing, unaffiliated buyer in an arm’s-length transaction, taking into account all factors determinative of value as the investment banking firm determines relevant (and giving effect to any transfer Taxes payable in connection with such sale).
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor Governmental Authority).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Sellers” means, collectively, holders of Company Securities.
“Seller Written Consent” means the written consents from the Sellers approving the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and the Transactions. On June 12, 2026, the Company obtained and delivered to the SPAC the written consent of a sufficient number of Company Interests required to approve the Business Combination Agreement and the Company Merger and each ancillary agreement to which the Company is a party.
“SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares” means the Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC prior to consummation of the Domestication.
“SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares” means the Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC prior to consummation of the Domestication.
“Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Post-Domestication SPAC following the consummation of the Domestication.
“Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants” means the warrants of Post-Domestication SPAC, exercisable for shares of Post-Domestication Common Stock, following the consummation of the Domestication.
“SPAC Ordinary Shares” means SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, collectively.
“SPAC Organizational Documents” means the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of SPAC, as in force and effective under the Act.
“SPAC Private Warrants” means the warrants that were issued to the Sponsor and the IPO Underwriter in a private placement that closed simultaneously with the IPO, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) SPAC Class A Ordinary Share at a purchase price of $11.50 per share.
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“SPAC Public Shares” means the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares that were included as part of each SPAC Public Unit issued in the IPO.
“SPAC Public Units” means the units issued in the IPO consisting of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one-half (1/2) of one SPAC Public Warrant.
“SPAC Public Warrants” means the warrants that were included as part of each SPAC Public Unit, each whole SPAC Public Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) SPAC Class A Ordinary Share at a purchase price of $11.50 per share.
“SPAC Securities” means SPAC Public Units, SPAC Ordinary Shares, SPAC Preference Shares and SPAC Warrants, collectively.
“SPAC Shareholders” means holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares.
“SPAC Warrants” means SPAC Private Warrants and SPAC Public Warrants, collectively.
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“Stock Exchange” means the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange, NYSE American or another national securities exchange as mutually determined by SPAC and the Company prior to the Closing.
“Taxes” means (a) all direct or indirect federal, state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, value-added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, tax collected at source, equalization levy, payroll, employment, social security and related contributions due in relation to the payment of compensation to employees, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, alternative minimum, estimated, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto, (b) any Liability for payment of amounts described in clause (a) whether as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group for any period or otherwise through operation of law and (c) any Liability for the payment of amounts described in clauses (a) or (b) as a result of any tax sharing, tax group, tax indemnity or tax allocation agreement with, or any other express or implied agreement to indemnify, any other person.
“Transaction Financing” means a capital raising transaction in connection with the Transactions structured as one or a combination of common equity, preferred equity, convertible equity or debt, non-redemption or backstop arrangements with respect to the Trust Account, in each case, whether such investment is into SPAC, the Company or Pubco.
“Trust Account” means the trust account established by SPAC with the net proceeds from the IPO and related private placement pursuant to the Trust Agreement in accordance with the IPO Prospectus.
“Trust Agreement” means that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2024, as it may be amended, by and between SPAC and the Trustee, as well as any other agreements entered into related to or governing the Trust Account.
“Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement, by and between SPAC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
“Warrant Agreement” means that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2024, by and between SPAC and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included in this proxy statement/prospectus that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters.
These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
| ● | statements regarding estimates and forecasts of market opportunity; |
| ● | expectations and timing related to the success, cost and timing of team and league development activities; |
| ● | financing and other business milestones; |
| ● | potential benefits of the Business Combination; and |
| ● | expectations relating to the Business Combination, including the proceeds of the Business Combination, the Transaction Financing, and the Company’s expected cash runway and the timing of the Closing of the Business Combination. |
These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of SPAC’s, the Company’s, and Pubco’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and may differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of SPAC, the Company, and Pubco.
These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including:
| ● | changes in business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; |
| ● | economic uncertainty and capital markets disruption, and ongoing military conflicts and geopolitical instability and inflation and interest rates; |
| ● | the risk that the approval of the SPAC Shareholders or any other condition to Closing is not obtained; |
| ● | failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; |
| ● | the ability to obtain and/or maintain the listing of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Public Warrants on a Stock Exchange; |
| ● | future financial performance of Pubco following the Business Combination; |
| ● | risks relating to any legal proceedings that may be instituted against SPAC, the Company, Pubco or others following the announcement of the Business Combination; |
| ● | global economic and political conditions; |
| ● | the effects of competition on the Company’s future business; and |
| ● | the amount of redemption requests made by SPAC Public Shareholders. |
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If any of these risks materialize or SPAC’s, the Company’s, and Pubco’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that none of SPAC, the Company, and Pubco presently know or that SPAC, the Company, and Pubco currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect SPAC’s, the Company’s, and Pubco’s expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the cautionary statements herein. SPAC, the Company, and Pubco anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause SPAC’s, the Company’s, and Pubco’s assessments to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing SPAC’s, the Company’s, and Pubco’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. None of SPAC, the Company, Pubco, nor any of their respective affiliates undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION
The questions and answers below highlight only selected information from this proxy statement/prospectus and only briefly address some commonly asked questions about the Extraordinary General Meeting and the proposals to be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, including with respect to the Business Combination. The following questions and answers do not include all the information that is important to SPAC Shareholders. SPAC Shareholders are urged to read carefully this entire proxy statement/prospectus, including the Annexes and the other documents referred to herein, to fully understand the Business Combination and the voting procedures for the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Q:Why am I receiving this proxy statement/prospectus?
A: | You are receiving this proxy statement/prospectus because you are a shareholder of SPAC and you are entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the matters set forth herein. This document serves as: |
| ● | a proxy statement of SPAC to solicit proxies for the Extraordinary General Meeting to vote on the proposals set forth herein; |
| ● | a prospectus of Post-Domestication SPAC to offer Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock, Post-Domestication Warrants, and the Post-Domestication Common Stock underlying the Post-Domestication Warrants to SPAC Shareholders in the Domestication, which is an intermediate and transitory step in the Business Combination; |
| ● | a prospectus of Pubco to offer Pubco Class A Common Stock, Pubco Warrants, and the Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying the Pubco Warrants, to SPAC Shareholders and Company equityholders in the Business Combination; and |
| ● | a resale prospectus of the Selling Securityholders with respect to the resale of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants and the Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying the Pubco Warrants to be received by them in the Business Combination. |
SPAC Shareholders are being asked to consider and vote upon, among other proposals, a proposal to approve and adopt the Business Combination Agreement and approve the Business Combination. SPAC is proposing to consummate the Business Combination with the Company and Pubco. The terms of the Business Combination Agreement are described in this proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the Business Combination Agreement is attached hereto as Annex A. SPAC urges its shareholders to read the Business Combination Agreement in its entirety.
THE VOTE OF SPAC SHAREHOLDERS IS IMPORTANT. SPAC SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO SUBMIT THEIR PROXIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER CAREFULLY REVIEWING THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND CAREFULLY CONSIDERING EACH OF THE PROPOSALS BEING PRESENTED AT THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING.
Q:What proposals are SPAC Shareholders being asked to vote on?
A: | At the Extraordinary General Meeting, SPAC is asking holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares to consider and vote upon the following proposals: |
| ● | The Business Combination Proposal; |
| ● | The Domestication Proposal; |
| ● | The SPAC Merger Proposal; |
| ● | The Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal; |
| ● | The Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals; |
| ● | The Equity Incentive Plan Proposal; and |
| ● | The Adjournment Proposal (if presented). |
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If SPAC’s shareholders do not approve each of the Condition Precedent Proposals, then the Business Combination Agreement could be terminated and the Business Combination may not be consummated. See “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal,” “Proposal No. 2 – The Domestication Proposal,” “Proposal No. 3 – The SPAC Merger Proposal,” “Proposal No. 4 – The Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal,” “Proposal No. 5 — The Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals,” “Proposal No. 6 – The Equity Incentive Plan Proposal,” and “Proposal No. 7 – The Adjournment Proposal” of this proxy statement/prospectus, respectively.
SPAC will hold the Extraordinary General Meeting to consider and vote upon these proposals. This proxy statement/prospectus contains important information about the Business Combination and the other matters to be acted upon at the Extraordinary General Meeting. SPAC Shareholders should read it carefully.
After careful consideration, the SPAC Board has determined that each of the Business Combination Proposal, the Domestication Proposal, the SPAC Merger Proposal, the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal, each of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal, if presented, are fair, advisable, and in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and unanimously recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” each of those proposals.
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of SPAC’s directors and/or officers may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director and/or officer between what he or they may believe is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and what he or they may believe is best for himself or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals. In addition, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” for a further discussion of these considerations.
Q:Are the proposals conditioned on one another?
A: | Yes. The Business Combination is conditioned on the approval of the Condition Precedent Proposals at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and each Condition Precedent Proposal is cross-conditioned on the approval of each other Condition Precedent Proposal. The Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals are conditioned on the approval of the Condition Precedent Proposals. The Adjournment Proposal is not conditioned upon the approval of any other proposal set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q:I am a holder of SPAC Public Shares. Why am I receiving this proxy statement/prospectus?
A: | At the effective time of the Domestication, by virtue of the Domestication and without any action on the part of any holder of SPAC Ordinary Shares, each issued and outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (for the avoidance of doubt, after effecting the Redemption, Unit Separation, and Class B Share Conversion) will convert automatically into one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock. The securities of Post-Domestication SPAC to be issued in the Domestication will be issued as an intermediate and transitory step in the Business Combination. Following the Domestication, by virtue of the SPAC Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock, each outstanding share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock will automatically convert into one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock. |
This proxy statement/prospectus includes important information about Pubco and the business of Pubco and its subsidiaries following consummation of the Business Combination. SPAC urges you to read the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus carefully.
Q.I am a holder of SPAC Warrants. Why am I receiving this proxy statement/prospectus?
A. | At the effective time of the Domestication, by virtue of the Domestication and without any action on the part of any holder of SPAC Warrants, each issued and outstanding SPAC Warrant (for the avoidance of doubt, after effecting the Unit Separation) will convert into one Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant. The securities of Post-Domestication SPAC to be issued in the Domestication will be issued as an intermediate and transitory step in the Business Combination. Following the Domestication, by virtue of the SPAC Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants, each outstanding Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant will automatically convert into one Pubco Warrant. |
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This proxy statement/prospectus includes important information about the business of Pubco and its subsidiaries following consummation of the Business Combination. SPAC urges you to read the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus carefully.
Q:Why is SPAC proposing the Business Combination?
A: | SPAC was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses. |
On June 27, 2024, SPAC completed an initial public offering of 23,000,000 SPAC Public Units (including the underwriters’ full exercise of their over-allotment option), at a price of $10.00 per SPAC Public Unit, generating gross proceeds of $230,000,000. Simultaneously with the completion of the SPAC IPO, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 4,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants for $1.00 per warrant, or an aggregate of $4,000,000, and the underwriter purchased an aggregate of 2,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants for $1.00 per warrant, or an aggregate of $2,000,000. A total of $230,000,000 of the proceeds from the SPAC IPO and private placement was placed in a U.S.-based trust account maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee. SPAC initially had 24 months from the closing of the SPAC IPO, or until June 27, 2026, to complete its initial business combination.
On June 26, 2026, SPAC held the Extension Meeting, at which shareholders approved an amendment to the SPAC Organizational Documents to extend the date by which SPAC has to consummate an initial business combination from June 27, 2026 to September 27, 2026, and provided that SPAC has executed a definitive agreement for an initial business combination by September 27, 2026 but has not consummated an initial business combination by such date, to permit the SPAC Board, in its sole discretion, to further extend such date up to three times in one-month increments, to up to December 27, 2026. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the SPAC Board has extended the date to consummate the initial business combination to November 27, 2026. In connection with the shareholder approval of the extension, an aggregate of 14,590,367 SPAC Public Shares were redeemed for an aggregate of approximately $158.5 million, representing approximately 63.4% of the SPAC Public Shares then outstanding. Since the IPO, SPAC’s activity has been limited to the evaluation of business combination target companies.
The Company is in the sports media business and is the holding company for BIG3 Basketball, LLC (“OpCo”), which operates a professional three-on-three basketball league. The Company has generated revenue through its existing operations, including revenue from team sales, sponsorships, advertising, event ticket sales and merchandise sales. The SPAC Board considered a wide variety of factors in connection with its evaluation of the Business Combination, including the SPAC Board’s review of the results of the due diligence conducted by SPAC’s management and its advisors. As a result, the SPAC Board concluded that the Business Combination with the Company would present a unique business combination opportunity and is fair, advisable and in the best interests of the SPAC and all of its shareholders. The SPAC Board also considered certain potentially material negative factors as well as certain potential conflicts of interest in arriving at that conclusion. These factors are discussed in greater detail in the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The SPAC Board’s Reasons for the Approval of the Business Combination,” as well as in the section entitled “Risk Factors”.
Q:What will happen in the Business Combination?
A:The Business Combination is structured as follows:
| (A) | Immediately prior to the Domestication, the following will occur: (1) the Redemption, (2) the Unit Separation, (3) the forfeiture by the Sponsor of the Sponsor Forfeited Shares, (4) the use by the Sponsor of up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares to incentivize non-redemptions or investments or otherwise to support the Business Combination (provided any portion not so used will be forfeited) and (5) the Class B Share Conversion. Of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be held by the Sponsor at Closing, an aggregate of 500,000 of such shares will be subject to vesting and will vest upon the satisfaction of certain earnout provisions as discussed in greater detail in the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 – The Business Combination Proposal – The Earnout.” |
| (B) | One day prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time, the Domestication will occur, whereby SPAC will re-domicile by transferring by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware, deregistering as a Cayman |
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| Islands exempted company and converting into a Delaware corporation upon filing the Cayman Conversion Documents with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies and the Delaware Conversion Documents with the State of Delaware. |
| (C) | At the effective time of the Domestication, each then-outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Share will automatically convert into one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock, and each outstanding whole SPAC Warrant will become one Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant, exercisable for one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock in lieu of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share. |
| (D) | At the SPAC Merger Effective Time: |
| ● | SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into Post-Domestication SPAC, with Post-Domestication SPAC continuing as the surviving corporation and the separate corporate existence of SPAC Merger Sub will cease. |
| ● | Each outstanding share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock (other than treasury shares) will automatically convert into the right to receive one (1) share of Pubco Class A Common Stock. |
| ● | Each outstanding Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant will convert into one Pubco Warrant, exercisable for shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock. |
| ● | Each share of SPAC Merger Sub common stock will convert into an equal number of shares of common stock of the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary, constituting the only outstanding capital stock of the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary. |
| ● | All shares of Pubco issued and outstanding immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time are cancelled and extinguished without conversion or payment. |
| (E) | Immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, each outstanding Company Convertible Security (other than Company Warrants) — including all principal and interest — will convert in full into Company Interests in accordance with its terms, and such convertible securities cease to exist. |
| (F) | At the Company Merger Effective Time: |
| ● | Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, with the Company continuing as the surviving limited liability company, and the separate existence of Company Merger Sub will cease. |
| ● | Each Company Interest outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time will be cancelled and extinguished in exchange for the right to receive Merger Consideration. |
| ● | Each Earnout Participant will receive Earnout Shares. |
| ● | Each outstanding Company Warrant will convert into a warrant exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock, assumed by Pubco in accordance with the terms of the Company Warrant. |
| ● | Any remaining Company Convertible Securities (other than converted warrants) and Preferred Unit (other than converted preferred unit) not exercised or converted prior to the Company Merger Effective Time will be cancelled, retired, and terminated. |
| ● | Each membership interest of Company Merger Sub will convert into an equal membership interest of Company Surviving Subsidiary, which become the only equity interests in Company Surviving Subsidiary with the same rights, powers and privileges as the membership interests so converted and will constitute the only equity interests in Company Surviving Subsidiary. |
| (G) | As a result of the Mergers, both Post-Domestication SPAC and the Company will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco, and Pubco will be renamed “Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.” and become a publicly traded company listed on the applicable Stock Exchange. |
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Q:What are the reasons for the structure and timing of the Business Combination and related financing?
A: | SPAC was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses. Following the closing of the SPAC IPO, SPAC’s officers and directors commenced an active search for prospective businesses or assets to acquire, considering more than 100 potential business combination ideas and engaging in discussions with approximately 30 targets under executed non-disclosure agreements, none of which imposed standstill or similar restrictions. The majority of the potential business combination target companies that SPAC considered were companies in the businesses of technology, industrial services, energy and energy transition, space, autonomous mobility, crypto currencies and sports teams among others. Other than the Company, SPAC was not aware of and did not consider other companies operating professional sports leagues. SPAC ultimately ceased pursuit of these prospective targets for reasons that included an inability to prevail in competitive auctions on acceptable terms, an inability to agree on valuation, targets lacking SEC-compliant financial statements on a workable timetable, targets lacking sufficient access to capital, targets not being ready to pursue a business combination or having preferable all-cash alternatives, and extensive structuring or regulatory considerations that would have added execution uncertainty. |
On April 2, 2026, Mr. Zeko contacted Mr. Graf to explore whether SPAC would be interested in a potential business combination with the Company. Mr. Graf and Fehmi Zeko had previously met in 2011 in connection with Mr. Graf’s first special purpose acquisition company. The SPAC and the Company signed an NDA on April 2, 2026, which did not include a standstill or similar provision. On April 3, 2026, Mr. Graf briefed the IPO Underwriter on the possible transaction, and the next day Mr. Graf briefed the SPAC Board on the Company opportunity. Throughout April 2026, the parties negotiated and ultimately entered into a non-binding letter of intent. From approximately May 2026 to June 2026, the parties negotiated the terms of the definitive Business Combination Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement. On June 11, 2026, the SPAC Board approved the Business Combination Agreement and related ancillary transaction documentation. On June 12, 2026, the Business Combination Agreement and the ancillary transaction documents were finalized and executed by SPAC, the Company and other parties thereto. The terms of the Business Combination Agreement are the result of extensive negotiations between the representatives of SPAC and the Company, each in consultation with its advisors.
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of the SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, waive the Minimum Cash Condition. If the Company waives the Minimum Cash Condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four Business Days of such event, however such condition may be waived at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, and, given such timing, you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting.
As contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the structure and timing of the Business Combination, including any Transaction Financing, are consistent with common practice in initial business combination transactions consummated by special purpose acquisition companies. The Transaction Financing, if any is obtained, is expected to strengthen Pubco’s balance sheet to support its operations and the execution of its strategy, and will reduce Pubco’s need to seek additional financing following the Closing, benefiting all stakeholders. The timing for the consummation of the Business Combination provided for in the Business Combination Agreement, which was effectively as soon as reasonably practicable following the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, was determined and agreed by the parties in light of general business considerations weighing in favor of consummating the transaction promptly and the deadline for SPAC to complete an initial business combination pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents.
For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Background of the Business Combination.”
Q:What will SPAC Shareholders receive in the Business Combination?
A: | At the effective time of the Domestication, each issued and outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (for the avoidance of doubt, after effecting the Redemption, Unit Separation, and Class B Share Conversion) will convert automatically into one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock. The securities of Post-Domestication SPAC to be issued in the Domestication will be issued as an intermediate and transitory step in the Business Combination. |
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At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, each issued and outstanding share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock will convert automatically into the right to receive one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock.
Q:What will SPAC Warrant holders receive in the Business Combination?
A: | At the effective time of the Domestication, each issued and outstanding whole SPAC Warrant (for the avoidance of doubt, after effecting the Unit Separation) will become one Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant exercisable for one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock in lieu of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share, pursuant to the Warrant Agreement. The securities of Post-Domestication SPAC to be issued in the Domestication will be issued as an intermediate and transitory step in the Business Combination. |
At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, each issued and outstanding Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant will convert into one Pubco Warrant and will be exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock in lieu of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock.
Q:What will SPAC Unitholders receive in the Business Combination?
A: | Immediately prior to the consummation of the Domestication, each SPAC Unit then outstanding and not previously separated will be automatically separated into its component parts and the holder of each SPAC Unit will be deemed to hold one (1) SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one-half of one SPAC Public Warrant (provided that no fractional SPAC Public Warrants will be issued upon the separation of the SPAC Public Units and only whole warrants will be assumed by Pubco and become Pubco Public Warrants). Upon the consummation of the Domestication, each such SPAC Class A Ordinary Share will be exchanged for one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and each whole SPAC Public Warrant will become one Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant. The securities of Post-Domestication SPAC to be issued in the Domestication will be issued as an intermediate and transitory step in the Business Combination. Upon the consummation of the SPAC Merger, each such share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock will be exchanged for one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock and each Post-Domestication SPAC Public Warrant will become one Pubco Public Warrant. |
Q:What will Company equityholders receive in the Business Combination?
A: | The aggregate consideration to be paid or payable to holders of the Company Securities as of the Company Merger Effective Time pursuant to the Company Merger will consist of a number of newly issued shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (x) the result of (i) $290,000,000 plus (ii) the Company’s Cash Position at the Company Merger Effective Time, divided by (y) $10.83. |
At the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company Interests issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Company Interests issued upon conversions and exercises) will be cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right for the respective Sellers to receive:
| i. | to the Sellers (other than the High Vote Sellers) holding the Class A Units, Class B Units and Preferred Units, their respective Percentage Merger Consideration in the form of Pubco Class A Common Stock; and |
| ii. | to the High Vote Sellers holding the Class A Units, Class B Units and Preferred Units, their respective Percentage Merger Consideration in the form of Pubco Class B Common Stock. |
Q:What is the effect of the dual class structure?
A: | The Proposed Pubco Charter will authorize two classes of Pubco Common Stock: Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock. Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holders thereof to one vote per share on all matters on which the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will be entitled to vote, and Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holders thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. Based on the 20,210,627 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 19,976,476 shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock expected to be outstanding at the Closing (assuming the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, no Transaction Financing, the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, but including the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assuming the Company’s Cash Position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026)), the holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock are expected to have 20,210,627 votes in the aggregate and the holders of Pubco Class B Common Stock are expected to have 199,764,760 votes in the aggregate on all matters submitted to the holders of shares |
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of Pubco Common Stock for a vote. The Pubco Class B Common Stock will be exclusively held by the Big3 Founders. Accordingly, the Dual Class Structure will increase the voting power of the Big3 Founders. If additional shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock are issued after the Closing (which will be permitted pursuant to the Proposed Pubco Charter in connection with a dividend or stock adjustment), the effect of the Dual Class Structure on the concentration of voting control may increase. The Pubco Class A Common Stock and the Pubco Class B Common Stock have identical economic rights on a per share basis, including dividend and liquidation rights. A copy of the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws are attached to the proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D and Annex E.
Additionally, each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Pubco Class A Common Stock on the Final Conversion Date.
In addition, each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock held by a Big3 Founder will automatically convert into one fully paid and non-assessable share of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon the earliest of: (a) 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day immediately following the date on which that Big3 Founder ceases to hold at least 50% of the Pubco Class B Common Stock it held immediately following consummation of the Business Combination (as equitably adjusted for any reclassification, stock dividend, subdivision, combination or recapitalization of Pubco Class B Common Stock); (b) any transfer, assignment, sale, conveyance, hypothecation or other disposition, whether voluntary, involuntary, for value or by operation of law, other than to a Permitted Transferee; and (c) the death, incapacity, or adjudicated incompetency or placement under guardianship or conservatorship of a Big3 Founder. Each such conversion occurs automatically, without further action by the holder and regardless of whether any certificate representing the converted shares is surrendered; immediately upon conversion, the holder is treated for all purposes as a holder of Pubco Class A Common Stock into which the Pubco Class B Common Stock converted. Separately, each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock is convertible at any time at the holder’s option into one fully paid and non-assessable share of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon written notice to Pubco.
See “Risk Factors — Pubco will have a dual-class common stock structure under which each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock carries ten votes and each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock carries one vote, concentrating voting control with the Big3 Founders.”
Q: | Will SPAC and Company obtain new financing in connection with the Business Combination and are there any arrangements to help ensure that SPAC will have sufficient funds to consummate the Business Combination and that Pubco has sufficient funds to operate the Company’s business following the Closing? |
A: | Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, SPAC is required to use reasonable best efforts to enter into Financing Agreements with accredited investors for one or more Transaction Financings by Pubco on such terms and structuring, and using such strategy, placement agents and approach as SPAC and the Company reasonably agree. |
Pubco expects to use the proceeds from the Transaction Financing, if any, together with the proceeds received from the Trust Account, for general corporate purposes, including: (i) to fund operating expenses related to the growth of its business, including for research and development activities, and to support sales and marketing activities, compliance, legal, accounting, facilities and other overhead, and (ii) capital expenditures.
Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, Sponsor agreed to provide financing support in connection with the Business Combination in the form of the Sponsor Investment. If the Closing SPAC Cash is less than $100,000,000, the Sponsor will be required invest, or cause its affiliate or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing. If Closing SPAC Cash is greater than $100,000,000, then Sponsor has the option to make such Sponsor Investment. The purchase price of the Sponsor Investment will be equal to the lowest purchase price paid by any other investor in the Transaction Financing and will be made upon such other terms that are no less favorable to the Sponsor (or such affiliate or designee) than the terms offered to any other investor in any Transaction Financing.
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As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, waive the Minimum Cash Condition. If the Company waives the Minimum Cash Condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of such event, however such condition may be waived at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, and, given such timing, you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The Business Combination Agreement — Conditions to Closing.”
Q: | What equity stake will current SPAC Shareholders and Company equityholders hold in Pubco immediately after the Closing? |
A: | The following tables illustrate estimated ownership levels in Pubco, immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination, based on varying levels of redemptions by SPAC Public Shareholders. Each redemptions scenario assumes no Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment, the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, includes the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assumes the Company’s Cash Position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026). |
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The following table excludes the dilutive effect of Pubco Warrants, Company Converted Warrants, and Pubco Class A Common Stock that will initially be available for issuance under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | No Additional Redemptions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Scenario | | 25% Redemptions Scenario | | 50% Redemptions Scenario | | 75% Redemptions Scenario | | 100% Redemptions Scenario |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pro Forma Ownership | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Public Shares(2) | | 8,409,633 |
| — |
| 20.9 | % | 3.8 | % | 6,307,225 |
| — |
| 16.6 | % | 2.9 | % | 4,204,817 |
| — |
| 11.7 | % | 1.9 | % | 2,102,409 |
| — |
| 6.2 | % | 1.0 | % | — |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Founder Shares(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) | | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 7.5 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 7.9 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 8.3 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 8.9 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 9.4 | % | 1.4 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Company shareholders (other than Big3 Founders) | | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 18.2 | % | 3.3 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 19.2 | % | 3.4 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 20.3 | % | 3.4 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 21.6 | % | 3.4 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 23.0 | % | 3.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Big3 Founders | | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 53.4 | % | 91.5 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 56.4 | % | 92.4 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 59.7 | % | 93.3 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 63.4 | % | 94.2 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 67.6 | % | 95.1 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | | 20,210,627 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 18,108,219 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 16,005,811 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 13,903,403 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 11,800,994 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*Less than 1%.
| (1) | Each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote, and each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. |
| (2) | Amount comprises the unredeemed Public Shares in a variety of redemptions scenarios. This amount reflects the assumed redemption of (i) 0 shares under the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, (ii) 2,102,408 shares under the 25% Redemptions Scenario, (iii) 4,204,816 shares under the 50% Redemptions Scenario, (iv) 6,307,224 shares under the 75% Redemptions Scenario, and (v) 8,409,633 shares under the 100% Redemptions Scenario. |
| (3) | In each redemptions scenario, includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, assuming that all such shares will be used to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco or otherwise to support the Transactions. Such amount includes 425,602 Assigned Shares. On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements with Non-Redeeming Shareholders covering 4,256,015 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, under which those shareholders agreed not to redeem (or to rescind any redemption of) such shares in connection with a vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal presented at the Extension Meeting. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders were not affiliates of SPAC, the Sponsor, or SPAC’s officers or directors. In exchange, the Sponsor agreed to transfer 425,602 Founder Shares to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders promptly after closing of the Business Combination, conditioned on (i) the shares not being redeemed, (ii) approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, and (iii) consummation of the Business Combination. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders also received registration rights for the Assigned Shares under the same registration rights agreement used by the Sponsor. The Assigned Shares come from the Sponsor’s pool of up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares earmarked to incentivize non-redemptions/investment in support of the Business Combination. Any unused portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares will be forfeited at the Closing. |
| (4) | Amount includes 30,000 Founder Shares held by each of SPAC’s Independent Directors. |
| (5) | Amount includes 300,000 Transferred Shares, assuming the repayment of the following loans in cash at the Closing. On June 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the Convertible Promissory Note, replacing a prior promissory note dated June 4, 2026, and consolidating $200,000 in working capital advances previously made by Harraden into a fully drawn, non-interest bearing, unsecured Loan that was fully outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and is due upon the earlier of the initial business |
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| combination or SPAC’s liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, with Harraden also entitled to one warrant per dollar funded, issuable immediately prior to Closing on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants issued to the Sponsor. Subsequently, on August 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the August Convertible Promissory Note, under which SPAC may borrow up to an additional $300,000 for working capital and general corporate purposes on similar non-interest bearing, unsecured terms due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the August Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, and for each dollar funded Harraden is entitled to one warrant to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants, plus one unrestricted SPAC Ordinary Share transferred by the Sponsor, each issuable or to be transferred, as applicable, immediately prior to Closing. |
| (6) | Amount includes 500,000 Founder Shares that will be subject to vesting and will vest: (a) if the funds in the Trust Account plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, or (c) if there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater or equal to the Earnout Price. |
| (7) | Amount excludes 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, which will be forfeited by the Sponsor upon the consummation of the Business Combination. |
| (8) | Includes 507,964 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (9) | Includes 1,492,036 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
Dilutive Instruments
The following table shows possible sources of dilution and the extent of such dilution that non-redeeming SPAC Public Shareholders could experience in connection with the closing of the Business Combination. In an effort to illustrate the extent of such dilution, the table below assumes the exercise of all Pubco Warrants for a cash exercise price of $11.50. The table excludes Pubco Common Stock that will initially be available for issuance under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, as such shares will not be outstanding on the Closing Date.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | No Additional Redemptions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ||||||
| | Scenario | | 25% Redemptions Scenario | | 50% Redemptions Scenario | | 75% Redemptions Scenario | | 100% Redemptions Scenario |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | |
|
| | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | |
|
| | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent |
|
| | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of |
|
| | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting |
|
Pro Forma Ownership | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) |
|
Public Shares(2) | | 8,409,633 |
| — |
| 14.6 | % | 3.5 | % | 6,307,225 |
| — |
| 11.3 | % | 2.7 | % | 4,204,817 |
| — |
| 7.9 | % | 1.8 | % | 2,102,409 |
| — |
| 4.1 | % | * |
| — |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % |
Founder Shares(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) | | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.2 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.4 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.6 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.8 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 6.1 | % | 1.3 | % |
Public Warrants | | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 19.9 | % | 4.8 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 20.7 | % | 4.9 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 21.5 | % | 4.9 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 22.4 | % | 5.0 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 23.3 | % | 5.0 | % |
Private Placement Warrants(10) | | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 10.4 | % | 2.5 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 10.8 | % | 2.5 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 11.2 | % | 2.6 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 11.7 | % | 2.6 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 12.2 | % | 2.6 | % |
Company shareholders (other than Big3 Founders) | | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 12.7 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 13.1 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 13.7 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 14.2 | % | 3.2 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 14.8 | % | 3.2 | % |
Big3 Founders | | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 37.2 | % | 84.7 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 38.6 | % | 85.5 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 40.1 | % | 86.3 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 41.8 | % | 87.1 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 43.6 | % | 87.9 | % |
Total | | 37,710,627 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 35,608,219 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 33,505,811 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 31,403,403 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 29,003,994 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
* Less than 1%.
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| (1) | Each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote, and each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. |
| (2) | Amount comprises the unredeemed Public Shares in a variety of redemptions scenarios. This amount reflects the assumed redemption of (i) 0 shares under the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, (ii) 2,102,408 shares under the 25% Redemptions Scenario, (iii) 4,204,816 shares under the 50% Redemptions Scenario, (iv) 6,307,224 shares under the 75% Redemptions Scenario, and (v) 8,409,633 shares under the 100% Redemptions Scenario. |
| (3) | In each redemptions scenario, includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, assuming that all such shares will be used to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco or otherwise to support the Transactions. Such amount includes 425,602 Assigned Shares. On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements with Non-Redeeming Shareholders covering 4,256,015 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, under which those shareholders agreed not to redeem (or to rescind any redemption of) such shares in connection with a vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal presented at the Extension Meeting. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders were not affiliates of SPAC, the Sponsor, or SPAC’s officers or directors. In exchange, the Sponsor agreed to transfer 425,602 Founder Shares to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders promptly after closing of the Business Combination, conditioned on (i) the shares not being redeemed, (ii) approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, and (iii) consummation of the Business Combination. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders also received registration rights for the Assigned Shares under the same registration rights agreement used by the Sponsor. The Assigned Shares come from the Sponsor’s pool of up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares earmarked to incentivize non-redemptions/investment in support of the Business Combination. Any unused portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares will be forfeited at the Closing. |
| (4) | Amount includes 30,000 Founder Shares held by each of SPAC’s Independent Directors. |
| (5) | Amount includes 300,000 Transferred Shares, assuming the repayment of the following loans in cash at the Closing. On June 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the Convertible Promissory Note, replacing a prior promissory note dated June 4, 2026, and consolidating $200,000 in working capital advances previously made by Harraden into a fully drawn, non-interest bearing, unsecured Loan that was fully outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and is due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or SPAC’s liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, with Harraden also entitled to one warrant per dollar funded, issuable immediately prior to Closing on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants issued to the Sponsor. Subsequently, on August 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the August Convertible Promissory Note, under which SPAC may borrow up to an additional $300,000 for working capital and general corporate purposes on similar non-interest bearing, unsecured terms due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the August Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, and for each dollar funded Harraden is entitled to one warrant to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants, plus one unrestricted SPAC Ordinary Share transferred by the Sponsor, each issuable or to be transferred, as applicable, immediately prior to Closing. |
22
| (6) | Amount includes 500,000 Founder Shares that will be subject to vesting and will vest: (a) if the funds in the Trust Account plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, or (c) if there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater or equal to the Earnout Price. |
| (7) | Amount excludes 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, which will be forfeited by the Sponsor upon the consummation of the Business Combination. |
| (8) | Includes 507,964 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (9) | Includes 1,492,036 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (10) | Amount assumes that the SPAC Private Warrants required to be issued or transferred to Harraden pursuant to the Loan and the August Loan are transferred to Harraden by the Sponsor, resulting in no additional dilution. |
23
Share ownership presented in the two tables above is only presented for illustrative purposes and does not necessarily reflect what Pubco’s share ownership will be after the Closing. SPAC and Company cannot predict how many of the SPAC Public Shareholders will exercise their right to have their SPAC Public Shares redeemed for cash. As a result, the redemption amount and the number of SPAC Public Shares redeemed in connection with the Business Combination may differ from the amounts presented above, and therefore the ownership percentages of SPAC Public Shareholders may also differ if the actual redemptions are different from these assumptions. The SPAC Public Shareholders that do not elect to redeem their SPAC Public Shares will experience immediate dilution as a result of the Business Combination. The SPAC Public Shareholders currently own approximately 59.4% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. As noted in the above table, even if no SPAC Public Shareholders redeem their SPAC Public Shares in the Business Combination, the SPAC Public Shareholders’ ownership will decrease from approximately 59.4% of the SPAC Ordinary Shares prior to the Business Combination to owning approximately 20.9% of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 3.8% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock. As redemptions increase, the overall percentage ownership and voting percentage held by Sponsor, other holders of Founder Shares, and Company equityholders will increase as compared to the overall percentage ownership and voting percentage held by SPAC Public Shareholders, thereby increasing dilution to SPAC Public Shareholders. If the amount of any Transaction Financing is greater than the assumptions above, such financing would further increase dilution to SPAC Public Shareholders. Additionally, to the extent that the Sponsor Investment is made in the form of equity or equity-linked securities, the Sponsor will receive such additional equity pursuant to such investment, which will increase the Sponsor’s percentage ownership and decrease the percentage ownership of the SPAC Public Shareholders and others. The number of such potential equity interests will not be calculable until definitive agreements for any Sponsor Investment are entered into, if any. For more information about the consideration to be received in the Business Combination, these scenarios, and the underlying assumptions, see “Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information.” See also “Risk Factors — The SPAC Public Shareholders will experience immediate dilution as a consequence of the issuance of Pubco Common Stock as consideration in the Business Combination, potential issuances in connection with financing, and due to future issuances of equity awards to Company employees, directors, or consultants. Having a minority share position may reduce the influence that our current shareholders have on the management of Pubco.”
Each of the 25% Redemptions Scenario, 50% Redemptions Scenario, 75% Redemptions Scenario, and 100% Redemptions Scenario results in an amount of net cash, after the redemptions and the payment of transaction expenses, that is not sufficient to meet the Minimum Cash Condition, without additional financing. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may elect not to consummate the Business Combination. Alternately, in the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, waive the Minimum Cash Condition. If the Company waives the Minimum Cash Condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of such event, however such condition may be waived at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, and, given such timing, you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Q:Who is the Sponsor?
A. | Graf Global Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor, is a Delaware limited liability company. The Sponsor was formed prior to the SPAC IPO for the purpose of acting as the sponsor of SPAC. It is responsible for organizing, directing, and managing the business and affairs of SPAC from its incorporation, through the consummation of the SPAC IPO, the negotiation of the Business Combination Agreement, until the consummation of the Business Combination. The Sponsor’s activities included identifying and negotiating terms with the underwriter of the SPAC IPO, other third-party service providers such as SPAC’s auditors and legal counsel, and SPAC’s directors and officers, and searching for and negotiating with potential business combination targets. Other than its investment in SPAC and its work on behalf of SPAC, the Sponsor is not engaged in any business. |
The Sponsor made an initial investment of $25,000 to cover certain pre-IPO expenses, in exchange for the issuance of 7,187,500 Founder Shares, or approximately $0.003 per share. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. Of the 5,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor following the February 8, 2024 surrender, (i) 90,000 Founder Shares were transferred to three independent directors
24
(30,000 Founder Shares each) on June 7, 2024, (ii) 2,750,000 Founder Shares will be forfeited and surrendered immediately before the Domestication, (iii) 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares may be transferred by the Sponsor, in its discretion, to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco and if not so transferred or used will be forfeited, and (iv) 500,000 of the Founder Shares will be subject to an earnout. Additionally, pursuant to the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, Harraden has the option to receive Conversion Shares and is entitled to receive Issuance Warrants and Transferred Shares. The Issuance Warrants are identical to the SPAC Private Warrants held by the Sponsor. The Transferred Shares are to be transferred from the Sponsor to Harraden for each dollar funded by Harraden pursuant to the August Convertible Promissory Note. The Transferred Shares are subject to no transfer restrictions or any other lock-up provisions, earn outs, or other contingencies. Under both the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, in lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares, Issuance Warrants, and/or Transferred Shares, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy SPAC’s related obligations. The issuance and/or transfer of these securities is expected to reduce the post-Closing ownership percentage of the Sponsor. For more information on the Promissory Notes, please see “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions – Promissory Notes.”
Simultaneously
Additionally, to the extent that the Sponsor Investment is made in the form of equity or equity-linked securities, the Sponsor will receive such additional equity pursuant to such investment. The number of such potential equity interests will not be calculable until definitive agreements for any Sponsor Investment are entered into, if any.
Mr. Graf has served as a founder, executive officer, and/or director of seven special purpose acquisition companies, which are summarized as follows:
Graf Acquisition Corp. IV/NKGen Biotech, Inc.
Mr. Graf founded and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Graf Acquisition Corp. IV (“Graf IV”), a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company. Graf IV completed its initial public offering in May 2021, in which it sold 17,161,500 units, each consisting of one share of common stock and one-fifth of one redeemable warrant, generating gross proceeds of approximately $172,000,000. In May 2023, Graf IV held a special meeting of stockholders to seek stockholder approval to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from May 25, 2023 to September 29, 2023, and to permit the board of directors to elect to wind up operations on an earlier date if desired. In connection with the extension, Graf IV agreed to deposit or cause to be deposited $0.03 for each public share that was not redeemed, up to an aggregate of $165,000 for each calendar month (or a pro rata portion thereof if less than a full month), until the earlier to occur of September 29, 2023, the closing of an initial business combination, and liquidation. In connection with the extension, 11,078,000 public shares were redeemed. Graf IV completed its initial business combination with NKGen Biotech, Inc. (“NKGen”) in September 2023 for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $161 million in stock consideration. In connection with the special meeting of stockholders of Graf IV to approve the business combination, shareholders holding 3,386,528 public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares. Together with the public shares redeemed in connection with the extension, an aggregate of approximately 84.3% of the public shares issued in Graf IV’s initial public offering were redeemed. Mr. Graf assumed the role of Interim Chief Financial Officer of NKGen upon the closing of the business combination. Following the business combination, NKGen’s common stock and warrants initially traded on Nasdaq, and are now traded over the counter on the OTC Expert Market, under the symbols “NKGN” and “NKGNW”, respectively; share prices for such securities are not publicly available.
Catcha Investment Corp./Crown LNG Holdings Limited
Mr. Graf served as an independent director of Catcha Investment Corp. (“Catcha”), a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company, from February 2021 until the completion of its business combination in July 2024. Catcha completed its initial public offering in February 2021, in which it sold 30,000,000 units, each consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant, generating gross proceeds of approximately $300,000,000. In
25
February 2023, Catcha held an extraordinary general meeting to seek shareholder approval to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from February 17, 2023 to February 17, 2024, and to permit the board of directors to elect to wind up operations on an earlier date if desired. In connection with the extension, Catcha agreed to deposit or cause to be deposited $75,000 each month of the extension (or a pro rata portion thereof if less than a month) until the earlier of (i) the date of the extraordinary general meeting held in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an initial business combination, and (ii) the date that $900,000 has been deposited. In connection with the extension, 27,785,141 public shares were redeemed. In February 2024, Catcha held a second extraordinary general meeting to seek shareholder approval to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from February 17, 2024 by up to three times for one month each to up to May 17, 2024. In connection with the extension, 641,303 public shares were redeemed. In May 2024, Catcha held a third extraordinary general meeting to seek shareholder approval to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from May 17, 2024 by up to three times for one month each to up to July 17, 2024. In connection with the extension, 208,674 public shares were redeemed. Catcha completed its initial business combination with Crown LNG Holding AS (“Crown LNG”) in July 2024. In connection with the extraordinary general meeting to approve the business combination, shareholders holding 1,144,993 public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares. Together with the public shares redeemed in connection with the extensions, an aggregate of approximately 99.3% of the public shares issued in Catcha’s initial public offering were redeemed. Crown LNG’s securities were delisted from Nasdaq in October 2025.
Graf Industrial Corp./Velodyne Lidar, Inc.
Mr. Graf founded and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Graf Industrial Corp. (“Graf I”), a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company. Graf I completed its initial public offering in October 2018, in which it sold 24,376,512 units, each consisting of one share of common stock and one warrant, generating gross proceeds of approximately $244,000,000. In April 2020, Graf I held a special meeting of stockholders to seek stockholder approval to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from April 18, 2020 to July 31, 2020. In connection with the extension, 12,921,275 public shares were redeemed. Graf I completed its initial business combination with Velodyne Lidar, Inc. (“Velodyne”) in September 2020, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.5 billion in cash and stock consideration. In connection with the special meeting of stockholders of Graf I to approve the business combination, shareholders holding 3,286 public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares. Together with the public shares redeemed in connection with the extension, an aggregate of approximately 53.0% of the public shares issued in Graf I’s initial public offering were redeemed. Mr. Graf served as a director of Velodyne from September 2020 to February 2021. Velodyne’s completed a merger of equals with Ouster Inc in February 2023 and the common stock and warrants are now traded on Nasdaq under the symbols “OUST” and “OUSTW”, respectively.
Platinum Eagle Acquisition Corp./Target Hospitality Corp.
Mr. Graf served as a non-independent director of Platinum Eagle Acquisition Corp. (“Platinum Eagle”), which was founded by Jeff Sagansky and Eli Baker and in which Harry Sloan was an initial shareholder and was a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company. Platinum Eagle completed its initial public offering in January 2018, in which it sold 32,500,000 units, each containing one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one warrant, generating gross proceeds of $325,000,000. There was no vote held to extend the date by which Platinum Eagle was required to complete its initial business combination because Platinum Eagle completed its initial business combination within its initial completion window of 24 months of following its initial public offering. Platinum Eagle completed its initial business combination in March 2019, in which it acquired all of the outstanding equity interests of Target Logistics Management, LLC and RL Signor Holdings, LLC for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.3 billion. In connection with the extraordinary general meeting to approve the business combination, shareholders holding approximately 18.2 million public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares, or an aggregate of approximately 56% of the public shares issued in Platinum Eagle’s initial public offering. In the transaction, Platinum Eagle changed its name to Target Hospitality Corp. (“Target Hospitality”). Target Hospitality is a vertically integrated specialty rental and hospitality services company. Target Hospitality’s common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “TH”.
Double Eagle Acquisition Corp./ WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.
In 2015, Mr. Graf co-founded, together with Mr. Sagansky and Mr. Baker, Double Eagle Acquisition Corp. (“Double Eagle”), a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company in which Mr. Graf served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Sloan was also an initial shareholder. Double Eagle completed its initial
26
public offering in September 2015, in which it sold 50,000,000 units, each containing one Class A ordinary share and one warrant, generating gross proceeds of $500,000,000. In September 2017, Double Eagle held an extraordinary general meeting to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from September 16, 2017 to December 31, 2017. In connection with the extension, 295,671 public shares were redeemed. Double Eagle completed its initial business combination in November 2017, in which it acquired 90% of the shares of Williams Scotsman International, Inc. (KNA WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp., “WillScot”) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.1 billion, paid in cash and common stock. In connection with the extraordinary general meeting to approve the business combination, shareholders holding 21,128,456 public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares. Together with the public shares redeemed in connection with the extension, an aggregate of approximately 42.8% of the public shares issued in Double Eagle’s initial public offering were redeemed. In the transaction, Double Eagle changed its name to WillScot Corporation. WillScot is a specialty rental services market leader providing modular space and portable storage solutions to diverse end markets across North America. WillScot’s common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “WSC.”
Silver Eagle Acquisition Corp./Videocon d2h Limited
In 2013, Messrs. Graf, Sagansky and Sloan founded Silver Eagle Acquisition Corp. (“Silver Eagle”), a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company. Mr. Graf served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer. Silver Eagle completed its initial public offering in July 2013, in which it sold 32,500,000 units, each containing one share of common stock and one warrant, generating gross proceeds of $325,000,000. There was no vote held to extend the date by which Silver Eagle was required to complete its initial business combination because Silver Eagle completed its initial business combination within its initial completion window of 21 months of following its initial public offering, or 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering if it had executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial business combination within 21 months. Silver Eagle completed its business combination in March 2015, in which it contributed approximately $273.3 million to Videocon d2h Limited (“VDTH”), in exchange for equity shares of VDTH represented by American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) that were listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “VDTH,” upon the closing of the business combination. VDTH is a leading direct-to-home pay-TV service provider in India. In connection with the special meeting of stockholders to approve the business combination, one stockholder holding just 100 public shares exercised its rights to redeem those shares, or an aggregate of less than 1% of the public shares issued in Silver Eagle’s initial public offering. In November 2016, VDTH agreed to merge with and into Dish TV India Limited (NSE: DISHTV) under a scheme of arrangement, a transaction which ultimately was completed in March 2018 and resulted in the exchange of VDTH ADS for common stock of Dish TV listed in India or Global Depositary Receipts representing Dish TV shares that are listed on the London Stock Exchange. Following the closing of the initial business combination, Mr. Graf served as a special advisor to VDTH in 2015 and 2016, with a focus on investor relations, mergers and acquisition and debt financing, and served as an alternate member of the board of directors of VDTH from the completion of the business combination through completion of the merger with Dish TV in March 2018.
Global Eagle Acquisition Corp./Row 44, Inc. and Advanced Inflight Alliance AG
In 2011, Messrs. Graf, Sagansky and Sloan founded Global Eagle Acquisition Corp. (“Global Eagle”), a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company. Mr. Graf served as Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer. Global Eagle completed its initial public offering in May 2011, in which it sold 18,992,500 units, each containing one share of common stock and one warrant, generating gross proceeds of approximately $190 million. There was no vote held to extend the date by which Global Eagle was required to complete its initial business combination because Global Eagle completed its initial business combination within its initial completion window of 21 months of following its initial public offering. Global Eagle completed its business combination in January 2013, acquiring 100% of the shares of Row 44, Inc. (“Row 44”), and 86% of the shares of AIA, and changed its name to Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. (“GEE”). GEE is a worldwide provider of media content, connectivity systems and operational data solutions to the travel industry. In connection with the special meeting of stockholders to approve the business combination, stockholders holding 10,164,081 public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares, or an aggregate of approximately 53.5% of the public shares issued in Global Eagle’s initial public offering. Following the closing of the initial business combination, Mr. Graf served as a special advisor to GEE in 2013, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financing and investor relations, and served as Vice Chairman of the board of supervisors of Global Entertainment AG, the intermediate holding company for AIA in 2013 to 2014. In July 2020, GEE filed a voluntary petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware seeking relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code.
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For information about conflicts of interest with respect to the Sponsor, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination”. For information about the compensation of the Sponsor and our officers and directors, see “Information About SPAC — Executive and Director Compensation”. For information about the securities owned by the Sponsor, including transfer restrictions and required surrender and forfeitures, see “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” and “Certain Relationships and Related Persons Transactions”.
Q: | Did the SPAC Board obtain a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in determining whether or not to proceed with the Business Combination? |
A: | No, |
The officers and directors of SPAC have substantial experience in evaluating the operating and financial merits of companies from a wide range of industries, and the SPAC Board concluded that this experience and background enabled them to make the necessary analyses and determinations regarding the Business Combination and its terms. The lack of a third-party valuation or fairness opinion may lead an increased number of shareholders to vote against the proposed Business Combination or seek to redeem their SPAC Public Shares for cash, which could potentially impact SPAC’s ability to consummate the Business Combination or adversely affect Pubco’s liquidity following the consummation of the Business Combination. The risks related to the SPAC Board not obtaining a third-party valuation or fairness opinion or any similar report or appraisal in connection with the determination to approve the Business Combination are further described under the heading “Risks Related to the Business Combination” below, under the subheading “Neither the SPAC Board nor any committee thereof obtained a third-party valuation or fairness opinion (or any similar report or appraisal) in determining whether or not to pursue the Business Combination. Consequently, you have no assurance from an independent source that the price SPAC is paying for Company is fair to SPAC — and, by extension, its securityholders — from a financial point of view.”
Q: | Has the announcement of the Business Combination affected the trading price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, SPAC Public Units and SPAC Public Warrants? |
A: | On June 11, 2026, the last trading day before announcement of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the closing price of the SPAC Public Units on NYSE American was $11.10, the closing price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares on NYSE American was $10.82, and the closing price of the SPAC Public Warrants on NYSE American was $0.15. As of October 20, 2026, the closing price of the SPAC Public Units on NYSE American was $11.01, the closing price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares on NYSE American was $10.93, and the closing price of the SPAC Public Warrants on NYSE American was $0.25. |
Q: | Are there material differences between my rights as a SPAC Shareholder and my rights as a Pubco Shareholder? |
A: | Yes, there are certain material differences between your rights as a SPAC Shareholder and your rights as a Pubco Shareholder. Please read the sections entitled “Description of Pubco Securities” and “Comparison of Corporate Governance and Shareholder Rights.” |
Q: | Do I have redemption rights? |
A: | If you are a holder of SPAC Public Shares, you have the right to demand that SPAC redeem such shares for a pro rata portion of the cash held in SPAC’s Trust Account (including interest earned on the Trust Account not previously released to SPAC to pay its taxes, net of taxes payable). These rights to demand redemption of the SPAC Public Shares are sometimes referred to herein as “redemption rights.” In connection with the SPAC IPO, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors entered into the Insider Letter with SPAC, pursuant to which they agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares held by them in connection with shareholder approval of a proposed initial business combination. Such redemption rights waiver was provided at the time of the SPAC IPO without any separate consideration paid. Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, |
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The closing price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares on [●], 2026, the Record Date, was $[●]. The cash held in the Trust Account on the Record Date was approximately $[●] million ($[●] per SPAC Public Share). Prior to exercising redemption rights, SPAC Shareholders should verify the market price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares as they may receive higher proceeds from the sale of their SPAC Public Shares in the public market than from exercising their redemption rights if the market price per share is higher than the Redemption Price. SPAC cannot assure shareholders that they will be able to sell their SPAC Public Shares in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the Redemption Price, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares when SPAC Public Shareholders wish to sell their shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of SPAC Public Shares, together with any affiliate or any other person with whom he, she or it is acting in concert or as a partnership, syndicate or other group, will be restricted from seeking redemption with respect to more than 15% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Public Shares. Accordingly, all SPAC Public Shares in excess of 15% held by a shareholder, together with any affiliate of such holder or any other person with whom such holder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will not be redeemed.
Q: | Will my ability to exercise redemption rights be impacted by how I vote on the Business Combination Proposal? |
A: | No. You may exercise your redemption rights irrespective of whether you vote your SPAC Public Shares for or against the Business Combination Proposal, the Domestication Proposal, the SPAC Merger Proposal, the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal, the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal, or any other proposal described by this proxy statement/prospectus and regardless of whether you hold SPAC Public Shares on the Record Date. As a result, the Business Combination Agreement can be approved by shareholders who will redeem their SPAC Public Shares and no longer remain shareholders, leaving shareholders who choose not to redeem their SPAC Public Shares holding shares in a company with a less liquid trading market, fewer shareholders, less cash and the potential inability to meet the listing standards of the Stock Exchange. |
Q: | How do I exercise my redemption rights? |
A: | If you are a holder of SPAC Public Shares and |
Any request for redemption, once made by a holder of SPAC Public Shares, may be withdrawn at any time up to the deadline for submitting redemption requests and thereafter, only with SPAC’s consent, until the Closing. If you tender or deliver your SPAC Public Shares (and share certificates (if any) and other redemption forms) for redemption to Continental and later decide to withdraw such request prior to the deadline for submitting redemption requests, you may request that Continental return the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting Continental at the address listed at the end of this section.
Any written demand of redemption rights must be received by Continental prior to the redemption deadline. No demand for redemption will be honored unless the holder’s SPAC Public Shares have been delivered (either physically or electronically) to Continental prior to the deadline for submitting redemption requests.
If the redemption demand is properly made as described above, then, if the Business Combination is consummated, SPAC will redeem these SPAC Public Shares for a pro rata portion of funds deposited in the Trust Account. If you exercise your redemption rights, then you will be exchanging your SPAC Public Shares for cash and will not be entitled to Pubco Class A Common Stock upon consummation of the Business Combination.
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Q: | I am a holder of SPAC Public Units. Can I exercise redemption rights with respect to my SPAC Public Units? |
A: | No. Holders of issued and outstanding SPAC Public Units must elect to separate the SPAC Public Units into the underlying SPAC Public Shares and SPAC Public Warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the SPAC Public Shares. If you hold your SPAC Public Units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must notify your broker or bank that you elect to separate the SPAC Public Units into the underlying SPAC Public Shares and SPAC Public Warrants, or if you hold SPAC Public Units registered in your own name, you must contact the Transfer Agent, directly and instruct them to do so. You are requested to cause your SPAC Public Units to be separated and tendered or delivered to the Transfer Agent, along with the redemption forms by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on [●] (two business days before the scheduled date of the Extraordinary General Meeting) in order to exercise your redemption rights with respect to your SPAC Public Shares. |
Q: | I am a holder of SPAC Public Warrants. Can I exercise redemption rights with respect to my SPAC Public Warrants? |
A: | No. Holders of SPAC Public Warrants do not have redemption rights with respect to their SPAC Public Warrants. |
Holders of SPAC Public Shares who also hold SPAC Public Warrants may elect to redeem their SPAC Public Shares, and still retain their SPAC Public Warrants. The aggregate value of the 11,500,000 SPAC Public Warrants based on the closing price for the SPAC Public Warrants on NYSE American of $0.25 on October 20, 2026, was approximately $2.9 million. SPAC Public Shareholders who redeem their SPAC Public Shares may continue to hold any SPAC Public Warrants that they owned prior to redemption, which will result in additional dilution to non-redeeming holders upon exercise of such SPAC Public Warrants, if despite such redemptions, the Business Combination is consummated. For illustrative purposes, assuming the redemption of 4,204,816 SPAC Public Shares at $[●] per share (calculated as of [●]), or approximately 50% of the outstanding SPAC Public Shares, and assuming each redeeming shareholder holds one-half of one SPAC Public Warrant for each Public Share redeemed, representing the number of SPAC Public Warrants initially included in the SPAC Public Units, up to 2,102,408 SPAC Public Warrants would be retained by redeeming shareholders (assuming the Business Combination occurred despite such redemptions, thereby permitting the exercise of SPAC Public Warrants following the Closing) with an aggregate market value of approximately $0.5 million, based on the market price of $0.25 per SPAC Public Warrant as of October 20, 2026. The actual market price of the SPAC Public Warrants may be higher or lower on the date that SPAC Public Warrant holders seek to sell such SPAC Public Warrants. Additionally, SPAC cannot assure the holders of SPAC Public Warrants that they will be able to sell their SPAC Public Warrants in the open market as there may not be sufficient liquidity in such securities when warrant holders wish to sell their SPAC Public Warrants. Accordingly, SPAC cannot predict the ultimate value of the SPAC Public Warrants following consummation of the Business Combination.
As indicated elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, following the Closing, the outstanding Pubco Warrants will represent potential additional dilution to Pubco Shareholders. Accordingly, while the level of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares will not directly change the value of the Pubco Warrants because the Pubco Warrants will remain outstanding regardless of the level of redemptions, as redemptions of SPAC Public Shares increase, the holder of Pubco Warrants following the Closing who exercises such Pubco Warrants will ultimately own a greater interest in Pubco because there would be fewer shares outstanding overall. The Pubco Warrants will become exercisable beginning 30 days after the Closing. For a discussion of the risks relating to warrant dilution, see “Risk Factors — Pubco Warrants will become exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock, which would increase the number of shares eligible for future resale in the public market and result in dilution to shareholders. Such dilution will increase if more SPAC Public Shares are redeemed.”
Q: | How do the Pubco Public Warrants differ from the Pubco Private Warrants and what are the related risks for any Pubco Public Warrant holders after the Business Combination? |
A: | The Pubco Public Warrants are identical to the Pubco Private Warrants in their respective material terms and provisions. The Sponsor and IPO Underwriters have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Pubco Private Warrants until 30 days after the consummation of the Business Combination. The Pubco Private Warrants held by the Sponsor are identical to the Pubco Private Warrants held by the IPO Underwriters except that: (i) the Pubco Private Warrants held by the IPO Underwriters (including related registration rights) are deemed compensation by FINRA and are subject to restrictions imposed by FINRA Rule 5110(e), (ii) the Pubco Private Warrants (including underlying shares) held by the IPO Underwriters may not be sold, transferred, or disposed of in a transaction that would result in the economic disposition of such securities for a period of 180 days following the commencement of sales from the SPAC IPO (except as permitted by FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2)), (iii) the Pubco Private Warrants held by the IPO Underwriters (or their affiliates) may not be exercised after 5 years from the commencement of sales from the |
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SPAC IPO, and (iv) the IPO Underwriters have registration rights with regards to the Pubco Private Warrants, but the IPO Underwriters may not exercise their demand and “piggy back” registration rights beyond five (5) and seven (7) years, respectively, after the commencement of sales of the SPAC IPO and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion. The aforementioned terms of the Pubco Private Warrants are detailed in the Warrant Agreement and are not expected to be modified as a result of the Business Combination.
Following the consummation of the Business Combination, Pubco has the ability to redeem the outstanding Pubco Public Warrants for cash at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per Pubco Public Warrant, upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder, if, among other things, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock is equal to or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for sub share sub divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalization and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days prior to the date on which Pubco sends the notice of redemption to warrant holders. The value received upon redemption of the Pubco Public Warrants (i) may be less than the value the holders would have received if they have exercised their Pubco Public Warrants at a later time when the underlying share price is higher and (ii) may not compensate the holders for the value of the Pubco Public Warrants. For more information, see “Description of Pubco’s Securities — Warrants — Public Warrants”.
In the event that Pubco determines to redeem the Pubco Public Warrants pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, Pubco will fix a date for the redemption. Notice of redemption will be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by Pubco not less than thirty (30) days prior to the redemption date to the registered holders of the Pubco Public Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the registered holder received such notice.
Q: | What are the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of the Domestication? |
A: | As discussed more fully under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” of this proxy statement/prospectus, whether the Domestication will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code (an “F Reorganization”) is not free from doubt due to the absence of direct guidance on the application of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code to an entity that holds only investment-type assets. SPAC will receive an opinion of White & Case LLP, to be filed by amendment as Exhibit 8.1 to the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, that the Domestication should qualify as an F Reorganization. Assuming that the Domestication so qualifies, and subject to the “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) rules discussed below and under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — Tax Effects of the Domestication to U.S. Holders — PFIC Considerations”, U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will be subject to Section 367(b) of the Code in connection with the Domestication and, as a result: |
| ● | A U.S. Holder whose SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares have a fair market value of less than $50,000 on the date of the Domestication and who, on the date of the Domestication, owns (actually or constructively) less than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of SPAC stock entitled to vote and less than 10% of the total value of all classes of SPAC stock generally will not recognize any income, gain or loss in connection with the Domestication. |
| ● | A U.S. Holder whose SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares have a fair market value of $50,000 or more on the date of the Domestication and who is not a 10% U.S. Shareholder generally will recognize gain (but not loss) on the exchange of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares for Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock in the Domestication. As an alternative to recognizing gain, such U.S. Holder may file an election to include in income as a deemed dividend the “all earnings and profits amount” (as defined in the Treasury Regulations under Section 367 of the Code) attributable to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. |
| ● | A U.S. Holder who, on the date of the Domestication, owns (actually or constructively) 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of SPAC stock entitled to vote or 10% or more of the total value of all classes of SPAC stock (a “10% U.S. Shareholder”) generally will be required to include in income as a deemed dividend the “all earnings and profits amount” attributable to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares as a result of the Domestication. SPAC does not expect to have significant cumulative earnings and profits on the date of the Domestication. |
As discussed more fully under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — Tax Effects of the Domestication to U.S. Holders — PFIC Considerations”, SPAC believes that it likely has been a PFIC since its first taxable year
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and will likely be considered a PFIC for the taxable year which ends as a result of the Domestication. If SPAC is classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then notwithstanding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Domestication discussed above, proposed Treasury Regulations under Section 1291(f) of the Code and certain other PFIC rules (which have retroactive effective dates), if finalized in their current form, generally would require a U.S. Holder to recognize gain (but not loss) on the exchange of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants for Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock or Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants of the domesticated SPAC, respectively, pursuant to the Domestication. Only in respect of the exchange of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares for Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock, no such gain recognition would generally be required if such U.S. Holder has made a timely and effective QEF Election (or a QEF Election along with a purging election) or an MTM Election with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. Any gain recognized under the PFIC rules would be taxable income, with the gain allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period. The amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which SPAC was a PFIC would be included in the U.S. Holder’s gross income as ordinary income, and the amount allocated to each other prior taxable year would be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for such year, with an interest charge applied to the resulting tax attributable to each such prior taxable year, in each case with no corresponding receipt of cash in the Domestication to cover the resulting tax liability. In addition, the proposed Treasury Regulations provide coordinating rules with Section 367(b), which affect the manner in which the rules under such other sections apply to transfers of PFIC stock. Under current law, no QEF Election or MTM Election may be made with respect to an option, which would include a SPAC Warrant.
Additionally, the Domestication may cause Non-U.S. Holders to become subject to U.S. federal income withholding taxes on any amounts treated as dividends paid in respect of such Non-U.S. Holder’s Pubco Class A Common Stock after the Business Combination.
Although the redemptions of holders that exercise redemption rights with respect to SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will occur prior to the Domestication, it is possible that the IRS could assert that for U.S. federal income tax purposes such redemptions should be treated as occurring after the Domestication. If such redemptions are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as occurring after the Domestication, U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders exercising redemption rights would still be subject to the potential tax consequences of the Domestication, and the determination of whether a U.S. Holder is a 10% U.S. Shareholder or is otherwise subject to Section 367 of the Code would be determined as if the redemptions had not yet occurred at the time of the Domestication. All holders considering exercising redemption rights are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possibility that the redemptions are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as occurring after the Domestication despite the redemptions occurring in form prior to the Domestication.
The tax consequences of the Domestication are complex and will depend on a holder’s particular circumstances. All holders are urged to consult their tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to them of the Domestication. For a more complete discussion, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”.
Q. | What are the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination? |
A. | The Business Combination is intended to be treated, as an integrated transaction, as (i) an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code (a “Section 351 Transaction”) and (ii) if the 368 Requirement is satisfied, a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code (a “Section 368(a) Reorganization”) with respect to the SPAC Merger. The “368 Requirement” will be satisfied if the amount of cash in the Trust Account immediately following the deduction of amounts required to satisfy the aggregate amount payable with respect to all redemptions of SPAC Public Shares (the “Redemption Amount”) is not less than fifty percent (50%) of the cash in the Trust Account immediately prior to such deduction. The closing of the Business Combination is not conditioned on the receipt of any opinion regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Business Combination. Assuming the Mergers qualify as a Section 351 Transaction or the SPAC Merger qualifies as a Section 368(a) Reorganization: |
| ● | holders of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock (received in the Domestication in respect of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares) generally will not recognize gain or loss on the exchange of their Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock for Pubco Class A Common Stock in the SPAC Merger; and |
| ● | Sellers whose Company Interests are exchanged in connection with the Company Merger for Pubco Class A Common Stock or, in the case of the High Vote Sellers, Pubco Class B Common Stock, generally will not recognize gain or loss on such deemed contribution, in each case subject to the discussion of Sections 357(c), 751 and 752 of the Code (which may cause a |
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| Seller to recognize gain, and, in some circumstances, ordinary income) described more fully under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —U.S. Holders —Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders —Consequences of Company Merger to Sellers”. |
The tax treatment of SPAC Warrants in the SPAC Merger depends on whether the Mergers qualify solely as a Section 351 Transaction or the SPAC Merger also qualifies as a Section 368(a) Reorganization. If the Mergers qualify solely as a Section 351 Transaction (and the SPAC Merger does not also qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization), a U.S. Holder that in the SPAC Merger only exchanges SPAC Warrants for Pubco Warrants (and does not also exchange any Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock for Pubco Class A Common Stock in the SPAC Merger) generally will recognize gain or loss on the deemed exchange of SPAC Warrants for Pubco Warrants equal to the difference between the fair market value of the Pubco Warrants received and such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the SPAC Warrants surrendered. If a U.S. Holder in the SPAC Merger exchanges both Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock for Pubco Class A Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants for Pubco Warrants, and the Mergers qualify solely as a Section 351 Transaction (and the SPAC Merger does not also qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization), the Pubco Warrants received by such U.S. Holder may be treated as taxable boot in the Section 351 Transaction, which could cause the U.S. Holder to recognize gain (but not loss) on the exchange of its Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock for Pubco Class A Common Stock in an amount not exceeding the fair market value of the Pubco Warrants received. If the SPAC Merger qualifies as a Section 368(a) Reorganization (whether or not the Mergers also qualify as a Section 351 Transaction), a U.S. Holder generally would not recognize gain or loss on the deemed exchange of SPAC Warrants for Pubco Warrants, and the holding period of the Pubco Warrants would include the holding period of the SPAC Warrants exchanged therefor (which, assuming the Domestication qualifies as an F Reorganization, generally will include the holding period of the SPAC Warrants from which the SPAC Warrants of the domesticated SPAC were derived).
If the Mergers fail to qualify as a Section 351 Transaction and the SPAC Merger fails to qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization, the SPAC Merger generally will be treated as a taxable sale or exchange of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants for Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants, and the Company Merger generally will be treated as a taxable sale by each Seller of its Company Interest to Pubco, in each case with gain or loss measured by reference to the difference between the fair market value of the Pubco securities received (and, in the case of a Seller, the amount of the Company’s liabilities treated as assumed or taken subject to by Pubco) and such holder’s adjusted tax basis in the property surrendered.
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination to a Non-U.S. Holder generally are expected to be similar to those described above for U.S. Holders, except that (i) the exchange of SPAC Warrants for Pubco Warrants generally is not expected to result in U.S. federal income tax to a Non-U.S. Holder unless (A) the gain, if any, is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States, (B) Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the SPAC Merger and certain other requirements are met, and (ii) because the Company is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the transfer of Company Interests by a Non-U.S. Holder is subject to additional partnership-specific rules that do not apply to a Non-U.S. Holder of SPAC securities or Pubco Securities, including potential withholding under Section 1446(f) of the Code, which rules are discussed further under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —Non-U.S. Holders —Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to Non-U.S. Holders”.
None of SPAC, the Company or Pubco has sought or intends to seek a ruling from the IRS with respect to the tax treatment of the Business Combination. The tax consequences of the Business Combination are complex and will depend on a holder’s particular circumstances. All holders, including Sellers, are urged to consult their tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to them of the Business Combination. For a more complete discussion, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —U.S. Holders —Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —Non-U.S. Holders — Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to Non-U.S. Holders”.
Q: | What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences of exercising my redemption rights? |
A: | Subject to the discussion below regarding holders who both exercise redemption rights and also participate in the Business Combination, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of exercising your redemption rights with respect to your SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares depend on your particular facts and circumstances. It is possible that you may be treated as selling such shares and, as a result, recognize capital gain or loss. It is also possible that the redemption may be treated as a distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Whether a redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares |
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of SPAC stock you are treated as owning before and after the redemption (including shares that you constructively own as a result of owning SPAC Warrants) relative to all of the shares of SPAC stock outstanding both before and after the redemption. Redeeming U.S. Holders generally will also be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to any gain or loss recognized (if the redemption were treated as a sale) or any corporate distribution deemed received (if the redemption were treated as a distribution). For a more complete discussion, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —U.S. Holders —Tax Effects to U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares of Exercising Redemption Rights”.
If a U.S. Holder elects to redeem some but not all of its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, the redemption may be treated as integrated with the Business Combination rather than as a separate transaction. If the Mergers qualify as a Section 351 Transaction (and the SPAC Merger does not also qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization), cash received by such U.S. Holder in the redemption may be treated as taxable boot received in the Section 351 Transaction, in which case such U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain (but not loss) not in excess of the amount of cash received, and the character of such gain generally will be capital gain (long-term or short-term depending on the U.S. Holder’s holding period). If, instead, the SPAC Merger qualifies as a Section 368(a) Reorganization and the redemption is treated as integrated with the SPAC Merger, cash received by such U.S. Holder in the redemption may be treated as taxable boot received in the Section 368(a) Reorganization, in which case gain (but not loss) will be recognized in an amount not in excess of the cash received. As further described under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —U.S. Holders —Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders —Integration of Partial Redemptions with the Business Combination”, a portion of such gain may be treated as a dividend to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s ratable share of the undistributed earnings and profits of the domesticated SPAC and/or potentially the undistributed earnings and profits of Pubco.
Although the Redemption will occur in form prior to the Domestication, it is possible that the IRS could assert that for U.S. federal income tax purposes the redemptions should be treated as occurring after the Domestication, in which case U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders exercising redemption rights would be subject to the potential tax consequences of Section 367 of the Code and the PFIC rules as a result of the Domestication. All holders considering exercising redemption rights are urged to consult their tax advisor regarding the tax consequences to them of an exercise of redemption rights.
Q: | Do I have appraisal rights if I object to the proposed Business Combination? |
A: | No. |
Q: | What happens to the funds deposited in the Trust Account after consummation of the Business Combination? |
A: | As of [●], 2026, the Record Date, there was approximately $[●] million in the Trust Account. The funds in the Trust Account, as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, are held in an interest-bearing bank deposit account in order to mitigate the risk of SPAC being deemed an unregistered investment company. Upon consummation of the Business Combination, the funds in the Trust Account will be used to pay holders of the SPAC Public Shares who properly exercise redemption rights, to fund Pubco’s or its subsidiaries’ working capital, growth and general corporate purposes and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Business Combination. |
Q: | What underwriting and placement agency fees are payable in connection with the Business Combination? |
A: | Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated June 25, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and between SPAC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Cantor received an underwriting discount of $0.20 per SPAC Unit, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate, paid upon the closing of the SPAC IPO (the “Upfront Discount”). In addition, Cantor is entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of $0.40 per SPAC Public Unit, or $9,800,000 in the aggregate (the “Deferred Discount”). The Deferred Discount will become payable from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that SPAC completes a business combination, subject to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement. |
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The following table illustrates the effective underwriting discount on a percentage basis for SPAC Public Shares at each redemption level identified below:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | No Additional | | 25% | | 50% | | 75% | | 100% | |||||
| | Redemptions(1) | | Redemptions(2) | | Redemptions(3) | | Redemptions(4) | | Redemptions(5) | |||||
Unredeemed SPAC Public Shares |
| | 8,409,633 |
| | 6,307,224 |
| | 4,204,816 |
| | 2,102,408 |
| | — |
Trust Proceeds to Pubco | | $ | 91,383,294 | | $ | 68,537,462 | | $ | 45,691,642 | | $ | 22,845,821 | | $ | — |
Upfront Discount | | $ | 4,000,000 | | $ | 4,000,000 | | $ | 4,000,000 | | $ | 4,000,000 | | $ | 4,000,000 |
Deferred Discount | | $ | 9,800,000 | | $ | 9,800,000 | | $ | 9,800,000 | | $ | 9,800,000 | | $ | 9,800,000 |
Total Discount | | $ | 13,800,000 | | $ | 13,800,000 | | $ | 13,800,000 | | $ | 13,800,000 | | $ | 13,800,000 |
Total % | |
| 15.1 | % |
| 20.1 | % |
| 30.2 | % |
| 60.4 | % |
| N/A |
| (1) | This scenario assumes that no additional Public Shares are redeemed. |
| (2) | This scenario assumes that 2,102,408 Public Shares, or approximately 25% of the Public Shares subject to redemption, are redeemed for an aggregate payment of approximately $22.8 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026, which is a redemptions scenario that could occur. |
| (3) | This scenario assumes that 4,204,816 Public Shares, or approximately 50% of the Public Shares subject to redemption, are redeemed for an aggregate payment of approximately $45.7 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026, which is a redemptions scenario that could occur. |
| (4) | This scenario assumes that 6,307,224 Public Shares, or 75% of the Public Shares subject to redemption, are redeemed for an aggregate payment of approximately $68.5 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026, which is a redemptions scenario that could occur. |
| (5) | This scenario assumes that 8,409,633 Public Shares, or 100% of the Public Shares subject to redemption, are redeemed for an aggregate payment of approximately $91.4 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026, which is a redemptions scenario that could occur. |
Additionally, Roth Capital Partners, LLC (“Roth”) was engaged by SPAC on August 7, 2026, to act as its non-exclusive capital markets advisor in connection with the Business Combination. Pursuant to the engagement letter, dated August 7, 2026 (the “Roth Engagement Letter”), entered into by and between Roth and SPAC, Roth may also serve as non-exclusive placement agent on a best-efforts basis with regards to a private placement pursued in connection with the Business Combination. In exchange for the services provided by Roth in the Roth Engagement Letter, Roth will receive a customary cash advisory fee and a customary cash placement fee, the payment of which is contingent upon the amount of Transaction Financing proceeds received from investors identified by Roth and the dollar value of SPAC Public Shares held and not redeemed through Closing by investors identified by Roth.
Q: | What happens if the Business Combination is not consummated? |
A: | If SPAC does not complete the Business Combination for whatever reason, SPAC would search for another target business with which to complete a Business Combination. If SPAC does not complete the Business Combination with Company or another initial business combination by the end of the Business Combination Deadline, SPAC will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem one hundred percent (100%) of the SPAC Public Shares in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to SPAC to pay its taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding SPAC Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the SPAC Public Shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of SPAC’s remaining shareholders |
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and the SPAC Board, in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to SPAC’s obligations under applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the SPAC Public Warrants or the SPAC Private Warrants if SPAC fails to complete its initial business combination before the end of the Business Combination Deadline. The Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have no rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Founder Shares and any SPAC Public Shares held by them if SPAC fails to complete an initial business combination by the Business Combination Deadline, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from assets outside the Trust Account.
Q: | What interests do the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have in the Business Combination? |
A: | The Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that are different from or in addition to (and which may conflict with) the interests of unaffiliated SPAC Shareholders. Further, SPAC’s officers and directors have additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity, which are set forth in more detail in the section titled “Information Related to SPAC — Conflicts of Interest”. We believe there were no such opportunities that were not presented as a result of the existing fiduciary or contractual obligations of our officers and directors to other entities. The SPAC Board was aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Business Combination and Business Combination Agreement and in recommending to our shareholders that they vote in favor of the proposals to be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, including the Business Combination Proposal. SPAC Shareholders should take these interests into account in deciding whether to approve the proposals presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, including the Business Combination Proposal. These interests include, among other things: |
| ● | the fact that the Sponsor originally acquired an aggregate of 7,187,500 Founder Shares which were purchased for an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, prior to the SPAC IPO. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. Of these 5,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor following the February 8, 2024 surrender, (i) 90,000 Founder Shares were transferred to the Independent Directors (30,000 Founder Shares each) on June 7, 2024, (ii) 2,750,000 Founder Shares will be forfeited and surrendered immediately before the Domestication, (iii) 500,000 Founder Shares may be transferred by the Sponsor, in its discretion, to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco and if not so transferred or used will be forfeited, and (iv) 500,000 of the Founder Shares will be subject to an earnout. The remaining Founder Shares are expected to have a significantly higher value at the time of the Business Combination than their original purchase price. At the Closing, the Sponsor and Independent Directors will hold an aggregate of 2,500,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the conversion of 2,500,000 Founder Shares, which if unrestricted and freely tradeable, would be valued at approximately $27.3 million, based on the $10.93 closing price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares on NYSE American on October 20, 2026. However, such shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will be subject to a lock-up described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. Additionally, pursuant to the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, Harraden has the option to receive Conversion Shares and is entitled to receive Issuance Warrants and Transferred Shares. The Issuance Warrants are identical to the SPAC Private Warrants held by the Sponsor. The Transferred Shares are to be transferred from the Sponsor to Harraden for each dollar funded by Harraden pursuant to the August Convertible Promissory Note. The Transferred Shares are subject to no transfer restrictions or any other lock-up provisions, earn outs, or other contingencies. Under both the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, in lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares, Issuance Warrants, and/or Transferred Shares, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy SPAC’s related obligations. The issuance and/or transfer of these securities is expected to reduce the post-Closing ownership percentage of the Sponsor. |
| ● | the fact that, as a result of the low purchase price paid for the Founder Shares, if the Business Combination is completed, the Sponsor and Independent Directors are likely to be able to make a substantial profit on its investment even at a time when the Pubco Class A Common Stock have lost significant value. Accordingly, the economic interests of the Sponsor and Independent Directors diverge from the economic interests of SPAC Public Shareholders because the Sponsor and Independent Directors will realize a gain on their investment from the completion of any business combination while SPAC Public Shareholders will realize a gain only if the post-closing trading price exceeds $10.00 per share; |
| ● | the fact that the Sponsor holds 4,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants, initially purchased for $1.00 per SPAC Private Warrant, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate, in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the closing of the SPAC IPO; such |
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| warrants will automatically be assumed by Pubco at the effective time of the SPAC Merger and will become Pubco Private Warrants exercisable for 4,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share. SPAC estimates that, at the Closing, if unrestricted and freely tradeable, such Pubco Warrants would be valued at approximately $1.0 million, based on the $0.25 closing price of the SPAC Public Warrants on NYSE American on October 20, 2026. However, such Pubco Warrants will be subject to a lock-up described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus; |
| ● | the fact that Sponsor and the Independent Directors and have waived their rights to redeem any SPAC Ordinary Shares held by them in connection with the shareholder vote to approve the Business Combination; |
| ● | the fact that, if SPAC were to liquidate rather than complete an initial business combination, the Sponsor will lose its entire investment in SPAC, which totals approximately $4,348,000 as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, comprising the $25,000 purchase price for the Founder Shares, the $4,000,000 purchase price for the SPAC Private Warrants purchased by Sponsor in a private placement concurrently with the SPAC IPO, and approximately $3,000 of other loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses, and $320,000 of accrued administrative services fees. However, if SPAC fails to consummate a business combination by the Business Combination Deadline and liquidates, such loans will not be converted into warrants and any loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses will only be repaid to the extent of any cash outside of the Trust Account. The potential loss of this investment may have incentivized Sponsor and its affiliates to pursue a business combination transaction on unfavorable terms in order to avoid a liquidation; |
| ● | the fact that, if the Trust Account is liquidated, including in the event SPAC is unable to complete an initial business combination by the Business Combination Deadline, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to SPAC if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to SPAC, or a prospective target business with which SPAC has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per SPAC Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per SPAC Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per SPAC Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses; provided that such obligation will not apply to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable), any claims by SPAC’s independent registered public accounting firm, or any claims under the indemnity of the underwriters of the SPAC IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act; |
| ● | the fact that [●], a [director/officer] of SPAC, is expected to be a [director/officer] of Pubco after the Closing. As such, in the future, [●] may receive fees for his service to Pubco, which may consist of cash or stock-based awards, and any other remuneration that the Pubco Board determines to pay; |
| ● | the fact that, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Sponsor and Independent Directors will have customary registration rights, including demand and piggy-back rights, subject to cooperation and cut-back provisions with respect to the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants held by them following the consummation of the Business Combination. SPAC estimates that the Sponsor and Independent Directors will hold an aggregate of 2,500,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock, 4,000,000 Pubco Warrants, and 4,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying Pubco Warrants subject to registration rights; |
| ● | the fact that at or immediately prior to the Closing, if the Closing SPAC Cash is less than $100,000,000, the Sponsor must invest, or cause its affiliate or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing. To the extent that the Sponsor Investment is made in the form of equity or equity-linked securities, the Sponsor will receive such additional equity pursuant to such investment. The number of such potential equity interests will not be calculable until definitive agreements for any Sponsor Investment are entered into, if any; |
| ● | the fact that, pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement, commencing on June 25, 2024, through the earlier of consummation of the SPAC’s initial business combination and its liquidation, SPAC agreed to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor $20,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of the management team. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Company had outstanding accrued administrative support services fees of $320,000. Such amounts may not be recoverable if SPAC liquidates without completing an initial business combination; |
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| ● | the fact that Pubco and the Company agreed to enter into the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement with Sponsor at the Closing, pursuant to which Pubco and the Company will indemnify, exonerate and hold harmless the Sponsor and the Sponsor Indemnified Persons from and against any and all Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities arising out of or relating to any pending or threatened action, cause of action, suit, litigation, investigation, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration or claim against any of them or in which any of them may be a participant or may otherwise be involved (including as a witness) that arise out of or relates to SPAC’s operations or conduct of its business, the Business Combination, and/or any claim against the Sponsor and/or a Sponsor Indemnified Person alleging any expressed or implied management, control or endorsement of any activities of SPAC, or any express or implied association with Pubco, Company, or SPAC, or any of their respective affiliates. The Sponsor Indemnification Agreement will not however apply to claims arising primarily out of (a) any breach by such Sponsor Indemnified Person of any other agreement between such Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and Company, Pubco or SPAC or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the other hand, or (b) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of such Sponsor Indemnified Person; and |
| ● | the continued indemnification of former and current directors and officers of SPAC and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
In addition, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our directors and officers have fiduciary, contractual or similar legal obligations to other entities, which may require our directors and officers to present a business combination opportunity to such other entity and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman law. We believe, however, that there were no such corporate opportunities presented to our directors and officers which were not presented to SPAC, and therefore that our directors’ and officers’ additional fiduciary, contractual, or similar legal obligations to other entities did not impact our search for a business combination target. For more information, see “Information About SPAC — Conflicts of Interest.”
Q: | What interests do the Company directors and officers have in the Business Combination? |
A: | Company’s directors and officers have interests in the Business Combination that are different from, or in addition to, those of the SPAC Shareholders generally. These interests include, among other things, the interests listed below: |
| ● | Management Following the Business Combination. As described in the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Management of Pubco Following the Business Combination,” [●] are expected to hold these respective positions with Pubco upon the Closing. |
| ● | Compensation and Benefits. As described in the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Executive and Director Compensation of the Company,” certain members of the Company Board and Company’s executive officers are entitled to or are expected to receive, compensation and benefits in connection with their service to Company and Pubco. |
| ● | Limitations of Liability, Indemnification and Insurance. The Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws will contain indemnification obligations pursuant to which Pubco’s directors and executive officers are indemnified against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred in connection with any action or proceeding brought against them by reason of the fact that they are or were agents of Pubco. Pubco believes the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws provisions are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. For a discussion of the indemnification and insurance provisions related to Pubco directors and officers under the Business Combination Agreement, please see the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The Business Combination Agreement — Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.” |
Q: | What conditions must be satisfied to complete the Business Combination? |
A: | Under the Business Combination Agreement, the obligations of the parties to consummate the Business Combination are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions of the respective parties, including, without limitation: (i) Closing SPAC Cash shall be at least $50,000,000; (ii) the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock shall have been approved for listing on the Stock Exchange upon the Closing, subject only to official notice of issuance; (iii) the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC and shall remain effective as of the Closing, and no stop order or similar order shall be in effect with respect to the Registration Statement; (iv) the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters (other than the approval of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals) that are submitted to the vote of the shareholders of SPAC at the Extraordinary General |
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Meeting shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders of SPAC at the Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with SPAC’s Organizational Documents and applicable law; (v) the Seller Written Consents will have been obtained; (vi) delivery by the Company to SPAC showing that all indebtedness of the Company has been fully repaid or converted into Company Interests; and (vii) the written consent or approval of each note holder for the conversion of the notes into Company Interests prior to Closing. We cannot assure you as to whether these conditions will be satisfied or waived. The Minimum Cash Condition described above is for the benefit of the Company only and is subject to waiver by the Company. Conditions (ii) through (iv) above are for the benefit of both SPAC and the Company, and are subject to waiver by both SPAC and the Company. Conditions (v) through (vii) above are for the benefit of SPAC and are only subject to waiver by SPAC.
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, waive the Minimum Cash Condition. If the Company waives the Minimum Cash Condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four Business Days of such event, however such condition may be waived at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, and, given such timing, you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting.
For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The Business Combination Agreement — Conditions to Closing” and “Risk Factors – The completion of the Business Combination is subject to certain closing conditions under the Business Combination Agreement and any such conditions may not be satisfied on a timely basis, if at all.”
Q: | When do you expect the Business Combination to be completed? |
A: | It is currently expected that the Business Combination will be consummated in the fourth quarter of 2026. This date depends, among other things, on the approval of the proposals to be put to SPAC Shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting. However, such meeting could be adjourned if the Adjournment Proposal is adopted by the SPAC Shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting and SPAC elects to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates in accordance with such proposal. If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved, and a quorum is present, the SPAC Board will not have the ability to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date in order to solicit further votes or take other steps to cause the conditions to the Business Combination to be satisfied, for example. In such event, the Business Combination would not be completed. For a description of the conditions for the completion of the Business Combination, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal.” |
Q: | Following the Business Combination, will SPAC’s securities continue to trade on a stock exchange? |
A: | No. SPAC anticipates that, following consummation of the Business Combination, the SPAC Public Units will automatically separate into their component parts, the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will be exchanged for Pubco Class A Common Stock, the SPAC Warrants will automatically become Pubco Warrants, and SPAC will deregister its securities under the Exchange Act. Pubco intends to apply for listing, to be effective at Closing, of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants on the NYSE under the symbols “TONT” and “TONT WS,” respectively, upon the Closing. It is a condition to Company’s and SPAC’s obligations to consummate the Business Combination, that the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants are approved for listing on the Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance. SPAC and Company believe that Pubco will satisfy the initial listing requirements of the NYSE at the Closing, but there can be no assurance such listing condition will be met. If such listing condition is not met, the Business Combination may not be consummated unless such condition is waived by Company and SPAC. The Stock Exchange listing condition may be waived by Company and SPAC, with respect to the Business Combination, at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. If Company and SPAC waive such condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four Business Days of such event, however you should know that given such timing you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. |
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It is important for you to consider that, at the time of the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, Pubco may not have received from the Stock Exchange either confirmation of the listing of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants or confirmation that approval will be obtained prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, and you will not be notified prior to the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting if Pubco has not yet received such approval or confirmation. As a result, you may be asked to vote to approve the Business Combination and the other proposals included in this proxy statement/prospectus without knowing whether the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants will be listed on the Stock Exchange or another securities exchange and, further, it is possible that such listing may never be achieved and the Business Combination could still be consummated if such condition is waived. Please see the subsection entitled “The Business Combination — Listing of Pubco Securities on the Stock Exchange” for additional information.
Q:What do I need to do now?
A: | SPAC urges you to read carefully and consider the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus, including the annexes, and to consider how the Business Combination will affect you as a SPAC Shareholder. Shareholders should then vote as soon as possible in accordance with the instructions provided in this proxy statement/prospectus and on the enclosed proxy card. |
Q: | Who is entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting? |
A: | SPAC has fixed [●], 2026 as the Record Date for the Extraordinary General Meeting. If you were a shareholder of SPAC at the close of business on the Record Date, you are entitled to vote on matters that come before the Extraordinary General Meeting. However, a shareholder may only vote his, her or its shares if he, she or it is present in person or is represented by proxy at the Extraordinary General Meeting. |
Q: | How many votes do I have? |
A: | SPAC’s shareholders are entitled to one vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting for each SPAC Ordinary Share held of record as of the Record Date. As of the close of business on the Record Date for the Extraordinary General Meeting, there were 14,159,633 SPAC Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding, of which 8,409,633 were SPAC Public Shares. |
Q: | How do I vote? |
A: | The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at [●] a.m., Eastern Time, on [●], 2026. The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held virtually, conducted via live webcast at [●]. For purposes of Cayman Islands law and the SPAC Organizational Documents, the physical location of the Extraordinary General Meeting will be at the offices of White & Case LLP at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. |
If you are a holder of record of SPAC Ordinary Shares on the Record Date, you may vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting or by submitting a proxy for the Extraordinary General Meeting. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope. Any shareholder wishing to attend the meeting should register for the Extraordinary General Meeting by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on [●], by contacting [●] using one of the contact methods set forth below under the question “Who can help answer my questions?”.
Q: | If my shares are held in “street name,” will my broker, bank or nominee automatically vote my shares for me? |
A: | No. If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial holder” of the shares held for you in what is known as “street name.” If this is the case, this proxy statement/prospectus may have been forwarded to you by your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, or its agent, and you may need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker, bank or nominee as to how to vote your shares. Under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares with respect to non-discretionary matters unless you provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and procedures provided to you by your broker, bank, or nominee. We believe all the proposals presented to the shareholders will be considered non-discretionary and therefore your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares without your instruction. Your bank, broker, or other nominee can vote your shares only if you provide instructions on how to vote. As the beneficial holder, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee as to how to vote your shares |
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and you should instruct your broker to vote your shares in accordance with directions you provide. If you do not provide voting instructions to your broker on a particular proposal on which your broker does not have discretionary authority to vote, your shares will not be voted on that proposal. This is called a “broker non-vote.” Broker non-votes are not considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal, assuming a valid quorum is established, except for the SPAC Merger Proposal. Broker non-votes will not be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as a vote cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and will therefore have the same effect as a vote against the SPAC Merger Proposal.
Q: | What constitutes a quorum? |
A: | A quorum of the SPAC Shareholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum for the Extraordinary General Meeting will consist of holders of one-third of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting, present in person (including virtually) or represented by proxy. The Founder Shares will count towards this quorum. There are 14,159,633 SPAC Ordinary Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, and therefore, as of the Record Date for the Extraordinary General Meeting, 4,719,878 SPAC Ordinary Shares would be required to achieve a quorum. As of the date hereof, the Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote all SPAC Ordinary Shares they own in favor of all of the proposals being presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Accordingly, we will have a quorum present at the Extraordinary General Meeting even if no Public Shareholders are present in person (including virtually) or represented by proxy. |
Q: | What vote is required to approve each proposal at the Extraordinary General Meeting? |
A: | The following votes are required for each proposal at the Extraordinary General Meeting: |
| ● | Business Combination Proposal: Approval of the Business Combination Proposal requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. |
| ● | Domestication Proposal: Approval of the Domestication Proposal requires a special resolution of the holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will have no right to vote on the Domestication Proposal in accordance with Article 47 of the SPAC Organizational Documents. |
| ● | SPAC Merger Proposal: Approval of the SPAC Merger Proposal requires approval by a majority of the shares outstanding. |
| ● | Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal: Approval of the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal requires a special resolution of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will have no right to vote on the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal in accordance with Article 47 of the SPAC Organizational Documents. |
| ● | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals: Approval of each Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The shareholder votes regarding these proposals are advisory in nature, and are not binding on SPAC, the SPAC Board, the Company, the Company Board, Pubco or the Pubco Board. |
| ● | Equity Incentive Plan Proposal: Approval of the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. |
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| ● | Adjournment Proposal: Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. |
As of the date hereof, the Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote all SPAC Ordinary Shares they own in favor of all of the proposals being presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Accordingly, if all issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares vote on each of the Business Combination Proposal, Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and Adjournment Proposal, we would need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the such proposals in order to have them approved and adopted. If only a minimum quorum is present and votes on each of the Business Combination Proposal, Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and Adjournment Proposal, we would not need any SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of such proposals in order to have them approved and adopted. Similarly, we will need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the SPAC Merger Proposal in order to have the SPAC Merger Proposal approved and adopted. The Sponsor owns the sole issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Share. The holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will have no right to vote on the Domestication Proposal or the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal in accordance with Article 47 of the SPAC Organizational Documents. Accordingly, each of the Domestication Proposal and the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal is expected to be approved.
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of SPAC’s directors and officers may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals. In addition, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See the section of this proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination”.
Q: | What happens if a substantial number of the SPAC Public Shareholders vote in favor of the proposals herein and exercise their redemption rights? |
A: | SPAC Public Shareholders are not required to vote in respect of the Business Combination Proposal in order to exercise their redemption rights. Accordingly, the Business Combination may be consummated even though the funds available from the Trust Account and the number of SPAC Public Shareholders are reduced as a result of redemptions by SPAC Public Shareholders. |
In the event of significant redemptions, with fewer SPAC Public Shares and SPAC Public Shareholders, the trading market for Pubco Class A Common Stock may be less liquid than the market for SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares was prior to the Business Combination, and Pubco may not be able to meet the listing standards for the Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange.
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The table below presents the Trust Account value per share to a SPAC Public Shareholder that elects not to redeem its shares across a range of varying redemptions scenarios.
| | | |
| | | |
| | As of | |
| | June 30, 2026 | |
Trust Account Value | | $ | 91,383,294 |
Total SPAC Public Shares | |
| 8,409,633 |
Trust Account Value per Public Share | | $ | 10.87 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | No Additional | | 25% | | 50% | | 75% | | 100% | |||||
| | Redemptions(1) | | Redemptions(2) | | Redemptions(3) | | Redemptions(4) | | Redemptions(5) | |||||
Redemptions ($) | | $ | — | | $ | 22,845,821 | | $ | 45,691,642 | | $ | 68,537,462 | | $ | 91,383,294 |
Redemptions (Shares) | |
| — | |
| 2,102,408 | |
| 4,204,816 | |
| 6,307,224 | |
| 8,409,633 |
Deferred Underwriting Fee | | $ | 9,800,000 | | $ | 9,800,000 | | $ | 9,800,000 | | $ | 9,800,000 | | $ | 9,800,000 |
Cash left in the Trust Account post redemptions less deferred underwriting fee | | $ | 81,583,294 | | $ | 58,737,473 | | $ | 35,891,652 | | $ | 13,045,832 | | $ | (9,800,000) |
SPAC Public Shares post redemptions | |
| 8,409,633 | |
| 6,307,225 | |
| 4,204,817 | |
| 2,102,409 | |
| — |
Remaining Trust Proceeds Per Public Share | | $ | 9.70 | | $ | 9.31 | | $ | 8.54 | | $ | 6.21 | | $ | N/A |
| (1) | This scenario assumes that no additional Public Shares are redeemed. |
| (2) | This scenario assumes that 2,102,408 Public Shares, or approximately 25% of the Public Shares subject to redemption, are redeemed for an aggregate payment of approximately $22.8 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026. |
| (3) | This scenario assumes that 4,204,816 Public Shares, or approximately 50% of the Public Shares subject to redemption, are redeemed for an aggregate payment of approximately $45.7 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026. |
| (4) | This scenario assumes that 6,307,224 Public Shares, or 75% of the Public Shares subject to redemption, are redeemed for an aggregate payment of approximately $68.5 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026. |
| (5) | This scenario assumes that 8,409,633 Public Shares, or 100% of the Public Shares subject to redemption, are redeemed for an aggregate payment of approximately $91.4 million (based on the estimated per-share Redemption Price of approximately $10.87 per share) from the Trust Account based on funds in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026. |
Q: | Can I vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting if I sell my SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares before the Extraordinary General Meeting? |
A: | The Record Date for the Extraordinary General Meeting is earlier than the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting and earlier than the date that the Business Combination is expected to be completed. If you transfer your SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares after the applicable Record Date, but before the Extraordinary General Meeting, unless you grant a proxy to the transferee, you will retain your right to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. |
Q: | May I change my vote after I have mailed my signed proxy card? |
A: | Yes. Shareholders may send a later-dated, signed proxy card to [●] at the address set forth at the end of this section, so that it is received prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting, or attend the Extraordinary General Meeting in person and vote. Shareholders also may revoke their proxy by sending a notice of revocation to James A. Graf, SPAC’s Chief Executive Officer, which must be received prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. However, if your shares are held in “street name” by your broker, bank or another nominee, you must contact your broker, bank or other nominee to change your vote. |
Q: | What happens if I fail to take any action with respect to the Extraordinary General Meeting? |
A: | If you fail to take any action with respect to the Extraordinary General Meeting and the Business Combination is approved by shareholders and consummated, you will become a shareholder of Pubco and/or your SPAC Warrants will be assumed by Pubco |
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and will become Pubco Warrants. However, if you fail to take any action with respect to the Extraordinary General Meeting, you will nonetheless be able to elect to redeem your SPAC Public Shares in connection with the Business Combination, provided you follow the instructions in this proxy statement/prospectus for redeeming your shares. If you fail to take any action with respect to the Extraordinary General Meeting and the Business Combination Proposal is not approved, you will continue to be a shareholder of SPAC.
Q: | What should I do with my share certificates and/or warrant certificates? |
A: | Those shareholders who do not elect to have their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares redeemed for their pro rata share of the funds in the Trust Account should not submit their share certificates now. After the consummation of the Business Combination, Pubco will send instructions to SPAC Shareholders regarding the exchange of their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares for Pubco Class A Common Stock. SPAC Shareholders who exercise their redemption rights must deliver their share certificates to the Transfer Agent (either physically or electronically) prior to the deadline for submitting redemption requests described above. |
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, the SPAC Warrants, by their terms, will be assumed by Pubco and thereby entitle holders to purchase Pubco Class A Common Stock (and not SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares) on the same terms as your SPAC Warrants. Therefore, warrant holders need not deliver their SPAC Warrants to SPAC or Pubco at that time.
Q:What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?
A: | Shareholders may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement/prospectus and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. If you are a holder of record and your shares are registered in more than one name, you will receive more than one proxy card. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast a vote with respect to all of your SPAC Ordinary Shares. |
Q: | What is the recommendation of the SPAC Board? |
A: | The SPAC Board believes that the Business Combination Proposal and the other proposals to be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting are fair, advisable and in the best interests of the SPAC and all of its shareholders and recommends that SPAC Shareholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Business Combination Proposal, “FOR” the approval of the Domestication Proposal, “FOR” the approval of the SPAC Merger Proposal, “FOR” the approval of the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal, “FOR” the approval of each of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, “FOR” the approval of the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and “FOR” the approval of the Adjournment Proposal, if presented. |
Q: | How do the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors intend to vote? |
A: | The Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have agreed to vote in favor of all the proposals being presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. No consideration has been or will be paid by SPAC, Company or Pubco to the Sponsor or other holders of Founder Shares in connection with such agreements. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. |
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of SPAC’s directors may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he or they may believe is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and what he or they may believe is best for himself or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals. In addition, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as
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a shareholder. See “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination”.
Q: | Do the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors expect to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants from SPAC Public Shareholders or take other actions to incentivize non-redemption? |
A: | Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor is permitted, in its discretion, to transfer to third parties up to 500,000 Founder Shares (referred to herein as the Discretionary Founder Shares) held by the Sponsor to incentivize non-redemptions or investments in SPAC or Pubco or otherwise to support the Transactions, provided that any portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares that is not transferred will be forfeited by the Sponsor and surrendered to the SPAC. As previously disclosed, on June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, the SPAC and Sponsor entered into Non-Redemption Agreements with Non-Redeeming Shareholders covering an aggregate of 4,256,015 Public Shares. As consideration for the agreement by the Non-Redeeming Shareholders to not redeem such shares in connection with the extension, the Sponsor agreed to transfer an aggregate of 425,602 Founder Shares to such Non-Redeeming Shareholders at the Closing. Such assigned Founder Shares will be drawn from the 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares allocation noted above. Further, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, each of the parties agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to enter into financing agreements, which may include non-redemption or backstop arrangements with respect to the funds held in the Trust Account. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there are no agreements for such a Transaction Financing. Except as set forth above, the Sponsor does not have any current plans to take any actions to incentivize non-redemption. |
Additionally, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors do not have any plans at this time to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants from SPAC Public Shareholders. However, at any time prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting, during a period when they are not then aware of any material nonpublic information regarding SPAC or its securities, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates may purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market, although they are under no obligation to do so. There is no limit on the number of SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants that such persons may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Stock Exchange rules. However, other than as expressly stated herein, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the Trust Account will be used to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants in such transactions. Such purchases of SPAC Public Shares may include a contractual acknowledgment that such shareholder, although still the record holder of SPAC’s shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights.
In the event that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates purchase SPAC Public Shares in privately negotiated transactions from SPAC Public Shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The purpose of such transaction could be to increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the Business Combination, reduce the number of outstanding SPAC Public Warrants, or satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. SPAC expects any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants and the number of beneficial holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to obtain or maintain the quotation, listing or trading of the SPAC Public Units, SPAC Public Shares, and SPAC Public Warrants on NYSE American.
In the event that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates were to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants from SPAC Public Shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act. To the extent that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates purchase SPAC Public Shares in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, such shares would not be voted in favor of approving the Business Combination. See “Business Combination — Potential Purchases of SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants” for more information.
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Q: | Who will solicit and pay the costs of soliciting proxies for the Extraordinary General Meeting? |
A: | SPAC will pay the cost of soliciting proxies for the Extraordinary General Meeting. SPAC has engaged [●] to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Extraordinary General Meeting. SPAC has agreed to pay [●] a fee of $[●], plus disbursements. SPAC will also reimburse banks, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries representing beneficial owners of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares for their expenses in forwarding soliciting materials to beneficial owners of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and in obtaining voting instructions from those owners. SPAC’s directors and officers may also solicit proxies by telephone, mail, on the internet or in person. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting proxies. |
Q: | Who can help answer my questions? |
A: | If you have questions about the Business Combination or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement/prospectus or the enclosed proxy card you should contact: |
Graf Global Corp.
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Tel: (310) 745-8669
or:
[●]
You may also obtain additional information about SPAC from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” If you are a holder of SPAC Public Shares and you intend to seek redemption of your SPAC Public Shares, you will need to tender or deliver your SPAC Public Shares (and share certificates (if any) and other redemption forms), either physically or electronically, to Continental at the address below prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If you have questions regarding the certification of your position or delivery of your shares, please contact:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Tel: (212) 509-4000
Attention: SPAC Redemptions Team
E-mail: spacredemptions@continentalstock.com
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SUMMARY
This summary provides an overview of selected information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus and does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. We encourage you to read carefully this entire proxy statement/prospectus, including the annexes and accompanying financial statements of SPAC, the Company and Pubco, to fully understand the proposed Business Combination before voting on the proposals to be considered at the extraordinary general meeting. Please see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Parties to the Business Combination
SPAC
SPAC is a blank check company incorporated to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. SPAC was incorporated on November 17, 2021 as a Cayman Islands exempted company. The SPAC Public Units, SPAC Public Shares, and SPAC Public Warrants are currently listed on NYSE American under the ticker symbols “TONT U”, “TONT”, and “TONT WS”, respectively.
On June 26, 2026, the SPAC held an extraordinary general meeting at which shareholders approved an amendment to the SPAC Organizational Documents to extend the date by which SPAC has to consummate an initial business combination from June 27, 2026 to September 27, 2026, and provided that SPAC has executed a definitive agreement for an initial business combination by September 27, 2026 but has not consummated an initial business combination by such date, to permit the SPAC Board, in its sole discretion, to further extend such date up to three times in one month increments, to up to December 27, 2026. In connection with such extension, shareholders holding an aggregate of 14,590,367 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for approximately $10.86 per share from the funds held in the Trust Account, leaving approximately $91.4 million in cash in the Trust Account after satisfaction of such redemptions. Following such redemptions, SPAC had an aggregate of 14,159,633 SPAC Ordinary Shares outstanding, of which 14,159,632 were SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and 1 was a SPAC Class B Ordinary Share.
The mailing address of SPAC’s principal executive offices is 1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400, The Woodlands, Texas 77380, and its telephone number is (310) 745-8669.
The Company
The Company is a Delaware limited liability company formed on September 18, 2024 to act as the holding company for the Big3 Basketball league, which was formed in 2017. The Company is the leading professional 3-on-3 basketball league and sits at the intersection of basketball, hip-hop and entertainment. For more information about the Company, see the sections entitled “Information About the Company” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company.”
The Company’s principal executive offices are located at 429 Lenox Ave, Suite 421, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 and its telephone number is (800) 528-6276.
Company Merger Sub
Company Merger Sub is a Delaware limited liability company formed on June 8, 2026 and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco. Company Merger Sub was formed for the purpose of effectuating the Company Merger described herein and it has not conducted any activities other than those incidental to its formation and the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement. Company Merger Sub will not be the surviving entity in the Company Merger, as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and described herein.
Company Merger Sub’s principal executive offices are located at 429 Lenox Ave, Suite 421, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 and its telephone number is (800) 528-6276.
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SPAC Merger Sub
SPAC Merger Sub is a Delaware corporation incorporated on June 8, 2026 and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco. SPAC Merger Sub was formed for the purpose of effectuating the SPAC Merger described herein and it has not conducted any activities other than those incidental to its formation and the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement. SPAC Merger Sub will not be the surviving entity in the SPAC Merger, as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and described herein.
SPAC Merger Sub’s principal executive offices are located at 429 Lenox Ave, Suite 421, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 and its telephone number is (800) 528-6276.
Pubco
Pubco was incorporated in Delaware on June 5, 2026, for the purpose of effectuating the Business Combination described herein. Pubco currently has no material assets and does not currently operate any businesses. The Merger Subs are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco. As a result of the Business Combination, SPAC and the Company will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco and Pubco will become a publicly traded company.
In connection with the Mergers, Pubco intends to apply for the listing of its Class A Common Stock and Warrants on the NYSE under the proposed symbols “TONT” and “TONT WS,” respectively, to be effective at the Closing. Pubco will not have units traded following the consummation of the Business Combination.
Pubco’s principal executive offices are located at 429 Lenox Ave, Suite 421, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 and its telephone number is (800) 528-6276.
The Business Combination
Background of the Business Combination
SPAC is a blank check company incorporated on November 17, 2021 as a Cayman Islands exempted company, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Graf Global Corp. is the eighth special purpose acquisition company that James A. Graf has been directly involved with as a member of the sponsor, management and/or board, including seven special purpose acquisition companies that closed business combinations over the past 15 years, among them Target Hospitality Corp., WillScot Holdings Corp. and Velodyne Lidar, Inc. The Sponsor, Graf Global Sponsor LLC, is a Delaware limited liability company formed prior to the IPO to organize, direct and manage the business and affairs of SPAC, with Mr. Graf serving as its sole managing member. See “Questions and Answers About the Business Combination — Who is the Sponsor?” for more information. On June 27, 2024, SPAC completed its initial public offering of 23,000,000 units, including the full exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option, generating gross proceeds of $230,000,000 before transaction costs, with $230,000,000 placed into the trust account. Simultaneously with the closing of the IPO, SPAC consummated a private placement of warrants generating total proceeds of $6,000,000.
Following the closing of the IPO, SPAC’s officers and directors commenced an active search for prospective businesses or assets to acquire, considering more than 100 potential business combination ideas and engaging in discussions with approximately 30 targets under executed non-disclosure agreements, none of which imposed standstill or similar restrictions. The majority of the potential business combination target companies that SPAC considered were companies in the businesses of technology, industrial services, energyand energy transition, space, autonomous mobility, crypto currencies and sports teams among others. Other than the Company, SPAC was not aware of and did not consider other companies operating professional sports leagues. SPAC ultimately ceased pursuit of these prospective targets for reasons that included an inability to prevail in competitive auctions on acceptable terms, an inability to agree on valuation, targets lacking SEC-compliant financial statements on a workable timetable, targets lacking sufficient access to capital, targets not being ready to pursue a business combination or having preferable all-cash alternatives, and extensive structuring or regulatory considerations that would have added execution uncertainty.
In April 2026, SPAC began discussions with the Company and its advisors regarding a potential business combination, facilitated by Fehmi Zeko, managing partner of MC Strategic Advisors, financial advisor to the Company, and a board director of the Company. Mr. Zeko had mentioned the Company to Mr. Graf informally several times over the years and originally introduced Jeffrey
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Kwatinetz, Co-founder and Chairman of the Company, to Mr. Graf and Graf I in early 2020, when a possible transaction with a special purpose acquisition company was first broached. None of those conversations were substantive, however, given the relative early stage of the business, and in early 2020 in particular, the uncertain impact of emerging COVID-19 on the Company’s upcoming season, no due diligence was performed, no prospective investors were contacted and no draft term sheets were delivered.
On June 11, 2026, the SPAC Board unanimously (i) determined that it was in SPAC’s best interest and the interest of SPAC Shareholders for SPAC to enter into the Business Combination Agreement and each ancillary agreement thereto, (ii) approved the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the ancillary agreements, and (iii) adopted resolutions recommending the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and the approval of each ancillary agreement thereto by SPAC Shareholders. The Business Combination Agreement and related ancillary transaction documents were finalized and executed by SPAC, the Company and other parties thereto on June 12, 2026, and the parties issued a joint press release announcing the transaction on that same date.
For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Background of the Business Combination.”
Business Combination Agreement
Pre-Domestication
Prior to the Domestication, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement: (1) the Redemption will occur; (2) the Unit Separation will occur, whereby each SPAC Public Unit will separate into one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one-half of one SPAC Public Warrant, after which all SPAC Public Units will be cancelled; (3) the Sponsor will surrender the Sponsor Forfeited Shares and Discretionary Founder Shares (to the extent such shares are not transferred or used pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement); and (4) the SPAC Class B Share Conversion will occur, whereby the Sponsor will convert the sole remaining outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Share into one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share on a one-for-one basis.
Domestication
One day before the SPAC Merger Effective Time, subject to SPAC Class B Ordinary Shareholder approval and the required Cayman and Delaware filings, SPAC will transfer by continuation from the Cayman Islands to Delaware, deregistering as a Cayman exempted company and converting into a Delaware corporation. Upon the Domestication: (1) each outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Share will convert into one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock; and (2) each outstanding whole SPAC Warrant will become one Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant exercisable for one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock instead of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share. No fractional shares or warrants will be issued; fractional entitlements will be rounded down and carry no stockholder or warrant holder rights.
The SPAC Merger
At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into Post-Domestication SPAC, with Post-Domestication SPAC surviving. Pursuant to the SPAC Merger: (1) each outstanding share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common
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Stock will automatically convert into the right to receive one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock, and will thereupon be cancelled and cease to exist, and (2) each Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant will convert into one Pubco Warrant.
Pre-Company Merger
Immediately before the Company Merger Effective Time, each outstanding Company Convertible Security (other than Company Warrants), including accrued interest, will convert in full into Company Interests. The SPAC Merger and Company Merger will be effected by filing certificates of merger with the Delaware Secretary of State under the DGCL and DLLCA, respectively, with the SPAC Merger occurring first, on the Closing Date (or such other date/time as the Company and SPAC agree).
The Company Merger
At the Company Merger Effective Time, Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company surviving. Pursuant to the Company Merger: (1) each Company Interest issued and outstanding will be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive its portion of the Merger Consideration, (2) each Company Warrant that is outstanding will be converted into and become a warrant exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock (as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there are no Company Warrants outstanding), (3) any outstanding Company Convertible (excluding Company Warrants that are converted into warrants exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock, of which none are outstanding as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus) and Preferred Units (other than Preferred Units that are converted into Merger Consideration), if not exercised or converted prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, will be cancelled, retired and terminated.
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Structure Diagrams

*Includes 4 league-owned teams plus 4 expansion teams
See “Our Business Model” in the Business section for a more complete description of the ownership of OpCo
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| (1) | Reflects the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, assumes all 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares are used to incentivize non-redemptions of SPAC Public Shares, and includes 500,000 Sponsor Earnout Shares that will be outstanding but subject to vesting. Assumes no Sponsor Investment. |
| (2) | Includes 1,492,036 Earnout Shares. |
| (3) | Assumes the No Additional Redemptions Scenario. |
| (4) | Includes 507,964 Earnout Shares. |
| (5) | See “Our Business Model” in the Business section for a more complete description of the ownership of OpCo |
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Merger Consideration to the Company’s Shareholders
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, at the Company Merger Effective Time, all outstanding Company Interests (including those issued upon conversions and exercises) will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, consisting of newly issued shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (x) $290,000,000 plus the Company’s Cash Position at the Company Merger Effective Time, divided by (y) $10.83. Each Seller’s Percentage Merger Consideration will be paid in Pubco Class A Common Stock, except that Big3 Founders holding Class A Units, Class B Units, or Preferred Units will receive their Percentage Merger Consideration in the form of Pubco Class B Common Stock.
Dual-Class Structure of Pubco Common Stock
Pubco’s Proposed Pubco Charter will authorize two classes of Pubco Common Stock: Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock. Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holders thereof to one vote per share on all matters on which the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will be entitled to vote, and Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holders thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. Based on the 20,210,627 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 19,976,476 shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock expected to be outstanding at the Closing (assuming the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, no Transaction Financing, the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, but including the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assuming the Company’s Cash Position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026)), the holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock are expected to have 20,210,627 votes in the aggregate and the holders of Pubco Class B Common Stock are expected to have 199,764,760 votes in the aggregate on all matters submitted to the holders of shares of Pubco Common Stock for a vote. The Pubco Class B Common Stock will be exclusively held by the Big3 Founders. Accordingly, the Dual Class Structure will increase the voting power of the Big3 Founders. If additional shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock are issued after the Closing (which will be permitted pursuant to the Proposed Pubco Charter in connection with a dividend or stock adjustment), the effect of the Dual Class Structure on the concentration of voting control may increase. The Pubco Class A Common Stock and the Pubco Class B Common Stock have identical economic rights on a per share basis, including dividend and liquidation rights.
Additionally, each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Pubco Class A Common Stock on (a) the date specified by the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, or in the affirmative written election executed by the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, (b) the date fixed by the Pubco Board that is no less than 10 days and no more than 30 days following the date that the number of outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock held by the Big3 Founders and their Permitted Transferees (as defined in the Proposed Pubco Charter) represents less than one-third of the aggregate number of shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock outstanding immediately following the Business Combination, or (c) the date that is ten (10) years from the closing of the Business Combination.
In addition, each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock held by a Big3 Founder will automatically convert into one fully paid and non-assessable share of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon the earliest of: (a) 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day immediately following the date on which that Big3 Founder ceases to hold at least 50% of the Pubco Class B Common Stock it held immediately following consummation of the Business Combination (as equitably adjusted for any reclassification, stock dividend, subdivision, combination or recapitalization of Pubco Class B Common Stock); (b) any transfer, assignment, sale, conveyance, hypothecation or other disposition, whether voluntary, involuntary, for value or by operation of law, other than to a Permitted Transferee; and (c) the death, incapacity, or adjudicated incompetency or placement under guardianship or conservatorship of a Big3 Founder. Each such conversion occurs automatically, without further action by the holder and regardless of whether any certificate representing the converted shares is surrendered; immediately upon conversion, the holder is treated for all purposes as a holder of Pubco Class A Common Stock into which the Pubco Class B Common Stock converted. Separately, each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock is convertible at any time at the holder’s option into one fully paid and non-assessable share of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon written notice to Pubco.
For more information, see “Description of Pubco’s Securities — Authorized Share Capital” and “Risk Factors — Pubco will have a dual-class common stock structure under which each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock carries ten votes and each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock carries one vote, concentrating voting control with the Big3 Founders.”
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Earnout
At the Closing, Pubco will cause the Earnout Participants to be issued an aggregate of an additional 2,000,000 Earnout Shares (subject to adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits, and the like), which will be unvested and subject to forfeiture. The Earnout Shares will vest upon the satisfaction of stock price conditions during the five years following the Closing. While any Earnout Shares remain subject to the vesting conditions specified in the Business Combination Agreement, the holder thereof will not be entitled to exercise the voting rights carried by such Earnout Shares and will not be entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions in respect of such Earnout Shares. For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 – The Business Combination Proposal – The Business Combination Agreement – Earnout.”
Sponsor Forfeitures and Sponsor Earnout
Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, immediately prior to the Domestication, subject to satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions, the Sponsor will forfeit 2,750,000 Founder Shares and may, at its discretion, transfer up to an additional 500,000 Founder Shares to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions, investments, or other support for the Transactions; any unused portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares will also be forfeited. The Sponsor will retain no further rights in the forfeited or transferred shares, and SPAC is authorized to take all actions necessary to effect the forfeiture.
Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement 500,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be held by the Sponsor as of the Closing will be subject to vesting, as described in more detail below under “Sponsor Support Agreement”.
For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 – The Business Combination Proposal – Ancillary Agreements – Sponsor Support Agreement.”
Transfer Restrictions
Sponsor Support Agreement
The Sponsor Support Agreement prohibits each Insider from, among other things, selling, assigning or transferring any SPAC Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants held by such Insider except to certain permitted transferees, until the earliest of (a) the Closing Date, (b) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; (c) the liquidation of SPAC; (d) the written agreement of each of the terminating Insider(s), SPAC, Pubco and the Company with respect to terminating the rights and obligations under the Sponsor Support Agreement of a specific Insider or a subset of Insiders; and (e) the written agreement of all Insiders, SPAC, Pubco and the Company to terminate the Sponsor Support Agreement in its entirety. Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, each Insider unconditionally and irrevocably agreed not to submit any SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares owned by it for redemption in connection with the Transactions or an Extension.
Lock-up Agreements
Concurrently with the Closing, the BIG3 Founders and other Sellers holding greater than 3% of the outstanding Company Interests, the Sponsor, IPO Underwriter, and each director of SPAC will enter into a Lock-Up Agreement, pursuant to which such person will agree not to (i) lend, offer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, donate, assign, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Pubco Common Stock to be received by such person in the Business Combination, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such shares of Pubco Common Stock, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing from the Closing and ending (x) on the date that is six (6) months after the Closing for the Pubco Common Stock, or (y) on the date that is thirty (30) days after the Closing for the Pubco Warrants (including the Pubco Common Stock underlying the Pubco Warrants), subject to certain customary transfer exceptions.
SPAC estimates that approximately 30.8 million shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 6.0 million Pubco Private Warrants will be subject to lockup pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreement immediately following the Closing, representing approximately 76.7% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock in the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and 34.3% of the total issued and outstanding Pubco Warrants following the Business Combination.
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Set forth below is a tabular presentation of the post-closing lock-ups:
Lock-Up Party | | Number and Type of Securities | | Lock-Up Term | | Permitted Transferees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,000,000 Pubco Warrants (including underlying shares) | | | |||
| | 2,410,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock | | | ||
IPO Underwriter | | 2,000,000 Pubco Warrants (including underlying shares) | | The earlier of (x) 30 days after the Closing Date and (y) the date Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of Pubco’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. | | Permitted transferees and transfers include: (i) transfers to Pubco directors and officers (including affiliates and family members, (ii) transfer by laws of descent, (iii) transfers by operations of law, (iv) transfers to a partnership, limited liability company, or entity of which the securityholder is the legal and beneficial owner, (v) affiliates, (vi) transfers to a trustor or trust, and (vii) transfers upon dissolution. |
SPAC Independent Directors | | 90,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock, in the aggregate (30,000 shares each) | | The earlier of (x) six (6) months after the Closing Date and (y) the date Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of Pubco’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. | | Permitted transferees and transfers include: (i) transfers to Pubco directors and officers (including affiliates and family members, (ii) transfer by laws of descent, (iii) transfers by operations of law, (iv) transfers to a partnership, limited liability company, or entity of which the securityholder is the legal and beneficial owner, (v) affiliates, (vi) transfers to a trustor or trust, and (vii) transfers upon dissolution. |
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Lock-Up Party | | Number and Type of Securities | | Lock-Up Term | | Permitted Transferees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The BIG3 Founders and other Sellers holding greater than 3% of the outstanding Company Interests | | Merger Consideration and Earnout Shares | | The earlier of (x) six (6) months after the Closing Date and (y) the date Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of Pubco’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. | | Permitted transferees and transfers include: (i) transfers to Pubco directors and officers (including affiliates and family members, (ii) transfer by laws of descent, (iii) transfers by operations of law, (iv) transfers to a partnership, limited liability company, or entity of which the securityholder is the legal and beneficial owner, (v) affiliates, (vi) transfers to a trustor or trust, and (vii) transfers upon dissolution. |
Sources and Uses of Proceeds
The following tables summarize the anticipated sources and uses of funds in the Business Combination, in various redemptions scenarios. Such tables are for illustrative purposes only. Where actual amounts are not known or knowable, the figures below represent good faith estimates of such amounts.
| | | | | | | | |
Assuming No Additional Redemptions | ||||||||
Sources (in millions) | | | | | Uses (in millions) | | | |
Trust Account funds as of June 30, 2026 | | $ | 91.4 |
| Redemptions | | $ | — |
Additional related party notes payable | | | 0.3 |
| Transaction expenses | |
| 12.4 |
| | | |
| Deferred underwriting fee | |
| 9.8 |
| | | |
| Related party notes payable | |
| 0.5 |
| | | |
| Cash | |
| 69.0 |
Total Sources | | $ | 91.7 |
| Total Uses | | $ | 91.7 |
| | | | | | | | |
Assuming 25% Redemptions(1) | ||||||||
Sources (in millions) | | | | | Uses (in millions) | | | |
Trust Account funds as of June 30, 2026 | | $ | 91.4 |
| Redemptions | | $ | 22.8 |
Additional related party notes payable | | | 0.3 |
| Transaction expenses | |
| 12.4 |
| | | |
| Deferred underwriting fee | |
| 9.8 |
| | | |
| Related party notes payable | |
| 0.5 |
| | | |
| Cash | |
| 46.2 |
Total Sources | | $ | 91.7 |
| Total Uses | | $ | 91.7 |
| | | | | | | | |
Assuming 50% Redemptions(1) | ||||||||
Sources (in millions) | | | | | Uses (in millions) | | | |
Trust Account funds as of June 30, 2026 | | $ | 91.4 |
| Redemptions | | $ | 45.7 |
Additional related party notes payable | | | 0.3 |
| Transaction expenses | |
| 12.4 |
| | | |
| Deferred underwriting fee | |
| 9.8 |
| | | |
| Related party notes payable | |
| 0.5 |
| | | |
| Cash | |
| 23.3 |
Total Sources | | $ | 91.7 |
| Total Uses | | $ | 91.7 |
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| | | | | | | | |
Assuming 75% Redemptions(1) | ||||||||
Sources (in millions) | | | | | Uses (in millions) | | | |
Trust Account funds as of June 30, 2026 | | $ | 91.4 |
| Redemptions | | $ | 68.5 |
Additional related party notes payable | | | 0.3 |
| Transaction expenses | |
| 12.4 |
| | | |
| Deferred underwriting fee | |
| 9.8 |
| | | |
| Related party notes payable | |
| 0.5 |
| | | |
| Cash | |
| 0.5 |
Total Sources | | $ | 91.7 |
| Total Uses | | $ | 91.7 |
| | | | | | | | |
Assuming 100% Redemptions(1) | ||||||||
Sources (in millions) | | | | | Uses (in millions) | | | |
Trust Account funds as of June 30, 2026 | | $ | 91.4 |
| Redemptions | | $ | 91.4 |
Additional related party notes payable | | | 0.3 |
| Transaction expenses(2) | |
| — |
| | | |
| Deferred underwriting fee(2) | |
| — |
| | | |
| Related party note payable(2) | |
| 0.3 |
| | | |
| Cash | |
| — |
Total Sources | | $ | 91.7 |
| Total Uses | | $ | 91.7 |
| (1) | Each of the 25% Redemptions Scenario, 50% Redemptions Scenario, 75% Redemptions Scenario, and 100% Redemptions Scenario results in an amount of net cash, after the redemptions and the payment of transaction expenses, that is not sufficient to meet the Minimum Cash Condition, without additional financing. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may elect not to consummate the Business Combination. Alternately, in the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, waive the Minimum Cash Condition. If the Company waives the Minimum Cash Condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of such event, however such condition may be waived at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, and, given such timing, you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. |
| (2) | Under the 100% redemptions scenario, no cash would be released from the Trust Account to fund the payment of transaction expenses, the deferred underwriting fee, or the related party notes payable. Accordingly, these amounts would remain outstanding obligations of the combined company and would need to be funded from other sources, deferred or renegotiated. |
Financing Cooperation
During the period from the date of the Business Combination Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of the Business Combination Agreement or the Closing, SPAC agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to enter into Financing Agreements with accredited investors for one or more Transaction Financings by Pubco, on terms and using a structure and approach reasonably agreed by SPAC and the Company. Pubco, SPAC, and the Company will each use reasonable best efforts to consummate the Financing Agreements by Closing, satisfy their respective conditions and covenants thereunder, and enforce their rights to cause the accredited investors to pay the applicable purchase price to (or as directed by) Pubco. Each party must promptly notify the others in writing of any breach, default, or related notice under a Financing Agreement, or if it does not expect to receive all or part of the Transaction Financing as contemplated.
Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, Sponsor agreed to provide financing support in connection with the Business Combination in the form of the Sponsor Investment. If the Closing SPAC Cash is less than $100,000,000, the Sponsor will be required invest, or cause its affiliate or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing. If Closing SPAC Cash is greater than $100,000,000, then Sponsor has the option to make such Sponsor Investment. The purchase price of the Sponsor Investment will be equal to the lowest purchase price paid by any other investor in the Transaction
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Financing and will be made upon such other terms that are no less favorable to the Sponsor (or such affiliate or designee) than the terms offered to any other investor in any Transaction Financing.
Closing Conditions
Mutual Closing Conditions
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, closing of the Transactions is subject to mutual conditions, including: approval of the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval; expiration or termination of any applicable antitrust waiting periods; receipt of required governmental and other consents; the absence of any law or order prohibiting the Transactions; effectiveness of the Registration Statement through Closing; consummation of the Domestication; and approval of Pubco Class A Common Stock for listing on the Stock Exchange.
Conditions to the Obligations of the Company
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the Company’s obligation to close is further conditioned on: the accuracy of SPAC’s representations and warranties and SPAC’s material compliance with its covenants; the Sponsor Support Agreement remaining in full force and effect; delivery by SPAC of customary closing certificates (officer’s certificate, secretary’s certificate with organizational documents and board/shareholder approvals, good standing certificates, and other closing deliverables); and a minimum cash condition of at least $50,000,000, calculated as Trust Account proceeds available at Closing (after redemptions) plus Transaction Financing proceeds, less unpaid SPAC and Company expenses.
Conditions to the Obligations of SPAC
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, SPAC’s obligation to close is further conditioned on: the accuracy of the Company’s representations and warranties and material compliance by the Company, SPAC Merger Sub, Company Merger Sub, and Pubco with their respective covenants; no Material Adverse Effect on the Company since signing; the Target Companies’ and Sellers’ material compliance with the Seller Written Consent; noteholder consent to convert all Notes into Company Interests prior to Closing; delivery by the Company of customary closing certificates and deliverables (including officer and secretary certificates, good standing certificates, director/manager resignations, executive employment agreements, the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement, FIRPTA and Section 1446(f) certifications, and lien releases); procurement of D&O tail insurance; election or appointment of Pubco’s post-Closing board; adoption of the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws; adoption of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan; and evidence that specified Company indebtedness has been discharged in full.
Termination
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the Business Combination Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions abandoned at any time before the Closing Date: (i) by mutual written consent of SPAC and the Company; (ii) by either party if the Closing conditions are not satisfied or waived by the earlier of December 27, 2026 or the Business Combination Deadline, unless the terminating party’s own breach caused the delay; (iii) by either party if a governmental order permanently prohibiting the Transactions becomes final and non-appealable, unless that party’s breach substantially caused the order; (iv) by the Company, if SPAC materially breaches its representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements such that a closing condition would fail, and the breach is incurable or uncured within 20 days’ notice or by the Business Combination Deadline (whichever is earlier), provided the Company is not itself in material uncured breach; (v) by SPAC, on the same terms, if the Company materially breaches its representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements; (vi) by SPAC, if a Material Adverse Effect on the Target Companies occurs after signing and remains uncured; (vii) by either party, if the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval is not obtained at the Extraordinary General Meeting; or (viii) by SPAC, if the Company fails to deliver the Audited Financials by the required date.
Ancillary Agreements
Sponsor Support Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on June 12, 2026, SPAC entered into a sponsor support agreement with the Sponsor, each of SPAC’s independent directors (together with Sponsor, the “Insiders”), Pubco and the Company, pursuant to which the Insiders agreed to, among other things, vote in favor of the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters (as
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defined in the proxy statement/prospectus) and otherwise support the Business Combination. In addition, the Sponsor Support Agreement prohibits each Insider from, among other things, selling, assigning or transferring any SPAC Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants held by such Insider except to certain permitted transferees, until the earliest of (a) the date of the Closing, (b) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; (c) the liquidation of SPAC; (d) the written agreement of each of the terminating Insider(s), SPAC, Pubco and the Company with respect to terminating the rights and obligations under the Sponsor Support Agreement of a specific Insider or a subset of Insiders; and (e) the written agreement of all Insiders, SPAC, Pubco and the Company to terminate the Sponsor Support Agreement in its entirety.
Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement (i) each Insider unconditionally and irrevocably agreed not to redeem any SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares owned by it in connection with the Business Combination, and (ii) the Sponsor also agreed, effective as of immediately prior to the Domestication and conditioned upon the Closing, to forfeit and surrender to SPAC an aggregate of 2,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor.
Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement (i) the Sponsor may, in its discretion, transfer to third parties up to an additional 500,000 Founder Shares held by it to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into SPAC or Pubco, provided that any portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares that are not so transferred will be forfeited, and (ii) 500,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be held by the Sponsor as of the Closing will be subject to vesting and will vest upon the following conditions: (a) if the funds in the trust account of the SPAC plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of the SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, and (c) if there is a sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater or equal to the Earnout Price.
Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, Sponsor agreed to provide financing support in connection with the Business Combination. If the Closing SPAC Cash is less than $100,000,000, the Sponsor will be required invest, or cause its affiliate or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing. If Closing SPAC Cash is greater than $100,000,000, then Sponsor has the option to make the Sponsor Investment. The purchase price of the Sponsor Investment will be equal to the lowest purchase price paid by any other investor in the Transaction Financing and will be made upon such other terms that are no less favorable to the Sponsor (or such affiliate or designee) than the terms offered to any other investor in any Transaction Financing.
For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 – The Business Combination Proposal – Ancillary Agreements — Sponsor Support Agreement.”
Lock-Up Agreements
For a summary of the terms of the Lock-Up Agreements, see above under “--Transfer Restrictions - Lock-Up Agreements.”
For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 – The Business Combination Proposal – Ancillary Agreements — Lock-Up Agreement.”
Registration Rights Agreement
Concurrently with the Closing, Pubco, the Sponsor, the IPO Underwriter, SPAC’s officers and directors, and certain Sellers, and the Non-Redeeming Shareholders with respect to the Assigned Shares, will enter into the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, Pubco will agree that, within 30 days after the Closing Date, Pubco will file with the SEC (at Pubco’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of certain securities held by or issuable to the parties thereto, and Pubco will use its reasonable best efforts to have the Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. Such holders will also be entitled to customary piggyback registration rights and demand registration rights pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement. SPAC estimates that approximately 27.2 million shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 6.0 million Pubco Private Warrants will be subject to registration rights pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement immediately following the Closing, representing approximately 67.7% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock in the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and 34.3% of the total issued and outstanding Pubco Warrants following the Business Combination.
For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 – The Business Combination Proposal – Ancillary Agreements — Registration Rights Agreement.”
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Warrant Assumption Agreement
Concurrently with the Closing, SPAC, Pubco, and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, will enter into a the Warrant Assumption Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, SPAC will assign to Pubco all of SPAC’s right, title and interest in and to, and Pubco will assume all of SPAC’s liabilities and obligations under the Existing Warrant Agreement. As a result, at the Closing, each SPAC Warrant will automatically cease to represent a right to acquire SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and instead will represent a right to acquire Pubco Class A Common Stock pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Existing Warrant Agreement (as amended by the Warrant Assumption Agreement).
For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 – The Business Combination Proposal – Ancillary Agreements — Warrant Assumption Agreement.”
Sponsor Indemnification Agreement
Concurrently with the Closing, Pubco, the Company, and the Sponsor will enter into the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, Pubco and the Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sponsor and its shareholders, members, directors, managers, and officers (each, a “Sponsor Indemnified Person”) from and against any and all Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities (as defined in the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement) arising out of or relating to any pending or threatened action, cause of action, suit, litigation, investigation, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration or claim against any of them or in which any of them may be a participant or may otherwise be involved (including as a witness) that arise out of or relate to SPAC’s operations or conduct of its business, the Business Combination, and/or any claim against the Sponsor and/or a Sponsor Indemnified Person alleging any expressed or implied management, control or endorsement of any activities of SPAC, or any express or implied association with Pubco, the Company, or SPAC, or any of their respective affiliates. The Sponsor Indemnification Agreement will not however apply to claims arising primarily out of (a) any breach by such Sponsor Indemnified Person of any other agreement between such Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and Pubco, the Company, SPAC, or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the other hand, or (b) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of such Sponsor Indemnified Person.
For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 – The Business Combination Proposal – Ancillary Agreements — Sponsor Indemnification Agreement.”
Ownership of Pubco After the Closing
The following tables illustrate estimated ownership levels in Pubco, immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination, based on varying levels of redemptions by SPAC Public Shareholders. Each redemptions scenario assumes no Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment, the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, includes the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assumes the Company’s Cash Position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026).
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The following table excludes the dilutive effect of Pubco Warrants, Company Converted Warrants, and Pubco Class A Common Stock that will initially be available for issuance under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan.
| | No Additional Redemptions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ||||||
| | Scenario | | 25% Redemptions Scenario | | 50% Redemptions Scenario | | 75% Redemptions Scenario | | 100% Redemptions Scenario |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | |
|
| | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | |
|
| | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent |
|
| | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of |
|
| | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting |
|
Pro Forma Ownership | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) |
|
Public Shares(2) | | 8,409,633 |
| — |
| 20.9 | % | 3.8 | % | 6,307,225 |
| — |
| 16.6 | % | 2.9 | % | 4,204,817 |
| — |
| 11.7 | % | 1.9 | % | 2,102,409 |
| — |
| 6.2 | % | 1.0 | % | — |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % |
Founder Shares(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) | | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 7.5 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 7.9 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 8.3 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 8.9 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 9.4 | % | 1.4 | % |
Company shareholders (other than Big3 Founders) | | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 18.2 | % | 3.3 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 19.2 | % | 3.4 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 20.3 | % | 3.4 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 21.6 | % | 3.4 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 23.0 | % | 3.5 | % |
Big3 Founders | | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 53.4 | % | 91.5 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 56.4 | % | 92.4 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 59.7 | % | 93.3 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 63.4 | % | 94.2 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 67.6 | % | 95.1 | % |
Total | | 20,210,627 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 18,108,219 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 16,005,811 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 13,903,403 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 11,800,994 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
*Less than 1%.
| (1) | Each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote, and each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. |
| (2) | Amount comprises the unredeemed Public Shares in a variety of redemptions scenarios. This amount reflects the assumed redemption of (i) 0 shares under the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, (ii) 2,102,408 shares under the 25% Redemptions Scenario, (iii) 4,204,816 shares under the 50% Redemptions Scenario, (iv) 6,307,224 shares under the 75% Redemptions Scenario, and (v) 8,409,633 shares under the 100% Redemptions Scenario. |
| (3) | In each redemptions scenario, includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, assuming that all such shares will be used to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco or otherwise to support the Transactions. Such amount includes 425,602 Assigned Shares. On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements with Non-Redeeming Shareholders covering 4,256,015 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, under which those shareholders agreed not to redeem (or to rescind any redemption of) such shares in connection with a vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal presented at the Extension Meeting. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders were not affiliates of SPAC, the Sponsor, or SPAC’s officers or directors. In exchange, the Sponsor agreed to transfer 425,602 Founder Shares to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders promptly after closing of the Business Combination, conditioned on (i) the shares not being redeemed, (ii) approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, and (iii) consummation of the Business Combination. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders also received registration rights for the Assigned Shares under the same registration rights agreement used by the Sponsor. The Assigned Shares come from the Sponsor’s pool of up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares earmarked to incentivize non-redemptions/investment in support of the Business Combination. Any unused portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares will be forfeited at the Closing. |
| (4) | Amount includes 30,000 Founder Shares held by each of SPAC’s Independent Directors. |
| (5) | Amount includes 300,000 Transferred Shares, assuming the repayment of the following loans in cash at the Closing. On June 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the Convertible Promissory Note, replacing a prior promissory note dated June 4, 2026, and consolidating $200,000 in working capital advances previously made by Harraden into a fully drawn, non-interest bearing, unsecured Loan that was fully outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and is due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or SPAC’s liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, with Harraden also entitled to one warrant per dollar funded, issuable immediately prior to Closing on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants issued to the Sponsor. Subsequently, on August 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the August Convertible Promissory Note, under which SPAC may borrow up to an additional $300,000 for working capital |
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| and general corporate purposes on similar non-interest bearing, unsecured terms due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the August Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, and for each dollar funded Harraden is entitled to one warrant to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants, plus one unrestricted SPAC Ordinary Share transferred by the Sponsor, each issuable or to be transferred, as applicable, immediately prior to Closing. |
| (6) | Amount includes 500,000 Founder Shares that will be subject to vesting and will vest: (a) if the funds in the Trust Account plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, or (c) if there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater or equal to the Earnout Price. |
| (7) | Amount excludes 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, which will be forfeited by the Sponsor upon the consummation of the Business Combination. |
| (8) | Includes 507,964 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (9) | Includes 1,492,036 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
Dilutive Instruments
The following table shows possible sources of dilution and the extent of such dilution that non-redeeming SPAC Public Shareholders could experience in connection with the closing of the Business Combination. In an effort to illustrate the extent of such dilution, the table below assumes the exercise of all Pubco Warrants for a cash exercise price of $11.50. The table excludes Pubco Common Stock that will initially be available for issuance under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, as such shares will not be outstanding on the Closing Date.
| | No Additional Redemptions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ||||||
| | Scenario | | 25% Redemptions Scenario | | 50% Redemptions Scenario | | 75% Redemptions Scenario | | 100% Redemptions Scenario |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | |
|
| | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | |
|
| | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent |
|
| | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of |
|
| | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting |
|
Pro Forma Ownership | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) |
|
Public Shares(2) | | 8,409,633 |
| — |
| 14.6 | % | 3.5 | % | 6,307,225 |
| — |
| 11.3 | % | 2.7 | % | 4,204,817 |
| — |
| 7.9 | % | 1.8 | % | 2,102,409 |
| — |
| 4.1 | % | * |
| — |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % |
Founder Shares(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) | | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.2 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.4 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.6 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.8 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 6.1 | % | 1.3 | % |
Public Warrants | | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 19.9 | % | 4.8 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 20.7 | % | 4.9 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 21.5 | % | 4.9 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 22.4 | % | 5.0 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 23.3 | % | 5.0 | % |
Private Placement Warrants(10) | | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 10.4 | % | 2.5 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 10.8 | % | 2.5 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 11.2 | % | 2.6 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 11.7 | % | 2.6 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 12.2 | % | 2.6 | % |
Company shareholders (other than Big3 Founders) | | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 12.7 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 13.1 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 13.7 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 14.2 | % | 3.2 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 14.8 | % | 3.2 | % |
Big3 Founders | | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 37.2 | % | 84.7 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 38.6 | % | 85.5 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 40.1 | % | 86.3 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 41.8 | % | 87.1 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 43.6 | % | 87.9 | % |
Total | | 37,710,627 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 35,608,219 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 33,505,811 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 31,403,403 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 29,003,994 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
*Less than 1%.
| (1) | Each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote, and each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. |
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| (2) | Amount comprises the unredeemed Public Shares in a variety of redemptions scenarios. This amount reflects the assumed redemption of (i) 0 shares under the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, (ii) 2,102,408 shares under the 25% Redemptions Scenario, (iii) 4,204,816 shares under the 50% Redemptions Scenario, (iv) 6,307,224 shares under the 75% Redemptions Scenario, and (v) 8,409,633 shares under the 100% Redemptions Scenario. |
| (3) | In each redemptions scenario, includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, assuming that all such shares will be used to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco or otherwise to support the Transactions. Such amount includes 425,602 Assigned Shares. On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements with Non-Redeeming Shareholders covering 4,256,015 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, under which those shareholders agreed not to redeem (or to rescind any redemption of) such shares in connection with a vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal presented at the Extension Meeting. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders were not affiliates of SPAC, the Sponsor, or SPAC’s officers or directors. In exchange, the Sponsor agreed to transfer 425,602 Founder Shares to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders promptly after closing of the Business Combination, conditioned on (i) the shares not being redeemed, (ii) approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, and (iii) consummation of the Business Combination. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders also received registration rights for the Assigned Shares under the same registration rights agreement used by the Sponsor. The Assigned Shares come from the Sponsor’s pool of up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares earmarked to incentivize non-redemptions/investment in support of the Business Combination. Any unused portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares will be forfeited at the Closing. |
| (4) | Amount includes 30,000 Founder Shares held by each of SPAC’s Independent Directors. |
| (5) | Amount includes 300,000 Transferred Shares, assuming the repayment of the following loans in cash at the Closing. On June 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the Convertible Promissory Note, replacing a prior promissory note dated June 4, 2026, and consolidating $200,000 in working capital advances previously made by Harraden into a fully drawn, non-interest bearing, unsecured Loan that was fully outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and is due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or SPAC’s liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, with Harraden also entitled to one warrant per dollar funded, issuable immediately prior to Closing on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants issued to the Sponsor. Subsequently, on August 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the August Convertible Promissory Note, under which SPAC may borrow up to an additional $300,000 for working capital and general corporate purposes on similar non-interest bearing, unsecured terms due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the August Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, and for each dollar funded Harraden is entitled to one warrant to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants, plus one unrestricted SPAC Ordinary Share transferred by the Sponsor, each issuable or to be transferred, as applicable, immediately prior to Closing. |
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| (6) | Amount includes 500,000 Founder Shares that will be subject to vesting and will vest: (a) if the funds in the Trust Account plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, or (c) if there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater or equal to the Earnout Price. |
| (7) | Amount excludes 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, which will be forfeited by the Sponsor upon the consummation of the Business Combination. |
| (8) | Includes 507,964 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (9) | Includes 1,492,036 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (10) | Amount assumes that the SPAC Private Warrants required to be issued or transferred to Harraden pursuant to the Loan and the August Loan are transferred to Harraden by the Sponsor, resulting in no additional dilution. |
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Share ownership presented in the two tables above is only presented for illustrative purposes and does not necessarily reflect what Pubco’s share ownership will be after the Closing. SPAC and Company cannot predict how many of the SPAC Public Shareholders will exercise their right to have their SPAC Public Shares redeemed for cash. As a result, the redemption amount and the number of SPAC Public Shares redeemed in connection with the Business Combination may differ from the amounts presented above, and therefore the ownership percentages of SPAC Public Shareholders may also differ if the actual redemptions are different from these assumptions. The SPAC Public Shareholders that do not elect to redeem their SPAC Public Shares will experience immediate dilution as a result of the Business Combination. The SPAC Public Shareholders currently own approximately 59.4% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. As noted in the above table, even if no SPAC Public Shareholders redeem their SPAC Public Shares in the Business Combination, the SPAC Public Shareholders’ ownership will decrease from approximately 59.4% of the SPAC Ordinary Shares prior to the Business Combination to owning approximately 20.9% of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 3.8% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock. As redemptions increase, the overall percentage ownership and voting percentage held by Sponsor, other holders of Founder Shares, and Company equityholders will increase as compared to the overall percentage ownership and voting percentage held by SPAC Public Shareholders, thereby increasing dilution to SPAC Public Shareholders. If the amount of any Transaction Financing is greater than the assumptions above, such financing would further increase dilution to SPAC Public Shareholders. Additionally, to the extent that the Sponsor Investment is made in the form of equity or equity-linked securities, the Sponsor will receive such additional equity pursuant to such investment, which will increase the Sponsor’s percentage ownership and decrease the percentage ownership of the SPAC Public Shareholders and others. The number of such potential equity interests will not be calculable until definitive agreements for any Sponsor Investment are entered into, if any. For more information about the consideration to be received in the Business Combination, these scenarios, and the underlying assumptions, see “Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information.” See also “Risk Factors — The SPAC Public Shareholders will experience immediate dilution as a consequence of the issuance of Pubco Common Stock as consideration in the Business Combination, potential issuances in connection with financing, and due to future issuances of equity awards to Company employees, directors, or consultants. Having a minority share position may reduce the influence that our current shareholders have on the management of Pubco.”
Each of the 25% Redemptions Scenario, 50% Redemptions Scenario, 75% Redemptions Scenario, and 100% Redemptions Scenario results in an amount of net cash, after the redemptions and the payment of transaction expenses, that is not sufficient to meet the Minimum Cash Condition, without additional financing. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may elect not to consummate the Business Combination. Alternately, in the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, waive the Minimum Cash Condition. If the Company waives the Minimum Cash Condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of such event, however such condition may be waived at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, and, given such timing, you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Interests of Sponsor and SPAC’s Officers and Directors
The Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that differ from, or are in addition to, and may conflict with, the interests of unaffiliated SPAC Shareholders. SPAC’s officers and directors also have fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities requiring them to present business combination opportunities to those entities first, though SPAC believes no such opportunities were withheld from it as a result. The SPAC Board considered these interests in evaluating, negotiating, and recommending approval of the Business Combination, and shareholders should likewise consider them in voting on the Business Combination Proposal. These interests include, among others:
| ● | the fact that the Sponsor originally acquired an aggregate of 7,187,500 Founder Shares which were purchased for an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, prior to the SPAC IPO. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. Of these 5,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor following the February 8, 2024 surrender, (i) 90,000 Founder Shares were transferred to the Independent Directors (30,000 Founder Shares each) on June 7, 2024, (ii) 2,750,000 Founder Shares will be forfeited and surrendered immediately before the Domestication, (iii) 500,000 Founder Shares may be transferred by the Sponsor, in its discretion, to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco and if |
65
| not so transferred or used will be forfeited, and (iv) 500,000 of the Founder Shares will be subject to an earnout. The remaining Founder Shares are expected to have a significantly higher value at the time of the Business Combination than their original purchase price. At the Closing, the Sponsor and Independent Directors will hold an aggregate of 2,500,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the conversion of 2,500,000 Founder Shares, which if unrestricted and freely tradeable, would be valued at approximately $27.3 million, based on the $10.93 closing price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares on NYSE American on October 20, 2026. However, such shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will be subject to a lock-up described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. Additionally, pursuant to the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, Harraden has the option to receive Conversion Shares and is entitled to receive Issuance Warrants and Transferred Shares. The Issuance Warrants are identical to the SPAC Private Warrants held by the Sponsor. The Transferred Shares are to be transferred from the Sponsor to Harraden for each dollar funded by Harraden pursuant to the August Convertible Promissory Note. The Transferred Shares are subject to no transfer restrictions or any other lock-up provisions, earn outs, or other contingencies. Under both the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, in lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares, Issuance Warrants, and/or Transferred Shares, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy SPAC’s related obligations. The issuance and/or transfer of these securities is expected to reduce the post-Closing ownership percentage of the Sponsor. |
| ● | the fact that, as a result of the low purchase price paid for the Founder Shares, if the Business Combination is completed, the Sponsor and Independent Directors are likely to be able to make a substantial profit on its investment even at a time when the Pubco Class A Common Stock have lost significant value. Accordingly, the economic interests of the Sponsor and Independent Directors diverge from the economic interests of SPAC Public Shareholders because the Sponsor and Independent Directors will realize a gain on their investment from the completion of any business combination while SPAC Public Shareholders will realize a gain only if the post-closing trading price exceeds $10.00 per share; |
| ● | the fact that the Sponsor holds 4,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants, initially purchased for $1.00 per SPAC Private Warrant, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate, in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the closing of the SPAC IPO; such warrants will automatically be assumed by Pubco at the effective time of the SPAC Merger and will become Pubco Private Warrants exercisable for 4,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share. SPAC estimates that, at the Closing, if unrestricted and freely tradeable, such Pubco Warrants would be valued at approximately $1.0 million, based on the $0.25 closing price of the SPAC Public Warrants on NYSE American on October 20, 2026. However, such Pubco Warrants will be subject to a lock-up described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus; |
| ● | the fact that Sponsor and the Independent Directors and have waived their rights to redeem any SPAC Ordinary Shares held by them in connection with the shareholder vote to approve the Business Combination; |
| ● | the fact that, if SPAC were to liquidate rather than complete an initial business combination, the Sponsor will lose its entire investment in SPAC, which totals approximately $4,348,000 as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, comprising the $25,000 purchase price for the Founder Shares, the $4,000,000 purchase price for the SPAC Private Warrants purchased by Sponsor in a private placement concurrently with the SPAC IPO, and approximately $3,000 of other loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses, and $320,000 of accrued administrative services fees. However, if SPAC fails to consummate a business combination by the Business Combination Deadline and liquidates, such loans will not be converted into warrants and any loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses will only be repaid to the extent of any cash outside of the Trust Account. The potential loss of this investment may have incentivized Sponsor and its affiliates to pursue a business combination transaction on unfavorable terms in order to avoid a liquidation; |
| ● | the fact that, if the Trust Account is liquidated, including in the event SPAC is unable to complete an initial business combination by the Business Combination Deadline, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to SPAC if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to SPAC, or a prospective target business with which SPAC has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per SPAC Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per SPAC Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per SPAC Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses; provided that such obligation will not apply to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable), any claims by |
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| SPAC’s independent registered public accounting firm, or any claims under the indemnity of the underwriters of the SPAC IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act; |
| ● | the fact that [●], a [director/officer] of SPAC, is expected to be a [director/officer] of Pubco after the Closing. As such, in the future, [●] may receive fees for his service to Pubco, which may consist of cash or stock-based awards, and any other remuneration that the Pubco Board determines to pay; |
| ● | the fact that, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Sponsor and Independent Directors will have customary registration rights, including demand and piggy-back rights, subject to cooperation and cut-back provisions with respect to the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants held by them following the consummation of the Business Combination. SPAC estimates that the Sponsor and Independent Directors will hold an aggregate of 2,500,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock, 4,000,000 Pubco Warrants, and 4,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying Pubco Warrants subject to registration rights; |
| ● | the fact that at or immediately prior to the Closing, if the Closing SPAC Cash is less than $100,000,000, the Sponsor must invest, or cause its affiliate or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing. To the extent that the Sponsor Investment is made in the form of equity or equity-linked securities, the Sponsor will receive such additional equity pursuant to such investment. The number of such potential equity interests will not be calculable until definitive agreements for any Sponsor Investment are entered into, if any; |
| ● | the fact that, pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement, commencing on June 25, 2024, through the earlier of consummation of the SPAC’s initial business combination and its liquidation, SPAC agreed to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor $20,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of the management team. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Company had outstanding accrued administrative support services fees of $320,000. Such amounts may not be recoverable if SPAC liquidates without completing an initial business combination; |
| ● | the fact that Pubco and the Company agreed to enter into the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement with Sponsor at the Closing, pursuant to which Pubco and the Company will indemnify, exonerate and hold harmless the Sponsor and the Sponsor Indemnified Persons from and against any and all Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities arising out of or relating to any pending or threatened action, cause of action, suit, litigation, investigation, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration or claim against any of them or in which any of them may be a participant or may otherwise be involved (including as a witness) that arise out of or relates to SPAC’s operations or conduct of its business, the Business Combination, and/or any claim against the Sponsor and/or a Sponsor Indemnified Person alleging any expressed or implied management, control or endorsement of any activities of SPAC, or any express or implied association with Pubco, Company, or SPAC, or any of their respective affiliates. The Sponsor Indemnification Agreement will not however apply to claims arising primarily out of (a) any breach by such Sponsor Indemnified Person of any other agreement between such Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and Company, Pubco or SPAC or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the other hand, or (b) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of such Sponsor Indemnified Person; and |
| ● | the continued indemnification of former and current directors and officers of SPAC and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
Compensation to be Received by Sponsor and SPAC’s Officers and Directors
Set forth below is a summary of the amount of compensation and securities received or to be received by the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors in connection with the Business Combination.
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| Securities to be Received | | Other Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Sponsor |
| On November 24, 2021, the Sponsor paid an aggregate of $ |
| $20,000 per month through the Closing for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services provided by the Sponsor to members of the SPAC management team. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, $320,000 of accrued administrative services fees was outstanding. Indemnification by Pubco and Company pursuant to the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement, and coverage under Pubco’s directors’ and officer’s insurance policy pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement. |
James A. Graf |
| See “Sponsor” above. Mr. Graf may be deemed to control the Sponsor. |
| Reimbursement for loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, $3,000 was outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
Louis Bélanger-Martin | | 30,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 30,000 Founder Shares. | | Reimbursement for loans and advances to SPAC and for out-of-pocket expenses incurred related to identifying, negotiating, investigating and completing the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no such amounts were outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
Kenneth Weinstein | | 30,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 30,000 Founder Shares. | | Reimbursement for loans and advances to SPAC and for out-of-pocket expenses incurred related to identifying, negotiating, investigating and completing the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no such amounts were outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
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| Securities to be Received | | Other Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fred S. Zeidman | | 30,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 30,000 Founder Shares. | | Reimbursement for loans and advances to SPAC and for out-of-pocket expenses incurred related to identifying, negotiating, investigating and completing the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no such amounts were outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
Potential Purchases of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants
The Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors do not have any plans at this time to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants from SPAC Public Shareholders. Other than (i) the Discretionary Founder Shares, which the Sponsor may, in its discretion, transfer to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions or investments in SPAC or Pubco, and (ii) the 425,602 Assigned Shares (which shall be drawn from the Discretionary Founder Shares allocation noted above) to be issued to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders pursuant to the Extension Non-Redemption Agreements in exchange for the Non-Redeeming Shareholders agreeing to not redeem, or to rescind any prior redemption request, in connection with the shareholder vote at the Extension Meeting, the Sponsor does not plan to take any other actions to incentivize non-redemption. However, at any time prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting, during a period when they are not then aware of any material nonpublic information regarding SPAC or its securities, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates may purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market, although they are under no obligation to do so. There is no limit on the number of SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants that such persons may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Stock Exchange rules. However, other than as expressly stated herein, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the Trust Account will be used to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants in such transactions. Such purchases of SPAC Public Shares may include a contractual acknowledgment that such shareholder, although still the record holder of SPAC’s shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights.
In the event that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates purchase SPAC Public Shares in privately negotiated transactions from SPAC Public Shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The purpose of such transaction could be to increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the Business Combination, reduce the number of outstanding SPAC Public Warrants, or satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. SPAC expects any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants and the number of beneficial holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to obtain or maintain the quotation, listing or trading of the SPAC Public Units, SPAC Public Shares, and SPAC Public Warrants on the NYSE American.
In the event that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates were to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants from SPAC Public Shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act. To the extent that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates purchase SPAC Public Shares in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, such shares would not be voted in favor of approving the Business Combination. See “Business Combination — Potential Purchases of SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants” for more information.
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SPAC Board’s Reasons for Approval
Before reaching its decision on June 11, 2026, the
Further, the prospectus for the IPO identified the general criteria and guidelines that SPAC believed would be important in evaluating prospective target businesses, although SPAC also indicated it may enter into a business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria or guidelines. The SPAC Board considered these criteria in its evaluation of the Company and determined that the Business Combination presents an attractive business opportunity in light of a variety of factors, including the Company’s leading industry position, stable free cash flow profile, committed and capable management team, and growth potential. The SPAC Board did not obtain a fairness opinion from an independent investment banking firm and did not otherwise use traditional valuation metrics, but relied in part on the SPAC management team’s collective experience in evaluating the transaction. The SPAC Board also considered the potential detriments of the Business Combination, including the Company’s early stage of growth, industry and competitive risks, the absence of possible structural protections for minority shareholders, macroeconomic risks, the uncertainty of the potential benefits of the Business Combination being achieved, and the risks and costs to SPAC if the Business Combination is not achieved, including the risk that it may result in SPAC being unable to complete a business combination and force SPAC to liquidate.
For a description of the SPAC Board’s reasons for the approval of the Business Combination and the unanimous recommendation of the SPAC Board, see the subsection entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The SPAC Board’s Reasons for the Approval of the Business Combination”.
The Extraordinary General Meeting
The following is a summary of the process and procedures for registering for and attending the Extraordinary General Meeting and voting and redeeming your SPAC Public Shares in connection with the Extraordinary General Meeting. For more information, see section titled “Extraordinary General Meeting.”
Date, Time, and Place
The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at [●] a.m., Eastern Time, on [●]. The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held virtually, conducted via live webcast at [●]. For purposes of Cayman Islands law and SPAC Organizational Documents, the physical location of the Extraordinary General Meeting will be at the offices of White & Case LLP at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
Proposals to be Submitted at the Extraordinary General Meeting
At the Extraordinary General Meeting, SPAC is asking holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares to consider and vote upon:
| ● | the Business Combination Proposal; |
| ● | the Domestication Proposal; |
| ● | the SPAC Merger Proposal; |
| ● | the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal; |
| ● | the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals; |
| ● | the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal; and |
| ● | the Adjournment Proposal (if presented). |
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Registering for the Extraordinary General Meeting
Shareholders wishing to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting virtually should register by [●], Eastern Time, on [●]. Shareholders registered directly with Continental may pre-register (recommended but not required) at https://www.cstproxy.com/[●] using the 12-digit control number on their proxy card or meeting notice, and must log back in with that number just before the meeting starts.
Beneficial shareholders (holding through a bank, broker, or other nominee) must instead obtain a legal proxy from their account holder, email a copy to proxy@continentalstock.com to receive a 12-digit control number and meeting access instructions. Beneficial shareholders should contact Continental at least five Business Days prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting date in order to ensure access.
Record Date
SPAC has fixed [●], 2026 as the Record Date for the Extraordinary General Meeting. SPAC Shareholders at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to vote on matters that come before the Extraordinary General Meeting. Each SPAC Ordinary Share is entitled to one vote. The shareholder may only vote his, hers, or its shares if he, she, or it is present in person or is represented by proxy at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
As of the Record Date, the Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares held of record and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 5,750,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares. The SPAC Ordinary Shares held by such persons currently constitutes approximately 40.6% of the outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor and the other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares held by them as of the Record Date in favor of the Business Combination, including voting in favor of each proposal. No consideration has been or will be paid by SPAC, the Company, or Pubco to the Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares in connection with such agreements. To the extent that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates purchase SPAC Public Shares in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, such shares would not be voted in favor of approving the Business Combination.
Voting Power; Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes
With respect to each proposal in this proxy statement/prospectus, you may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN.”
If a shareholder fails to return a proxy card and does not attend the Extraordinary General Meeting in person, then the shareholder’s shares will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will not constitute votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and therefore will have no effect on the Business Combination Proposal, Domestication Proposal, Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal, Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, or Adjournment Proposal as a matter of Cayman law. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against the SPAC Merger Proposal.
If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial holder” of the shares held for you in what is known as “street name.” If this is the case, this proxy statement/prospectus may have been forwarded to you by your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, or its agent, and you may need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker, bank or nominee as to how to vote your shares. Under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares with respect to non-discretionary matters unless you provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and procedures provided to you by your broker, bank, or nominee. We believe all the proposals presented to the shareholders will be considered non-discretionary and therefore your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares without your instruction. Your bank, broker, or other nominee can vote your shares only if you provide instructions on how to vote. As the beneficial holder, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee as to how to vote your shares and you should instruct your broker to vote your shares in accordance with directions you provide. If you do not provide voting instructions to your broker on a particular proposal on which your broker does not have discretionary authority to vote, your shares will not be voted on that proposal. This is called a “broker non-vote.” Broker non-votes are not considered present for the purposes of establishing a
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quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal, assuming a valid quorum is established, except for the SPAC Merger Proposal. Broker non-votes will not be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as a vote cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and will therefore have the same effect as a vote against the SPAC Merger Proposal.
Redemption Rights
SPAC Public Shareholders (other than the Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares) may request redemption of all or a portion of their SPAC Public Shares for cash if the Business Combination is consummated. To exercise this right, a holder must, prior to the deadline (two business days before the Extraordinary General Meeting): separate any SPAC Public Units into SPAC Public Shares and SPAC Public Warrants (if applicable); submit a written redemption request to Continental identifying the beneficial owner; and tender or deliver the SPAC Public Shares to Continental, physically or through DTC. Redeeming holders will receive a pro rata portion of the Trust Account (net of taxes payable), estimated at approximately $[●] per Public Share as of the Record Date. Because market prices may exceed the Redemption Price, SPAC Public Shareholders should compare the two before electing redemption, though SPAC cannot guarantee sufficient market liquidity to sell shares at any given price.
A redemption request may be withdrawn before the redemption deadline, and thereafter only with SPAC’s consent until Closing. Shares delivered for redemption can be returned by Continental if withdrawn in time. No redemption will be honored unless shares are actually delivered to Continental by the deadline. Redemptions are capped at 15% of outstanding SPAC Public Shares per holder (together with affiliates or persons acting in concert), with any excess shares not redeemed.
The SPAC Public Shareholders currently own approximately 59.4% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. Even if no SPAC Public Shareholders redeem their SPAC Public Shares in the Business Combination, the SPAC Public Shareholders’ ownership will decrease from approximately 59.4% of the SPAC Ordinary Shares prior to the Business Combination to owning approximately 20.9% of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 3.8% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock. As redemptions increase, the overall percentage ownership and voting percentage held by Sponsor, other holders of Founder Shares, and Company equityholders will increase as compared to the overall percentage ownership and voting percentage held by SPAC Public Shareholders, thereby increasing dilution to SPAC Public Shareholders.
Appraisal and Dissenters’ Rights
Neither SPAC’s shareholders nor SPAC’s warrant holders have appraisal or dissenters’ rights in connection with the Business Combination or the Domestication under Cayman Islands law or the DGCL. SPAC’s shareholders do not have dissenters’ rights in connection with the Business Combination or the Domestication under Cayman Islands law. See the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” for more information.
Regulatory Approvals
Each of SPAC and Company has agreed to use their respective reasonable best efforts to take all actions to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement in the most expeditious manner practicable and to obtain in the most expeditious manner practicable all actions, waivers, consents, approvals, orders and authorizations necessary to be obtained from any third party or any governmental entity in order to complete the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement. Please see the subsection entitled “The Business Combination – Regulatory Approvals” for additional information.
Stock Exchange Listing
It is a condition to the consummation of the Business Combination that the Pubco Class A Common Stock be listed on the Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance. Pubco intends to apply for listing, to be effective at Closing, of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants on the NYSE American under the symbols “TONT” and “TONT WS”, respectively. However, it is important for you to consider that, at the time of the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, the Pubco may not have received from NYSE American either confirmation of the listing of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Public Warrants or confirmation that approval will be obtained prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, and you will not be notified prior to the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting if Pubco has not yet received such approval or confirmation. As a result, you may be asked to vote to approve the Business
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Combination and the other proposals included in this proxy statement/prospectus without knowing whether Pubco’s securities will be listed on NYSE American or another securities exchange and, further, it is possible that such listing may never be achieved and the Business Combination could still be consummated if such condition is waived. Please see the subsection entitled “The Business Combination — Stock Exchange Listing” for additional information.
Comparison of Shareholders’ Rights
The rights of SPAC Shareholders are currently governed by the Companies Act and the SPAC Organizational Documents. Upon completion of the Business Combination and the Domestication, the rights of SPAC Shareholders who become stockholders of Pubco will be governed by the DGCL and the Pubco Organizational Documents. The Companies Act and Cayman Islands law generally differ in some material respects from laws generally applicable to United States corporations and their stockholders. In addition, the SPAC Organizational Documents differ in certain material respects from the Pubco Organizational Documents. For a detailed comparison, see “Comparison of Corporate Governance and Shareholder Rights.”
Recommendation to SPAC Shareholders
The SPAC Board believes that the Business Combination Proposal and the other proposals to be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting are fair, advisable and in the best interests of the SPAC and all of its shareholders and recommends that SPAC Shareholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Business Combination Proposal, “FOR” the approval of the Domestication Proposal, “FOR” the approval of the SPAC Merger Proposal, “FOR” the approval of the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal, “FOR” the approval of each of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, “FOR” the approval of the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and “FOR” the approval of the Adjournment Proposal, if presented.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Business Combination
For a discussion summarizing material U.S. federal income tax considerations of the Domestication, an exercise of Redemption Rights, the Mergers and other transactions comprising the Business Combination (including the consequences of the Company Merger to Sellers), and the ownership and disposition of Pubco Securities, please see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”.
Anticipated Accounting Treatment
The Business Combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, although SPAC will acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of the Company in the Business Combination, SPAC will be treated as the “acquired” company and the Company will be treated as the accounting acquirer for financial statement reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Business Combination will be treated as the equivalent of the Company issuing stock for the net assets of SPAC, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of SPAC will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Business Combination will be those of the Company.
The Company has been determined to be the accounting acquirer based on evaluation of the following facts and circumstances under both the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and the 100% Redemptions Scenario:
| ● | The Company’s equityholders will have the greatest voting interest in the Pubco; |
| ● | The Company’s equityholders will have the ability to control decisions regarding election and removal of directors and officers of the Pubco; |
| ● | The Company will comprise the ongoing operations of the Pubco; and |
| ● | The Company’s existing senior management will be the senior management of the Pubco. |
See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” for more information.
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Emerging Growth Company
SPAC is and Pubco will be an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a registration statement under the Securities Act declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. SPAC has not elected, and Pubco is not expected to elect, to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Pubco will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the effective date of the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part, (b) in which Pubco has total annual revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which Pubco is deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of its common equity that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of the prior fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter; and (2) the date on which Pubco has issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
Smaller Reporting Company
SPAC is a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements.
Following the Closing, Pubco will be required to re-determine its status as a smaller reporting company prior to the time it makes its first filing with the SEC (other than the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with Form 10 Information (as defined in Rule 144(i)(3) of the Securities Act)). Pubco will be able to continue to take advantage of the smaller reporting company scaled disclosures if its voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured as of a date within four business days after the consummation of the Business Combination, or the Company’s annual revenue is less than $100.0 million as of the most recently completed fiscal year reported in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with Form 10 Information (as defined in Rule 144(i)(3) of the Securities Act). If Pubco is no longer a smaller reporting company after this initial determination, it would need to reflect its re-determined status in any filing that is due after the 45-day period following the Closing. We expect that Pubco will remain a smaller reporting company after the Closing. To the extent that Pubco takes advantage of the reduced disclosure obligations available for smaller reporting companies, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
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Risk Factor Summary
In evaluating the Business Combination and the proposals set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus, you should carefully read this proxy statement/prospectus, including the annexes, and especially review and consider the matters addressed under the heading “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and the risk factors set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors.” These risks include, but are not limited to, the summary included below.
| ● | The Company has a history of losses and may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future. |
| ● | The Company may have future capital needs and may not be able to obtain additional financing to fund its capital needs on acceptable terms, or at all. |
| ● | The Company’s business is concentrated in a single sports property, Big3 Basketball, and it does not have a diversified portfolio of properties, franchises, or content verticals to offset a decline in the popularity or financial performance of Big3 Basketball. |
| ● | The Company does not currently have a long-term paid media rights agreement in place for the distribution of its games, and its inability to obtain a favorable media rights agreement could prevent it from achieving profitability. |
| ● | The markets in which the Company operates are highly competitive, and the growing global popularity of 3-on-3 basketball may intensify competition for players, media rights, and sponsorships. |
| ● | The Company depends on the continued services of executive management and other key employees, including its founders and league commissioner, and the loss of these individuals could adversely affect its business. |
| ● | The Company could face a variety of risks if it expands into other new and complementary businesses and/or makes certain investments or acquisitions. |
| ● | Failure to protect the Company’s IT systems and confidential information against breakdowns, security breaches, and other cybersecurity risks, including risks arising from the use of artificial intelligence, could adversely affect its business. |
| ● | The Company is subject to extensive governmental regulations, including the FCPA and trade sanctions laws, and its failure to comply with these regulations could adversely affect its business. |
| ● | Pubco will have a dual-class common stock structure under which each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock carries ten votes and each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock carries one vote, concentrating voting control with the Big3 Founders. |
| ● | Pubco will be a holding company with no operations of its own and will depend on its indirect interest in OpCo for its cash flows, and Pubco’s organizational structure may limit the cash available to Pubco and may complicate its financial reporting. |
| ● | If Pubco were deemed to be an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act, its business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. |
| ● | There is no public market for the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or the Pubco Warrants, and SPAC cannot be sure that an active trading market will develop or that Pubco will obtain or maintain listing on the NYSE or another national securities exchange. |
| ● | SPAC’s independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about SPAC’s ability to continue as a “going concern.” |
| ● | Neither the SPAC Board nor any committee thereof obtained a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in determining whether to pursue the Business Combination, so there is no assurance from an independent source that the price SPAC is paying for the Company is fair from a financial point of view. |
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| ● | The Sponsor, SPAC’s directors and officers and their affiliates have interests in the Business Combination that are different from, or in addition to and/or in conflict with, those of SPAC Shareholders generally. |
| ● | SPAC Public Shareholders will experience immediate dilution as a consequence of the issuance of Pubco Common Stock as consideration in the Business Combination and due to future issuances of equity awards and other securities. |
| ● | SPAC may not be able to complete the Business Combination within the Combination Period, in which case SPAC would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and SPAC would redeem its SPAC Public Shares and liquidate. |
| ● | SPAC may be targeted by securities class action and derivative lawsuits that could result in substantial costs and may delay or prevent the Business Combination from being completed. |
| ● | The Mergers may not qualify as a Section 351 Transaction and the SPAC Merger may not qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization, which could result in adverse tax consequences to the parties, to holders of SPAC securities and to the Sellers. |
| ● | The Domestication may result in adverse tax consequences for holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants. |
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RISK FACTORS
The following risk factors may have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of Pubco, the Company and SPAC following the completion of the Business Combination. These risk factors are not exhaustive and investors are encouraged to perform their own investigation with respect to Pubco’s business, prospects, financial condition and operating results following the completion of the Business Combination. You should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement/prospectus, including matters addressed in the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” before deciding how to vote your SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. Please see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” in this proxy statement/prospectus. Pubco, the Company and SPAC may face additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known to them or that they currently deem immaterial, which may also impair Pubco’s business, prospects, financial condition or operating results. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of the Company and the financial statements of SPAC and notes thereto included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Risks Related to the Company’s Business and Industry
The Company has a history of losses. The Company has not been profitable historically and may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future.
The Company has incurred net losses historically, including net losses of approximately $22.2 million and $13.2 million in the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The Company expects to continue to incur operating losses and negative cash flow in the near-term as it continues to invest significantly in its business, particularly in its players, marketing, technology and operations efforts. These investments may not result in increased revenue or growth in its business.
In addition, following the Business Combination, as a public company, the Company will incur significant additional legal, accounting and other expenses that it did not incur as a private company. These increased expenditures may make it harder for the Company to achieve and maintain future profitability. Revenue growth and growth in its customer base may not be sustainable, and the Company may not achieve sufficient revenue to achieve or maintain profitability. While the Company has generated revenue in the past, it has only recently begun to expand its league and service offerings, some of which are expected to generate a substantial portion of its revenue going forward, and it is difficult for the Company to predict its future operating results. The Company may incur significant losses in the future for a number of reasons, including due to the other risks described in this proxy statement/prospectus, and it may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications and delays and other unknown events. As a result, its losses may be larger than anticipated, the Company may incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, and it may not achieve profitability when expected, or at all, and even if it does, the Company may not be able to maintain or increase profitability. Furthermore, if the Company’s future growth and operating performance fail to meet investor or analyst expectations, or if it has future negative cash flow or losses resulting from its investment in acquiring customers or expanding its operations, this could make it difficult for you to evaluate the Company’s current business and its future prospects and have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company may have future capital needs and may not be able to obtain additional financing to fund its capital needs on acceptable terms, or at all.
The Company expects to continue to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future as it continues to invest in the growth of its league operations, player development, marketing initiatives and expansion of its media and content offerings, and the Company may need to raise additional capital within the next twelve to twenty-four months. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue one or more of its planned growth initiatives, including expansion into new markets, or enhancement of its media distribution capabilities. The Company has evaluated from time to time, and it continues to evaluate, its potential capital needs in light of increasing interest in professional 3-on-3 basketball, evolving media distribution opportunities and the growing competitive landscape in the sports media industry. The Company may utilize one or more types of capital raising in order to fund any initiative in this regard, including the issuance of new equity securities and new debt securities, including debt securities convertible into Pubco Common Stock. The Company’s ability to generate positive cash flows from operating activities and the extent and timing of certain capital and other necessary expenditures are subject to numerous variables, such as costs related to league operations, player compensation, venue costs, production expenses and media rights arrangements. The market conditions and the macroeconomic conditions that affect the sports and entertainment industries could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to secure financing on acceptable terms, if at all. The Company may be unable to secure additional
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financing on favorable terms or at all or its operating cash flows may be insufficient to satisfy its financial obligations under any additional indebtedness outstanding from time to time.
The Company’s ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, league expansion, debt service requirements or general corporate purposes may be limited. Events beyond the Company’s control, including changes in macroeconomic conditions, investor appetite for sports media companies and the competitive landscape for capital, can affect its ability to raise capital on acceptable terms.
The terms of any additional financing may limit the Company’s financial and operating flexibility. Any debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive covenants and could reduce the Company’s operational flexibility or its ability to achieve profitability. Furthermore, if financing is not available when needed, or is not available on acceptable terms, the Company may be unable to take advantage of business opportunities, such as expansion into new markets, the acquisition of new teams or players, or investment in enhanced media and content offerings, or respond to competitive pressures, any of which may have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations. If the Company needs additional capital and cannot raise it on acceptable terms, it may not be able to, among other things:
| ● | enhance its branded product and event offerings; |
| ● | expand its sales and marketing efforts; |
| ● | hire, train and retain employees, including players and coaches; |
| ● | respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated working capital requirements; or |
| ● | pursue the strategic growth opportunities discussed elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, see “Information about the Company.” Any of the foregoing factors could have negative consequences on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. |
If the Company raises additional funds or seeks to reduce its levels of indebtedness through further issuances of equity, convertible debt securities or other securities convertible into equity, the Company’s existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution in their percentage ownership of the Company. In addition, any new securities the Company issues could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock, and the Company may grant holders of such securities rights with respect to the governance and operations of its business. If the Company is unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to it, if and when it requires it, the Company’s ability to grow or support its business and to respond to business challenges could be significantly limited. The Business Combination Agreement further limits the Company’s ability to raise additional funds through additional indebtedness or further issuances of equity, convertible debt securities or other securities convertible into equity during the period prior to the Closing, which could further impact its ability to grow or support its business and to respond to business challenges prior to the Closing. There can be no assurance that the Company will not need to raise additional financing in the future, and such additional financing may be required more quickly than the Company anticipates and may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all.
To the extent the Company incurs indebtedness in the future, such indebtedness could adversely affect its financial condition, its ability to raise additional capital to fund its operations, its ability to operate its business, its ability to react to changes in the economy or its industry, and its ability to pay its debts, and could divert its cash flow from operations for debt payments.
As of June 30, 2026, the Company had total indebtedness of approximately $44.2 million, including accrued interest. Although most of this amount was subsequently converted into equity in September 2026, and the Business Combination Agreement also contains a condition to closing in favor of SPAC that certain Company indebtedness will have been discharged in full, in the future, the Company may have a material amount of indebtedness and leverage. The Company’s level of indebtedness increases the possibility that it may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay the principal of, interest on, or other amounts due with respect to its indebtedness. Further, if the Company continues to engage in debt financing, the holders of that debt (in addition to the holders of the Company’s debt that the Company expects will remain outstanding following the Business Combination) would have priority over the holders of Pubco Common Stock, and the Company may be required to accept terms that restrict the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness. The Company may also be required to take other actions that would otherwise be in the interests of its debt
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holders, including maintaining specified liquidity or other ratios. The Company’s leverage and debt service obligations could adversely impact its business, including by:
| ● | impairing the Company’s ability to generate cash sufficient to pay interest or principal, including periodic principal payments; |
| ● | increasing the Company’s vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; |
| ● | requiring the dedication of a portion of the Company’s cash flow from operations to service its debt, thereby reducing the amount of cash flow available for other purposes, including capital expenditures or to pursue future business opportunities or strategic growth opportunities discussed elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, see “Information about the Company”; |
| ● | requiring the Company to sell debt or equity securities or to sell some of its core assets, possibly on unfavorable terms, to meet payment obligations; |
| ● | requiring the Company to sell some of its core assets, including its intellectual property, possibly on unfavorable terms, as a result of security interests granted to third parties; |
| ● | limiting the Company’s flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in its business and the industries in which it competes; and |
| ● | placing the Company at a possible competitive disadvantage relative to less-leveraged competitors and competitors that may have better access to capital resources. |
Despite any substantial indebtedness, the Company may still be able to incur significantly more debt in the future, which could intensify the risks described above. To the extent any of the Company’s borrowings bear interest at a variable rate, increases in interest rates would increase the Company’s interest expense and could impact its ability to service its indebtedness. The Company’s ability to satisfy its financial obligations will depend upon its future operating performance, including the success of its league seasons, media rights arrangements, sponsorship revenue, team sales and event operations, as well as the availability of credit generally, economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond its control. Any of the foregoing factors could have negative consequences on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Even if the Company is able to obtain additional financing, it may be required to use the proceeds from any such financing to repay a portion of its outstanding debt.
The Company has a history of recurring losses and negative operating cash flows, and the Company’s management has concluded that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has included an explanatory paragraph in its report on the Company’s consolidated financial statements regarding this uncertainty.
Since inception, the Company has incurred recurring operating losses and negative cash flows from operations. The Company incurred net losses of $22.2 million and $13.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and had total members’ deficits, including noncontrolling interests, of $41.4 million and $35.2 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, the Company incurred net losses of $8.3 million and $7.6 million, respectively, and used net cash in operating activities of $6.1 million and $5.7 million, respectively, and the Company had a total members’ deficit, including noncontrolling interests, of $39.5 million as of June 30, 2026. The Company expects to continue to incur losses and negative operating cash flows for the foreseeable future, and the Company may never achieve or sustain profitability.
The Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2026 have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. In connection with the preparation of those financial statements, management evaluated these conditions in relation to the Company’s ability to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date the applicable financial statements are issued. Based on those evaluations, management concluded that the Company’s recurring losses from operations, negative operating cash flows and dependence on continued external financing raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty, including any adjustments to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities. See Note 12 to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and Note 11 to the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
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The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern depends on its ability to generate profitable operations and/or obtain additional financing through debt borrowings, equity contributions or other capital raising transactions. Management’s plans include selling additional teams, pursuing additional equity and debt financing from existing and prospective investors, increasing sponsorship and media rights revenues, implementing cost-control measures intended to reduce operating expenditures, and pursuing the Business Combination. However, these plans are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company’s control, and management has concluded that these plans do not alleviate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available to the Company when needed, in sufficient amounts or on acceptable terms, if at all, or that the Company will be able to increase its sponsorship and media rights revenues, sell additional teams or reduce its operating expenditures to the extent necessary. In particular, the Business Combination is subject to customary closing conditions and may not be consummated on the anticipated timeline or at all. Further, the amount and timing of any cash proceeds that may be delivered to Pubco upon the Closing are uncertain, including due to the unforeseeable number of Public Shares that may be redeemed at or prior to the Closing. Accordingly, there can be no assurance regarding the proceeds that Pubco may ultimately receive from the Business Combination or their use, and any such proceeds may not be sufficient to fund the combined company’s operations for at least the next 12 months or to alleviate the substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
If the Company raises additional capital through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities, the Company’s existing equity holders (and, following the Closing, Pubco’s shareholders) could experience significant dilution, and any new securities could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of the Company’s existing securities. Any debt financing the Company obtains may involve covenants restricting its operations, require it to pledge its assets and require it to dedicate a substantial portion of its cash flow to debt service. If the Company cannot obtain adequate financing or achieve profitable operations, the Company may be required to significantly curtail, delay or discontinue some or all of its operations, sell assets, seek protection under applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or cease operations altogether. In any such event, holders of the Company’s securities could lose all or part of their investment.
In addition, the substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern may adversely affect the Company’s relationships with sponsors, media partners, vendors, lenders and other counterparties, may impair its ability to attract and retain key personnel, and may make it more difficult to obtain financing on favorable terms, or at all, any of which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects and the market price of its securities.
The Company depends on the continued services of executive management and other key employees, including its founders and league commissioner. The loss or diminished performance of these individuals could adversely affect its business.
The Company’s performance is substantially dependent on the continued services of executive management and other key employees, including its co-founders, O’Shea Jackson Sr. (commonly known as Ice Cube) and Jeffrey Kwatinetz, and its commissioner, Clyde “the Glide” Drexler. Ice Cube and Mr. Kwatinetz have played a central role in founding, promoting and shaping the creative and business direction of the Company since its inception, and the Company’s brand identity and public profile are closely associated with Ice Cube in particular, given his prominence as a public figure and entertainer. Mr. Drexler, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, similarly lends significant credibility, visibility and basketball expertise to the Company’s league operations in his role as commissioner. The loss of the services of Ice Cube, Mr. Kwatinetz, Mr. Drexler, or any other member of the Company’s executive management team, whether due to departure, incapacity, damage to their personal or professional reputations, or other reasons, could impair the Company’s ability to execute its business plan and growth strategy, have a negative impact on its business, financial condition, and results of operations, or cause employee morale problems or the loss of additional key employees. Because the Company’s brand and public perception are closely tied to these specific individuals, their loss or any adverse publicity involving them could have a disproportionate effect on the Company’s reputation and business as compared to companies whose brand identity is less closely associated with particular individuals.
The Company’s professional reputation is essential to its continued success and any decrease in the quality of its reputation could impair its ability to, among other things, recruit and retain qualified and experienced personnel, or enter into multimedia, licensing, and partnership engagements. Many players that participate in the Company’s events are also public personalities with large social media followings whose actions generate significant publicity and public interest. The on-court and off-court behavior of the Company’s players, including conduct during games, interactions with fans, media, and officials, and conduct in their personal lives, can have a direct and outsized effect on the reputation and popularity of the league given the relatively smaller scale and closer public association between individual players and the Company’s brand as compared to larger, more established leagues. Any adverse publicity relating to such individuals or individuals that the Company employs or previously employed or have a contractual relationship with, or that otherwise occurs at its locations or events, including from reported or actual incidents or allegations of illegal
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or improper conduct, such as harassment, discrimination, unsportsmanlike conduct, or other misconduct, may result in significant media attention, even if not directly relating to or involving the Company, and could have a negative impact on its professional reputation. This could result in termination of media rights agreements, licensing, sponsorships (including as a result of morals clauses in certain of its agreements) or other contractual relationships, or affect its ability to attract new partnerships or other business relationships, or the loss or termination of such employees’ or contractors’ services. Because the Company’s brand and public perception are closely tied to its founders, key executives, and players, their loss or any adverse publicity involving them could have a disproportionate effect on its reputation, sponsorship relationships, media partnerships, and business as compared to companies whose brand identity is less closely associated with particular individuals, all of which could adversely affect its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The Company’s business is concentrated in a single sports property, Big3 Basketball, and it does not have a diversified portfolio of properties, franchises, or content verticals to offset a decline in the popularity or financial performance of Big3 Basketball.
The Company does not have a meaningfully diversified portfolio of properties, franchises, or content verticals to offset a decline in the popularity, financial performance, or operational viability of Big3 Basketball. Its principal sources of revenue include media rights, sponsorship and advertising arrangements, live event operations, merchandise sales, licensing arrangements, and other basketball-related commercial activities, all of which are derived exclusively from Big3 Basketball. As a result, the Company’s revenue and overall business are highly correlated with, and dependent upon, the continued success of this single property.
This concentration of revenue exposes the Company to a number of risks. Any decline in fan interest, viewership, attendance, or engagement with Big3 Basketball, whether due to competition from other sports and entertainment options, changing consumer preferences, or issues involving key players, coaches, or personalities associated with the league, would have a disproportionate and immediate adverse effect on each of the Company’s revenue streams, given the absence of other significant content offerings to offset such a decline. Because the Company’s media rights, sponsorship, and advertising arrangements are similarly concentrated in a single property, the loss, non-renewal, or renegotiation of any material arrangement on less favorable terms would have an outsized effect on the Company’s revenue. In addition, because Big3 Basketball operates on a limited seasonal schedule and the Company has no other content offerings to generate revenue or smooth cash flows during the off-season, its live event, merchandise, and licensing revenue in particular may be more volatile than that of more diversified competitors. The Company also competes for fan attention, sponsorship dollars, media rights revenue, and talent against established professional sports leagues and entertainment companies that offer multiple properties and more diversified revenue streams, which may make the Company less able to withstand a downturn in its sole offering.
While the Company may seek to diversify its content offerings or expand into new properties, formats, or verticals in the future, there is no assurance that it will be able to do so successfully, in a timely manner, or at all. If Big3 Basketball experiences a sustained decline in popularity or financial performance, the Company does not currently have alternative revenue sources to offset the resulting decline, which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The Company does not currently have a long-term paid media rights agreement in place for the distribution of its games, and its inability to obtain a favorable media rights agreement could prevent it from achieving profitability.
Unlike many established professional sports leagues, the Company does not currently have a long-term paid media rights agreement pursuant to which a distributor pays the Company a rights fee for the exclusive right to broadcast its games. Instead, the Company’s broadcast arrangement with CBS (which originated in 2019) is negotiated and renewed on a year-to-year basis, under which the Company does not receive a traditional media rights fee for the broadcast of its games but rather the Company pays CBS for the rights and licenses granted pursuant to the arrangement with CBS, in addition to production costs. The Company’s ability to grow its revenue and achieve profitability depends substantially on its ability to negotiate a media rights agreement, whether with CBS or another distribution partner, on terms that provide the Company with a meaningful rights fee. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to negotiate such an agreement on favorable terms, or at all. If the Company is unable to obtain a favorable paid media rights agreement, or continues to operate under a model in which it does not receive a rights fee for the broadcast of its games, the Company may not achieve or sustain profitability, and its business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
The Company depends on its relationships with television and cable networks, satellite providers, digital streaming and other distribution partners not only for the distribution of its live events and media content, but also for the promotion and sale of its other goods and services, including merchandise, licensing opportunities, sponsorship activations and branded content offerings. Its
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distribution arrangements vary in terms, duration and scope and are subject to periodic negotiation and renewal, and there can be no assurance that such agreements will be renewed on the same or more favorable terms, or at all. The Company may have limited bargaining leverage in negotiations with larger, more established distribution partners, and such partners may seek to reduce the fees they pay, impose less favorable scheduling or placement terms, or decline to renew their arrangements with it, particularly if its viewership, ratings or audience engagement metrics decline or fail to meet the partner’s expectations. In addition, the media distribution landscape is rapidly evolving, and the consolidation of media companies, the emergence of new distribution technologies and platforms, and shifts in consumer viewing habits may further reduce the number of potential distribution partners available to the Company or alter the economics of distribution arrangements in ways that are unfavorable to it. There is also no guarantee that the recent growth in value of sports media licensing rights will continue, or that the current value of its sports media licensing rights will not diminish over time. The value of sports media rights is influenced by a number of factors largely outside the Company’s control, including overall trends in the television and streaming advertising markets, competition among content providers for distribution deals, the relative popularity of its programming compared to other sports and entertainment content, and macroeconomic conditions affecting advertising and media spending. Any loss of, or deterioration in the terms of, its media or distribution arrangements, a loss of a key distribution partner, or a decline in the perceived value of its content or partnerships could reduce its audience reach, limit its ability to attract advertisers and sponsors, impair its ability to distribute its other goods and services to a broad consumer audience, and have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The Company currently relies on a year-to-year broadcast arrangement with CBS, and its failure to renew this arrangement, or a deterioration in the terms on which it is renewed, could adversely affect the Company’s production quality, distribution reach and broadcasting costs.
The Company’s current broadcast relationship with CBS, under which the Company’s games are televised, is renewed and negotiated on a yearly basis rather than pursuant to a long-term agreement. Because this arrangement is subject to renewal each year, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to renew its relationship with CBS on the same or favorable terms, or at all. If the Company loses its broadcast arrangement with CBS, the Company would lose the production quality, network reach, and audience associated with CBS’s broadcast platform, and the Company may be required to pay significantly higher prices to secure comparable broadcasting time and production support from an alternative distributor, or may be unable to secure a comparable broadcast platform at all. Any loss of, or deterioration in the terms of, the Company’s arrangement with CBS could reduce the Company’s audience reach, damage its brand and reputation, and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company depends on the viewership and audience reach of its traditional media and broadcast partners, and a decline in their audiences could reduce its exposure, sponsorship value, and advertising revenue, even if its own popularity remains stable.
The Company does not distribute its games and content directly to consumers at scale and instead relies on the audience reach and viewership of traditional media and broadcast partners, such as CBS, to deliver its programming to a broad national audience. This dependence means that the size and engagement of its viewing audience is determined not only by the appeal of its own content, but also by the overall health and reach of its broadcast partners’ platforms. The Company’s ability to attract and retain sponsors, command advertising rates, and generate media-related revenue is directly tied to the viewership that its broadcast partners deliver. While its management believes that live sports programming has been, and will continue to be, less susceptible than other categories of television programming to audience erosion from “cord cutting” and the shift toward digital and streaming alternatives, there can be no assurance that live sports programming, including the Company’s content, will continue to be insulated from these industry-wide trends. If the Company’s traditional media and broadcast partners experience a decline in viewership or audience, whether as a result of “cord cutting,” competition from digital and streaming alternatives, or other factors affecting the broader television industry, the Company’s exposure, sponsorship value, and ability to attract advertisers could decline correspondingly, even if the Company’s own popularity and the quality of its content remain stable. A continued decline in the audience of the Company’s traditional media and its broadcast partners could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Changes in public and consumer tastes and preferences and industry trends could reduce demand for the Company’s content offerings and adversely affect its business, and a shift in those preferences could reduce viewership, attendance, and revenue.
The Company’s ability to generate revenues is highly sensitive to rapidly changing consumer preferences and industry trends, as well as the popularity of its brand, events, and the players that participate in its events. Consumers have an expanding array of sports, media, and entertainment options competing for their time and attention, and technological developments in content delivery continue to lower barriers to entry for new competitors and new formats. The Company’s success depends on its ability to offer premium content through popular channels of distribution that meet the changing preferences of the broad consumer market, attract and retain
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popular players, and respond to competition from an expanding array of choices facilitated by technological developments in the delivery of content. The Company’s operations and revenues are affected by consumer tastes and entertainment trends, including the market demand for the distribution rights to live events, which are unpredictable and may be affected by factors such as changes in the social and political climate, global epidemics or other health events, evolving audience demographics or general macroeconomic factors. Changes in consumers’ tastes or a change in the perceptions of the Company’s brand and business partners, whether as a result of the social and political climate or otherwise, could adversely affect its operating results. A shift in consumer preferences away from the Company’s style of entertainment or a decline in the popularity of 3-on-3 basketball as a format could reduce demand for its events and content offerings. The Company’s failure to avoid a negative perception among consumers, or anticipate and respond to changes in consumer preferences, could result in reduced demand for its events and content offerings, which could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
Consumer tastes change frequently, and it can be challenging to anticipate what offerings will be successful at any point in time. The Company may invest in its content and events before learning the extent to which it will achieve popularity with consumers, and faces the risk of committing significant resources to offerings that ultimately fail to achieve the anticipated level of popularity. A lack of popularity of the Company’s content offerings, as well as labor disputes, could result in reduced viewership, attendance, sponsorship revenue, and merchandise sales, and could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company does not own the arenas and venues at which its games are played, and it relies on arena license and rental agreements with third-party venue operators on suitable terms. Its failure to secure such agreements or the operators’ failure to maintain the venues in compliance with applicable regulations may have a material negative effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.
The Company operates its league on a multi-city, tour-based model and does not own the arenas at which its games are played. Instead, the Company enters into arena license and rental agreements with third-party venue operators in each city on its schedule, and games are not typically held in the same facilities from one year to the next. While Company management does not currently anticipate difficulty in securing suitable venues for future seasons, there can be no assurance that the Company will continue to be able to secure suitable arenas in desirable markets, on commercially acceptable terms and on dates that fit its schedule, or that venue operators will be willing and able to make their facilities available and to operate them in compliance with applicable safety, licensing and other regulatory requirements. Competition for premier arena dates from other sports leagues, concerts and events may limit the venues and dates available to the Company or increase the cost of securing them. If a venue operator were to fail to make a venue available as expected, breach its obligations to the Company, or fail to maintain the venue in compliance with applicable requirements, the Company may be forced to relocate, postpone or cancel events, incur additional costs, or experience reduced attendance and revenue, which could have a material negative effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. There is also a risk of personal injuries and accidents at the venues where the Company’s games are played, which could subject the Company to personal injury or other claims. Incidents in connection with one of the Company’s games or another event hosted at one of its venues could also reduce attendance at the Company’s other games and may have a negative impact on its revenue and results of operations. The Company maintains insurance policies that provide coverage for incidents in the ordinary course of business, but there can be no assurance that such insurance will be adequate at all times and in all circumstances.
Adverse economic conditions, including economic slowdowns, may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.
The Company cannot predict the nature, extent, timing or likelihood of any economic slowdown or the strength or sustainability of any economic recovery, whether in the United States or globally. Negative conditions in the general economy, including conditions resulting from changes in gross domestic product growth, declines in consumer confidence, tariffs, labor shortages, inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, and financial and credit market fluctuations, could cause a decrease in discretionary consumer and corporate spending, including spending on live sports and entertainment events, corporate sponsorships and advertising, and could materially and adversely affect the growth of its business. The Company’s ability to generate revenue from discretionary and corporate spending on events, such as corporate sponsorships and advertising, is subject to many factors, including many that are beyond its control, such as general macroeconomic conditions.
The Company’s business depends on discretionary consumer and corporate spending. Many factors related to corporate spending and discretionary consumer spending, including economic conditions affecting disposable consumer income such as unemployment levels, fuel prices, interest rates, changes in tax rates, tax laws that impact companies or individuals, and inflation, can significantly impact the Company’s operating results. While consumer and corporate spending may decline at any time for reasons beyond the
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Company’s control, the risks associated with the Company’s business become more acute in periods of a slowing economy or recession, which may be accompanied by reductions in corporate sponsorships and advertising, decreases in attendance at live events, and decreases in consumer spending on merchandise, among other things. There can be no assurance that consumer and corporate spending will not be adversely impacted by economic and geopolitical conditions, or by any future deterioration in economic conditions, thereby possibly impacting the Company’s operating results and growth.
In addition, catastrophic events, including severe weather events, natural disasters, cyber-incidents, power disruptions, pandemics, acts of terrorism or other events, may adversely affect the Company’s operation of live events in affected regions, consumers’ ability to travel to its events, or result in cancellation or delays of events, outages, disruptions or degradations of networks or streaming infrastructure, a failure in its ability to conduct normal business operations, or the closure of event spaces. The health and safety of its employees, talent, or third-party organizations with whom it partners could also be affected, which may prevent it from executing its business strategies or cause a decrease in consumer demand for its products and services. Any of the foregoing could disrupt its business and operations, cause it to incur additional costs to maintain or resume operations, and have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Pubco’s management team has limited experience managing a public company and may be unsuccessful at evaluating or pursuing strategic opportunities, which could adversely affect Pubco’s revenue, financial condition and results of operations.
Most of the members of Pubco’s management team have limited or no experience in managing a publicly traded company, interacting with public company investors, and complying with the increasingly complex laws and regulations pertaining to public companies. Pubco’s management team may not successfully or efficiently manage its transition to being a public company subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and the continuous scrutiny of securities analysts and investors. Additionally, the Company will need to enhance its recordkeeping and disclosure controls and procedures. These new obligations and constituents will require significant attention from Pubco’s senior management and may divert their attention away from the day-to-day management of the Company’s business, which could adversely affect Pubco’s business, financial condition, and operating results.
In addition, Pubco’s management will from time to time evaluate whether shareholder value would be enhanced by pursuing strategic and financial relationships, transactions or other opportunities, including opportunities suggested by third parties. There can be no assurance that Pubco will pursue any such opportunity, and the outcome of any opportunity it does pursue is inherently uncertain. The process of evaluating and pursuing strategic opportunities will involve the dedication of significant management resources and the incurrence of significant costs and expenses, which could divert attention from the Company’s core operations. If Pubco’s management team is unable to effectively manage its public company obligations while also evaluating and executing on strategic opportunities, it could disrupt the Company’s business and adversely affect Pubco’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The markets in which the Company operates are highly competitive, and the growing global popularity of 3-on-3 basketball may intensify competition for players, media rights, and sponsorships, which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The Company faces competition from a variety of other domestic and foreign companies, including other providers of 3-on-3 and other alternative-format basketball competitions. Additionally, competition exists from other forms of sports, media, entertainment and leisure activities in a rapidly changing and increasingly fragmented environment, including from major professional and collegiate basketball leagues and other live sporting events, television, film, streaming content, concerts, and other live performances, all of which compete with the Company for consumer time, viewership, advertising dollars, and broadcast time on the networks and platforms with which the Company works. The Company sports teams also compete with other basketball leagues and competitions to attract players. Players may make their decisions to join or remain with the Company based upon a number of factors, including the compensation offered, the makeup and competitiveness of the league and its teams, geographic preferences and other non-economic factors. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to retain players upon expiration of their annual contracts or recruit, sign and develop talented players to replace those who leave, retire, or are injured. Any increased competition, which may not be foreseeable, or the Company’s failure to adequately address any competitive factors, could result in reduced demand for the Company’s content, live events, or brand, or could make it more difficult for the Company to secure favorable broadcast time or media rights terms from its distribution partners, which could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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The growing global popularity of 3-on-3 basketball, including its inclusion in the Olympic Games, may increase competition for player talent, media rights, and sponsorship opportunities from other 3-on-3 leagues, federations, and events, which could adversely affect the Company’s competitive position.
3-on-3 basketball has grown in global popularity in recent years, a trend reflected in part by its inclusion in the Olympic Games, with 3-on-3 basketball expected to again be featured in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. While the Company believes this growing popularity may increase overall interest in the format in which it competes, it may also increase competition from other organizations, including national basketball federations, FIBA-affiliated 3-on-3 programs, Olympic and Olympic-qualifying competitions, and other newly formed or existing 3-on-3 leagues and events, for player talent, media rights arrangements, sponsorship dollars, and consumer attention. Players eligible to compete in Big3 Basketball may choose to prioritize participation in Olympic or Olympic-qualifying 3-on-3 competitions, which may conflict with Big3 Basketball’s schedule or reduce player availability for Big3 Basketball events. In addition, as other organizations seek to capitalize on the growing popularity of 3-on-3 basketball, the Company may need to compete with new entrants with greater resources, official federation backing, or Olympic affiliation that could compete more effectively than the Company for fan attention, sponsorship relationships, and media rights value. If the Company is unable to maintain its position as a leading 3-on-3 basketball property in the face of this increased competition, its business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The Company’s geographic footprint within the United States is limited compared to more established professional sports leagues, which may constrain the Company’s fan base, local sponsorship opportunities, and local media revenue.
Unlike the NBA and other major professional sports leagues, which maintain permanent franchises with dedicated home arenas in a broad footprint of metropolitan markets across the United States, the Company’s presence in any individual market is limited to the one or few dates on which it holds an event in that city each season, and the Company does not maintain a continuous, year-round local presence, dedicated local broadcast arrangements, or a dedicated local fan base and season-ticket holder relationships in any single market to the same degree as leagues with permanent local franchises. This limited and non-continuous geographic footprint may make it more difficult for the Company to develop the kind of deep, market-specific fan loyalty, local sponsorship relationships, and local media rights revenue that have historically been significant and stable revenue sources for more established leagues. It may also make it more difficult for the Company to attract national sponsors seeking broad and consistent market coverage, or to justify premium local advertising rates in any particular market given the limited frequency of the Company’s events there. The Company’s tour-based model additionally means that its ability to build sustained brand awareness in any given city depends on maintaining that city on its yearly schedule. If the Company were to remove a market from its tour in a future season, whether for economic, logistical or other reasons, any fan base or sponsorship relationships built in that market could be difficult to recapture if the Company later returns. If the Company is unable to expand or maintain its geographic footprint, or if its tour-based model limits its ability to develop market-specific revenue streams to the extent achieved by leagues with permanent local franchises, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Big3 Basketball’s season overlaps with certain other major sports and entertainment events that compete for consumer attention, media coverage, and sponsorship dollars, which may limit the Company’s ability to build audience share.
Big3 Basketball’s season takes place primarily during the summer months, a period during which consumer attention is contested by other sports and entertainment properties. Big3 Basketball’s season may overlap with other significant basketball-related events and news cycles that compete for the attention of the same fan base, including NBA free agency, the NBA draft, the NBA Summer League, the WNBA season and international basketball competitions and exhibitions. Big3 Basketball’s season also overlaps with the full seasons of other major professional sports leagues, including Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, professional golf and tennis and, in certain years, the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, and with a wide range of other summer entertainment options, including music festivals, concert tours, and other live events. Because many of these competing properties have larger fan bases, greater media coverage, longer operating histories, and more established sponsorship relationships than the Company, they may be more successful in capturing consumer attention, advertising spend, and broadcast time during the same period in which Big3 Basketball operates. If the Company is unable to differentiate its offering or otherwise compete effectively for consumer attention during its season, it may experience lower attendance, viewership, sponsorship revenue, and merchandise sales than anticipated, which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, to the extent Big3 Basketball’s season calendar shifts in future years, whether due to venue availability, broadcast partner scheduling preferences, or other factors, the Company may find itself competing more directly with the NBA’s regular season
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or playoffs, or with other high-profile sporting events that it does not currently compete with, which could further limit the Company’s ability to attract fans, media coverage, and sponsorship dollars.
OpCo’s relatively small number of teams and roster spots concentrates player-related risks and limits the Company’s ability to absorb the loss of any individual player or team.
OpCo operates with a smaller number of teams and a smaller overall player pool than major professional sports leagues, such as the NBA. As a result, the loss, injury, retirement, or diminished performance or popularity of any single player, or the underperformance or reduced popularity of any single team, may have a proportionally greater effect on the Company’s overall product, fan engagement, and revenue than would be the case for a league with a larger number of teams and players across which such risks are more diversified. The Company’s ability to mitigate the loss of a marquee player through roster depth or the presence of alternative storylines involving other teams may be more limited than for larger leagues. Any of the foregoing could disproportionately affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations as compared to more established leagues with larger and more diversified player rosters.
The Company bears significant financial risk as the owner and operator of its live events, and the financial underperformance or cancellation of events could adversely affect its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
As the owner and operator of its live events, the Company bears all or most event costs, including significant up-front expenses for venue rental, production, player compensation and marketing. It typically books its events many months in advance and incurs these expenses before receiving any related revenue. If a planned event fails to occur or is disrupted, whether as a result of technical difficulties, severe weather, permitting issues, players failing to participate, or extraordinary incidents such as terrorist or security incidents, natural disasters, public health emergencies (including pandemics), or similar events, the Company could lose a substantial portion of its investment, fail to generate the anticipated revenue, and be forced to issue refunds for ticket sales while generating lower than expected media rights, partnership and licensing fees. If the Company is forced to postpone a planned event, it could incur substantial additional costs to stage the event on a new date, may have reduced attendance and revenue, and may have to refund fees. The Company does not maintain cancellation insurance policies to cover losses if it is compelled to cancel an event. As a result, the Company would bear the full financial impact of any event cancellation, including cancellations due to a pandemic or other outbreak of disease, without the benefit of insurance recovery. If the events that the Company owns and manages are not financially successful, or if the Company is compelled to cancel one or more events, it could suffer a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The Company’s failure to retain or continue to discover key players, and the risks associated with its player and coach selection decisions, including compensation, roster construction and player development, could lead to a decline in the appeal of its events and the popularity of its brand of entertainment, which could adversely affect its business and results of operations.
The Company’s success depends, in large part, upon its ability to identify, discover and retain players who have the physical ability and presence or charisma to succeed, including through its player draft. The Company cannot guarantee that it will be able to continue to identify these players. Additionally, throughout its history, players from time to time have stopped participating in its events for any number of reasons, and the Company cannot guarantee that it will be able to retain its current players either during the terms of their contracts or when their contracts expire. The Company’s failure to attract and retain key players, an increase in the costs required to attract and retain such players, or a serious or untimely injury to, or the death of, or unexpected or premature loss or retirement for any reason of, any of its key players could lead to a decline in the popularity of its brand of entertainment and events. Creating and maintaining its popularity and on-court competitiveness is key to the success of its business, and accordingly, efforts to improve its revenues and earnings from operations from period to period may be secondary to actions that management believes will generate long-term growth and asset value creation. Its competitive position depends primarily on its ability to develop, obtain and retain talented players and coaches, for whom it competes with other professional and amateur basketball leagues, including the NBA and its developmental affiliates and international leagues. Its efforts in this regard may include, among other things, drafting and signing players, negotiating player compensation, pursuing opportunities related to youth leagues, and replacing coaches. Any of these actions could increase expenses for a particular period. There can be no assurance that any actions taken by management to generate and increase its long-term growth and asset value creation will be successful. A significant factor in the Company’s ability to attract and retain talented players is player compensation, and increased competition for player talent could require it to increase player compensation, which could increase its costs and adversely affect its results of operations. Any of the foregoing issues could adversely affect its business and results of operations.
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Costs associated with obtaining, and the Company’s ability to obtain, sufficient levels and types of insurance relevant to its businesses could adversely affect its business.
As a result of heightened concerns and challenges regarding property, casualty, liability, business interruption, cancellation, cybersecurity and other insurance coverage resulting from terrorist and related security incidents along with varying weather-related conditions and incidents, the Company may experience increased difficulty obtaining high policy limits of coverage at a reasonable cost and with reasonable deductibles. The Company cannot assure you that future increases in insurance costs and difficulties obtaining high policy limits and reasonable deductibles will not adversely impact its profitability, thereby possibly impacting its operating results and growth.
The Company cannot assure you that its insurance policy coverage limits, including insurance coverage for property, casualty, liability and business interruption losses, cybersecurity and acts of terrorism, would be adequate should one or multiple adverse events occur, or that its insurers would have adequate financial resources to sufficiently or fully pay its related claims or damages. The Company cannot assure you that adequate coverage limits will be available, offered at a reasonable cost, or offered by insurers with sufficient financial soundness. The occurrence of such an incident or incidents affecting any one or more of the Company’s venues could have an adverse effect on its financial position and future results of operations if asset damage or company liability were to exceed insurance coverage limits, or if an insurer were unable to sufficiently or fully pay its related claims or damages.
In addition, there is a risk of personal injuries and accidents at the venues where the Company’s games are played, which could subject it to personal injury or other claims. Incidents in connection with one of its games or another event hosted at one of its venues could also reduce attendance at its other games and may have a negative impact on its revenue and results of operations. The Company maintains insurance policies that provide coverage for incidents in the ordinary course of business, but there can be no assurance that such insurance will be adequate at all times and in all circumstances.
Since the Company’s business is subject to seasonal fluctuations and its operating results and cash flows can vary substantially from period to period, a period-to-period comparison of its operating results and cash flows may not be meaningful.
The Company’s revenues and expenses have been seasonal, concentrated around the portion of the year during which its league season takes place, and it expects they will continue to be seasonal. Disruptions to its season, whether due to weather, public health emergencies, venue availability or other factors, could impact the seasonality of its business and shift the timing of revenues and expenses recognized in a given period. As a result of seasonality, its operating results and cash flows reflect significant variation from period to period and will continue to do so in the future. Therefore, period-to-period comparisons of its operating results or cash flows may not necessarily be meaningful and the operating results or cash flows of one period are not indicative of its financial performance during a full fiscal year.
The Company could face a variety of risks if it expands into other new and complementary businesses and/or makes certain investments or acquisitions.
The Company may enter into new or complementary businesses, including through commercial agreements, and may make equity and debt investments in other companies. The Company may also enter into business combination transactions, make acquisitions, enter into strategic partnerships, joint ventures or alliances or pursue the strategic growth opportunities discussed elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, see “Information About the Company.”
To the extent the Company chooses to pursue certain commercial, investment, or acquisition strategies, it may be unable to identify suitable targets for these deals, or to make these deals on favorable terms. If the Company identifies suitable acquisition candidates, investments, or commercial partners, its ability to successfully implement or enter into them will depend on a variety of factors, including its ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms or requisite governmental approvals. Additionally, the Company may decide to make or enter into acquisitions, investments, or commercial agreements with the understanding that such acquisitions, investments, or commercial agreements will not be profitable, but may be of strategic value to it. The Company’s future acquisitions, investments, or commercial agreements may also require that it make additional capital investments in the future, which would divert resources from other areas of its business. Additional risks of this expansion and/or these investments and transactions may include, among other risks: potential diversion of management’s attention and other resources, including available cash, from the Company’s existing businesses; loss on investments due to poor performance by the business invested in; inability to integrate a new business successfully; potential exposure to a new business’ preexisting commercial arrangements or other applicable agreements with onerous terms; revaluations of debt and equity investments as well as market, credit and interest-rate risks (any of which could result in
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impairment charges and other costs); competition from other companies with more experience in such businesses; and possible additional regulatory requirements and compliance costs, all of which could affect the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results. The Company cannot provide assurances that the anticipated strategic benefits of these deals will be realized in the long-term or at all.
The Company may fail to identify or assess the magnitude of certain liabilities, shortcomings, or other circumstances prior to acquiring a company, making an investment or entering into a commercial agreement and, as such, may not obtain sufficient warranties, indemnities, insurance, or other protections. This could result in unexpected litigation or regulatory exposure, unfavorable accounting treatment, unexpected increases in taxes, a loss of anticipated tax benefits, or other adverse effects on the Company’s business, operating results, or financial condition. Additionally, some warranties and indemnities may give rise to unexpected and significant liabilities. Future acquisitions and commercial arrangements that the Company may pursue could result in dilutive issuances of equity securities and the incurrence of further debt.
Risks Related to the Company’s Intellectual Property
The Company may be unable to protect and enforce the Company’s intellectual property rights, which could enable others to copy or use aspects of the Company’s intellectual property rights without compensating the Company, which may substantially harm the Company’s business and operating results.
The Company’s brands and logos along with its premium content and television footage are essential to its success and competitive position. The Company relies on a combination of trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and contractual provisions to establish and protect its intellectual property rights in the jurisdictions where it operates.
The Company has invested significant resources in clearing, registering and maintaining trademarks associated with its properties, including its league and team names and logos, in an attempt to obtain and protect its properties and their public recognition. During intellectual property registration proceedings, the Company has received in the past and may continue to receive rejections of its applications by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, United States Copyright Office or equivalent authorities in other foreign jurisdictions. Although the Company has been given an opportunity to respond to those rejections, it may be unable to overcome such rejections and, consequently, may be unable to obtain sufficient protection for certain trademarks and other intellectual property in certain jurisdictions where it operates. Further, the Company’s intellectual property rights have been and in the future may be challenged, opposed, and/or invalidated by third parties or such rights may not be sufficient to provide a meaningful commercial competitive advantage. If the Company fails to secure intellectual property rights or maintain its intellectual property rights, competitors might be able to use its brands or other intellectual property, which may have adverse financial and operational impacts on its business.
If the Company is unable to adequately maintain or protect its intellectual property rights, it may lose an important competitive advantage in the markets where it operates, which may have adverse financial and operational impacts on its business. In particular, the laws of certain foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights in the same manner as do the laws of the United States and, accordingly, the Company’s intellectual property rights are at greater risk in such countries even where it takes additional steps to protect its intellectual property. The Company cannot guarantee that the available legal steps it has taken, and takes in the ordinary course of business, to reasonably protect its intellectual property will be successful in all jurisdictions, or predict whether these steps will be adequate to prevent infringement or misappropriation of these rights. In addition, the Company may be required to forgo protections or rights to technology, data or intellectual property in order to operate in or access markets in foreign jurisdictions. Any such direct or indirect loss of rights in these assets may have adverse financial and operational impacts on its business.
The Company may license its trademarks and trade names to third parties, such as distributors, consumer product licensees and corporate partners. Although these license agreements may provide guidelines for how the Company’s trademarks and trade names may be used, a breach of these agreements or misuse of its trademarks and trade names by its licensees may affect its rights in or diminish the goodwill associated with its trademarks and trade names.
The Company has in the past granted and in the future may grant security interests in favor of third parties with respect to its intellectual property rights in order to secure financing. If the security interest is not released, or if the underlying obligation it secures is not satisfied, the secured party could assert rights against, or seek to foreclose on, the Company’s intellectual property, which could impair the Company’s ability to use, license, or enforce its intellectual property rights and could diminish the value of the intellectual property rights, and may hinder the Company’s ability to obtain future financing.
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The Company’s efforts to clear, police, enforce or protect its proprietary rights and intellectual property rights, including those related to trademarks, trade names, and service marks, may be ineffective and could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources which, if material, may have adverse financial and operational impacts on its business. Policing unauthorized use and other violations of the Company’s intellectual property is difficult and costly, particularly as it expands internationally. The Company’s technology, data and intellectual property are subject to a heightened risk of theft, unauthorized use or compromise to the extent that it engages in operations outside the United States, particularly in those jurisdictions that do not have comparable levels of protection of proprietary information and assets, such as trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, know-how and customer information and records. The unauthorized use of intellectual property in the sports and sports media industry generally continues to be a significant challenge for intellectual property rights holders. Piracy, in particular, threatens to damage the Company’s business as piracy services are subject to rapid global growth. The success of the Company’s streaming video solutions with respect to both live and video-on-demand content is directly threatened by the availability and use of pirated alternatives, which the Company may not detect, or be able to prevent or take down in real time, including the streaming of its events on social media and other platforms. The value that streaming services are willing to pay for content that the Company develops may be reduced if piracy prevents these services from realizing adequate revenues. The value individual consumers are willing to pay for content that the Company develops may be reduced if piracy presents a sufficiently compelling consumer proposition. These activities could result in lost revenue and a reduction in the value of the Company’s media rights which may materially and adversely affect its business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Further, the Company may seek to oppose, cancel and/or invalidate a third party’s attempt to register or otherwise protect its intellectual property rights if the Company deems such intellectual property is not eligible for protection or if such intellectual property infringes, dilutes, misappropriates or otherwise violates the Company’s intellectual property rights, but the Company may be unsuccessful in doing so or may cease such efforts if it believes that proceeding would require it to expend more resources than is commercially reasonable.
The Company may be subject to intellectual property rights claims by third parties, which are costly to defend, could require it to pay significant damages and could limit its ability to use its intellectual property.
From time to time, in the ordinary course of its business, the Company has and may in the future become involved in litigation or disputes with third parties related to intellectual property. Any litigation or dispute involving the scope or enforceability of the Company’s intellectual property rights or any allegation that it infringes, misappropriates, violates or dilutes the intellectual property rights of others, regardless of the merit of these claims, could be costly and time-consuming.
If any infringement or other intellectual property claim made against the Company by any third party is successful or if the Company is required to indemnify a third party with respect to such a claim, the Company may be required to, or decide to, cease use of one of its brands or other intellectual property, rebrand, or expend additional resources to obtain non-infringing intellectual property (such as through a license). Such license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, or may be nonexclusive, thereby giving the Company’s competitors and other third parties access to the same intellectual property rights licensed to the Company, which could result in harm to the Company’s competitive position and could adversely affect the Company’s business and financial condition. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments related to the Company’s intellectual property, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have an adverse effect on Pubco’s valuation and the Company’s business. Any adverse ruling or perception of an adverse ruling in defending the Company’s intellectual property rights could have an adverse impact on the Company’s business and financial condition or ability to engage in certain business activities. Such litigation or proceedings could increase the Company’s operating losses and reduce the resources available for development activities and future sales, marketing and distribution activities. If the Company is found to infringe, misappropriate, dilute or otherwise violate a third party’s intellectual property rights, and the Company is unsuccessful in demonstrating that such rights are invalid or unenforceable, the Company may be required to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees for willful infringement, or pay substantial royalties and other fees.
Exclusivity and other restrictive covenants in the Company’s commercial agreements may limit the Company’s ability to fully commercialize its brand and intellectual property, including by restricting the Company’s ability to license its trademarks, copyrights, and other content rights to third parties.
The Company’s agreements with sponsors, media and broadcast partners, and other commercial counterparties, including its broadcast arrangements with partners such as CBS and BET and its sponsorship arrangements with partners such as Monster Energy and Mark Anthony Brands, often contain exclusivity provisions, category restrictions, or other restrictive covenants that may limit the
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Company’s ability to license, sublicense, or otherwise exploit its trademarks, copyrights, media content, and other intellectual property across platforms, distribution channels, geographies, or product categories. These provisions may limit the Company’s ability to enter into agreements with other counterparties, including those that might offer more favorable terms, broader distribution, or a better strategic fit, and could constrain the Company’s ability to capitalize on new business opportunities or respond to changes in the competitive landscape. In particular, exclusivity rights granted to counterparties in the Company’s media agreements could prevent or delay the Company from transmitting some of its content through alternative distribution channels. If existing or future restrictions prevent the Company from pursuing attractive commercial opportunities or from fully exploiting its intellectual property portfolio, the Company’s ability to grow its revenue and fully commercialize its brand and intellectual property could be adversely affected, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
Failure to protect the Company’s IT systems and confidential information against breakdowns, security breaches, and other cybersecurity risks, including risks arising from the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”), could result in financial penalties, legal liability, and/or reputational harm, which would adversely affect its business, results of operations, and financial condition.
The Company relies on hardware, software, technology infrastructure, online sites and networks, and various computer systems (such as its information systems, content distribution systems, ticketing systems, and payment processing systems) (collectively, “IT Systems”), to conduct its business. The Company also relies on the technology systems of third parties with which it partners in its operations. The Company does not own or manage its IT Systems and instead relies on third-party, cloud-based providers for a range of IT Systems and related products and services, including but not limited to cloud computing services, payment processing, and ticketing services. With respect to third-party software or systems, certain of these arrangements are not covered by long-term agreements. Further, because the Company does not own or control the underlying infrastructure on which its IT Systems operate, it has limited visibility into, and limited ability to directly remediate, security vulnerabilities, outages, or breaches affecting these third-party systems, and is dependent on the security practices, business continuity, and financial stability of its cloud service providers. The Company and certain of its third-party providers use these IT Systems to collect, maintain and process data about employees, consumers, event participants, business partners and others, including personal information, as well as proprietary information belonging to the Company’s business such as trade secrets (collectively, “Confidential Information”). Any of these IT Systems and Confidential Information are vulnerable to service interruptions, security breaches, and other cybersecurity risks that threaten their confidentiality, integrity and availability, including as a result of inadvertent or intentional actions by the Company’s employees, partners, and vendors, or from attacks by threat actors or other malicious third parties. Such attacks are of ever-increasing levels of sophistication and are made by groups and individuals with a wide range of motives and expertise, including organized criminal groups, “hacktivists,” state-sponsored organizations, and others. For instance, the Company may be subject to boycotts, spam, spyware, ransomware, phishing and social engineering, viruses, worms, malware, DDOS attacks, password attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, cybersquatting, impersonation of employees or officers, abuse of comments and message boards, fake reviews, doxing, and swatting. The Company is also vulnerable to the risk of malicious code being embedded in open-source software, or misconfigurations, “bugs” or other vulnerabilities in commercial software that is integrated into its (or its suppliers’ or service providers’) IT Systems, products or services. Cyberattacks are expected to accelerate on a global basis in frequency and magnitude, and the techniques and tools (including AI) used to breach security safeguards, circumvent security controls, evade detection and remove forensic evidence are evolving rapidly. As a result, cyberattacks may be difficult to detect for an extended period of time, and the measures the Company takes to safeguard its technology may not adequately prevent them. While it has cloud-based backup systems for certain aspects of its operations, disaster recovery planning by its nature cannot be sufficient for all eventualities. If any of these events were to occur, it could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company’s use of, and reliance on, AI technologies, including tools developed or hosted by third parties, presents additional and evolving risks. The Company or its third-party providers may incorporate AI or machine learning tools into IT Systems, business operations, content production, or customer-facing applications. The use of such technologies may result in unintended outcomes, including inaccurate or biased outputs, the inadvertent disclosure or misuse of Confidential Information (including personal information) used to train or operate such tools, intellectual property infringement or loss of trade secret protection, or non-compliance with an evolving and inconsistent patchwork of federal, state, and foreign laws and regulations governing AI. In addition, malicious actors are increasingly using AI to develop more sophisticated and harder-to-detect cyberattacks, including AI-generated phishing, social engineering, and deepfake content, which may increase the frequency, effectiveness, or severity of attacks against the Company’s IT Systems or Confidential Information. There can be no assurance that the Company’s policies and practices with respect to the use of AI will be effective in mitigating these risks, and any failure to do so could adversely affect the Company’s business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations.
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The Company has not experienced any cybersecurity incidents in the past that have materially impacted the Company’s business, financial condition, or operations to date. However, there can be no assurance that such incidents will not occur in the future. The Company has invested, and expects to continue to invest, significant resources in cybersecurity measures designed to protect its systems, networks and data. However, there can be no assurance that the Company’s investments in information technology and its efforts to protect its Confidential Information and that of its other business relationships will prevent service interruptions, security breaches, and other cybersecurity risks in its IT Systems or the unauthorized or inadvertent wrongful use or disclosure of such Confidential Information. There can also be no assurance that the Company’s cybersecurity risk management program and processes, including its policies, controls or procedures, will be fully implemented, complied with or effective in protecting its IT Systems and Confidential Information, including where acquired entities are involved or being integrated. Moreover, because the Company makes use of third party suppliers and service providers, such as cloud services that support its internal and external-facing operations, successful cyberattacks that disrupt or result in unauthorized access to third party IT Systems can materially impact its operations and financial results.
While the Company maintains insurance coverage, the Company’s insurance policies covering data security, privacy liability, and cyber-attacks may not be adequate to cover losses arising from incidents, or they may not be available to the Company in the future on economically reasonable terms or at all. The Company is subject to a complex and evolving landscape of federal, state, and foreign laws, regulations, and industry standards relating to cybersecurity and data protection. New cybersecurity-related legislation and regulations continue to be proposed and enacted at the federal, state, and international levels, and existing laws and regulations are subject to evolving interpretation and enforcement by regulatory authorities. Compliance with these existing and emerging requirements has required, and is expected to continue to require, significant expenditures for legal, technical, and operational resources, and may necessitate changes to the Company’s business practices, IT Systems, or data handling procedures. The Company would also be exposed to a risk of loss or litigation (including class action lawsuits) and potential liability under laws, regulations and contracts that protect the privacy and security of confidential or personal information, including the CCPA, which imposes a private right of action for certain security breaches that could lead to some form of remedy, including regulatory scrutiny, fines, private right of action settlements, and other consequences.
Remote and hybrid working arrangements at the Company (and at many third-party providers) increase cybersecurity risks due to the challenges associated with managing remote computing assets and security vulnerabilities that are present in many non-corporate and home networks. The Company relies on technology at live events, the failure or unavailability of which, for any significant period of time, could affect its business, reputation and the success of its live events. The Company also relies on technology to provide its digital offerings, live streaming, and virtual events, which may be vulnerable to hacking, denial of service attacks, human error and other unanticipated problems or events that could result in interruptions in its service and to unauthorized access to, or alteration of, the content and data contained on its IT Systems and those of its third-party vendors. Interruptions in these IT Systems, or with the internet in general, whether due to fault by any party or due to weather, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, power loss or other force majeure type events, could make the Company’s content unavailable or degraded. Delivery of video programming over the internet is done through a series of carriers with switch-overs between carriers, and any point of failure in this distribution chain would cause a disruption or degradation of the Company’s signal. Service disruption or degradation for any of the foregoing reasons could diminish the overall attractiveness of the Company’s content or subject it to individual or class action claims. The Company does not carry insurance that would cover it in the event of many types of business interruption that could occur.
Any adverse impact to the availability, integrity or confidentiality of the Company’s IT Systems or Confidential Information, or any breach of security, could result in decreased performance and increased operating costs (including refunds to impacted end users), legal claims or proceedings (including class action lawsuits), fines and penalties, regulatory scrutiny, and significant incident response, system restoration or remediation and future compliance costs, all of which could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, reputation and results of operations.
Risks Related to Litigation and Regulation
The Company’s business and operating results may be affected by the outcome of pending and future litigation, investigations, claims and other disputes.
The Company has been and may in the future be subject to legal proceedings, claims and other disputes. The Company’s results may be affected by the outcome of any such pending and future litigation, investigations, claims and other disputes, although the Company is currently not aware of any such disputes that it believes will have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition or operating results. Unfavorable rulings in the Company’s legal proceedings could result in material liability to the
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Company or have a negative impact on its reputation or relations with its employees or third parties. The outcome of litigation, including class action lawsuits, is inherently uncertain and is difficult to assess or quantify. Plaintiffs in class action lawsuits may seek recovery of very large or indeterminate amounts and the magnitude of the potential loss relating to such lawsuits may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. If the Company is unable to resolve these or other matters favorably, its business, operating results, and financial condition may be adversely affected.
In addition, the Company is currently, and from time to time in the future may be, subject to various other claims, investigations, legal and administrative cases and proceedings (whether civil or criminal), or lawsuits by governmental agencies or private parties. In addition, allegations against or improper conduct by current or former employees, contractors, players or partners could damage the Company’s reputation and/or lead to litigation or legal proceedings that could result in civil or criminal penalties, including substantial monetary fines. If the results of these investigations, claims, allegations, proceedings, or suits are unfavorable to the Company or if the Company is unable to successfully defend against third-party lawsuits, it may be required to pay monetary damages or may be subject to fines, penalties, injunctions, or other censure that could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations. Even if the Company adequately addresses the issues raised by an investigation or proceeding or successfully defends a third-party lawsuit or counterclaim, it may have to devote significant financial and management resources to address these issues, which could have an adverse effect on its business, results of operations, and financial condition. In addition, publicity from these matters could negatively impact the Company’s business, reputation and competitive position and reduce investor demand for Pubco’s securities and negatively impact the trading price of such securities.
The Company’s key personnel and players may be adversely impacted by immigration restrictions and related factors.
The Company’s ability to retain its key personnel is impacted, at least in part, by the fact that a portion of its key personnel in the United States may be comprised of foreign nationals who are not United States citizens. In order to be legally allowed to work or compete in the United States, these individuals generally hold non-immigrant visas (which may or may not be tied to the Company) or green cards, the latter of which makes them permanent residents in the United States.
The ability of these foreign nationals to remain and work or compete in the United States is impacted by a variety of laws, regulations and executive orders, as well as the processing procedures of various government agencies. Changes in applicable laws, regulations, executive orders or procedures could adversely affect the Company’s ability to hire or retain these key personnel or sponsor players who are not United States citizens and could affect its costs of doing business. In addition, if the laws, rules or procedures governing the ability of foreign nationals to work or compete in the United States were to change or if the number of visas available for foreign nationals permitted to work in the United States were to be reduced, the Company’s business could be adversely affected, if, for example, it is unable to retain an employee or sponsor a player who is a foreign national as a result.
Corresponding issues apply with respect to the Company’s key personnel and players competing in countries outside of the United States relating to citizenship and work authorizations in the future, which is of particular relevance as the Company may expand its international footprint, including in connection with the growing global popularity of 3-on-3 basketball. Similar changes in applicable laws, regulations, executive orders or procedures in those countries could adversely affect the Company’s ability to hire or retain key personnel or sponsor players internationally.
The Company hopes to grow its business to become international in nature, which may require employees, contractors, and players that participate in its events to frequently travel or live abroad. The potential future ability of the Company’s key personnel, contractors and players to travel internationally for their work or to participate in its events may be impacted by a variety of laws and regulations, policy considerations of foreign governments, the processing procedures of various government agencies and geopolitical actions, including war and terrorism, or natural disasters including severe weather events, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, as well as pandemics. In addition, the Company’s potential future production of events internationally will subject it to the numerous risks involved in foreign travel and operations and also will subject it to local norms and regulations, including regulations requiring it to obtain visas for its key personnel and, in some cases, contractors and players that participate in its events. Actions by players that are out of the Company’s control may also result in certain countries barring them from traveling internationally, which could adversely affect the Company’s future business. If the Company’s key personnel, contractors and players were prevented from conducting their work internationally for any reason, it could have an adverse effect on its future business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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The Company could be subject to union-organizing and labor disruption, which could adversely affect its business.
The Company relies on contingent workers in order to staff its live events and productions, and its failure to manage its use of such workers effectively could adversely affect its business, financial condition, and results of operations. The Company could potentially face various legal claims from contingent workers in the future, including claims based on new laws, regulations, executive orders or procedures or stemming from allegations that contingent workers or employees are misclassified. The Company may be subject to shortages, oversupply, or fixed contractual terms relating to contingent workers. Its ability to manage the size of, and costs associated with, the contingent workforce may be subject to additional constraints imposed by local laws.
Though the Company’s business is not currently subject to collective bargaining agreements, its business may be interrupted as a result of labor disputes by outside unions, or internal efforts, attempting to unionize one or more groups of employees. There may also be efforts to organize the players that participate in the Company’s events. A work stoppage or other labor disruption at one or more of the Company’s operated venues or at its promoted events could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations. The Company cannot predict the effect that a potential work stoppage or other labor disruption would have on its business.
The Company’s reliance on independent contractors exposes it to risks of reclassification and related liabilities.
The Company has historically engaged, and expects to continue to engage, a number of independent contractors during its season, including for officiating, medical, production and other operational roles. The Company’s classification of these individuals as independent contractors, rather than employees, is based on an analysis of applicable federal, state, and local laws, which vary by jurisdiction and are subject to differing interpretations and change over time. Federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor and state labor and tax authorities, have increased scrutiny of worker classification practices in recent years, and courts and legislatures in certain jurisdictions have adopted tests that make it more difficult to classify workers as independent contractors.
If any independent contractors engaged by the Company were successfully asserted or determined to have been misclassified, the Company could be subject to material liabilities, including back wages, overtime pay, unpaid payroll taxes and related withholdings, employee benefits (including under retirement and health plans), workers’ compensation claims, and penalties and interest, as well as claims under federal and state wage-and-hour, employment, and tax laws. The Company could also face administrative proceedings, private litigation, including potential class or collective actions, and reputational harm. Any of the foregoing could require the Company to change its business practices, increase its labor costs, or divert management’s attention, and could have a material adverse effect on Pubco’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The Company is subject to extensive governmental regulations, and its failure to comply with these regulations could adversely affect its business.
The Company’s operations are subject to federal, state and local laws, statutes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures in the United States, which are subject to change at any time, governing matters such as:
| ● | health, safety, and sanitation requirements; |
| ● | the service of food and alcoholic beverages; |
| ● | working conditions, labor, minimum wage and hour, citizenship, immigration, visas, harassment and discrimination, and other labor and employment related considerations; |
| ● | compliance with the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; |
| ● | compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”); |
| ● | compliance with current and future privacy and data protection laws imposing requirements for the collecting, processing, storing and protection of personal or sensitive information; |
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| ● | compliance with cybersecurity laws imposing country-specific requirements relating to information systems and network design, security, operations, and use; and |
| ● | tax laws. |
Noncompliance with these laws could subject the Company to whistleblower complaints, investigations, sanctions, settlements, prosecution, other enforcement actions, disgorgement of profits, significant fines, damages, other civil and criminal penalties or injunctions, reputational harm, adverse media coverage, and other collateral consequences. Multiple or repeated failures by the Company to comply with these laws and regulations could result in increased fines or proceedings against it. If any subpoenas are issued or investigations are launched, or governmental or other sanctions are imposed, or if the Company does not prevail in any possible civil or criminal litigation, its business, results of operations, and financial condition could be materially harmed. In addition, responding to any action will likely result in a materially significant diversion of management’s attention and resources and significant defense costs and other professional fees. There can be no assurance that a law or regulation will not be interpreted or enforced in a manner contrary to the Company’s current understanding. In addition, the promulgation of new laws, rules, and regulations could restrict or unfavorably impact the Company’s business, which could decrease demand for its events or content, reduce revenue, increase costs, or subject it to additional liabilities.
In the United States and potentially certain foreign jurisdictions, the Company may have direct and indirect interactions with government agencies and state-affiliated entities in the ordinary course of its business. In the event that the Company fails to comply with the regulations of a particular jurisdiction, whether through its acts or omissions or those of third parties, it may be prohibited from promoting and conducting its events in that jurisdiction. The inability to present its events in a jurisdiction could lead to a decline in various revenue streams in such jurisdiction, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The Company is subject to the FCPA and other anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws in countries outside of the United States in which it conducts its activities. The FCPA generally prohibits companies and their intermediaries from making, promising, authorizing or offering improper payments or other things of value to foreign government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business, directing business to any person, or securing any improper business advantage. The FCPA also requires U.S. issuers to make and keep books and records that accurately and fairly reflect the transactions of the corporation and to devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls. Other countries in which the Company operates also have anti-bribery laws, some of which prohibit improper payments to government and non-government persons and entities. As a company with international exposure, a risk exists that the Company’s employees, contractors, agents, managers, or other business partners or representatives could engage in business practices prohibited by applicable U.S. laws and regulations, such as the FCPA, as well as the laws and regulations of other countries prohibiting corrupt payments to government officials and others, such as the Bribery Act. There can be no guarantee that the Company’s compliance programs will prevent corrupt business practices by one or more of its employees, contractors, agents, managers, or vendors, or that regulators in the U.S. or in other markets will view the Company’s program as adequate should any such issue arise. Any actual or alleged violation of the FCPA or other applicable anti-corruption laws could result in whistleblower complaints, sanctions, settlements, prosecution, enforcement actions, fines, damages, adverse media coverage, investigations, loss of export privileges, severe criminal or civil sanctions, or in the case of the FCPA, suspension or debarment from U.S. government contracts, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s reputation, as well as its business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The Company is also required to comply with trade and economic sanctions laws imposed by the United States or by other jurisdictions where it does business, which may restrict its transactions in certain markets, and with certain customers, business partners, and other persons and entities. As a result, the Company may be prohibited from, directly or indirectly (including through a third-party intermediary), procuring goods, services, or technology from, or engaging in transactions with, individuals and entities subject to sanctions. The Company cannot guarantee that its efforts to remain in compliance with sanctions requirements will be successful. Any violation of sanctions laws could result in fines, civil and criminal sanctions against the Company or its employees, prohibitions on the conduct of its business, and damage to its reputation, which could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition, and results of operations.
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As a result of the Company’s exposure in international markets, it is subject to risks associated with the legislative, judicial, accounting, regulatory, political and economic risks and conditions specific to such markets.
The Company currently has exposure in, and may expand further into, various jurisdictions abroad, including in connection with the growing international popularity of 3-on-3 basketball. The Company faces, and may continue to face, and may face new and unexpected additional risks in the case of its existing and future international operations, including:
| ● | political instability, adverse changes in diplomatic relations and unfavorable economic conditions in the markets in which the Company has international operations or into which it may expand; |
| ● | more restrictive or otherwise unfavorable government regulation of the entertainment and sports industries, which could result in increased compliance costs or otherwise restrict the manner in which the Company operates and the amount of related fees it is able to charge; |
| ● | limitations on the scope and strength of intellectual property ownership and the ability to enforce intellectual property rights; |
| ● | enhanced difficulties of integrating any foreign acquisitions; |
| ● | limitations on the ability of foreign subsidiaries to repatriate profits or otherwise remit earnings; |
| ● | adverse tax consequences; |
| ● | less sophisticated legal systems in some foreign countries, which could impair the Company’s ability to enforce its contractual rights in those countries; |
| ● | limitations on technology infrastructure; |
| ● | variability in venue security standards and accepted practices; and |
| ● | difficulties in managing operations due to distance, language and cultural differences, including issues associated with (i) business practices and customs that are common in certain foreign countries but might be prohibited by U.S. law and the Company’s internal policies and procedures and (ii) management and operational systems and infrastructures, including internal financial control and reporting systems and functions, staffing and managing of foreign operations, which the Company might not be able to do effectively or on a cost efficient basis. |
Risks Related to Ownership of Pubco’s Securities
The market price of Pubco Class A Common Stock may be volatile, and holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock may be unable to resell their Pubco Class A Common Stock at or above their purchase price or at all.
The market price for Pubco Class A Common Stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, most of which Pubco cannot control, including, among others:
| ● | trends and changes in consumer preferences in the industries in which the Company operates; |
| ● | changes in general economic or market conditions or trends in the Company’s industry or the economy as a whole and, in particular, in the consumer and advertising marketplaces; |
| ● | changes in key personnel; |
| ● | the Company’s entry into new markets; |
| ● | changes in the Company’s operating performance; |
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| ● | investors’ perceptions of the Company’s prospects and the prospects of the businesses in which it participates; |
| ● | fluctuations in quarterly revenue and operating results, as well as differences between the Company’s actual financial and operating results and those expected by investors; |
| ● | the public’s response to press releases or other public announcements by Pubco or third parties, including Pubco’s filings with the SEC; |
| ● | announcements relating to litigation; |
| ● | guidance, if any, that Pubco provides to the public, any changes in such guidance or its failure to meet such guidance; |
| ● | changes in financial estimates or ratings by any securities analysts who follow Pubco Class A Common Stock, Pubco’s failure to meet such estimates or failure of those analysts to initiate or maintain coverage of Pubco Class A Common Stock; |
| ● | downgrades in Pubco’s credit ratings or the credit ratings of its competitors; |
| ● | the development and sustainability of an active trading market for the Pubco Class A Common Stock; |
| ● | the volume of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock available for public sale and the size of Pubco’s public float; |
| ● | investor perceptions of the investment opportunity associated with the Pubco Class A Common Stock relative to other investment alternatives; |
| ● | the inclusion, exclusion, or deletion of the Pubco Class A Common Stock from any trading indices; |
| ● | future sales of Pubco Common Stock by its officers, directors, and significant stockholders; |
| ● | other events or factors, including those resulting from system failures and disruptions, severe weather events, natural disasters, pandemics, wars, acts of terrorism, or responses to such events; |
| ● | changes in financial markets or general economic conditions, including, for example, due to the effects of recession or slow economic growth, and pandemics or other public health crises; |
| ● | price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market, including as a result of trends in the economy as a whole; and |
| ● | changes in accounting principles. |
The market price also may decline if Pubco does not achieve the perceived benefits of the Business Combination as rapidly or to the extent anticipated by financial or industry analysts or if the effect of the Business Combination on Pubco’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows is not consistent with the expectations of financial or industry analysts. These and other factors may lower the market price of the Pubco Class A Common Stock, regardless of its actual operating performance. As a result, the Pubco Class A Common Stock may trade at prices significantly below the price at which shares were purchased.
In addition, the stock markets, including the NYSE, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. In the past, stockholders have instituted securities class action litigation following periods of market volatility. If Pubco were to become involved in securities litigation, it could incur substantial costs and its resources and the attention of management could be diverted from its business.
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Holders of Pubco Common Stock will be diluted by the future issuance of Pubco Common Stock or issuances under Pubco’s incentive plans, for acquisitions, for capital raises or otherwise.
Pubco expects to issue additional shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock. Issuing additional shares of Pubco’s capital stock or other equity securities or securities convertible into equity may dilute the economic and voting rights of Pubco’s existing stockholders or reduce the market price of Pubco Class A Common Stock or both.
Pubco expects to grant equity awards to key employees under its equity incentive plans including without limitation the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan. In the future, Pubco may also issue additional securities in connection with investments, acquisitions, capital-raising activities or upon exercise of the outstanding Pubco Warrants, which could constitute a material portion of its then-outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock. Any shares of Pubco Common Stock that Pubco issues will have a dilutive effect on the number of outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock. Pubco’s decision to issue securities in the future will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond its control.
Future resales of Pubco’s outstanding securities, including the registration of securities for resale under the Registration Rights Agreement, may cause the market price of Pubco’s securities to drop significantly, even if the Company’s business is doing well.
The registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part also includes a resale prospectus with respect to the resale by the Selling Securityholders named therein of up to 3,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, 6,000,000 Pubco Warrants, and 6,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying such warrants. The Selling Securityholders may sell such shares and warrants at any time and from time to time after the expiration of any applicable lock-up periods.
In addition, Pubco may file a registration statement to register shares reserved for future issuance under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan. Subject to the satisfaction of applicable vesting requirements and expiration of any applicable lock-up provisions, the shares issued upon exercise of outstanding share options would be available for immediate resale in the open market.
Pubco will have 20,210,627 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, 19,976,476 shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, 17,500,000 Pubco Warrants, and 17,500,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying such warrants outstanding immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination (assuming the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, no Transaction Financing, the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, but including the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assuming the Company’s Cash Position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026) and without giving effect to any dilutive instruments). Additionally, Pubco will have the obligation to register the resale of certain securities held by the SPAC insiders, affiliates of the Company and the IPO Underwriter following consummation of the Business Combination. Under the Lock-Up Agreement, the BIG3 Founders and other Sellers holding greater than 3% of the outstanding Company Interests, the Sponsor, the IPO Underwriter, and each director of SPAC will be restricted from transferring shares of Pubco Common Stock received in the Business Combination for a period of six months following the Closing, and will be restricted from transferring Pubco Warrants (including underlying shares) received in the Business Combination for a period of thirty (30) days following the Closing. Accordingly, there may be a large number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock sold in the market following the consummation of the Business Combination, or shortly thereafter, including upon the expiration of the applicable lock-up period. The sale or possibility of sale of these securities could have the effect of increasing the volatility in Pubco’s share price or putting significant downward pressure on the price of Pubco Class A Common Stock.
Pubco will have a dual-class common stock structure under which each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock carries ten votes and each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock carries one vote, concentrating voting control with the Big3 Founders.
Pubco Class B Common Stock has ten votes per share while Pubco Class A Common Stock has one vote per share. The Big3 Founders will hold all of Pubco’s Class B Common Stock at Closing. Because of the ten-to-one voting ratio between the Pubco Class B Common Stock and Pubco Class A Common Stock, the Big3 Founders, together, will control a significant majority of the combined voting power of Pubco Common Stock at Closing. While the Big3 Founders do not have any current plans to act in concert with respect to Pubco, if they were to act together, they would be able to control all matters submitted to Pubco’s stockholders for approval, including the election of directors, amendments to Pubco’s organizational documents, and the approval of significant corporate transactions, regardless of the votes of other stockholders. This concentrated control could limit or preclude other stockholders’ ability to influence corporate matters for the foreseeable future, and may discourage transactions that other stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. The Dual Class Structure will terminate, and all outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into shares of
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Pubco Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, on the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date (or earlier upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the Proposed Pubco Charter, including if the Big3 Founders and their permitted transferees collectively cease to beneficially own a specified minimum percentage of the outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock). Until the sunset of the Dual Class Structure, the Big3 Founders’ concentrated voting control could discourage potential acquirors from making tender offers or otherwise attempting to obtain control of Pubco, which could reduce the market price of Pubco Class A Common Stock.
SPAC and the Company cannot predict the impact that the Dual Class Structure may have on the price of Pubco Class A Common Stock.
SPAC and the Company cannot predict whether the Dual Class Structure will result in a lower or more volatile market price of Pubco Class A Common Stock or in adverse publicity or other adverse consequences. For example, certain index providers have announced restrictions on including companies with multiple-class share structures in certain of their indexes. As a result, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and other investment vehicles that attempt to passively track those indices will not be investing in Pubco’s shares. It remains unclear what effect, if any, these policies will have on the valuations of publicly-traded companies excluded from such indices, but it is possible that they may depress these valuations compared to those of other similar companies that are included. Because of the Dual Class Structure, Pubco will likely be excluded from certain of these indexes and SPAC and the Company cannot assure you that other stock indexes will not take similar actions. Given the sustained flow of investment funds into passive strategies that seek to track certain indexes, exclusion from stock indexes would likely preclude investment by many of these funds and could make Pubco Class A Common Stock less attractive to other investors. As a result, the market price of Pubco Class A Common Stock could be adversely affected.
Pubco does not expect to pay cash dividends on Pubco Common Stock for the foreseeable future.
It is expected that Pubco will retain most, if not all, of its available funds and any future earnings after the Business Combination to fund the development and growth of its business. As a result, it is not expected that Pubco will pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Following completion of the Business Combination, the Pubco Board will have discretion as to whether to distribute dividends. Even if the Pubco Board decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on the future results of operations and cash flow, capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by Pubco from subsidiaries, its financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by the Pubco Board. Accordingly, investors may need to rely on sales of Pubco’s shares after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains on their investment. There is no guarantee that the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will appreciate in value after the Business Combination or that the market price of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will not decline.
Securities of companies formed through business combinations with SPACs, such as SPAC, may experience a material decline in price relative to the trading or redemption price of SPAC’s shares prior to Closing.
SPAC issued SPAC Public Shares which were included as part of the SPAC Public Units for $10.00 per unit upon the closing of the SPAC IPO. As with other SPACs, each Public Share issued in the SPAC IPO carries a right to redeem such share for a pro rata portion of the proceeds held in the Trust Account prior to the Closing. As of [●], 2026, the redemption price per Public Share was $[●], which is the approximate redemption amount per Public Share based on the Trust Account balance as of [●], 2026. Following the Closing, Pubco Common Stock will no longer carry any such redemption right, and its value will instead depend on the fundamental value of the combined company, market conditions, and other factors. As has been the case with the securities of other companies formed through business combinations with SPACs, the market price of Pubco Common Stock following the Closing may be significantly less than the per-share redemption value available to SPAC’s public shareholders prior to the Closing.
Volatility in Pubco’s share price could subject Pubco to securities class action litigation or derivative lawsuits.
The market price of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock may be volatile and, in the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their shares have been subject to securities class action litigation. Further, securities class action lawsuits and derivative lawsuits are often brought against public companies that have entered into merger agreements. Even if the lawsuits are without merit, defending against these claims can result in substantial costs and divert management time and resources. An adverse judgment could result in monetary damages, which could have a negative impact on Pubco’s liquidity and financial condition. Securities litigation against Pubco could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention from other business concerns, which could seriously harm Pubco’s business. Additionally, prior to the Closing, if a plaintiff is successful in
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obtaining an injunction prohibiting completion of the Business Combination, then that injunction may delay or prevent the Business Combination from being completed, or from being completed within the expected time frame, which may adversely affect SPAC’s and the Company’s respective businesses, financial condition and results of operation.
Currently, there is no public market for the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or the Pubco Warrants. Public shareholders cannot be sure about whether the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or Pubco Warrants will develop an active trading market or whether Pubco will successfully obtain authorization for and maintain listing on the NYSE or another national securities exchange.
As part of the Business Combination, each outstanding share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock (after giving effect to the Domestication) will be converted automatically into the right to receive one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock. Pubco is a newly formed entity and prior to this transaction it has not issued any securities in the U.S. markets or elsewhere nor has there been extensive information about it, its businesses or its operations publicly available. SPAC and Pubco have agreed to cause the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be issued in the Business Combination to be approved for listing on the Stock Exchange, prior to the effective time of the Business Combination. However, Pubco may be unsuccessful in listing Pubco Class A Common Stock on any national securities exchange, and even if successful, Pubco may be unable to maintain the listing of Pubco Class A Common Stock in the future. A successful listing also does not ensure that a market for the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will develop or the price at which the shares will trade. No assurance can be provided as to the demand for or trading price of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock following the Closing and the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock may trade at a price less than the current market price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares.
Pubco intends to apply for listing on the NYSE. The continued eligibility for listing of Pubco Class A Common Stock may depend on, among other things, the number of SPAC Public Shares that are redeemed in connection with the Business Combination. If after the Business Combination, the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock are delisted from trading on the NYSE, or another national securities exchange, for failure to meet its listing rules, Pubco and its stockholders could face significant material adverse consequences including:
| ● | a limited availability of market quotations for Pubco Class A Common Stock; |
| ● | reduced liquidity for Pubco Class A Common Stock; |
| ● | a determination that the Pubco Class A Common Stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for Pubco’s securities; |
| ● | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
| ● | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
Even if Pubco is successful in listing Pubco Class A Common Stock on the NYSE, or another national securities exchange, and developing a public market, there may not be enough liquidity in such market to enable Pubco Stockholders to sell their shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock. If a public market for the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock does not develop, investors may not be able to re-sell their shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, rendering their shares illiquid and possibly resulting in a complete loss of their investment. Pubco cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in Pubco will lead to the development of an active, liquid trading market. The trading price of and demand for the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock following completion of the Business Combination and the development and continued existence of a market and favorable price for the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will depend on a number of conditions, including the development of a market following, including by analysts and other investment professionals, the businesses, operations, results and prospects of Pubco, general market and economic conditions, governmental actions, regulatory considerations, legal proceedings and developments or other factors. These and other factors may impair the development of a liquid market and the ability of investors to sell shares at an attractive price. These factors also could cause the market price and demand for shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to fluctuate substantially, which may limit or prevent investors from readily selling their shares and may otherwise affect negatively the price and liquidity of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock. Many of these factors and conditions are beyond the control of Pubco or stockholders of Pubco.
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Reports published by analysts, including projections in those reports that differ from Pubco’s actual results, could adversely affect the price and trading volume of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants.
Pubco’s management currently expects that securities research analysts will establish and publish their own periodic projections for its business. These projections may vary widely and may not accurately predict the results Pubco actually achieves. The price of Pubco’s securities may decline if its actual results do not match the projections of these securities research analysts. Further, Pubco may be unable to sustain coverage by well-regarded securities and industry analysts. If only a limited number of securities or industry analysts maintain coverage of Pubco, or if these securities or industry analysts are not widely respected within the general investment community, the demand for Pubco’s shares could decrease, which might cause the price for Pubco’s shares and the trading volume to decline significantly.
Pubco will be a holding company with no operations of its own and will depend on its indirect interest in OpCo for its cash flows. Pubco’s organizational structure may limit the cash available to Pubco and may complicate its financial reporting.
Following the Business Combination, Pubco’s sole material asset will be its equity ownership interest in the Company, which in turn will hold a majority, but not all, of the outstanding equity interests in OpCo. OpCo holds and operates substantially all of the assets and business of the Company. Pubco will have no independent means of generating revenue or cash flow. As a result, Pubco will depend on distributions and other payments from OpCo (through the Company) to fund its operating expenses, satisfy any debt service obligations, and pay any dividends that the Pubco Board may declare in the future. For more information on the allocation of OpCo’s operating profits, operating losses and capital call obligations, see “Information About the Company.”
OpCo’s ability to make distributions to the Company, and in turn to Pubco, will be subject to OpCo’s operating results, cash requirements, and financial condition, its obligations under the OpCo LLC Agreement (as defined below) and any future credit agreements or other arrangements to which OpCo may be a party, and applicable law. If OpCo does not distribute sufficient funds to the Company, or if the Company does not distribute sufficient funds to Pubco, Pubco may not have sufficient cash to pay its operating expenses, service its debt, or pay dividends.
In addition, the Company does not own 100% of OpCo’s outstanding equity. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Company owns all outstanding Class A units of OpCo and 800 of the 1,200 outstanding Class B units. The remaining 400 Class B units are held by four third-party team owners (the “Third-Party Owners”), and the Company intends to sell additional teams to Third-Party Owners in the future. Each Third-Party Owner is a party to the OpCo LLC Agreement, which governs, among other things, team ownership rights, revenue and expense allocations, governance and voting rights, transfer restrictions, and league-wide operational matters. As the Company sells additional teams and the proportion of OpCo’s equity held by Third-Party Owners increases, the Company’s share of OpCo’s economic returns will decrease, and the governance and economic dynamics within OpCo may become more complex. Third-Party Owners may have interests that differ from those of Pubco and its public stockholders, and disputes among the members of OpCo regarding operations, distributions, governance, or league-wide policies could arise and could be difficult to resolve, any of which could adversely affect the business and operations of OpCo and, in turn, Pubco.
Pubco’s multi-layered organizational structure, including the existence of minority equity holders in OpCo, may also complicate Pubco’s financial reporting and make it more difficult for investors to understand and evaluate Pubco’s financial position and results of operations. Pubco’s consolidated financial statements will include OpCo, and the interests of Third-Party Owners will be reflected as noncontrolling interests. Changes in the Company’s ownership percentage of OpCo, including as a result of future team sales, could affect the accounting treatment of Pubco’s interest in OpCo and could result in changes to the presentation of noncontrolling interests or, in certain circumstances, deconsolidation of OpCo. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on Pubco’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
If Pubco were deemed to be an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act, its business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Pubco’s principal asset following the Business Combination is expected to be its wholly owned equity ownership interest in the Company. Pubco will hold and operate all of the assets and business of the Company and the Company will continue to own all of the Class A units of OpCo (representing the right to appoint two governors to OpCo’s board of governors, each of whom is entitled to two votes, resulting in four votes controlled by the Company’s appointment right) and approximately 66.7% of the Class B units of OpCo (granting the right to appoint one governor to OpCo’s board of governors for each team that the Company operates, representing the right to appoint four governors to OpCo’s board of governors, each of whom is entitled to one vote, resulting in four additional votes,
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and together with the Company’s appointment rights pursuant to the Class A units, a total of eight votes controlled by the Company’s appointment rights, which represents approximately 66.7% of the total voting power on OpCo’s board of governors), while certain Third-Party Owners (as defined below) will continue to own the remaining equity in OpCo. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Company owns 800 of the Class B units. The remaining 400 Class B units are held by the Third-Party Owners, each of whom holds 100 Class B units. The Company’s league currently consists of eight active teams. The Company wholly owns and operates four of these teams, and the remaining four teams are owned by Third-Party Owners. The Company intends to sell additional teams to Third-Party Owners in the future as part of its ongoing business strategy. Each Third-Party Owner (and each future purchaser of a team) is required to purchase newly issued Class B units of OpCo and to become a party to OpCo’s amended and restated limited liability company agreement (the “OpCo LLC Agreement”), which governs, among other things, team ownership rights, revenue and expense allocations, governance and voting rights, transfer restrictions, and league-wide operational and competitive matters applicable to all teams, whether owned by the Company or by Third-Party Owners. Accordingly, future team sales will dilute the total voting power on OpCo’s board of governors subject to the Company’s appointment rights. This structure is relevant to whether Pubco could be deemed an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
The Investment Company Act generally defines an “investment company” to include any issuer that (i) is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities, or (ii) is engaged or proposes to engage in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding, or trading in securities and owns or proposes to acquire “investment securities” having a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis (the “40% Test”). Pubco does not believe it is, or upon completion of the Business Combination will be, an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act, because Pubco is primarily engaged, through its ownership of the Company, and the Company’s non-wholly owned interest in OpCo, in the business of operating as a professional 3-on-3 basketball league, and not in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities. Pubco intends to conduct its operations, including through its ownership and control of the Company and OpCo, so that Pubco is not required to register as an “investment company”. However, whether an entity is an “investment company” is a complex determination that depends on the composition of its assets, income, and activities from time to time, and there can be no assurance that the applicable interpretations or the composition of its assets, income, and activities from time to time will not change in a manner that requires it to register as an “investment company”. In particular, if Pubco’s ownership interest in the Company, or the Company’s interest in OpCo, were deemed to constitute an “investment security” for purposes of the Investment Company Act (for example, if Pubco were deemed not to control the Company, or if the Company were deemed not to control OpCo or not to be primarily engaged in the Company’s and OpCo’s operating business), and if such interests, together with any other “investment securities” Pubco holds, were to exceed 40% of Pubco’s total assets (exclusive of government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis, Pubco could be deemed to be an “investment company”.
The existence of Third-Party Owners holding Class B units of OpCo increases the complexity of Pubco’s Investment Company Act analysis in several respects. First, because the Company does not own 100% of OpCo’s outstanding equity, a portion of OpCo’s outstanding units is held by unaffiliated third parties, which could be relevant to an analysis of whether Pubco and the Company “control,” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act, the operating assets attributable to the league. The Company holds all of OpCo’s Class A units and significant governance rights under the OpCo LLC Agreement and PubCo believes these rights constitute “control” of OpCo for Investment Company Act purposes. However, the SEC or a court could disagree, particularly if the number or proportion of teams owned by Third-Party Owners and corresponding issuances of OpCo Class B units and the number of appointment rights to OpCo’s board of governors provided to such future Third-Party Owners increases as a result of future team sales. Second, because the Company intends to sell additional teams to Third-Party Owners over time, the proportion of OpCo’s consolidated assets and revenues attributable to Company-owned teams, as opposed to Third-Party Owner-owned teams, is expected to decline. A continued decline in the proportion of teams and related operating assets directly owned by the Company, relative to those owned by Third-Party Owners, could increase the risk that Pubco’s indirect interest in OpCo, or in the specific teams owned by the Company, is viewed as more akin to a passive investment interest than a controlling operating interest, which could adversely affect Pubco’s Investment Company Act analysis. Third, proceeds the Company receives from selling Class B units become assets of the Company and, indirectly, Pubco. Held in cash or government securities pending redeployment, they generally will not be considered “investment securities” for purposes of the 40% Test but if invested elsewhere or not promptly redeployed, they could be treated as “investment securities” and increase the risk of “investment company” status.
If Pubco were deemed to be an “investment company”, it would be required to register as such under the Investment Company Act, which would subject it to substantial regulation with respect to capital structure, custody of assets, transactions with affiliates, governance, and other matters, and would materially limit its ability to conduct business as currently contemplated. Registration as an “investment company” would impose significant compliance costs and operational restrictions and could require Pubco to restructure
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or dispose of its interest in the Company or OpCo, change the manner in which it conducts its business, curtail or unwind its strategy of selling teams to Third-Party Owners, or take other actions it would not otherwise take. If Pubco were required to register but failed to do so, it could be subject to monetary penalties and injunctive relief, contracts entered into during the period of noncompliance could be voidable, and Pubco could be unable to enforce contracts against third parties, any of which could have a material adverse effect on Pubco’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Pubco may also be required to take, or refrain from taking, certain actions in order to continue to qualify for an exclusion or exemption from “investment company” status, such as maintaining consolidated control over the Company and OpCo and ensuring that the Company and OpCo remain primarily engaged in an operating business, which could constrain Pubco’s operational and strategic flexibility, including with respect to dispositions, restructurings, or future sales of teams to additional Third-Party Owners.
Pubco will be an “emerging growth company,” and it cannot be certain if the reduced SEC reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make shares of Pubco Common Stock less attractive to investors, which could have a material and adverse effect on Pubco, including its growth prospects.
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, Pubco will be an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. Pubco will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the closing of the Business Combination, (b) in which Pubco has total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion or (c) in which Pubco is deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of Pubco’s prior second fiscal quarter, and (ii) the date on which Pubco issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. Pubco intends to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to most other public companies, including, but not limited to, an exemption from the provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring that its independent registered public accounting firm provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation.
In addition, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts “emerging growth companies” from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. Pubco has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, Pubco, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of Pubco’s financial statements with certain other public companies difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
As a “smaller reporting company,” Pubco is permitted to provide less disclosure than larger public companies which may make Pubco Common Stock less attractive to investors.
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, Pubco will be a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. As a smaller reporting company, Pubco is eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies. Consequently, it may be more challenging for investors to analyze Pubco’s results of operations and financial prospects which may result in less investor confidence. Investors may find Pubco Common Stock less attractive as a result of Pubco’s smaller reporting company status. If some investors find Pubco Common Stock less attractive, there may be a less active trading market for Pubco Common Stock and the share price may be more volatile.
Following the Closing, Pubco will be required to re-determine its status as a smaller reporting company prior to the time it makes its first filing with the SEC (other than the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with Form 10 Information (as defined in Rule 144(i)(3) of the Securities Act)). Pubco will be able to continue to take advantage of the smaller reporting company scaled disclosures if its voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured as of a date within four business days after the consummation of the Business Combination, or the Company’s annual revenue is less than $100.0 million as of the most recently completed fiscal year reported in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with Form 10 Information (as defined in Rule 144(i)(3) of the Securities Act). If Pubco is no longer a smaller reporting company after this initial determination, it would need to reflect its re-determined status in any filing that is due after the 45-day period following the Closing. Pubco expects that it will
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remain a smaller reporting company after the Closing. To the extent that Pubco takes advantage of the reduced disclosure obligations available for smaller reporting companies, it may also make comparison of its financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
Pubco may redeem unexpired Pubco Warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to holders, thereby making the Pubco Warrants worthless.
Pubco will have the ability to redeem outstanding Pubco Warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the closing price of the Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to proper notice of such redemption and provided that certain other conditions are met on the date Pubco gives notice of redemption. Pubco will not redeem the warrants unless an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. Redemption of the outstanding Pubco Warrants could force holders to (i) exercise their warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for them to do so, (ii) sell their warrants at the then-current market price when they might otherwise wish to hold their warrants or (iii) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of their warrants. Historical trading prices for SPAC’s Class A Ordinary Shares have not exceeded the $18.00 per share threshold at which the Pubco Warrants would become redeemable. In the event that Pubco determines to redeem the Pubco Warrants, holders of such redeemable warrants would be notified of such redemption as described in our Warrant Agreement. Specifically, in the event that Pubco elects to redeem all of the warrants as described above, Pubco will fix a date for the redemption and a notice of redemption will be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by Pubco not less than 30 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the registered holders of the warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner provided in the Warrant Agreement will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the registered holder receives such notice. In addition, beneficial owners of the warrants will be notified of such redemption via Pubco’s posting of the redemption notice to DTC.
You will not be permitted to exercise your Pubco Warrants unless the underlying shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock are registered, qualified or exempt from registration or qualification.
The registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part registers the issuance of the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Pubco Warrants, as well as the issuance of the Pubco Warrants themselves. In order to comply with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act following the consummation of the Business Combination under the terms of the Existing Warrant Agreement, SPAC has agreed that, and under the Warrant Assumption Agreement, Pubco will agree that, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the Closing, Pubco will use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or a new registration statement covering the registration under the Securities Act of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pubco Warrants and thereafter will use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days following the Closing and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the shares issuable upon exercise of the Pubco Warrants until the expiration of the Pubco Warrants. However, no assurance can be made that Pubco will be able to maintain such effectiveness. If the issuance of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon exercise of the warrants is not registered, qualified or exempt from registration or qualification under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, holders of warrants will not be entitled to exercise such warrants and such warrants may have no value and expire worthless.
If the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pubco Warrants are not registered under the Securities Act, under the terms of the Existing Warrant Agreement, holders of Pubco Warrants who seek to exercise their warrants will not be permitted to do so for cash and, instead, will be required to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a) (9) of the Securities Act or another exemption.
In no event will Pubco Warrants be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and Pubco will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration or qualification is available.
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If the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of “covered securities” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, Pubco may, at its option, not permit holders of warrants who seek to exercise their warrants to do so for cash and, instead, require them to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act; in the event Pubco so elects, it will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement or register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws, and in the event Pubco does not so elect, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
In no event will Pubco be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities (other than upon a cashless exercise as described above) or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that it is unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws.
You may only be able to exercise your Pubco Warrants on a “cashless basis” under certain circumstances, and if you do so, you will receive fewer shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
The Warrant Agreement provides that in the following circumstances, holders of Pubco Warrants who seek to exercise their warrants will not be permitted to do so for cash and will, instead, be required to do so on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act: (i) if the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pubco Warrants are not registered under the Securities Act in accordance with the terms of the warrant agreement; (ii) if Pubco has so elected and the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock are at the time of any exercise of a Pubco Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of “covered securities” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act; and (iii) if Pubco has so elected and it calls the Pubco Warrants for redemption. If you exercise your Pubco Warrants on a cashless basis, you would pay the warrant exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock (as defined in the next sentence) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the Fair Market Value. The “Fair Market Value” is the average reported closing price of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent or on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, as applicable. As a result, you would receive fewer shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
Pubco may amend the terms of the Pubco Warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of Pubco Warrants with the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Pubco Warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your warrants could be increased, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.
The SPAC Warrants were issued in registered form under the Existing Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and SPAC. SPAC will assign to Pubco and Pubco will assume the Existing Warrant Agreement at the Closing. The Existing Warrant Agreement, as amended by the Warrant Assumption Agreement, provides that the terms of the Pubco Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Pubco Warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of Pubco Warrants. Accordingly, Pubco may amend the terms of the Pubco Warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding warrants approve of such amendment. Although Pubco’s ability to amend the terms of the Pubco Warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the Pubco Warrants, convert the Pubco Warrants into cash or share (at a ratio different than initially provided), shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of a public warrant.
The Warrant Agreement designates the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of Pubco Warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes.
The Warrant Agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against Pubco arising out of or relating in any way to the Warrant Agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that Pubco irrevocably submits
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to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. Pubco has waived any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. With respect to any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, Pubco notes, however, that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision and that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for state and federal courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the Warrant Agreement do not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Pubco Warrants will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in its Warrant Agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions of the warrant agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any holder of Pubco Warrants, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “Enforcement Action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such warrant holder.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with Pubco, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of the warrant agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, Pubco may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of its management and board of directors.
Risks Related to the Business Combination
Past performance by SPAC’s management team and their affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in SPAC or in the future performance of the post-Business Combination entity.
Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, SPAC’s management team or businesses associated with them is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance by SPAC’s management team, including with respect to Graf IV, Catcha, Graf I, Platinum Eagle, Double Eagle, Silver Eagle, and Global Eagle, is not a guarantee of success with respect to the Business Combination with the Company. You should not rely on the historical record of the performance of SPAC’s management team or businesses associated with them, including Graf IV, Catcha, Graf I, Platinum Eagle, Double Eagle, Silver Eagle, and Global Eagle as indicative of Pubco’s future performance of an investment in SPAC or the Company or the returns Pubco will, or are likely to, generate going forward.
Neither the SPAC Board nor any committee thereof obtained a third-party valuation or fairness opinion (or any similar report or appraisal) in determining whether or not to pursue the Business Combination. Consequently, you have no assurance from an independent source that the price SPAC is paying for the Company is fair to SPAC — and, by extension, its securityholders — from a financial point of view.
Neither the SPAC Board nor any committee thereof is required to obtain an opinion (or any similar report) from an independent investment banking or accounting firm that the price that SPAC is paying for the Company in the Business Combination is fair to SPAC or its shareholders from a financial point of view. In analyzing the Business Combination, the SPAC Board consulted with its advisors, including legal counsel and Cantor, and with SPAC management and considered a number of factors, uncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, those discussed under “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — SPAC Board’s Reasons for Approval,” and concluded that the Business Combination was in the best interest of SPAC Shareholders. Accordingly, investors will be relying solely on the judgment of the SPAC Board in valuing the Company, and the SPAC Board may not have properly valued such businesses. As a result, the terms may not be fair from a financial point of view to SPAC Public Shareholders. The lack of a third-party valuation or fairness opinion (or any similar report or appraisal) may also lead an increased number of SPAC Public Shareholders to vote against the Business Combination or demand redemption of their SPAC Public Shares, which could potentially impact SPAC’s ability to consummate the Business Combination. For information about the standards used by the SPAC
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Board in evaluating the Business Combination Agreement and proposed Business Combination with the Company, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Background of the Business Combination”.
Going public through a merger rather than an underwritten offering presents risks to unaffiliated investors. Subsequent to the completion of the Business Combination, Pubco may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could negatively affect its financial condition, results of operations and stock price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Going public through a merger rather than an underwritten offering, as the Company is seeking to do, presents risks to unaffiliated investors. Such risks include the absence of a due diligence investigation conducted by an underwriter, including independent review of Pubco’s, the Company’s and SPAC’s respective finances and operations, that might be subject to liability for any material misstatements or omissions in a registration statement. An underwritten offering involves a company engaging underwriters to purchase its shares and resell them to the public. An underwritten offering imposes statutory liability on the underwriters for material misstatements or omissions contained in the registration statement unless they are able to sustain the burden of providing that they did not know and could not reasonably have discovered such material misstatements or omissions. This is referred to as a “due diligence” defense and results in the underwriters undertaking a detailed review of the target company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Going public via a business combination with a special purpose acquisition company does not involve any underwriters and does not generally necessitate the level of review required to establish a “due diligence” defense as would be customary in an underwritten offering.
SPAC, the Company and Pubco cannot assure you that due diligence conducted in connection with this Business Combination has identified all material issues that may be present in the Company’s business prior to the completion of the Business Combination or that factors outside of the Company’s control will not later arise. As no such review has been or will be conducted in connection with the Business Combination, SPAC shareholders must rely on the information in this proxy statement/prospectus and will not have the benefit of an independent review and investigation of the type normally performed by an underwriter in a public securities offering. In addition, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of unaffiliated SPAC shareholders. Such interests may have influenced SPAC’s directors in making their recommendation that you vote in favor of the Business Combination Proposal and the other proposals described in this proxy statement/prospectus. See the section entitled “The Business Combination — Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination.”
In addition, going public via a business combination with a special purpose acquisition company does not involve a book-building process as is the case in an underwritten public offering. In any underwritten public offering, the initial value of a company is set by investors who indicate the price at which they are prepared to purchase shares from the underwriters. In the case of a special purpose acquisition company transaction, the value of the target company is established by means of negotiations between the target company, the special purpose acquisition company and, in some cases, other investors who agree to purchase shares at the time of the business combination. The process of establishing the value of a company in a special purpose acquisition company business combination may be less effective than the book-building process in an underwritten public offering and also does not reflect events that may have occurred between the date of the business combination agreement and the closing. In addition, underwritten public offerings are frequently oversubscribed resulting in additional potential demand for shares in the aftermarket following the underwritten public offering. There is no such book of demand built up in connection with a special purpose acquisition company transaction and no underwriters with the responsibility of stabilizing the share price which may result in the share price being harder to sustain after the transaction.
As a result of these various factors described above, Pubco may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure its operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in Pubco reporting losses. Even if the due diligence investigation successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with the preliminary risk analysis. Although these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on Pubco’s liquidity, the fact that it reports charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about the post-combination company or its securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause Pubco to violate net worth or other covenants to which it may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of obtaining debt financing thereafter. Accordingly, any shareholders who choose to remain shareholders following the Business Combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities.
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The Sponsor, SPAC’s directors and officers and their affiliates have interests in the Business Combination and the proposals described in this proxy statement/prospectus that are different from, or in addition to and/or in conflict with, those of the SPAC Shareholders generally.
When you consider the recommendation of the SPAC Board to vote in favor of approval of the Business Combination Proposal and the other proposals included herein, you should keep in mind that the Sponsor and SPAC’s directors and officers have interests in such proposals that are different from, in addition to and/or in conflict with, those of the SPAC Shareholders generally. These interests include, among other things:
| ● | the fact that the Sponsor originally acquired an aggregate of 7,187,500 Founder Shares which were purchased for an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, prior to the SPAC IPO. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. Of these 5,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor following the February 8, 2024 surrender, (i) 90,000 Founder Shares were transferred to the Independent Directors (30,000 Founder Shares each) on June 7, 2024, (ii) 2,750,000 Founder Shares will be forfeited and surrendered immediately before the Domestication, (iii) 500,000 Founder Shares may be transferred by the Sponsor, in its discretion, to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco and if not so transferred or used will be forfeited, and (iv) 500,000 of the Founder Shares will be subject to an earnout. The remaining Founder Shares are expected to have a significantly higher value at the time of the Business Combination than their original purchase price. At the Closing, the Sponsor and Independent Directors will hold an aggregate of 2,500,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the conversion of 2,500,000 Founder Shares, which if unrestricted and freely tradeable, would be valued at approximately $27.3 million, based on the $10.93 closing price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares on NYSE American on October 20, 2026. However, such shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will be subject to a lock-up described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. Additionally, pursuant to the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, Harraden has the option to receive Conversion Shares and is entitled to receive Issuance Warrants and Transferred Shares. The Issuance Warrants are identical to the SPAC Private Warrants held by the Sponsor. The Transferred Shares are to be transferred from the Sponsor to Harraden for each dollar funded by Harraden pursuant to the August Convertible Promissory Note. The Transferred Shares are subject to no transfer restrictions or any other lock-up provisions, earn outs, or other contingencies. Under both the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, in lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares, Issuance Warrants, and/or Transferred Shares, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy SPAC’s related obligations. The issuance and/or transfer of these securities is expected to reduce the post-Closing ownership percentage of the Sponsor. |
| ● | the fact that, as a result of the low purchase price paid for the Founder Shares, if the Business Combination is completed, the Sponsor and Independent Directors are likely to be able to make a substantial profit on its investment even at a time when the Pubco Class A Common Stock have lost significant value. Accordingly, the economic interests of the Sponsor and Independent Directors diverge from the economic interests of SPAC Public Shareholders because the Sponsor and Independent Directors will realize a gain on their investment from the completion of any business combination while SPAC Public Shareholders will realize a gain only if the post-closing trading price exceeds $10.00 per share; |
| ● | the fact that the Sponsor holds 4,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants, initially purchased for $1.00 per SPAC Private Warrant, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate, in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the closing of the SPAC IPO; such warrants will automatically be assumed by Pubco at the effective time of the SPAC Merger and will become Pubco Private Warrants exercisable for 4,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share. SPAC estimates that, at the Closing, if unrestricted and freely tradeable, such Pubco Warrants would be valued at approximately $1.0 million, based on the $0.25 closing price of the SPAC Public Warrants on NYSE American on October 20, 2026. However, such Pubco Warrants will be subject to a lock-up described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus; |
| ● | the fact that Sponsor and the Independent Directors and have waived their rights to redeem any SPAC Ordinary Shares held by them in connection with the shareholder vote to approve the Business Combination; |
| ● | the fact that, if SPAC were to liquidate rather than complete an initial business combination, the Sponsor will lose its entire investment in SPAC, which totals approximately $4,348,000 as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, comprising the $25,000 purchase price for the Founder Shares, the $4,000,000 purchase price for the SPAC Private Warrants purchased by Sponsor in a private placement concurrently with the SPAC IPO, and approximately $3,000 of other loans, advances, and |
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| out-of-pocket expenses, and $320,000 of accrued administrative services fees. However, if SPAC fails to consummate a business combination by the Business Combination Deadline and liquidates, such loans will not be converted into warrants and any loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses will only be repaid to the extent of any cash outside of the Trust Account. The potential loss of this investment may have incentivized Sponsor and its affiliates to pursue a business combination transaction on unfavorable terms in order to avoid a liquidation; |
| ● | the fact that, if the Trust Account is liquidated, including in the event SPAC is unable to complete an initial business combination by the Business Combination Deadline, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to SPAC if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to SPAC, or a prospective target business with which SPAC has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per SPAC Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per SPAC Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per SPAC Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses; provided that such obligation will not apply to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable), any claims by SPAC’s independent registered public accounting firm, or any claims under the indemnity of the underwriters of the SPAC IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act; |
| ● | the fact that [●], a [director/officer] of SPAC, is expected to be a [director/officer] of Pubco after the Closing. As such, in the future, [●] may receive fees for his service to Pubco, which may consist of cash or stock-based awards, and any other remuneration that the Pubco Board determines to pay; |
| ● | the fact that, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Sponsor and Independent Directors will have customary registration rights, including demand and piggy-back rights, subject to cooperation and cut-back provisions with respect to the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants held by them following the consummation of the Business Combination. SPAC estimates that the Sponsor and Independent Directors will hold an aggregate of 2,500,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock, 4,000,000 Pubco Warrants, and 4,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying Pubco Warrants subject to registration rights; |
| ● | the fact that at or immediately prior to the Closing, if the Closing SPAC Cash is less than $100,000,000, the Sponsor must invest, or cause its affiliate or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing. To the extent that the Sponsor Investment is made in the form of equity or equity-linked securities, the Sponsor will receive such additional equity pursuant to such investment. The number of such potential equity interests will not be calculable until definitive agreements for any Sponsor Investment are entered into, if any; |
| ● | the fact that, pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement, commencing on June 25, 2024, through the earlier of consummation of the SPAC’s initial business combination and its liquidation, SPAC agreed to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor $20,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of the management team. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Company had outstanding accrued administrative support services fees of $320,000. Such amounts may not be recoverable if SPAC liquidates without completing an initial business combination; |
| ● | the fact that Pubco and the Company agreed to enter into the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement with Sponsor at the Closing, pursuant to which Pubco and the Company will indemnify, exonerate and hold harmless the Sponsor and the Sponsor Indemnified Persons from and against any and all Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities arising out of or relating to any pending or threatened action, cause of action, suit, litigation, investigation, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration or claim against any of them or in which any of them may be a participant or may otherwise be involved (including as a witness) that arise out of or relates to SPAC’s operations or conduct of its business, the Business Combination, and/or any claim against the Sponsor and/or a Sponsor Indemnified Person alleging any expressed or implied management, control or endorsement of any activities of SPAC, or any express or implied association with Pubco, Company, or SPAC, or any of their respective affiliates. The Sponsor Indemnification Agreement will not however apply to claims arising primarily out of (a) any breach by such Sponsor Indemnified Person of any other agreement between such Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and Company, Pubco or SPAC or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the other hand, or (b) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of such Sponsor Indemnified Person; and |
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| ● | the continued indemnification of former and current directors and officers of SPAC and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
As a result of the foregoing interests, the Sponsor and SPAC’s directors and officers will benefit from the completion of the Business Combination and may be incentivized to complete an acquisition of a less favorable target company or on terms that would be less favorable to SPAC Public Shareholders. In the aggregate, the Sponsor has approximately $4.4 million at risk that depends upon the completion of the Business Combination.
In addition, as a result of multiple business affiliations, SPAC’s directors and officers have fiduciary, contractual or similar legal obligations to other entities, including other special purpose acquisition companies similar to SPAC or other business or investment ventures, which may require SPAC’s directors and officers to present a business combination opportunity to such other entity and only present it to SPAC if such entity rejects the opportunity, subject to his or her fiduciary duties. SPAC believes, however, that there were no such corporate opportunities presented to SPAC’s directors and officers which were not presented to SPAC, and therefore that SPAC’s directors’ and officers’ additional fiduciary, contractual, or similar legal obligations to other entities did not impact SPAC’s search for a business combination target. For more information, see “Information About SPAC — Conflicts of Interest.”
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of SPAC’s directors may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus. The financial and personal interests of the Sponsor, as well as SPAC’s directors and officers, may have influenced their motivation in identifying and selecting the Company as the Business Combination target, completing the Business Combination with the Company and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination. In considering the recommendation of the SPAC Board to vote in favor of approval of the proposals set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus, unaffiliated SPAC Shareholders should keep in mind that the Sponsor and SPAC’s directors and officers and entities affiliated with them, have interests in such proposals that are different from, or in addition to, those of unaffiliated SPAC Shareholders.
SPAC’s officers and directors may negotiate employment and consulting agreements with the Company. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following the Business Combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether the Business Combination is the most advantageous.
SPAC’s officers and directors may be able to remain with Pubco after the completion of the Business Combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements with the Company in connection with the Business Combination. Other than the expectation that [●] will be appointed by SPAC to serve as a [director/officer] of Pubco following the Closing of the Business Combination pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement and will be entitled to compensation for his service as a director when and as determined by the Pubco Board, Pubco and the Company have no commitments as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus to enter into employment or consulting agreements with any other of SPAC’s officers and directors. Such negotiations could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or Pubco’s securities for services they would render to Pubco after the Closing of the Business Combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in completing the Business Combination, subject to their fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law.
The Insiders have agreed to vote in favor of the Business Combination and related transactions, regardless of how SPAC Public Shareholders vote.
The Insiders have agreed to vote in favor of all the proposals being presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, regardless of how the SPAC Public Shareholders vote. No consideration has been or will be paid by SPAC, the Company, or Pubco to the Insiders in connection with such agreements. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Insiders collectively owned 5,750,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares.
Pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents and Cayman Islands law, the approval of each of the Business Combination Proposal, Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, the advisory approval of each of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, and the Adjournment Proposal (if submitted to SPAC Shareholders for a vote) requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. As a result, in addition to Founder Shares held by the Sponsor and
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other holders of Founder Shares, SPAC would need 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of each such proposal in order to approve each such proposal, assuming all outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares are present and cast a vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If only a minimum quorum of outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares were present at the Extraordinary General Meeting, then SPAC would not need any SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of each such proposal in order to have each such proposal approved.
Pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents and Cayman Islands law, the approval of each of the Domestication Proposal and Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal requires a special resolution of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. In accordance with Article 47 of the SPAC Organizational Documents, the holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (including the SPAC Public Shares) will have no right to vote on the Domestication Proposal or the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal. As the Sponsor holds the sole issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Share, SPAC will not need any SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of each such proposal in order to have each such proposal approved.
The approval of the SPAC Merger Proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the SPAC Ordinary Shares outstanding. As a result, we will need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the SPAC Merger Proposal in order to have the SPAC Merger Proposal approved and adopted.
The SPAC Public Shareholders will experience immediate dilution as a consequence of the issuance of Pubco Common Stock as consideration in the Business Combination, potential issuances in connection with financings or the exercise of Pubco Warrants, and due to future issuances of equity awards to the Company’s employees, directors, or consultants. Having a minority share position will reduce the influence that SPAC’s current shareholders have on the management of Pubco.
SPAC Public Shareholders will experience immediate dilution as a consequence of the Business Combination. Immediately following the Closing, assuming the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, no Transaction Financing, the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, but including the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assuming the Company’s Cash Position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026) and without giving effect to any dilutive instruments, it is expected that (i) SPAC Public Shareholders will own approximately 20.9% of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 3.8% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock, (ii) the holders of Founder Shares, which includes the Sponsor and SPAC’s Independent Directors, will collectively own approximately 7.5% of the Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 1.4% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock (which includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, which may be used to incentivize non-redemptions by SPAC Public Shareholders, among other uses, and if not used will be forfeited), (iii) the Big3 Founders will collectively own approximately 53.4% of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 91.5% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock (which includes their pro rata portion of the Earnout Shares), and (v) the Company equityholders other than the Big3 Founders will own approximately 18.2% of the Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 3.3% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock (which includes their pro rata portion of the Earnout Shares). The SPAC Public Shareholders currently own 59.4% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares prior to the Business Combination. Accordingly, SPAC Public Shareholders will experience immediate dilution as a consequence of the Business Combination. As redemptions increase, the overall percentage ownership held by the Sponsor, SPAC’s officers and directors, and the Company equityholders will increase as compared to the overall percentage ownership and voting percentage held by the SPAC Public Shareholders, thereby increasing dilution to the SPAC Public Shareholders. Further, if the parties obtain additional equity or equity-linked financing, such financing would further increase dilution to SPAC Public Shareholders, and the amount of such potential additional dilution will not be calculable until definitive agreements for such financing are entered into, if any.
For more information on the percentage of the issued and outstanding Pubco Common Stock immediately following the Closing that are expected to be held by securityholders, in various redemptions scenarios, see “Questions and Answers About the Business Combination — What equity stake will current SPAC Shareholders and Company equityholders hold in Pubco immediately after the Closing?” and for more information about dilution to SPAC Public Shareholders, see “Dilution.”
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The ability of SPAC Public Shareholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of SPAC’s shares could increase the probability that the Business Combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your SPAC Public Shares.
The Business Combination Agreement requires SPAC to have aggregate cash proceeds of $50,000,000, consisting of (a) the aggregate cash proceeds available for release to SPAC or Pubco from the Trust Account in connection with the Transactions after giving effect to the Redemption, plus (b) the aggregate cash proceeds received by SPAC or Pubco in respect of any Transaction Financing, minus (c) unpaid expenses of SPAC and the Company. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may elect not to consummate the Business Combination. If the Business Combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account until SPAC liquidates the Trust Account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your shares in the open market; however, at such time SPAC’s shares may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the Trust Account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with your exercise of redemption rights until SPAC liquidates or you are able to sell your shares in the open market.
Further, if a larger number of SPAC Public Shares is submitted for redemption than SPAC initially expected, SPAC may need to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the Trust Account or arrange for third-party financing. Raising additional third-party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. In addition, the amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriter will not be adjusted for any SPAC Public Shares that are redeemed in connection with the Business Combination. The per share amount SPAC will distribute to SPAC Public Shareholders who properly exercise their redemption rights will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commission and after such redemptions, the amount held in trust will continue to reflect SPAC’s obligation to pay the entire deferred underwriting commissions. The above considerations may limit SPAC’s ability to complete the Business Combination or optimize Pubco’s capital structure.
The amount of deferred underwriting commissions SPAC must pay upon completion of its initial business combination is greater than the amount owed by other special purpose acquisition companies.
Upon the completion of SPAC’s initial business combination, SPAC is required to pay $9,800,000 of deferred underwriting commissions to the IPO Underwriter. This amount is greater than the amount of deferred underwriting commissions owed by other special purpose acquisition companies. Further, the amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable by SPAC to the underwriters is not currently required to be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with an initial business combination.
Pubco may fail to realize any or all of the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination.
The success of the Business Combination will depend, in part, on Pubco’s ability to successfully manage and deploy the cash received upon the consummation of the Business Combination. Although Pubco intends to use the cash received upon the consummation of the Business Combination for the continued development of its business plan, there can be no assurance that it will be able to achieve its intended objectives.
In the event that a significant number of SPAC Public Shares are redeemed, its stock may become less liquid following the Business Combination, and Pubco may have less cash available to fund the Company’s operations and growth strategy following the Closing.
If a significant number of SPAC Public Shares are redeemed, Pubco, following the Business Combination, may be left with a significantly smaller number of outstanding shares. As a result, trading in the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock following the Business Combination may be limited and investors’ ability to sell their shares in the market could be adversely affected. The NYSE, or another national securities exchange, may delist the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in Pubco’s securities and subject Pubco to additional trading restrictions. Public shareholders may elect to redeem their SPAC Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in SPAC’s Trust Account in connection with the Business Combination. The Business Combination Agreement conditions the closing on aggregate cash proceeds of $50,000,000, consisting of (a) the aggregate cash proceeds available for release to SPAC or Pubco from the Trust Account in connection with the Transactions
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after giving effect to the Redemption, plus (b) the aggregate cash proceeds received by SPAC or Pubco in respect of any Transaction Financing, minus (c) unpaid expenses of SPAC and the Company. A significant level of redemptions could reduce the amount of cash available to Pubco following the Closing to fund the Company’s working capital, growth initiatives, and other corporate purposes, and could require Pubco to seek additional financing that may not be available on favorable terms, or at all. There can be no assurance regarding the number of SPAC Public Shares that will be redeemed, and a high level of redemptions could result in the minimum cash closing condition not being satisfied, which, if not waived, could prevent the Business Combination from closing.
The unaudited pro forma financial information included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus may not be indicative of what Pubco’s actual financial position or results of operations would have been.
SPAC and the Company currently operate as separate companies and have had no prior history as a combined entity, and SPAC’s and the Company’s operations have not previously been managed on a combined basis. The pro forma financial information included in this proxy statement/prospectus is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the financial position or results of operations that would have actually occurred had the Business Combination been completed at or as of the dates indicated, nor is it indicative of the future operating results or financial position of Pubco. The pro forma statement of operations does not reflect future nonrecurring charges resulting from the Business Combination. The unaudited pro forma financial information does not reflect future events that may occur after the Business Combination and does not consider potential impacts of future market conditions on revenues or expenses. The pro forma financial information included in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” has been derived from SPAC’s and the Company’s historical financial statements and certain adjustments and assumptions have been made regarding the Company after giving effect to the Business Combination. There may be differences between estimates in the pro forma financial information and the final acquisition accounting, which could result in material differences from the pro forma information presented in this proxy statement/prospectus in respect of the estimated financial position and results of operations of the Company. In addition, the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial information may not prove to be accurate and other factors may affect the Company’s financial condition or results of operations following the Closing. Any potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may cause significant variations in the stock price of Pubco.
The requirements of being a public company may strain Pubco’s resources, divert its management’s attention and affect its ability to attract and retain qualified board members.
Pubco will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, the NYSE, or another national securities exchange, listing requirements and other applicable securities rules and regulations, and the interpretations and applications of such rules and regulations. As such, Pubco will incur additional legal, accounting and other expenses following completion of the Business Combination. These expenses may increase even more if Pubco no longer qualifies as an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, or as a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that Pubco file annual and current reports with respect to its business and operating results. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that Pubco maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. Pubco may need to hire more employees post-Business Combination or engage outside consultants to comply with these requirements, which will increase its post-Business Combination costs and expenses.
Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure are creating uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some activities more time-consuming. These laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. Pubco expects these laws and regulations to increase its legal and financial compliance costs after the Business Combination and to render some activities more time-consuming and costly, although Pubco is currently unable to estimate these costs with any degree of certainty.
As a result of disclosure of information in this proxy statement/prospectus and in filings required of a public company, the Company’s business and financial condition will become more visible, which Pubco believes may result in threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors and other third parties. If such claims are successful, Pubco’s business and operating results could be adversely affected, and, even if the claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in Pubco’s favor, these claims, and the time and
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resources necessary to resolve them, could cause an adverse effect on Pubco’s business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects and reputation.
Recent increases in inflation in the United States and elsewhere could make it more difficult for SPAC to complete the Business Combination.
Recent increases in inflation in the United States and elsewhere may lead to increased price volatility for publicly traded securities, including SPAC’s, or other national, regional or international economic disruptions, any of which could make it more difficult for SPAC to complete the Business Combination.
The parties have incurred and expect to incur significant costs associated with the Business Combination. Whether or not the Business Combination is completed, the incurrence of these costs will reduce the amount of cash available to be used for other corporate purposes by Pubco and the Company.
SPAC, the Company and Pubco expect to incur significant costs associated with the Business Combination. Only some of these expenses will be paid if the Business Combination occurs. Other fees and expenses, including legal fees, independent auditor fees, fees to SPAC’s solicitation agent, and expenses incurred in connection with the proxy solicitation for the extraordinary general meeting, will be incurred regardless of whether the Business Combination occurs. These expenses will reduce the amount of cash available to be used for other corporate purposes by the parties whether or not the Business Combination is completed.
The Proposed Charter will renounce Pubco’s interest in certain corporate opportunities and will not limit the ability of the Big3 Founders, Pubco’s non-employee directors, or their respective affiliates to compete with Pubco.
The Big3 Founders, the members of the Pubco Board who are not employees of Pubco or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries (the “Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective affiliates engage in a broad spectrum of activities, including investments in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which Pubco now engages or proposes to engage. In the ordinary course of their business activities, the Big3 Founders, the Non-Employee Directors and their respective affiliates may engage in activities where their interests conflict with Pubco’s interests or those of its stockholders.
The Proposed Charter will provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the Big3 Founders, the Non-Employee Directors, or any of their respective affiliates will have any duty to refrain from engaging, directly or indirectly, in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which Pubco or any of its affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or otherwise competing with Pubco or any of its affiliates, and that Pubco will renounce any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity of which any of those persons acquires knowledge and which may also be a corporate opportunity for Pubco or any of its affiliates. The Proposed Charter will not renounce Pubco’s interest in a corporate opportunity expressly offered to a Big3 Founder or Non-Employee Director unless such corporate opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of Pubco and such opportunity is one that Pubco is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for Pubco to pursue. Accordingly, the Big3 Founders, the Non-Employee Directors and their respective affiliates may pursue acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions that, in their judgment, could enhance their investments, even though such transactions might involve risks to public shareholders. These potential conflicts of interest could have a material and adverse effect on Pubco’s business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects if attractive corporate opportunities are allocated by the Big3 Founders, the Non-Employee Directors or their respective affiliates to themselves or to other persons instead of to Pubco. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in Pubco Common Stock will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to these provisions.
Anti-takeover provisions in the Proposed Charter and the Proposed Pubco Bylaws and Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of Pubco, and may depress the trading price of Pubco Class A Common Stock.
The Proposed Pubco Charter and the Pubco Bylaws that will be in effect following the Business Combination will contain provisions that could depress the trading price of Pubco Class A Common Stock by acting to discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of Pubco or changes in Pubco’s management that the stockholders of Pubco may deem advantageous. These provisions, among other things, may include:
| ● | the authority of the board to issue preferred stock on terms determined by the board without stockholder approval, which preferred stock may include rights superior to the rights of the holders of Pubco Common Stock; |
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| ● | a prohibition on stockholder action through written consent following the Final Conversion Date, which will require that all stockholder actions thereafter be taken at a meeting of Pubco’s stockholders; |
| ● | a requirement that special meetings of stockholders be called only by the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer or the Pubco Board; |
| ● | advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations for election to the board of directors; |
| ● | the power of the Pubco Board to make, alter and repeal the Proposed Pubco Bylaws without stockholder consent; and |
| ● | the absence of cumulative voting in the election of directors. |
In addition, while Section 203 of the DGCL generally prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, the Proposed Pubco Charter expressly provides that the Corporation will not be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. As a result, any stockholder or group of stockholders that acquires 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of Pubco will not be subject to the three-year prohibition on business combinations that would otherwise apply under Section 203, which could facilitate unsolicited takeover attempts or other transactions that may not be in the best interests of all stockholders. Notwithstanding this opt-out, the other anti-takeover provisions described above, including the supermajority vote requirements for director removal and amendments to the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws, and the Board’s authority to issue preferred stock, could still have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of Pubco, which could limit the opportunity for stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of Pubco Common Stock and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for Pubco Class A Common Stock.
The Proposed Pubco Charter and the Proposed Pubco Bylaws that will be in effect following the Business Combination will designate certain courts as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by Pubco’s stockholders, which could limit Pubco’s stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with Pubco or Pubco’s directors, officers, or employees.
The Proposed Pubco Charter that will be in effect following the Business Combination provides that, unless a majority of the Board consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any state law claims for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee, agent or stockholder of the Corporation, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Proposed Pubco Charter or the Proposed Pubco Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to the Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein (the “Delaware Forum Provision”). The Delaware Forum Provision will not apply to any causes of action arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
The Proposed Pubco Charter further provides that, unless a majority of the Board consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the sole and exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act (the “Federal Forum Provision”). Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, and there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce the Federal Forum Provision. Pubco’s stockholders will not be deemed to have waived Pubco’s compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
These exclusive forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with Pubco or its directors, officers, or employees, which may discourage such lawsuits. If a court were to find any of these provisions inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, Pubco may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect Pubco’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
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If SPAC is deemed to be an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act, SPAC may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and its activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for SPAC to complete the Business Combination.
If SPAC is deemed to be an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act, its activities may be restricted, including:
| ● | restrictions on the nature of its investments; and |
| ● | restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for SPAC to complete the Business Combination. |
In addition, SPAC may have imposed upon it burdensome requirements, including:
| ● | registration as an “investment company” with the SEC; |
| ● | adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and |
| ● | reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations. |
As a result, if SPAC is deemed to be an “investment company” for purposes of the Investment Company Act, it might be forced to abandon its efforts to complete the Business Combination and instead be required to liquidate SPAC. If SPAC is required to liquidate, SPAC investors would not be able to realize the benefits of owning shares in Pubco, including the potential appreciation in the value of SPAC shares and warrants following the Business Combination.
The SEC recently provided guidance that the determination of whether a special purpose acquisition company, like SPAC, is an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act is a facts and circumstances determination requiring individualized analysis and depends on a variety of factors, including a SPAC’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities. When applying these factors to SPAC, SPAC does not believe that its principal activities will subject it to the Investment Company Act. To this end, SPAC was formed for the purpose of completing an initial business combination with one or more businesses. Since its inception, its business has been and will continue to be focused on identifying and completing an initial business combination, and thereafter, operating the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. Further, SPAC does not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale and it does not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.
In addition, the proceeds held in the Trust Account were invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. By restricting the investment of the proceeds in this manner, and by focusing its directors’ and officers’ time toward, and operating its business for the purpose of, acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund or investing in assets for the purpose of achieving investment returns on such assets), SPAC intends to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. Further, investing in SPAC securities is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or “investment securities”. Instead, the Trust Account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of either: (i) the completion of SPAC’s initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any SPAC Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the SPAC Organizational Documents (A) to modify the substance or timing of SPAC’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the SPAC Public Shares if SPAC does not complete its initial business combination within the completion window or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent an initial business combination within the completion window, SPAC’s return of the funds held in the Trust Account to its Public Shareholders as part of its redemption of the SPAC Public Shares subject to applicable law and the SPAC Organizational Documents. If SPAC does not invest the proceeds as described above, it may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act.
If SPAC were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, it would need to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act and compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which SPAC has not allotted funds and may hinder its ability to complete a business combination. SPAC also may be forced to abandon its efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead be required to liquidate the Trust Account. If SPAC is unable to
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complete its initial business combination, its public shareholders would not be able to realize the benefits of owning shares in a successor operating business, including the potential appreciation in the value of SPAC’s securities following such a business combination, and may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account that are available for distribution to public shareholders.
SPAC’s independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about SPAC’s ability to continue as a “going concern.”
SPAC may not have sufficient liquidity to meet its anticipated obligations prior to the completion of the Business Combination. SPAC has until up to December 27, 2026, to consummate the Business Combination. Although SPAC intends to complete the Business Combination within the Combination Period, there can be no assurance that SPAC will be able to consummate the Business Combination by this time. If the Business Combination is not consummated by this date, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of SPAC, unless SPAC’s shareholders approve another special resolution to the SPAC’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to extend such date. Accordingly, SPAC’s management has determined that the mandatory liquidation, should the Business Combination not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution raises substantial doubt about SPAC’s ability to continue as a going concern.
If a shareholder fails to receive notice of SPAC’s offer to redeem SPAC Public Shares in connection with the Business Combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for submitting its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
If a shareholder fails to receive SPAC’s proxy materials, such shareholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC requires SPAC Public Shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to deliver their shares to Continental prior to the date that is two business days prior to the scheduled vote on the Business Combination Proposal. In addition, SPAC requires SPAC Public Shareholder seeking redemption of his, her or its SPAC Public Shares to also submit a written request for redemption to Continental two business days prior to the scheduled vote on the Business Combination Proposal in which the name of the beneficial owner of such shares is included. In the event that a shareholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures disclosed in this proxy statement/prospectus its shares may not be redeemed.
NYSE American may delist SPAC securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in SPAC’s securities and subject SPAC to additional trading restrictions.
The SPAC Public Units, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants are listed on the NYSE American. SPAC cannot assure you that its securities will continue to be listed on the NYSE American in the future or prior to the Business Combination. In order to continue listing SPAC’s securities on the NYSE American prior to the Business Combination, SPAC must maintain certain financial, distribution and share price levels. Additionally, in connection with the Business Combination, SPAC will be required to demonstrate compliance with the NYSE American’s or another Stock Exchange’s initial listing requirements, which are likely more rigorous than the NYSE American’s continued listing requirement. SPAC cannot assure you that it will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
On April 16, 2026, SPAC received a notice from the NYSE regulation staff of the NYSE American stating that SPAC is not in compliance with Section 1007 of the NYSE American Company Guide (the “Section 1007 Rule”) because SPAC had not timely filed its annual report with the SEC, and that SPAC was automatically granted a period of six months from the due date of the annual report to cure the filing delinquency by filing the annual report. SPAC subsequently filed its annual report on May 11, 2026 and, accordingly, as of the date of the filing of the annual report regained compliance with the Section 1007 Rule. However, there can be no assurance that SPAC will maintain such compliance or that it will not be delinquent in the future. Any such further delinquency could result in the delisting of SPAC’s securities from the NYSE American exchange.
If the NYSE American delists SPAC’s securities from trading on its exchange and SPAC is not able to list its securities on another national securities exchange, SPAC expects its securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, SPAC could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
| ● | a limited availability of market quotations for SPAC securities; |
| ● | reduced liquidity for SPAC securities; |
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| ● | a determination that SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares are a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for SPAC’s securities; |
| ● | a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and |
| ● | a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because SPAC’s securities are listed on the NYSE American, SPAC’s securities qualify as covered securities under the statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of SPAC’s securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While SPAC is not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if SPAC were no longer listed on the NYSE American, SPAC’s securities would not qualify as covered securities under the statute and SPAC would be subject to regulation in each state in which it offers its securities.
The Sponsor may elect to purchase SPAC Public Shares and SPAC Public Warrants from SPAC Public Shareholders, which may reduce the public “float” of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares.
At any time prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material non-public information), the Sponsor, SPAC’s directors, executive officers, or their affiliates may purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market, or may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants or not to redeem their SPAC Public Shares, although they are under no obligation to do so. There is no limit on the number of SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants the Sponsor, SPAC’s directors, officers, or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and the OTC Markets rules. However, other than as expressly stated herein, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in any such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the Trust Account will be used to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants in such transactions. Such purchases may include a contractual acknowledgment that such shareholder, although still the record holder of SPAC’s shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights.
SPAC has previously entered into the Non-Redemption Agreements, pursuant to which the Non-Redeeming Shareholders agreed not to redeem (or to rescind any redemption of) their SPAC Public Shares in connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal presented at the Extension Meeting.
In the event that the Sponsor, SPAC’s directors, executive officers, or their affiliates purchase SPAC Public Shares in privately negotiated transactions from SPAC Public Shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The purpose of any such purchases of SPAC Public Shares could be to satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of SPAC Public Warrants could be to reduce the number of SPAC Public Warrants outstanding. Any such purchases of SPAC’s securities may result in the completion of the Business Combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants and the number of beneficial holders of Pubco’s securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to obtain or maintain the quotation, listing or trading of Pubco’s securities on the NYSE American or another Stock Exchange. However, in the event that the Sponsor, SPAC’s directors, executive officers, and their affiliates were to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants from SPAC Public Shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act and such shares would not be voted in favor of approving the Business Combination. Additionally, any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent applicable.
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A SPAC Public Shareholder’s decision whether to redeem its shares for a pro rata portion of the Trust Account may not put such shareholder in a better future economic position.
The price at which a shareholder may be able to sell its Pubco Common Stock in the future following the completion of the Business Combination is not determinable as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. Certain events following the consummation of the Business Combination may cause an increase in Pubco’s share price and may result in a lower value realized now than a SPAC Public Shareholder might realize in the future had the shareholder redeemed their SPAC Public Shares. Similarly, if a SPAC Public Shareholder does not redeem their SPAC Public Shares, the shareholder will bear the risk of ownership of Pubco Common Stock after the consummation of the Business Combination, and a shareholder may not be able to sell its Pubco Common Stock in the future for a greater amount than the Redemption Price set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus. A SPAC Public Shareholder should consult, and rely solely upon, the shareholder’s own tax and/or financial advisor for assistance on how this may affect his, her or its individual situation.
If you or a “group” of shareholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares.
The SPAC Organizational Documents provide that a SPAC Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the SPAC Public Shares, which SPAC refers to as the “Excess Shares” without prior consent. However, SPAC would not be restricting its shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against the Business Combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over SPAC’s ability to complete the Business Combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in SPAC if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if SPAC completes the Business Combination. As a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the Trust Account, except under certain limited circumstances. Therefore, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your SPAC Public Shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
SPAC Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) SPAC’s completion of the Business Combination, and then only in connection with those SPAC Public Shares that such shareholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations and on the conditions described herein, (ii) the redemption of any SPAC Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the SPAC Organizational Documents (A) to modify the substance or timing of SPAC’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Business Combination or to redeem 100% of SPAC Public Shares if SPAC does not complete the Business Combination within the Combination Period or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-Closing activity, and (iii) the redemption of SPAC Public Shares if SPAC is unable to complete the Business Combination within the Combination Period, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if SPAC’s plan to redeem SPAC Public Shares in the event SPAC is unable to complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period for any reason, compliance with Cayman Islands law may require that SPAC submit a plan of dissolution to its then-existing shareholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in the Trust Account. In that case, SPAC Public Shareholders may be forced to wait beyond the Combination Period before they receive funds from the Trust Account. In no other circumstances will a SPAC Public Shareholder have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account. Holders of SPAC Warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the Trust Account with respect to the warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants, potentially at a loss.
SPAC does not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for SPAC to complete the Business Combination with which a substantial majority of SPAC’s shareholders or warrant holders do not agree.
The SPAC Organizational Documents do not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold. As a result, SPAC may be able to complete the Business Combination even though a substantial majority of SPAC Public Shareholders do not agree with the Business Combination and have redeemed their shares or have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to the Sponsor.
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The Business Combination Agreement requires SPAC to have aggregate cash proceeds of $50,000,000, consisting of (a) the aggregate cash proceeds available for release to SPAC or Pubco from the Trust Account in connection with the Transactions after giving effect to the Redemption, plus (b) the aggregate cash proceeds received by SPAC or Pubco in respect of any Transaction Financing, minus (c) unpaid expenses of SPAC and the Company. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied.
SPAC Public Shareholders may not know prior to the redemption deadline or prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting whether the Minimum Cash Condition is satisfied.
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, waive the Minimum Cash Condition. If the Company waives the Minimum Cash Condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four Business Days of such event, however such condition may be waived at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, and, given such timing, you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. Alternately, if the Minimum Cash Condition is not met, the Company may elect not to consummate the Business Combination.
If SPAC receives valid redemption requests from holders of SPAC Public Shares prior to the redemption deadline, SPAC may, at its sole discretion, following the redemption deadline and until the Closing Date, seek and permit withdrawals by one or more of such holders of their redemption requests. SPAC may select which holders to seek such withdrawals of redemption requests from based on any factors SPAC may deem relevant and the purpose of seeking such withdrawals may be to increase the funds held in the Trust Account, including where SPAC otherwise would not satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition. SPAC and the Company may also continue to seek financing up to the Closing. Accordingly, there may be a period of time after the Extraordinary General Meeting and before the Closing when shareholders do not know whether this closing condition is satisfied. Accordingly, SPAC Public Shareholders may be required to make redemption and voting decisions without knowing whether all of the conditions to closing the Business Combination will be satisfied.
SPAC may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete the Business Combination or to fund the operations and growth of the Company, which could compel SPAC to restructure or abandon the Business Combination.
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, and if the Company does not waive such condition and the Business Combination Agreement is terminated, SPAC Public Shareholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account that are available for distribution to SPAC Public Shareholders upon the liquidation of SPAC. On the other hand, if the Company waives such condition and the Business Combination is consummated, Pubco could be required to make adjustments to its business plans in light of available capital resources. For example, Pubco could elect not to pursue or to delay some of the Company’s current strategic objectives or may be required to raise additional capital earlier than anticipated. Further, Pubco may be required to obtain additional financing in connection with the Closing of the Business Combination for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the Company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing the Business Combination or to fund the purchase of other companies. SPAC cannot assure you that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of Pubco and the Company. None of SPAC’s officers, directors or shareholders is required to provide any financing to SPAC in connection with or after the Business Combination.
SPAC may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete the Business Combination, subject to the Company’s consent, which may adversely affect SPAC’s leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of SPAC Shareholders’ investment in SPAC.
Although SPAC has no commitments as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt, SPAC may choose to incur substantial debt to complete the Business Combination, subject to
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the Company’s consent, pursuant to the covenants set forth in the Business Combination Agreement. SPAC and its officers have also agreed that SPAC will not incur any indebtedness unless SPAC has obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the Trust Account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per share amount available for redemption from the Trust Account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
| ● | default and foreclosure on SPAC’s assets if SPAC’s operating revenues after the Business Combination are insufficient to repay its debt obligations; |
| ● | acceleration of SPAC’s obligations to repay the indebtedness even if SPAC makes all principal and interest payments when due if SPAC breaches certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; |
| ● | SPAC’s immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand; |
| ● | SPAC’s inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting SPAC’s ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding; |
| ● | using a substantial portion of SPAC’s cash flow to pay principal and interest on its debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on SPAC Ordinary Shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes; |
| ● | limitations on SPAC’s flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in its business and in the industry in which it operates; |
| ● | increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and |
| ● | limitations on SPAC’s ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of its strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to its competitors who have less debt. |
A provision of the Existing Warrant Agreement may make it more difficult for SPAC to consummate the Business Combination.
If (i) SPAC issues additional ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the SPAC Board and, in the case of any such issuance to SPAC’s initial shareholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by SPAC’s initial shareholders or such affiliates prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (ii) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (iii) the volume weighted average trading price of the SPAC ordinary shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Business Combination is consummated (such price, the “Market Value”) of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. This may make it more difficult for SPAC to consummate the Business Combination.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, SPACs have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and other governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. SPAC cannot assure you that it will not seek to amend the SPAC Organizational Documents or other governing instruments, or certain agreements related to the SPAC IPO in a manner that will make it easier for SPAC to complete the Business Combination that SPAC Shareholders may not support, and such amendments may be done without shareholder approval.
In order to effectuate a business combination, SPACs have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and governing instruments. For example, SPACs have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds and extended the time to consummate an initial business combination and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant
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agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. Amending the SPAC Organizational Documents requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the SPAC Ordinary Shares which are represented in person or by proxy and are voted at a general meeting of the company, and amending SPAC’s Warrant Agreement requires a vote of holders of at least 50% of the SPAC Public Warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the SPAC Private Warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the SPAC Private Warrants, 50% of the number of the then outstanding SPAC Private Warrants. In addition, the SPAC Organizational Documents require SPAC to provide SPAC Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their SPAC Public Shares for cash if SPAC proposes an amendment to the SPAC Organizational Documents (A) to modify the substance or timing of SPAC’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial business combination or to redeem 100% of SPAC Public Shares if SPAC does not complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. To the extent any of such amendments would be deemed to fundamentally change the nature of the securities offered in the SPAC IPO, SPAC would register, or seek an exemption from registration for, the affected securities. SPAC cannot assure you that it will not seek to amend the SPAC Organizational Documents or extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate its initial business combination.
Each of the agreements related to the SPAC IPO, other than the Warrant Agreement and the Trust Agreement, may be amended without shareholder approval. Such agreements include: the underwriting agreement; the Insider Letter; the registration rights agreement among SPAC, Sponsor and the holders signatory thereto; the private placement warrants purchase agreement between SPAC and the Sponsor; the private placement warrants purchase agreement between SPAC and Cantor; the securities subscription agreement between SPAC and Sponsor; and the Administrative Services Agreement dated June 25, 2024, among SPAC, Sponsor and G-SPAC Management LLC. These agreements contain various provisions that SPAC Public Shareholders might deem to be material. For example, the Insider Letter and the underwriting agreement contain certain lock-up provisions with respect to the SPAC Founder Shares and SPAC Private Warrants. Amendments to such agreements would require the consent of the applicable parties thereto and would need to be approved by the SPAC Board, which may do so for a variety of reasons, including to facilitate the Business Combination. While SPAC does not expect the SPAC Board to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to the Business Combination, it may be possible that the SPAC Board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement. Any amendment entered into in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination will be disclosed in this proxy statement/prospectus, as applicable, and any other material amendment to any of SPAC’s material agreements will be disclosed in a filing with the SEC. Any such amendments would not require approval from shareholders, may result in the completion of the Business Combination that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in SPAC’s securities. For example, amendments to the lock-up provision discussed above may result in the Sponsor selling their securities earlier than they would otherwise be permitted, which may have an adverse effect on the price of SPAC’s securities.
SPAC may not be able to complete the Business Combination within the Combination Period, in which case SPAC would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and SPAC would redeem its SPAC Public Shares and liquidate.
SPAC must complete the Business Combination within the Combination Period, otherwise the SPAC Organizational Documents and the Trust Agreement require that SPAC liquidate the Trust Account and wind up. SPAC may not be able to complete the Business Combination within the Combination Period. SPAC’s ability to complete the Business Combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein. If SPAC has not completed an initial business combination within such time period, and such time period is not extended with the approval of SPAC Shareholders, SPAC will: as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the SPAC Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding SPAC Public Shares, which redemption will constitute full and complete payment and completely extinguish SPAC Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions or other distributions, if any), subject to SPAC’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
The SPAC Board may decide not to extend the term SPAC has to consummate its initial Business Combination, in which case SPAC would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and SPAC would redeem its SPAC Public Shares and liquidate.
SPAC initially had 24 months from the closing of the SPAC IPO, or June 27, 2026, to consummate an initial business combination. On June 26, 2026, SPAC’s shareholders approved an amendment to the SPAC Organizational Documents to extend the
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date by which SPAC has to consummate a business combination from June 27, 2026 to September 27, 2026, and provided that SPAC has executed a definitive agreement for an initial business combination by September 27, 2026 but has not consummated an initial business combination by such date, to permit SPAC’s Board, in its sole discretion, to further extend such date up to three times in one month increments, to up to December 27, 2026. In connection with the shareholder approval of the extension, an aggregate of 14,590,367 SPAC Public Shares were redeemed, and SPAC paid approximately $158.5 million accordingly on June 26, 2026. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the SPAC Board has extended the Combination Period, monthly, through November 27, 2026.
If SPAC is unable to consummate the Business Combination within the Combination Period, SPAC will: as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the SPAC Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding SPAC Public Shares, which redemption will constitute full and complete payment and completely extinguish SPAC Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions or other distributions, if any), subject to SPAC’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to SPAC’s warrants if SPAC fails to complete the Business Combination within the Combination Period.
If the net proceeds of the SPAC IPO and sale of the SPAC Private Warrants not being held in the Trust Account are insufficient to allow SPAC to operate until the completion of the Business Combination, SPAC will depend on loans from the Sponsor or management team to complete the Business Combination.
As of June 30, 2026, SPAC had minimal cash and working capital deficit of approximately $3,140,421. While SPAC believes that the funds available to it will be sufficient to allow it to operate until at least the completion of the Business Combination, SPAC cannot assure you that its estimate is accurate.
Neither the Sponsor, members of SPAC’s management team nor any of their affiliates is under any obligation to advance funds to SPAC. Any such advances would be repaid only from funds held outside the Trust Account or from funds released to SPAC upon the Closing. Up to $1,500,000 of any working capital loans may be convertible into Pubco Private Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Pubco Private Warrant at the option of the lender; provided that, for purposes of such $1,500,000 limit, the Convertible Promissory Note and August Convertible Promissory Note, each with Harraden, will be treated as Working Capital Loans and will count toward such limit. Such warrants would be identical to the SPAC Private Warrants purchased in a private placement, which occurred simultaneously with SPAC’s IPO. Prior to the Closing, SPAC does not expect to seek loans from parties other than the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor as SPAC does not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in the Trust Account. If SPAC is unable to complete the Business Combination within the required time period because it does not have sufficient funds available to it, SPAC will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account. Consequently, SPAC Public Shareholders may only receive an estimated $10.87 per share (based on the amount held in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2026), or possibly less, on SPAC’s redemption of its SPAC Public Shares. There are no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to SPAC’s warrants.
During the pendency of the Business Combination, SPAC will not be able to enter into an agreement with another party because of restrictions in the Business Combination Agreement. If the Business Combination is not completed, those restrictions may make it harder for SPAC to complete an alternate business combination before its liquidation date.
While the Business Combination Agreement is in effect, neither SPAC nor the Company may solicit, assist, facilitate the making, submission or announcement of, or intentionally encourage any alternative acquisition proposal, such as a merger, material sale of assets or equity interests or other Business Combination, with any third party, even though any such alternative acquisition could be more favorable to their respective shareholders than the Business Combination. In addition, if the Business Combination is not completed, these provisions will make it more difficult for SPAC to complete an alternative business combination following the termination of the Business Combination Agreement due to the passage of time during which these provisions have remained in effect.
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The completion of the Business Combination is subject to certain closing conditions under the Business Combination Agreement and any such conditions may not be satisfied on a timely basis, if at all.
The completion of the Business Combination is subject to a number of conditions. The timing and completion of the Business Combination is not assured and is subject to risks, including the risk that SPAC shareholder approval is not obtained, the failure to meet the Minimum Cash Condition and the failure to obtain approval for listing of Pubco Common Shares on a Stock Exchange as mutually determined by SPAC and the Company, in each case subject to certain terms specified in the Business Combination Agreement (as described under “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The Business Combination Agreement — Conditions to Closing”), or that other closing conditions are not satisfied.
If SPAC does not complete the Business Combination, SPAC could be subject to various risks, including:
| ● | negative reactions from the financial markets, including declines in the price of SPAC Public Shares due to the fact that current prices may reflect a market assumption that the Business Combination will be completed; and |
| ● | the attention of SPAC management will have been diverted to the Business Combination rather than the pursuit of other opportunities in respect of an initial business combination. |
The Business Combination may be subject to regulatory review and approval, including foreign investment regulations and review by government entities such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”).
While unlikely, the Business Combination may be subject to regulatory review and approval requirements by governmental entities. For example, CFIUS has authority to review direct or indirect foreign investments in U.S. companies. Among other things, CFIUS is empowered to require certain foreign investors to make mandatory filings, to charge filing fees related to such filings, and to self-initiate national security reviews of foreign direct and indirect investments in U.S. companies if the parties choose not to file voluntarily. If CFIUS determines that an investment subject to its jurisdiction presents national security risks, CFIUS has the power to require mitigation measures on the investment or can recommend that the President of the United States prohibit it or order divestment. Whether CFIUS has jurisdiction to review an acquisition or investment transaction depends on — among other factors — the nature and structure of the transaction, the nationality of the parties, the level of beneficial ownership interest and the nature of any information or governance rights involved.
The Sponsor is organized in Delaware and is exclusively “controlled” for CFIUS purposes by James Graf, who is a U.S. citizen. Thus, we do not believe that the Sponsor is a “foreign person” as defined in the CFIUS regulations. The current expectation is that, post-Business Combination, no persons that constitute “foreign persons” for CFIUS purposes will acquire “control” over the Company. We further do not believe a CFIUS filing would be required for the Business Combination. Even if CFIUS were to have jurisdiction over the Business Combination, neither the Company nor PubCo produce, design, test, manufacture, fabricate, or develop one or more “critical technologies,” as the term is defined in the CFIUS regulations, nor will the Company or Pubco be 49% or more owned by a single foreign government as a result of the Business Combination—both of which eliminate a potential mandatory CFIUS filing.
Involvement of any non-U.S. persons in the Business Combination (e.g., as existing shareholders of a target company or as investors), however, may increase the risk that the Business Combination becomes subject to regulatory review, including review by CFIUS. If the Business Combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS or to proceed with the transaction without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the transaction. If CFIUS were to review the Business Combination, CFIUS may decide to block or delay the Business Combination, impose conditions with respect to the Business Combination, or recommend that the President of the United States order us to divest all or a portion of the U.S. target business of the Business Combination that we acquired without first obtaining CFIUS approval.
If we are unable to consummate the Business Combination within the completion window, including as a result of extended regulatory review of the Business Combination, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account, subject to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such event, our shareholders will miss the opportunity to benefit from an investment in a target company and the appreciation in value of such investment.
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The exercise of SPAC management’s discretion in agreeing to changes or waivers in the terms of the Business Combination may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether such changes to the terms of the Business Combination or waivers of conditions are appropriate and in the SPAC Shareholders’ best interest.
In the period leading up to the Closing, events may occur that may require SPAC to agree to amend the Business Combination Agreement, to consent to certain actions taken by the Company, or to waive rights that SPAC is entitled to under the Business Combination Agreement. Such events could arise because of changes in the course of the Company’s business, a request by the Company to undertake actions that would otherwise be prohibited by the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, or the occurrence of other events that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business. In any of such circumstances, it would be at SPAC’s discretion, acting through the SPAC Board, to grant its consent or waive those rights. The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of the directors described in the preceding risk factors may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he or she or they may believe is best for SPAC and SPAC Shareholders and what he or she or they may believe is best for himself or herself or themselves in determining whether or not to take the requested action. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC does not believe there will be any changes or waivers that SPAC management would be likely to make after SPAC Shareholder Approval has been obtained. While certain changes could be made without further SPAC Shareholders’ approval, SPAC will circulate a new or amended proxy statement/prospectus and re-solicit SPAC Shareholders if changes to the terms of the transaction that would have a material impact on SPAC Shareholders are required prior to the vote on the Business Combination Proposal.
SPAC and the Company may not have any right to make damage claims against each other for the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made by SPAC or the Company in the Business Combination Agreement.
The Business Combination Agreement provides that all of the representations, warranties and covenants of the parties contained therein shall not survive the Closing, except for those covenants that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part after the Closing. As a result, SPAC and the Company may have no remedy available to it if the Business Combination is consummated and it is later revealed that there was a breach of any of the representations, warranties and covenants made by either SPAC or the Company at the time of the Business Combination.
If third parties bring claims against SPAC, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
SPAC’s placing of funds in the Trust Account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against it. Although SPAC will seek to have all vendors, service providers (except for its independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which it does business execute agreements with it waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of SPAC Public Shareholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the Trust Account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against SPAC’s 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, SPAC’s management will consider whether competitive alternatives are reasonably available to it and will only enter into an agreement with such third party if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be in the best interests of SPAC under the circumstances. WithumSmith+Brown, PC, SPAC’s independent registered public accounting firm, and the underwriters of the SPAC IPO will not execute agreements with SPAC waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account.
Examples of possible instances where SPAC 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 SPAC and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason. Upon redemption of SPAC Public Shares, if SPAC is unable to complete the Business Combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with the Business Combination, SPAC will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against SPAC within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by SPAC Public Shareholders could be less than the $10.00 per Public Share initially held in the Trust Account, due to claims of such creditors. Pursuant to the Insider Letter, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to SPAC if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to SPAC, or a prospective target
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business with which SPAC has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable; provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under SPAC’s indemnity of the underwriters of the SPAC IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, SPAC has not asked the Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor has SPAC independently verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and SPAC believes that the Sponsor’s only assets are securities of SPAC. Therefore, SPAC cannot assure you that the Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the Trust Account, the funds available for the Business Combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per Public Share. In such event, SPAC may not be able to complete the Business Combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your SPAC Public Shares. None of SPAC’s officers or directors will indemnify SPAC for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
SPAC’s directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of the Sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the Trust Account available for distribution to SPAC Public Shareholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the Trust Account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account if less than $10.00 per Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case less taxes payable, and the Sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, SPAC’s independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against the Sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While SPAC currently expects that its independent directors would take legal action on its behalf against the Sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to SPAC, it is possible that SPAC’s independent directors in exercising their business judgment and subject to their fiduciary duties may choose not to do so in any particular instance if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. If SPAC’s independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the Trust Account available for distribution to SPAC Public Shareholders may be reduced below $10.00 per Public Share.
SPAC may not have sufficient funds to satisfy indemnification claims of the Sponsor, directors and officers.
SPAC has agreed to indemnify the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account and to not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, any indemnification provided will be able to be satisfied by SPAC only if (i) SPAC has sufficient funds outside of the Trust Account or (ii) SPAC consummates the Business Combination. SPAC’s obligation to indemnify the Sponsor and SPAC officers and directors may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against the Sponsor and SPAC officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit SPAC and SPAC Shareholders. Furthermore, a shareholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent SPAC pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against SPAC’s officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
Because SPAC is incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal courts may be limited.
SPAC is an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon SPAC’s directors or officers, or enforce judgments obtained in the U.S. courts against SPAC’s directors or officers.
SPAC’s corporate affairs are governed by the SPAC Organizational Documents, the Cayman Companies Act (as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. SPAC is also subject to the federal securities laws of the United States. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of SPAC’s directors to SPAC under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial
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precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of SPAC Shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of SPAC’s directors under Cayman Islands law are different from what they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and certain states, such as Delaware, may have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholders derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
SPAC has been advised by Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP, SPAC’s Cayman Islands legal counsel, that the courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against SPAC judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against SPAC predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given, provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
As a result of all of the above, SPAC’s shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as shareholders of a U.S. company.
The SPAC Organizational Documents provide that the courts of the Cayman Islands will be the exclusive forum for certain disputes between SPAC and its shareholders, which could limit SPAC Shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for complaints against SPAC or its directors, officers or employees.
The SPAC Organizational Documents provide that unless SPAC consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with the SPAC Organizational Documents or otherwise related in any way to each shareholder’s shareholding in SPAC, including but not limited to (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on SPAC’s behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of any fiduciary or other duty owed by any of SPAC’s current or former director, officer or other employee to SPAC or SPAC Shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Cayman Companies Act or the SPAC Organizational Documents, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against SPAC governed by the internal affairs doctrine (as such concept is recognized under the laws of the United States of America) and that each shareholder irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Cayman Islands over all such claims or disputes.
The forum selection provision in the SPAC Organizational Documents does not apply to actions or suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are, as a matter of the laws of the United States of America, the sole and exclusive forum for determination of such a claim.
The SPAC Organizational Documents also provide that, without prejudice to any other rights or remedies that SPAC may have, each of SPAC’s shareholders acknowledges that damages alone would not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum and that accordingly SPAC shall be entitled, without proof of special damages, to the remedies of injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief for any threatened or actual breach of the selection of the courts of the Cayman Islands as exclusive forum.
This choice of forum provision may increase a shareholder’s cost and limit the shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with SPAC or SPAC’s directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits against SPAC and its directors, officers and other employees. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any of SPAC’s shares or other securities, whether by transfer, sale, operation of law or otherwise, shall be deemed to have notice of and have irrevocably agreed and consented to these provisions. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions, and the enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ charter documents has been challenged in legal
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proceedings. It is possible that a court could find this type of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable, and if a court were to find this provision in the SPAC Organizational Documents to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, SPAC may incur additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, which could have adverse effect on SPAC’s business and financial performance.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the Trust Account to SPAC Public Shareholders, SPAC files a bankruptcy or insolvency petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency petition is filed against SPAC that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of SPAC Shareholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by SPAC Shareholders in connection with SPAC’s liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the Trust Account to SPAC Public Shareholders, SPAC files a bankruptcy or insolvency petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency petition is filed against SPAC that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in SPAC’s bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of SPAC Shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the Trust Account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by SPAC Shareholders in connection with SPAC’s liquidation may be reduced.
If, after SPAC distributes the proceeds in the Trust Account to SPAC Public Shareholders, SPAC files a bankruptcy or insolvency petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency petition is filed against SPAC that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy or insolvency court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of the SPAC Board may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to SPAC’s creditors, thereby exposing the members of the SPAC Board and SPAC to claims of punitive damages.
If, after SPAC distributes the proceeds in the Trust Account to SPAC Public Shareholders, SPAC files a bankruptcy or insolvency petition or an involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency petition is filed against SPAC that is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy or insolvency court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by SPAC Shareholders. In addition, the SPAC Board may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to SPAC’s creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and SPAC to claims of punitive damages, by paying SPAC Public Shareholders from the Trust Account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
SPAC Shareholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against SPAC to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
If SPAC is forced to enter into an insolvent liquidation, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed as an unlawful payment if it was proved that immediately following the date on which the distribution was made, SPAC was unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. As a result, a liquidator could seek to recover some or all amounts received by SPAC Shareholders. Furthermore, SPAC’s directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to SPAC or its creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, thereby exposing themselves and SPAC to claims, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. SPAC cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against SPAC for these reasons. SPAC and its directors and officers who knowingly and willfully authorized or permitted any distribution to be paid out of SPAC’s share premium account while SPAC was unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business would be guilty of an offence and may be liable to a fine of approximately $18,293 and to imprisonment for five years in the Cayman Islands.
SPAC plans to make adequate provision, by payment or otherwise, for all of the corporation’s then existing and reasonably foreseeable debts, liabilities and obligations, based on facts known to SPAC at such time that will provide for SPAC’s payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against SPAC following its dissolution. However, because SPAC is a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and its operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from its vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. SPAC cannot ensure that it will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against it. As such, SPAC Shareholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of SPAC Shareholders may extend beyond the third anniversary of such date.
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Members of SPAC’s management team and the SPAC Board have significant experience as board members, officers or executives of other companies. As a result, certain of those persons have been, may be, or may become, involved in proceedings, investigations and litigation relating to the business affairs of the companies with which they were, are, or may in the future be, affiliated. This may have an adverse effect on SPAC, which may impede its ability to consummate the Business Combination.
During the course of their careers, members of SPAC’s management team and the SPAC Board have had significant experience as board members, officers or executives of other companies. Such involvement has, and may lead to, media coverage and public awareness. As a result of their involvement and positions in these companies, certain persons were, are now, or may in the future become, involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings relating to the business affairs of such companies or transactions entered into by such companies which are unrelated to SPAC’s business. For example, directors and officers of Graf I, including Mr. Graf in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer of Graf I, as well as the Graf I Sponsor (but not Mr. Graf in any personal capacity at the sponsor of Graf I), were previously co-defendants in an ongoing class action in the Delaware Court of Chancery titled Berger v. Graf Acquisition LLC et al, Civ A. No. 2023-0873-LWW, in connection with the business combination between Graf I and Velodyne. The class plaintiffs alleged that the defendants withheld material information in the definitive proxy statement and that they proffered inflated financial projections about Velodyne to convince Graf I public stockholders to refrain from exercising their redemption rights. The defendants do not believe that such claims were meritorious; however, to avoid the time and expense of litigation, the matter was settled in October 2025 with no admission of fault. Any such litigation, investigations or other proceedings have diverted and may divert SPAC’s management team’s and board’s attention and resources away from consummating the Business Combination and may negatively affect SPAC’s reputation, which may impede its ability to complete the Business Combination.
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of other blank check companies subject to Rule 419 of the Securities Act.
Since the net proceeds of the IPO and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants are intended to be used to complete one or more initial Business Combinations with a target business or businesses that have not been selected, SPAC may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, SPAC is exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. If the IPO had been subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the Trust Account to SPAC unless and until the funds in the Trust Account were released to SPAC or in connection with SPAC’s completion of an initial Business Combination.
Risks Related to U.S. Federal Income Taxation
The Business Combination and Pubco’s structure thereafter may not be tax-efficient to SPAC shareholders. As a result of SPAC’s business combination, Pubco’s tax obligations may be more complex, burdensome and/or uncertain.
Although SPAC is attempting to structure the Business Combination in a tax-efficient manner, tax structuring considerations are complex, the relevant facts and law are uncertain and may change, and it may prioritize commercial and other considerations over tax considerations. For example, in connection with the Business Combination, SPAC intends to effect the Domestication of SPAC to Delaware. Pubco does not intend to make any cash distributions to shareholders to pay taxes in connection with the Business Combination or thereafter. Accordingly, a shareholder may need to satisfy any liability resulting from the Business Combination with cash from its own funds or by selling all or a portion of the shares received. In addition, shareholders may also be subject to additional income, withholding or other taxes with respect to their ownership of Pubco after the Business Combination.
The Mergers may not qualify as a Section 351 Transaction and the SPAC Merger may not qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization, which could result in adverse tax consequences to the parties, to holders of SPAC securities and to the Sellers.
The Mergers, taken together are intended to be treated as an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code (a “Section 351 Transaction”), and the SPAC Merger, if the 368 Requirement is satisfied, is intended to be treated as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code (a “Section 368(a) Reorganization”). Whether the Mergers qualify as a Section 351 Transaction depends on, among other things, the satisfaction of the 80% control test in Section 368(c) of the Code, applied at the Pubco level and taking into account each class of Pubco stock. The determination of whether the 80% control test is satisfied is complex and depends on the facts and circumstances existing at the Closing. Separately, whether the SPAC Merger qualifies as a Section 368(a) Reorganization is subject to significant factual and legal uncertainties, including because there is an absence of
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guidance directly on point as to how the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code apply in the case of an acquisition of a corporation with investment-type assets, such as SPAC, and could be adversely affected by events or actions that occur prior to or at the time of the SPAC Merger, including the magnitude of redemptions of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. In addition, the 368 Requirement will not be satisfied unless the amount of cash in the Trust Account immediately following the deduction of amounts required to satisfy the Redemption Amount is at least fifty percent (50%) of the cash in the Trust Account immediately prior to such deduction, and there can be no assurance that this will be the case. None of SPAC, the Company or Pubco has sought or intends to seek a ruling from the IRS with respect to the tax treatment of the Mergers. For a more complete discussion, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —U.S. Holders —Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders”.
If the Mergers fail to qualify as a Section 351 Transaction, each transferor of property to Pubco generally would recognize gain or loss with respect to the property contributed, measured by reference to the difference between the fair market value of the Pubco securities received and the transferor’s adjusted tax basis in the property contributed, as more fully discussed under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —U.S. Holders —Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders — 6. Failure to Qualify as a Section 351 Transaction or Section 368(a) Reorganization”. In addition, because the Company is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Sellers whose Company Interests are cancelled in the Company Merger may recognize gain (or ordinary income) even if the Mergers otherwise qualify as a Section 351 Transaction, including as a result of the deemed cash distribution arising from the elimination of each Seller’s share of the Company’s liabilities under Section 752 of the Code, gain required to be recognized under Section 357(c) of the Code to the extent such liabilities exceed a Seller’s adjusted tax basis in its Company Interest, and ordinary income under Section 751(a) of the Code attributable to the Company’s “unrealized receivables” and “inventory items”, as more fully discussed under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —U.S. Holders —Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders —Consequences of Company Merger to Sellers”.
Even if the Mergers otherwise qualify as a Section 351 Transaction, if the SPAC Merger does not also qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization, the deemed exchange of SPAC Warrants for Pubco Warrants in the SPAC Merger will generally be a taxable transaction to holders of SPAC Warrants, as more fully discussed under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —U.S. Holders —Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders —Assumption of SPAC Warrants by Pubco”.
For a more complete discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination to holders of SPAC securities and to the Sellers, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —U.S. Holders —Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders” and, in the case of Non-U.S. Holders, “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —Non-U.S. Holders —Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to Non-U.S. Holders”.
The U.S. federal income tax characterization of the Company Merger is not free from doubt, and Sellers may recognize gain, and in some circumstances ordinary income, notwithstanding the intended Section 351 treatment.
The Company Merger is intended to constitute the Sellers’ contribution of their Company Interests to Pubco as part of the Section 351 Transaction. However, because the Company is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes immediately before the Company Merger and becomes wholly owned by, and disregarded as separate from, Pubco immediately after the Company Merger, the characterization of the Company Merger is not free from doubt. The IRS could assert, and a court could sustain, that the Company Merger should instead be characterized as a deemed sale by the Sellers of their Company Interests to Pubco.
In addition, and even if the Mergers qualify as a Section 351 Transaction, a Seller may recognize gain or ordinary income as a result of the Company Merger. Because each Seller’s entire Company Interest is cancelled and no Seller continues as a partner in the Company, each Seller’s share of the Company’s liabilities will drop to zero, resulting in a deemed cash distribution under Section 752 of the Code that reduces such Seller’s basis in the Pubco Common Stock received and, to the extent it exceeds such Seller’s adjusted tax basis in its Company Interest, requires gain recognition under Section 357(c) of the Code. In addition, any gain recognized by a Seller will be treated as ordinary income under Section 751(a) of the Code to the extent attributable to the Company’s “unrealized receivables” (including depreciation recapture) and “inventory items”. Sellers that are Non-U.S. Holders may additionally be subject to withholding of 10% of the amount realized under Section 1446(f) of the Code unless a valid certification of nonrecognition treatment is delivered, and the amount realized for this purpose generally includes the Seller’s share of the Company’s liabilities treated as transferred, so withholding may be required even if the Seller recognizes little or no gain.
Sellers are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences to them of the Company Merger, including the application of Sections 351, 357, 741, 751 and 752 of the Code, in light of their particular
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circumstances. For a more complete discussion, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —U.S. Holders —Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders —Consequences of Company Merger to Sellers”.
There is a risk that the 1% U.S. federal excise tax may be imposed on SPAC in connection with redemptions of SPAC Public Shares.
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which, among other things, generally imposes a 1% U.S. federal excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) on certain repurchases of stock by “covered corporations” (which include publicly traded domestic (i.e., U.S.) corporations and certain domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) corporations) occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The Excise Tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its stockholders from which the stock is repurchased. The amount of the Excise Tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the Excise Tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year (the “netting rule”). In addition, certain exceptions apply to the Excise Tax. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has published final regulations clarifying many aspects of the Excise Tax, including that where a non-U.S. corporation transfers its assets or is treated as transferring its assets to a U.S. corporation in a reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the corporation is not treated as a U.S. corporation until the day after the reorganization.
Based on the expected structure of the Business Combination with the Company, SPAC expects to redeem the SPAC Public Shares prior to the time it is treated as a U.S. corporation for purposes of the Excise Tax under the final Treasury Regulations, and thus SPAC currently does not expect that it would be a covered corporation subject to the Excise Tax with respect to any redemptions of SPAC Public Shares in connection with the Business Combination that are treated as repurchases for this purpose. It is possible, however, that additional guidance is issued that would nevertheless treat SPAC as a covered corporation or otherwise impose the Excise Tax on SPAC with respect to redemptions of its stock in connection with the Business Combination with the Company. In addition, if the redemptions were to be treated as occurring for U.S. federal income tax purposes after SPAC is treated as a U.S. corporation for purposes of the Excise Tax, absent guidance to the contrary, SPAC currently expects that it would be subject to the Excise Tax with respect to any such redemptions that are treated as repurchases for this purpose (although in such case the netting rule generally is expected to be available with respect to such redemptions of SPAC’s stock and its issuance of stock in connection with the Business Combination to reduce the amount of Excise Tax imposed on SPAC, if any).
If SPAC were to be treated as a covered corporation for purposes of the redemption of SPAC Public Shares in connection with the Business Combination or otherwise, whether and to what extent it would be subject to the Excise Tax on a redemption of SPAC Public Shares would depend on a number of factors, including (i) whether the redemption is treated as a repurchase of stock for purposes of the Excise Tax, (ii) the fair market value of the redemption treated as a repurchase of stock, (iii) the nature and amount of stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination and the nature and amount of any Transaction Financing or any other equity issuances (whether in connection with the Business Combination or otherwise) issued within the same taxable year of a redemption treated as a repurchase of stock, and (iv) the content of any additional guidance from the Treasury.
As noted above, the Excise Tax would be payable by the repurchasing corporation, and not by the redeeming holder. If SPAC were to be treated as a covered corporation for purposes of the redemption of SPAC Public Shares in connection with the Business Combination or otherwise, the per-share redemption amount payable from the Trust Account (including any interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) to SPAC Public Shareholders in connection with a redemption of SPAC Public Shares is not expected to be reduced by any Excise Tax imposed on SPAC. The imposition of the Excise Tax on SPAC could, however, cause a reduction in the cash available on hand to complete the Business Combination and may affect SPAC’s ability to complete any business combination or fund future operations.
Risks Related to the Domestication
The Domestication may result in adverse tax consequences for holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants.
The Domestication should qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code, i.e., an F Reorganization. However, whether the Domestication so qualifies is not free from doubt due to the absence of direct guidance on the application of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code to an entity that holds only investment-type assets. If the Domestication fails to qualify as an F Reorganization, a U.S. Holder (as defined in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — Tax Effects of the Domestication to U.S. Holders”) of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants generally would recognize gain
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or loss with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the fair market value of the corresponding Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock or Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants of the domesticated SPAC received in the Domestication and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants surrendered. Additionally, Non-U.S. Holders (as defined in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations —Non-U.S. Holders”) may become subject to withholding tax on any amounts treated as dividends paid on Pubco Common Stock after the Business Combination.
Assuming that the Domestication qualifies as an F Reorganization, subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares generally will be subject to Section 367(b) of the Code in connection with the Domestication, and, as a result:
| ● | a U.S. Holder who is a 10% U.S. Shareholder on the date of the Domestication generally will be required to include in income as a deemed dividend deemed paid by SPAC the “all earnings and profits amount” (as defined in the Treasury Regulations under Section 367 of the Code) attributable to the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares held directly by such U.S. Holder; |
| ● | a U.S. Holder whose SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares have a fair market value of $50,000 or more on the date of the Domestication and who, on the date of the Domestication, is not a 10% U.S. Shareholder generally will recognize gain (but not loss) with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares as if such U.S. Holder exchanged its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares for Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock in a taxable transaction, unless such U.S. Holder elects in accordance with applicable Treasury Regulations to include in income as a deemed dividend deemed paid by SPAC the “all earnings and profits” amount (as defined in the Treasury Regulations under Section 367 of the Code) attributable to such U.S. Holder’s SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares; and |
| ● | a U.S. Holder whose SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares have a fair market value of less than $50,000 on the date of the Domestication and who, on the date of the Domestication, is not a 10% U.S. Shareholder, generally will not recognize any gain or loss or include any part of SPAC’s earnings and profits in income under Section 367 of the Code in connection with the Domestication. |
Additionally, even if the Domestication qualifies as an F Reorganization, proposed Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 1291(f) of the Code and certain other PFIC rules (which have retroactive effective dates) generally require that a U.S. person who disposes of stock of a PFIC (including for this purpose a SPAC Warrant) must recognize gain equal to the excess of the fair market value of such PFIC stock over its adjusted tax basis, notwithstanding any other provision of the Code. SPAC believes that it likely has been a PFIC since its first taxable year and will likely be considered a PFIC for the taxable year which ends as a result of the Domestication. As a result, these proposed Treasury Regulations, if finalized in their current form, would generally require a U.S. Holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants to recognize gain under the PFIC rules on the exchange of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants for Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants of the domesticated SPAC, respectively, pursuant to the Domestication. Only in respect of the exchange of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares for Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock, such gain recognition generally would not be required if such U.S. Holder has made a timely and effective QEF Election (or a QEF Election along with a purging election) or an MTM Election with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. No such election is currently available under applicable Treasury Regulations with respect to SPAC Warrants. In addition, the proposed Treasury Regulations provide coordinating rules with other sections of the Code, including Section 367(b), which affect the manner in which the rules under such other sections apply to transfers of PFIC stock. Any gain recognized from the application of the PFIC rules described above would be taxable income with no corresponding receipt of cash. The tax on any such gain would be imposed under a complex set of computational rules (the “excess distributions regime”) designed to offset the tax deferral to such U.S. Holder on the undistributed earnings, if any, of SPAC. Under these rules, (i) the U.S. Holder’s gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period; (ii) the amount of gain allocated to the U.S. Holder’s taxable year in which the gain is recognized, and to the period in the U.S. Holder’s holding period before the first day of the first taxable year in which SPAC was a PFIC, will be taxed as ordinary income; (iii) the amount of gain allocated to each other taxable year (or portion thereof) of the U.S. Holder will be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and applicable to the U.S. Holder; and (iv) an additional tax equal to the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the U.S. Holder in respect of the tax attributable to each such other taxable year. It is not possible to determine at this time whether, in what form, and with what effective date, final Treasury Regulations under Section 1291(f) of the Code may be adopted or how any such Treasury Regulations would apply. For a more complete discussion of the potential application of the PFIC rules to U.S. Holders as a result of the
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Domestication, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — Tax Effects of the Domestication to U.S. Holders — PFIC Considerations”.
Although the redemptions of U.S. Holders that exercise redemption rights with respect to SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will occur prior to the Domestication, it is possible that the IRS could assert that for U.S. federal income tax purposes such redemptions should be treated as occurring after the Domestication. If such redemptions are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as occurring after the Domestication, U.S. Holders exercising redemption rights would be subject to the potential tax consequences of the Domestication, and the determination of whether a U.S. Holder is a 10% U.S. Shareholder or is otherwise subject to Section 367 of the Code would be determined as if the redemptions had not yet occurred at the time of the Domestication. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the possibility that the redemptions are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as occurring after the Domestication despite the redemptions occurring in form prior to the Domestication.
Upon consummation of the Domestication, and then the Business Combination, the rights and obligations of a shareholder of post-domestication SPAC and Pubco Stockholder, respectively, will be governed by Delaware law and may differ from the rights and obligations of SPAC Shareholders under Cayman Islands law.
Domesticated SPAC (following the consummation of the Domestication) and Pubco will be Delaware corporations. Accordingly, domesticated SPAC’s and Pubco’s corporate structure as well as the rights and obligations of the holders of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Pubco Common Stock may be less favorable compared to the rights of holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares arising under Cayman Islands law and the SPAC Organizational Documents. For a more detailed description of the rights of holders of Pubco Common Stock and how they may differ from the rights of holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, please see the section entitled “Comparison of Corporate Governance and Shareholder Rights.” The forms of the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Organizational Documents are attached as Annex B and Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus, and the forms of the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws are attached as Annex D and Annex E to this proxy statement/prospectus, and you are urged to read them.
Risks Related to the Adjournment Proposal
If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved, and a quorum is present but an insufficient number of votes have been obtained to approve the Business Combination Proposal, the SPAC Board will not have the ability to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date in circumstances where such adjournment is necessary or desirable.
If, at the Extraordinary General Meeting, the SPAC Board determines that additional time is necessary for the solicitation of proxies because there are not sufficient votes to approve and adopt, or otherwise in connection with, the Business Combination Proposal, or if SPAC determines that additional time is needed in order to satisfy one or more of the conditions to Closing, or in connection with a SPAC Change in Recommendation if necessary to provide sufficient time for SPAC Shareholders to consider such SPAC Change in Recommendation, the SPAC Board will seek approval to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later time, date or dates. If the Adjournment Proposal is not approved, and a quorum is present, the SPAC Board will not have the ability to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later time or date in order to solicit further votes or take other steps to cause the conditions to the Business Combination to be satisfied, for example. In such event, the Business Combination would not be completed.
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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Defined terms included below have the same meaning as terms defined and included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Introduction
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presents the combination of financial information of SPAC and the Company, adjusted to give effect to the Business Combination and related transactions. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses” to depict the accounting for the transaction (“Transaction Accounting Adjustments”) and present the reasonably estimable synergies and other transaction effects that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur (“Management’s Adjustments”). SPAC has elected not to present Management’s Adjustments and will only be presenting Transaction Accounting Adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2026, assumes that the Business Combination occurred on June 30, 2026. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and for the year ended December 31, 2025, assume that the Business Combination occurred on January 1, 2025, the beginning of the earliest period presented.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements have been presented for illustrative purposes only and do not necessarily reflect what the combined company’s financial condition or results of operations would have been had the Business Combination occurred on the dates indicated. Further, the pro forma condensed combined financial information also may not be useful in predicting the future financial condition and results of operations of the combined company. The actual financial position and results of operations of the combined company may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors.
The historical financial information of SPAC was derived from the unaudited financial statements of SPAC as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and the audited financial statements of SPAC as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025, included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. The historical financial information of the Company was derived from the unaudited financial statements of the Company as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and the audited financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025, which are included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. This information should be read together with SPAC’s and the Company’s audited and unaudited financial statements, and related notes, the sections titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of SPAC” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Company” and other financial information included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Description of the Business Combination
On June 12, 2026, SPAC, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, and the Company entered into the Business Combination Agreement. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the following will occur: (i) SPAC will transfer by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to re-domicile as and become a Delaware corporation pursuant to Part 12 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, (ii) SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into SPAC, with SPAC continuing as the surviving entity, (iii) Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity, and (iv) as a result of the Mergers, SPAC and the Company will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco, and Pubco will be renamed “Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.” and become a publicly traded company.
The aggregate consideration to be paid or payable to holders of the Company Securities will consist of a number of newly issued shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (x) the result of (i) $290,000,000 plus (ii) the Company’s Cash Position at the Company Merger Effective Time, divided by (y) $10.83. The holders of Company Interests, other than the Big3 Founders, will receive merger consideration in the form of Pubco Class A Common Stock. The Big3 Founders will receive merger consideration in the form of Pubco Class B Common Stock.
133
At the Closing, Pubco will cause the holders of Company Interests immediately prior to the Closing to be issued an aggregate of an additional two million (2,000,000) Earnout Shares, which will be unvested and subject to forfeiture.
The Earnout Shares will vest:
| (1) | if, at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing, the closing price of the Pubco Class A Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange, NYSE American or another national securities exchange as mutually determined by SPAC and the Company prior to the Closing is greater than or equal to $15.00 for a period of at least 20 days (which need not be consecutive) out of 30 consecutive trading days; or |
| (2) | in the event that there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater than or equal to the Earnout Price. |
The Earnout Shares are a single freestanding equity-linked instrument outside ASC 480 and ASC 718. Those conditions are exercise contingencies permitted by ASC 815-40-15-7A. The only settlement adjustments are standard antidilution adjustments and conversion into an acquirer’s shares on the same terms as all shareholders, and the conditions in ASC 815-40-25 are met. The Earnout Shares are classified in permanent equity, recognized at fair value at the Closing with an offsetting entry in additional paid-in capital, and not remeasured.
The following table illustrates varying ownership levels of the Pubco immediately following the Business Combination:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | No Additional Redemptions Scenario | | 100% Redemptions Scenario |
| ||||||||||||
| | | | | | Percent of | | Percent | | | | | | Percent of | | Percent |
|
| | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | of | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | of |
|
| | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | Voting | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | Voting |
|
Pro Forma Ownership | | Common Stock | | Common Stock | | Common Stock | | Power(1) | | Common Stock | | Common Stock | | Common Stock | | Power(1) |
|
Public Shares(2) |
| 8,409,633 |
| — |
| 20.9 | % | 3.8 | % | — |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % |
Founder Shares(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8) |
| 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 7.5 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 9.4 | % | 1.4 | % |
Company shareholders (other than Big3 Founders) |
| 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 18.2 | % | 3.3 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 23.0 | % | 3.5 | % |
Big3 Founders |
| 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 53.4 | % | 91.5 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 67.6 | % | 95.1 | % |
Total |
| 20,210,627 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 11,800,994 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
| (1) | Each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote, and each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. |
| (2) | This amount reflects the assumed redemption of (i) 0 shares under the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, and (ii) 8,409,633 shares under the 100% Redemptions Scenario. |
| (3) | In each redemptions scenario, includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, assuming that all such shares will be used to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco or otherwise to support the Transactions. Such amount includes 425,602 Assigned Shares. On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements with Non-Redeeming Shareholders covering 4,256,015 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, under which those shareholders agreed not to redeem (or to rescind any redemption of) such shares in connection with a vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal presented at the Extension Meeting. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders were not affiliates of SPAC, the Sponsor, or SPAC’s officers or directors. In exchange, the Sponsor agreed to transfer 425,602 Founder Shares to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders promptly after closing of the Business Combination, conditioned on (i) the shares not being redeemed, (ii) approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, and (iii) consummation of the Business Combination. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders also received registration rights for the Assigned Shares under the same registration rights agreement used by the Sponsor. The Assigned Shares come from the Sponsor’s pool of up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares earmarked to incentivize non-redemptions/investment in support of the Business Combination. Any unused portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares will be forfeited at the Closing. |
134
| (4) | Amount includes 300,000 Transferred Shares, assuming the repayment of the following loans in cash at the Closing. On June 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden Circle Investments LLC (“Harraden”), and James A. Graf entered into a convertible promissory note (the “Convertible Promissory Note”), replacing a prior promissory note dated June 4, 2026, and consolidating $200,000 in working capital advances previously made by Harraden into a fully drawn, non-interest bearing, unsecured loan (the “Loan”) that was fully outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and is due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or SPAC’s liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, with Harraden also entitled to one warrant per dollar funded, issuable immediately prior to Closing on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants issued to the Sponsor. Subsequently, on August 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into a second, separate convertible promissory note (the “August Convertible Promissory Note”), under which SPAC may borrow up to an additional $300,000 for working capital and general corporate purposes (the “August Loan”) on similar non-interest bearing, unsecured terms due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the August Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share (the “Conversion Shares”), and for each dollar funded Harraden is entitled to one warrant to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants (the “Issuance Warrants”), plus one unrestricted SPAC Ordinary Share transferred by the Sponsor (the “Transferred Shares”), each issuable or to be transferred, as applicable, immediately prior to Closing. |
| (5) | Amount includes 500,000 Founder Shares that will be subject to vesting and will vest: (a) if the funds in the Trust Account plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, or (c) if there is a sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a sale price that is greater or equal to the Earnout Price. |
| (6) | Amount excludes 2,750,000 Founder Shares to be forfeited by the Sponsor upon the consummation of the Business Combination. |
| (7) | Includes 507,964 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (8) | Includes 1,492,036 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
All of the relative percentages above are for illustrative purposes only. Additionally, the relative percentages above assume the Business Combination was consummated on June 30, 2026. Should one or more of the assumptions prove incorrect, actual ownership percentages may vary materially from those described in this proxy statement/prospectus as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended.
Anticipated Accounting Treatment
The Business Combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, although SPAC will acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of the Company in the Business Combination, SPAC will be treated as the “acquired” company and the Company will be treated as the accounting acquirer for financial statement reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Business Combination will be treated as the equivalent of the Company issuing stock for the net assets of SPAC, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of SPAC will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Business Combination will be those of the Company.
The Company has been determined to be the accounting acquirer based on evaluation of the following facts and circumstances under both the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and the 100% Redemptions Scenario:
| ● | Company Shareholders will have the greatest voting interest in the Pubco; |
| ● | Company Shareholders will have the ability to control decisions regarding election and removal of directors and officers of the Pubco; |
| ● | The Company will comprise the ongoing operations of the Pubco; and |
| ● | The Company’s existing senior management will be the senior management of the Pubco. |
135
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared using the assumptions below with respect to the potential redemption for cash of SPAC Public Shares:
| ● | Assuming No Additional Redemptions Scenario: This presentation assumes that no SPAC Public Shareholders will exercise redemption rights with respect to SPAC Public Shares for a pro rata share of the funds in the Trust Account. Thus, the amount of funds held in the Trust Account is available for the Business Combination. |
| ● | Assuming 100% Redemptions Scenario: This presentation assumes that 8,409,633 Public Shares are redeemed for aggregate redemption payments of $91.4 million, based on a redemption price of approximately $10.87 per share. This scenario includes all adjustments contained in the “no additional redemptions” scenario and presents additional adjustments to reflect the effect of the 100% redemptions. The Business Combination Agreement contains a Minimum Cash condition to the Closing that Closing SPAC Cash shall be at least $50.0 million, which would not be satisfied in the 100% Redemptions Scenario. In the event that such condition is not satisfied, the Company can elect to waive compliance with such condition. |
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2026, and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and for the year ended December 31, 2025, are based on the unaudited and audited historical financial statements of SPAC and the Company. The unaudited pro forma adjustments are based on information currently available, and assumptions and estimates underlying the unaudited pro forma adjustments are described in the accompanying notes. Actual results may differ materially from the assumptions used to present the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and include immaterial rounding differences.
136
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
JUNE 30, 2026
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | No | | 100% | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | Additional Redemptions | | Redemptions | ||||||||||||
| | (1) | | (2) | | Transaction | | | | | | | Transaction | | | | | | ||||
| | Company | | SPAC | | Accounting | | | | Pro Forma | | Accounting | | | | Pro Forma | ||||||
| | (Historical) | | (Historical) | | Adjustments | | | | Combined | | Adjustments | | | | Combined | ||||||
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Current assets |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
Cash | | $ | 5,470,603 | | $ | 21,149 | | $ | 91,383,294 |
| (B) | | $ | 74,517,578 | | $ | (69,025,826) |
| (G) | | $ | 5,491,752 |
| | | | | | | |
| (9,800,000) |
| (C) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| (12,357,468) |
| (D) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| (200,000) |
| (K) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accounts receivable | |
| 1,617,725 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,617,725 | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,617,725 |
Contributions receivable | |
| 3,250,333 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 3,250,333 | |
| — |
| | |
| 3,250,333 |
Prepaid expenses | |
| 79,031 | |
| 165 | |
| 1,300,000 |
| (D) | |
| 1,379,196 | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,379,196 |
Total current assets | |
| 10,417,692 | |
| 21,314 | |
| 70,325,826 |
| | |
| 80,764,832 | |
| (69,025,826) |
| | |
| 11,739,006 |
Non-current assets | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| |
Cash held in Trust Account | |
| — | |
| 91,383,294 | |
| (91,383,294) |
| (B) | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| — |
Total non-current assets | |
| — | |
| 91,383,294 | |
| (91,383,294) |
| | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| — |
Total Assets | | $ | 10,417,692 | | $ | 91,404,608 | | $ | (21,057,468) |
| | | $ | 80,764,832 | | $ | (69,025,826) |
| | | $ | 11,739,006 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| |
Current liabilities | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | | $ | 3,543,224 | | $ | 2,961,735 | | $ | (866,672) |
| (D) | | $ | 5,638,287 | | $ | 12,357,468 |
| (G) | | $ | 17,995,755 |
Investor advances | |
| 1,250,000 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,250,000 | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,250,000 |
Deferred revenue | |
| 1,435,000 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,435,000 | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,435,000 |
Paycheck protection note payable | |
| 826,049 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 826,049 | |
| — |
| | |
| 826,049 |
Notes payable | |
| 5,500,000 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 5,500,000 | |
| — |
| | |
| 5,500,000 |
Related party notes payable | |
| 3,091,782 | |
| 200,000 | |
| (3,091,782) |
| (E) | |
| — | |
| 200,000 |
| (G) | |
| 200,000 |
| | | | | | | |
| (200,000) |
| (K) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total current liabilities | |
| 15,646,055 | |
| 3,161,735 | |
| (4,158,454) |
| | |
| 14,649,336 | |
| 12,557,468 |
| | |
| 27,206,804 |
Non-current liabilities | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| |
Deferred underwriting fee | |
| — | |
| 9,800,000 | |
| (9,800,000) |
| (C) | |
| — | |
| 9,800,000 |
| (G) | |
| 9,800,000 |
Accrued interest | |
| 3,625,959 | |
| — | |
| (3,625,959) |
| (E) | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| — |
Convertible notes payable | |
| 12,460,358 | |
| — | |
| (12,460,358) |
| (E) | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| — |
Convertible notes payable – related party | |
| 18,230,001 | |
| — | |
| (18,230,001) |
| (E) | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| — |
Total non-current liabilities | |
| 34,316,318 | |
| 9,800,000 | |
| (44,116,318) |
| | |
| — | |
| 9,800,000 |
| | |
| 9,800,000 |
Total Liabilities | |
| 49,962,373 | |
| 12,961,735 | |
| (48,274,772) |
| | |
| 14,649,336 | |
| 22,357,468 |
| | |
| 37,006,804 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
SPAC Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, 8,409,633 shares at redemption value | |
| — | |
| 91,383,294 | |
| (91,383,294) |
| (G) | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| — |
137
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
JUNE 30, 2026 — (Continued)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | No | | 100% | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | Additional Redemptions | | Redemptions | ||||||||||||
| | (1) | | (2) | | Transaction | | | | | | | Transaction | | | | | | ||||
| | Company | | SPAC | | Accounting | | | | Pro Forma | | Accounting | | | | Pro Forma | ||||||
| | (Historical) | | (Historical) | | Adjustments | | | | Combined | | Adjustments | | | | Combined | ||||||
Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
SPAC preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding | |
| — |
| | — |
| | — |
| |
| | — |
| | — |
| |
| | — |
SPAC Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 5,749,999 shares issued and outstanding | |
| — |
| | 575 |
| | — |
| (A) |
| | — |
| | (841) |
| (G) |
| | — |
| | | | | | |
| | 841 |
| (G) | | | |
| | 841 |
| (J) | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | (275) |
| (I) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | (1,141) |
| (J) | | | | | | | | | | | |
SPAC Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 80,000,000 shares authorized; 1 share issued and outstanding | |
| — |
| | — |
| | — |
| (A) |
| | — |
| | — |
| |
| | — |
Pubco Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value | |
| — |
| | — |
| | 880 |
| (E) |
| | 2,021 |
| | (841) |
| (J) |
| | 1,180 |
| | | | | | |
| | 1,141 |
| (J) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pubco Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value | |
| — |
| | — |
| | 1,998 |
| (E) |
| | 1,998 |
| | — |
| |
| | 1,998 |
Additional paid-in capital | |
| — |
| | — |
| | (4,956,296) |
| (D) |
| | 105,656,158 |
| | (91,382,453) |
| (G) |
| | 14,273,705 |
| | | | | | |
| | 37,405,222 |
| (E) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | (18,282,596) |
| (F) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | 91,382,453 |
| (G) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | 107,100 |
| (H) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | 275 |
| (I) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accumulated deficit | |
| (67,940,642) |
| | (12,940,996) |
| | (5,234,500) |
| (D) |
| | (67,940,642) |
| | — |
| |
| | (67,940,642) |
| | | | | | |
| | 18,282,596 |
| (F) | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | (107,100) |
| (H) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Noncontrolling interest | |
| 28,395,961 |
| | — |
| | — |
| |
| | 28,395,961 |
| | — |
| |
| | 28,395,961 |
Total Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) | |
| (39,544,681) |
| | (12,940,421) |
| | 118,600,598 |
| |
| | 66,115,496 |
| | (91,383,294) |
| |
| | (25,267,798) |
Total Liabilities, and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) | | $ | 10,417,692 | | $ | 91,404,608 | | $ | (21,057,468) |
| | | $ | 80,764,832 | | $ | (69,025,826) |
| | | $ | 11,739,006 |
138
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
| (1) | Derived from the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 2026. |
| (2) | Derived from the unaudited balance sheet of SPAC as of June 30, 2026. |
| (A) | Represents the conversion of SPAC Class B Ordinary Share into SPAC Class A Ordinary Share on a one-for-one basis. |
| (B) | Reflects the liquidation and reclassification of $91.4 million of cash held in Trust Account to cash that becomes available following the Business Combination. |
| (C) | Reflects the settlement of deferred underwriting fee by cash upon the Closing of the Business Combination. |
| (D) | Represents preliminary estimated transaction costs expected to be incurred by SPAC and the Company of approximately $5.5 million and $6.6 million, respectively. These costs are accounted for as a reduction in the combined cash account with a corresponding reduction in additional paid-in capital or accumulated deficit consistent with the treatment described in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5.A. These transaction costs will not recur in the combined company’s income beyond 12 months after the transaction. |
For the SPAC transaction costs, $0.1 million have been accrued as of the pro forma balance sheet date. The amount of $0.3 million related to the D&O insurance is reflected as an adjustment to prepaid expenses. The remaining amount of $5.1 million is reflected as an adjustment to accumulated deficit. The SPAC estimated transaction costs exclude the deferred underwriting fee included in (C) above.
For the Company transaction costs, $0.1 million have been paid and $0.5 million have been accrued as of the pro forma balance sheet date. The amount of $1.0 million related to the D&O insurance is reflected as an adjustment to prepaid expenses. The remaining amount of $5.0 million is included as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital.
This adjustment also reflects estimated administrative service fees of $0.3 million incurred by the SPAC, which are payable upon Closing. Of this amount, $0.2 million has been accrued as of the pro forma balance sheet date, while the remaining $0.1 million has been reflected as an adjustment to accumulated deficit.
| (E) | Represents the issuance of 8,800,994 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to the Company Shareholders (other than Big3 Founders) and 19,976,476 shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock to the Big3 Founders upon the Closing of the Business Combination. This issuance of shares to the Company’s Shareholders also includes the conversion of various Big 3 liabilities into equity. |
139
| (F) | Represents the elimination of SPAC’s historical accumulated deficit after recording the transaction costs as described in Adjustment (D) above and the share-based compensation as described in Adjustment (H) below. |
| (G) | Reflects the redemption of shares for cash by SPAC Public Shareholders upon the consummation of the Business Combination. Under no additional redemptions scenario, it assumes that no SPAC Public Shareholders will exercise redemption rights with respect to SPAC Public Shares for a pro rata share of the funds in the Trust Account. Under 100% redemptions scenario, it assumes that 8,409,633 SPAC Public Shares are redeemed for aggregate redemption payments of $91.4 million, assuming a $10.87 per share redemption price. This scenario includes all adjustments contained in the “no additional redemptions” scenario and presents additional adjustments to reflect the effect of the 100% redemptions. In addition, assuming 100% redemptions, SPAC would not have sufficient funds available to pay for the transaction costs, deferred underwriting fee, and the related party notes payable, which would remain due and payable at the Closing of the Business Combination. |
| (H) | Represents the recognition of share-based compensation in connection with the transfer of 90,000 Founder Shares by the Sponsor to the independent directors. |
| (I) | Represents the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor, assuming all 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares will be used or transferred and not forfeited. |
| (J) | The “no additional redemptions” scenario represents the conversion of 11,409,633 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares into the same number of Pubco Class A Common Stock. The “100% redemptions” scenario represents the conversion of 3,000,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares into the same number of Pubco Class A Common Stock. Includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, assuming that all such shares will be used to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco or otherwise to support the Transactions. |
| (K) | Represents proceeds of $0.3 million from related party notes payable and the repayment of $0.5 million of related party notes payable upon the Closing. |
140
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2026
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | No | | 100% | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | Additional Redemptions | | Redemptions | ||||||||||
| | (1) | | (2) | | Transaction | | | | | | | Transaction | | | | ||||
| | Company | | SPAC | | Accounting | | | | Pro Forma | | Accounting | | Pro Forma | ||||||
| | (Historical) | | (Historical) | | Adjustments | | | | Combined | | Adjustments | | Combined | ||||||
Revenue | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Events | | $ | 155,504 | | $ | — | | $ | — |
| | | $ | 155,504 | | $ | — | | $ | 155,504 |
Sponsorships | |
| 545,000 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 545,000 | |
| — | |
| 545,000 |
Media | |
| 657,092 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 657,092 | |
| — | |
| 657,092 |
Merchandise | |
| 936 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 936 | |
| — | |
| 936 |
Fan experience | |
| 1,143 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,143 | |
| — | |
| 1,143 |
Total Net Sales | |
| 1,359,675 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,359,675 | |
| — | |
| 1,359,675 |
Operating Expenses | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Broadcast purchase | |
| 818,751 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 818,751 | |
| — | |
| 818,751 |
Production | |
| 1,305,956 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,305,956 | |
| — | |
| 1,305,956 |
Uniform | |
| 188,944 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 188,944 | |
| — | |
| 188,944 |
Marketing & advertising | |
| 462,855 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 462,855 | |
| — | |
| 462,855 |
Professional fees | |
| 1,007,205 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,007,205 | |
| — | |
| 1,007,205 |
Insurance | |
| 279,331 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 279,331 | |
| — | |
| 279,331 |
Salaries | |
| 1,803,137 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,803,137 | |
| — | |
| 1,803,137 |
Agency commission | |
| 55,448 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 55,448 | |
| — | |
| 55,448 |
Travel | |
| 1,023,140 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,023,140 | |
| — | |
| 1,023,140 |
General & administrative | |
| 327,704 | |
| 1,972,396 | |
| — |
| | |
| 2,300,100 | |
| — | |
| 2,300,100 |
Non-redemption agreements expenses | |
| — | |
| 697,987 | |
| — |
| | |
| 697,987 | |
| — | |
| 697,987 |
Total operating expenses | |
| 7,272,471 | |
| 2,670,383 | |
| — |
| | |
| 9,942,854 | |
| — | |
| 9,942,854 |
Loss from operations | |
| (5,912,796) | |
| (2,670,383) | |
| — |
| | |
| (8,583,179) | |
| — | |
| (8,583,179) |
Other income (expense) | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Interest earned on cash held in Trust Account | |
| — | |
| 4,263,818 | |
| (4,263,818) |
| (AA) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — |
Legal settlement | |
| (287,501) | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| (287,501) | |
| — | |
| (287,501) |
Interest expense | |
| (2,052,741) | |
| — | |
| 2,052,741 |
| (BB) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — |
Total other income (expense), net | |
| (2,340,242) | |
| 4,263,818 | |
| (2,211,077) |
| | |
| (287,501) | |
| — | |
| (287,501) |
Net income (loss) | |
| (8,253,038) | |
| 1,593,435 | |
| (2,211,077) |
| | |
| (8,870,680) | |
| — | |
| (8,870,680) |
Less: non-controlling interest in net loss | |
| (2,063,260) | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| (2,063,260) | |
| — | |
| (2,063,260) |
Net loss from controlling interest | | $ | (6,189,778) | | $ | 1,593,435 | | $ | (2,211,077) |
| | | $ | (6,807,420) | | $ | — | | $ | (6,807,420) |
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share, Class A ordinary shares redeemable shares | |
| | | $ | 0.06 | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share, Class A and Class B ordinary shares non-redeemable shares | |
| | | $ | 0.06 | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Pro forma weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| 37,687,103 | |
| | |
| 29,277,470 |
Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | | $ | (0.18) | |
| | | $ | (0.23) |
141
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations
| (1) | Derived from the unaudited consolidated statement of operations of the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2026. |
| (2) | Derived from the unaudited statement of operations of SPAC for the six months ended June 30, 2026. |
(AA) | Represents an adjustment to eliminate interest earned on cash held in the Trust Account after giving effect to the Business Combination as if it had occurred on January 1, 2025, the beginning of the earliest period presented. |
(BB) | Represents the elimination of interest expense of the convertible notes payable after giving effect to the Business Combination as if it had occurred on January 1, 2025. |
142
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | No Additional Redemptions | | 100% Redemptions | ||||||||||
| | (1) | | (2) | | Transaction | | | | | | | Transaction | | | | ||||
| | Company | | SPAC | | Accounting | | | | Pro Forma | | Accounting | | Pro Forma | ||||||
| | (Historical) | | (Historical) | | Adjustments | | | | Combined | | Adjustments | | Combined | ||||||
Revenue | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Events | | $ | 2,025,844 | | $ | — | | $ | — |
| | | $ | 2,025,844 | | $ | — | | $ | 2,025,844 |
Sponsorships | |
| 3,190,000 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 3,190,000 | |
| — | |
| 3,190,000 |
Media | |
| 4,100,677 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 4,100,677 | |
| — | |
| 4,100,677 |
Merchandise | |
| 88,846 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 88,846 | |
| — | |
| 88,846 |
Total Net Sales | |
| 9,405,367 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 9,405,367 | |
| — | |
| 9,405,367 |
Operating Expenses | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Broadcast purchase | |
| 6,016,495 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 6,016,495 | |
| — | |
| 6,016,495 |
Production | |
| 4,633,833 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 4,633,833 | |
| — | |
| 4,633,833 |
Uniform | |
| 354,684 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 354,684 | |
| — | |
| 354,684 |
Marketing & advertising | |
| 1,979,993 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,979,993 | |
| — | |
| 1,979,993 |
Professional fees | |
| 1,371,527 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,371,527 | |
| — | |
| 1,371,527 |
Insurance | |
| 1,010,742 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 1,010,742 | |
| — | |
| 1,010,742 |
Salaries | |
| 7,105,216 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 7,105,216 | |
| — | |
| 7,105,216 |
Agency commission | |
| 565,910 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 565,910 | |
| — | |
| 565,910 |
Travel | |
| 3,421,009 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 3,421,009 | |
| — | |
| 3,421,009 |
General & administrative | |
| 722,007 | |
| 1,825,138 | |
| 5,234,500 |
| (CC) | |
| 7,888,745 | |
| — | |
| 7,888,745 |
| | | | | | | |
| 107,100 |
| (DD) | | | | | | | | | |
Total operating expenses | |
| 27,181,416 | |
| 1,825,138 | |
| 5,341,600 |
| | |
| 34,348,154 | |
| — | |
| 34,348,154 |
Loss from operations | |
| (17,776,049) | |
| (1,825,138) | |
| (5,341,600) |
| | |
| (24,942,787) | |
| — | |
| (24,942,787) |
Other income (expense) | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Interest earned on cash held in Trust Account | |
| — | |
| 9,844,588 | |
| (9,844,588) |
| (AA) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — |
Gain on settlement of notes payable | |
| 42,138 | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| 42,138 | |
| — | |
| 42,138 |
Miscellaneous expense | |
| (115,000) | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| (115,000) | |
| — | |
| (115,000) |
Interest expense | |
| (4,314,206) | |
| — | |
| 4,314,206 |
| (BB) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — |
Total other income (expense), net | |
| (4,387,068) | |
| 9,844,588 | |
| (5,530,382) |
| | |
| (72,862) | |
| — | |
| (72,862) |
Net income (loss) | |
| (22,163,117) | |
| 8,019,450 | |
| (10,871,982) |
| | |
| (25,015,649) | |
| — | |
| (25,015,649) |
Less: non-controlling interest in net loss | |
| (5,540,779) | |
| — | |
| — |
| | |
| (5,540,779) | |
| — | |
| (5,540,779) |
Net loss from controlling interest | | $ | (16,622,338) | | $ | 8,019,450 | | $ | (10,871,982) |
| | | $ | (19,474,870) | | $ | — | | $ | (19,474,870) |
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share, Class A ordinary shares | |
| | | $ | 0.28 | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share, Class B ordinary shares | |
| | | $ | 0.28 | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Pro forma weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| 37,687,103 | |
| | |
| 29,277,470 |
Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| | | $ | (0.52) | |
| | | $ | (0.67) |
143
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations
| (1) | Derived from the audited consolidated statement of operations of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2025. |
| (2) | Derived from the audited statement of operations of SPAC for the year ended December 31, 2025. |
(AA) | Represents an adjustment to eliminate interest earned on cash held in the Trust Account after giving effect to the Business Combination as if it had occurred on January 1, 2025, the beginning of the earliest period presented. |
(BB) | Represents the elimination of interest expense of the convertible notes payable after giving effect to the Business Combination as if it had occurred on January 1, 2025. |
(CC) | Represents the effect of the pro forma balance sheet adjustment presented in (D) above for the direct, incremental costs of the Business Combination expected to be incurred by SPAC. As these costs are directly related to the Business Combination, they are not expected to recur in the income of the combined company beyond 12 months after the Business Combination. |
(DD) | Represents the recognition of share-based compensation in connection with the transfer of 90,000 Founder Shares by the Sponsor to the independent directors. |
144
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Basis of Presentation
The Business Combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP as the Company has been determined to be the accounting acquirer, primarily due to the fact that Company Shareholders will continue to control the combined company. Under this method of accounting, although SPAC will acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of the Company in the Business Combination, SPAC will be treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Business Combination will be treated as the equivalent of the Company issuing stock for the net assets of SPAC, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of SPAC will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Business Combination will be those of the Company.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2026, assumes that the Business Combination and related transactions occurred on June 30, 2026. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and for the year ended December 31, 2025, presents pro forma effect to the Business Combination as if it had been completed on January 1, 2025, the beginning of the earliest period presented.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2026, has been prepared using, and should be read in conjunction with, the following:
| ● | SPAC’s unaudited balance sheet as of June 30, 2026 and the related notes for the six months ended June 30, 2026, included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus; and |
| ● | The Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2026 and the related notes for the six months ended June 30, 2026, included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2026, has been prepared using, and should be read in conjunction with, the following:
| ● | SPAC’s unaudited statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2026, and the related notes, included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus; and |
| ● | The Company’s unaudited consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2026, and the related notes, included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2025, has been prepared using, and should be read in conjunction with, the following:
| ● | SPAC’s audited statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2025, and the related notes, included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus; and |
| ● | The Company’s audited consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2025, and the related notes, included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared using the assumptions below with respect to the potential redemption into cash of SPAC Public Shares:
| ● | Assuming No Additional Redemptions Scenario: This presentation assumes that no SPAC Public Shareholders will exercise redemption rights with respect to SPAC Public Shares for a pro rata share of the funds in the Trust Account. Thus, the amount of funds held in the Trust Account is available for the Business Combination. |
145
| ● | Assuming 100% Redemptions Scenario: This presentation assumes that 8,409,633 Public Shares are redeemed for aggregate redemption payments of $91.4 million, based on a redemption price of approximately $10.87 per share. This scenario includes all adjustments contained in the “no additional redemptions” scenario and presents additional adjustments to reflect the effect of the 100% redemptions. The Business Combination Agreement contains a Minimum Cash condition to the Closing that Closing SPAC Cash shall be at least $50.0 million, which would not be satisfied in the 100% Redemptions Scenario. In the event that such condition is not satisfied, the Company can elect to waive compliance with such condition. |
As the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared based on these preliminary estimates, the final amounts recorded may differ materially from the information presented.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not give effect to any anticipated synergies, operating efficiencies, tax savings or cost savings that may be associated with the Business Combination.
The pro forma adjustments reflecting the consummation of the Business Combination are based on certain currently available information and certain assumptions and methodologies that SPAC believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The unaudited condensed pro forma adjustments, which are described in the accompanying notes, may be revised as additional information becomes available and is evaluated. Therefore, it is likely that the actual adjustments will differ from the pro forma adjustments, and it is possible the difference may be material. SPAC believes that its assumptions and methodologies provide a reasonable basis for presenting all of the significant effects of the Business Combination based on information available to management at this time and that the pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is not necessarily indicative of what the actual results of operations and financial position of the combined company would have been had the Business Combination taken place on the dates indicated, nor are they indicative of the future consolidated results of operations or financial position of the combined company. They should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and notes thereto of SPAC and the Company.
Accounting Policies
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, management of the combined company will perform a comprehensive review of the two entities’ accounting policies. As a result of the review, management of the combined company may identify differences between the accounting policies of the two entities which, when conformed, could have a material impact on the financial statements of the combined company. Based on its initial analysis, management of the combined company did not identify any differences that would have a material impact on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. As a result, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not assume any differences in accounting policies.
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared to illustrate the effect of the Business Combination and has been prepared for informational purposes only.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses” to depict the Transaction Accounting Adjustments and present the Management’s Adjustments. SPAC has elected not to present Management’s Adjustments and is only presenting Transaction Accounting Adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. The historical financial statements have been adjusted in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information to include all necessary Transaction Accounting Adjustments pursuant to Article 11 of Regulation S-X, including those that are not expected to have a continuing impact.
The unaudited and audited historical financial statements have been adjusted in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information to give pro forma effect to Transaction Accounting Adjustments that reflect the accounting for the transaction under GAAP. The Company and SPAC have not had any historical relationship prior to the Business Combination. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.
146
The pro forma combined statement of operations does not reflect a provision for income taxes or any amounts that would have resulted had the combined company filed consolidated income tax returns during the periods presented. The pro forma condensed combined balance sheet does not reflect the deferred taxes of the combined company as a result of the Business Combination. Since it is likely that the combined company will record a valuation allowance against the total U.S. and state deferred tax assets given the net operating losses as the recoverability of the tax assets is uncertain, the tax provision is zero.
The pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share amounts presented in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations are based upon the number of the Pubco’s shares outstanding, assuming the Business Combination occurred on January 1, 2025, the beginning of the earliest period presented.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared assuming two alternative levels of redemption for cash of SPAC Public Shares as of June 30, 2026:
| | | | | | |
| | As of and for the | ||||
| | June 30, 2026 | ||||
| | No | | | | |
| | Additional | | 100% | ||
| | Redemptions | | Redemptions | ||
Net loss from controlling interest | | $ | (6,807,420) | | $ | (6,807,420) |
Stockholders’ equity (deficit) |
| | 66,115,496 |
| | (25,267,798) |
Weighted average shares outstanding(1) |
| | 37,687,103 |
| | 29,277,470 |
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted | | $ | (0.18) | | $ | (0.23) |
Book value (deficit) per share | | $ | 1.00 | | $ | (1.83) |
| (1) | For the purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share, all the shares underlying SPAC Public Warrants, SPAC Private Warrants, and Earnout Shares would have been assumed to have been issued. However, since this results in anti-dilution, the effect of such issuance was not included in calculation of diluted loss per share. |
147
DILUTION
SPAC shareholders who acquired Public Shares in the IPO will have their ownership interests diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price of $10.00 per Public Share sold in SPAC’s IPO and the net tangible book value per share at the time of the Business Combination assuming various sources of material probable dilution described below but excluding the effects of the consummation of the Business Combination itself.
SPAC’s net tangible book value as of June 30, 2026 was $(12,940,421), or $(0.91) per share, based on 14,159,633 SPAC Ordinary Shares outstanding as of that date.
The following table presents the net tangible book value per share at various redemption levels that may occur in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination assuming various sources of material probable dilution, but excluding the effects of the Business Combination transaction itself. This presentation takes into account the reclassification of unredeemed Public Shares to permanent equity, and the payment of SPAC’s estimated transaction costs in connection with the Business Combination. In addition to excluding the Business Combination itself, this presentation excludes shares of PubCo Class A Common Stock that will initially be available for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | No Additional | | 25% | | 50% | | 75% | | 100% | |||||
| | Redemptions | | Redemptions | | Redemptions | | Redemptions | | Redemptions | |||||
Offering Price of the Securities in SPAC IPO per share | | $ | 10.00 | | $ | 10.00 | | $ | 10.00 | | $ | 10.00 | | $ | 10.00 |
SPAC’s net tangible book value as of June 30, 2026, as adjusted | | $ | 73,208,373 | | $ | 50,362,552 | | $ | 27,516,731 | | $ | 4,670,911 | | $ | (18,174,921) |
SPAC’s shares outstanding, as adjusted for redemptions | |
| 11,409,633 | |
| 9,307,225 | |
| 7,204,817 | |
| 5,102,409 | |
| 3,000,000 |
SPAC’s net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2026, as adjusted | | $ | | | $ | 5.41 | | $ | 3.82 | | $ | 0.92 | | $ | ( |
Dilution per share to the existing SPAC’s Shareholders | | $ | | | $ | 4.59 | | $ | 6.18 | | $ | 9.08 | | $ | |
The following table illustrates the as adjusted net tangible book value per share to SPAC’s Shareholders.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | No Additional | | 25% | | 50% | | 75% | | 100% | |||||
| | Redemptions | | Redemptions | | Redemptions | | Redemptions | | Redemptions | |||||
As adjusted net tangible book value per share | | $ | 6.42 | | $ | 5.41 | | $ | 3.82 | | $ | 0.92 | | $ | (6.06) |
Numerator adjustments: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
SPAC’s net tangible book value as of June 30, 2026 | | $ | ( | | $ | (12,940,421) | | $ | (12,940,421) | | $ | (12,940,421) | | $ | ( |
Transaction costs attributed to SPAC | |
| (5,234,500) | |
| (5,234,500) | |
| (5,234,500) | |
| (5,234,500) | |
| (5,234,500) |
Funds released from Trust | |
| 91,383,294 | |
| 68,537,473 | |
| 45,691,652 | |
| 22,845,832 | |
| — |
As adjusted net tangible book value | | $ | | | $ | 50,362,552 | | $ | 27,516,731 | | $ | 4,670,911 | | $ | ( |
Denominator adjustments: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
SPAC Public Shares outstanding | |
| 8,409,633 | |
| 6,307,225 | |
| 4,204,817 | |
| 2,102,409 | |
| — |
SPAC Founder Shares outstanding | |
| 3,000,000 | |
| 3,000,000 | |
| 3,000,000 | |
| 3,000,000 | |
| 3,000,000 |
As adjusted total shares outstanding | |
| | |
| 9,307,225 | |
| 7,204,817 | |
| 5,102,409 | |
| |
To the extent that additional shares are issued pursuant to the foregoing, SPAC’s Shareholders will experience further dilution. In addition, SPAC may enter into other transactions. To the extent it issues such securities, investors and SPAC’s Shareholders may experience further dilution.
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The following table presents all possible sources and the extent of dilution that SPAC’s Shareholders who elect not to redeem their shares may experience in connection with the Business Combination, including sources not included in the tables above with respect to the determination of net tangible book value per share.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
| | No Additional Redemptions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ||||||
| | Scenario | | 25% Redemptions Scenario | | 50% Redemptions Scenario | | 75% Redemptions Scenario | | 100% Redemptions Scenario |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | |
|
| | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | |
|
| | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent |
|
| | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of |
|
| | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting |
|
Pro Forma Ownership | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) |
|
Public Shares(2) | | 8,409,633 |
| — |
| 14.6 | % | 3.5 | % | 6,307,225 |
| — |
| 11.3 | % | 2.7 | % | 4,204,817 |
| — |
| 7.9 | % | 1.8 | % | 2,102,409 |
| — |
| 4.1 | %* | — |
| — |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % |
Founder Shares(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) | | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.2 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.4 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.6 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.8 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 6.1 | % | 1.3 | % |
Public Warrants | | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 19.9 | % | 4.8 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 20.7 | % | 4.9 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 21.5 | % | 4.9 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 22.4 | % | 5.0 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 23.3 | % | 5.0 | % |
Private Placement Warrants(10) | | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 10.4 | % | 2.5 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 10.8 | % | 2.5 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 11.2 | % | 2.6 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 11.7 | % | 2.6 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 12.2 | % | 2.6 | % |
Company shareholders (other than Big3 Founders) | | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 12.7 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 13.1 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 13.7 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 14.2 | % | 3.2 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 14.8 | % | 3.2 | % |
Big3 Founders | | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 37.2 | % | 84.7 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 38.6 | % | 85.5 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 40.1 | % | 86.3 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 41.8 | % | 87.1 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 43.6 | % | 87.9 | % |
Total | | 37,710,627 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 35,608,219 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 33,505,811 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 31,403,403 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 29,003,994 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
*Less than 1%.
| (1) | Each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote, and each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. |
| (2) | Amount comprises the unredeemed Public Shares in a variety of redemptions scenarios. This amount reflects the assumed redemption of (i) 0 shares under the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, (ii) 2,102,408 shares under the 25% Redemptions Scenario, (iii) 4,204,816 shares under the 50% Redemptions Scenario, (iv) 6,307,224 shares under the 75% Redemptions Scenario, and (v) 8,409,633 shares under the 100% Redemptions Scenario. |
| (3) | In each redemptions scenario, includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, assuming that all such shares will be used to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco or otherwise to support the Transactions. Such amount includes 425,602 Assigned Shares. On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements with Non-Redeeming Shareholders covering 4,256,015 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, under which those shareholders agreed not to redeem (or to rescind any redemption of) such shares in connection with a vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal presented at the Extension Meeting. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders were not affiliates of SPAC, the Sponsor, or SPAC’s officers or directors. In exchange, the Sponsor agreed to transfer 425,602 Founder Shares to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders promptly after closing of the Business Combination, conditioned on (i) the shares not being redeemed, (ii) approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, and (iii) consummation of the Business Combination. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders also received registration rights for the Assigned Shares under the same registration rights agreement used by the Sponsor. The Assigned Shares come from the Sponsor’s pool of up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares earmarked to incentivize non-redemptions/investment in support of the Business Combination. Any unused portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares will be forfeited at the Closing. |
| (4) | Amount includes 30,000 Founder Shares held by each of SPAC’s Independent Directors. |
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| (5) | Amount includes 300,000 Transferred Shares, assuming the repayment of the following loans in cash at the Closing. On June 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the Convertible Promissory Note, replacing a prior promissory note dated June 4, 2026, and consolidating $200,000 in working capital advances previously made by Harraden into a fully drawn, non-interest bearing, unsecured Loan that was fully outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and is due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or SPAC’s liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, with Harraden also entitled to one warrant per dollar funded, issuable immediately prior to Closing on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants issued to the Sponsor. Subsequently, on August 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the August Convertible Promissory Note, under which SPAC may borrow up to an additional $300,000 for working capital and general corporate purposes on similar non-interest bearing, unsecured terms due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the August Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, and for each dollar funded Harraden is entitled to one warrant to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants, plus one unrestricted SPAC Ordinary Share transferred by the Sponsor, each issuable or to be transferred, as applicable, immediately prior to Closing. |
| (6) | Amount includes 500,000 Founder Shares that will be subject to vesting and will vest: (a) if the funds in the Trust Account plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, or (c) if there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater or equal to the Earnout Price. |
| (7) | Amount excludes 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, which will be forfeited by the Sponsor upon the consummation of the Business Combination. |
| (8) | Includes 507,964 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (9) | Includes 1,492,036 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (10) | Amount assumes that the SPAC Private Warrants required to be issued or transferred to Harraden pursuant to the Loan and the August Loan are transferred to Harraden by the Sponsor, resulting in no additional dilution. |
150
The number of issued and outstanding SPAC Public Shares is 8,409,633, assuming no additional redemptions. In connection with the de-SPAC transaction, 26,777,470 shares will be issued to Company Shareholders and Big3 Founders. Redemption levels of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% have been disclosed in the table below as required by Item 1604(c).
For purposes of Item 1604(c)(1), Pubco would have 40,187,103 total shares after giving effect to the de-SPAC transaction under the no additional redemptions scenario. Where there are no additional redemptions, the company valuation is based on the offering price of the securities in SPAC’s initial registered public offering: $10.00 (per share IPO price) times 40,187,103 shares, or $401.9 million. The following table illustrates the valuation at the offering price of the securities in the initial registered offering of $10.00 per share for each redemption scenario:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | No Additional | | 25% | | 50% | | 75% | | 100% | |||||
| | Redemptions | | Redemptions | | Redemptions | | Redemptions | | Redemptions | |||||
| | Scenario | | Scenario | | Scenario | | Scenario | | Scenario | |||||
SPAC shares valuation based on offering price of the securities in the initial registered offering of $10.00 per share | | $ | 114,096,330 | | $ | 93,072,250 | | $ | 72,048,170 | | $ | 51,024,090 | | $ | 30,000,000 |
SPAC shares outstanding post de-SPAC | |
| 11,409,633 | |
| 9,307,225 | |
| 7,204,817 | |
| 5,102,409 | |
| 3,000,000 |
Company shares valuation based on offering price of the securities in the initial registered offering of $10.00 per share | | $ | 287,774,700 | | $ | 287,774,700 | | $ | 287,774,700 | | $ | 287,774,700 | | $ | 287,774,700 |
Company shares outstanding post de-SPAC | |
| 28,777,470 | |
| 28,777,470 | |
| 28,777,470 | |
| 28,777,470 | |
| 28,777,470 |
Total valuation based on offering price of the securities in the initial registered offering of $10.00 per share | | $ | 401,871,030 | | $ | 380,846,950 | | $ | 359,882,870 | | $ | 338,798,790 | | $ | 317,774,700 |
Total shares outstanding post de-SPAC | |
| 40,187,103 | |
| 38,084,695 | |
| 35,982,287 | |
| 33,879,879 | |
| 31,777,470 |
The required disclosure is not a guarantee that the trading price of the combined company will not be below the IPO offering price of SPAC, nor is the disclosure a guarantee the company valuation will attain one of the stated levels of valuation.
151
THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
SPAC is furnishing this proxy statement/prospectus to SPAC’s shareholders as part of the solicitation of proxies by the SPAC Board for use at the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held at [●] a.m., Eastern Time on [●], and at any adjournment thereof. This proxy statement/prospectus provides SPAC’s shareholders with information they need to know to be able to vote or instruct their vote to be cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Date, Time and Place
The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at [●] a.m., Eastern Time, on [●]. The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held virtually, conducted via live webcast at [●]. For purposes of Cayman Islands law and SPAC’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended (the “SPAC Organizational Documents”), the physical location of the Extraordinary General Meeting will be at the offices of White & Case LLP at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
Purpose of the Extraordinary General Meeting
At the Extraordinary General Meeting, SPAC is asking holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
| ● | the Business Combination Proposal; |
| ● | the Domestication Proposal; |
| ● | the SPAC Merger Proposal; |
| ● | the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal; |
| ● | the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals; |
| ● | the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal; and |
| ● | the Adjournment Proposal (if presented). |
Recommendation of the SPAC Board of Directors
After careful consideration, the SPAC Board has unanimously determined that the Business Combination is fair, advisable, and in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders, unanimously approved the Business Combination and unanimously recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement, and approval of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Domestication and the Mergers, and “FOR” all other proposals presented to SPAC’s shareholders in this proxy statement/prospectus. The Business Combination was not structured to require the approval of at least a majority of SPAC’s unaffiliated shareholders because such a vote is not required under Cayman law.
The SPAC Board believes that each of the Business Combination Proposal, the Domestication Proposal, the SPAC Merger Proposal, the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal, the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal (if presented) is fair, advisable, and in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and recommends that SPAC Shareholders vote “FOR” each proposal being submitted to a vote of the SPAC Shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
For a more complete description of the SPAC Board’s reasons for the approval of the Business Combination and the unanimous recommendation of the SPAC Board, see the subsection entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The SPAC Board’s Reasons for the Approval of the Business Combination”.
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Registering for the Extraordinary General Meeting
Any shareholder wishing to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting should register for the meeting by [●], Eastern Time, on [●]. To register for the Extraordinary General Meeting, please follow these instructions as applicable to the nature of your ownership of SPAC Ordinary Shares:
| ● | If your shares are registered in your name with Continental and you wish to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting virtually, go to https://www.cstproxy.com/[●], enter the 12-digit control number included on your proxy card or notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting and click on the “Click here to preregister for the online meeting” link at the top of the page. Just prior to the start of the Extraordinary General Meeting you will need to log back into the Extraordinary General Meeting site using your control number. Pre-registration is recommended, but is not required in order to attend virtually. |
| ● | Beneficial shareholders (those holding shares through a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee) who wish to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting must obtain a legal proxy by contacting their account representative at the bank, broker, or other nominee that holds their shares and e-mail a copy (a legible photograph is sufficient) of their legal proxy to proxy@continentalstock.com. Beneficial shareholders who e-mail a valid legal proxy will be issued a 12-digit meeting control number that will allow them to register to attend and participate in the online Extraordinary General Meeting. After contacting Continental, a beneficial holder will receive an e-mail prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting with a link and instructions for entering the Extraordinary General Meeting online. Beneficial shareholders should contact Continental at least five Business Days prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting date in order to ensure access. |
Record Date; Who is Entitled to Vote
SPAC has fixed [●], 2026 as the Record Date for the Extraordinary General Meeting. SPAC Shareholders at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to vote on matters that come before the Extraordinary General Meeting. Each SPAC Ordinary Share is entitled to one vote. The shareholder may only vote his, hers, or its shares if he, she, or it is present in person or is represented by proxy at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
As of the Record Date, the Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares held of record and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 5,750,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares. The SPAC Ordinary Shares held by such persons currently constitutes approximately 40.6% of the outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor and the other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares held by them as of the Record Date in favor of the Business Combination, including voting in favor of each proposal. No consideration has been or will be paid by SPAC, the Company, or Pubco to the Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares in connection with such agreements. In the event that the Sponsor, SPAC’s directors, executive officers, and their affiliates were to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants from SPAC Public Shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act and such shares would not be voted in favor of approving the Business Combination.
Quorum
A quorum of SPAC’s shareholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum for the Extraordinary General Meeting will consist of the holders of one-third of the shares being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorized representative or proxy. The Founder Shares will count towards this quorum. There are 14,159,633 SPAC Ordinary Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, and therefore, as of the Record Date for the Extraordinary General Meeting, 4,719,878 SPAC Ordinary Shares would be required to achieve a quorum. As of the date hereof, the Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote all SPAC Ordinary Shares they own in favor of all of the proposals being presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Accordingly, we will have a quorum present at the Extraordinary General Meeting even if no Public Shareholders are present in person (including virtually) or represented by proxy.
Voting Power; Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes; Record Date
With respect to each proposal in this proxy statement/prospectus, you may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN.”
153
If a shareholder fails to return a proxy card and does not attend the Extraordinary General Meeting in person, then the shareholder’s shares will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will not constitute votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and therefore will have no effect on the Business Combination Proposal, Domestication Proposal, Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal, Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal, Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, or Adjournment Proposal as a matter of Cayman law. Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against the SPAC Merger Proposal.
If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial holder” of the shares held for you in what is known as “street name.” If this is the case, this proxy statement/prospectus may have been forwarded to you by your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, or its agent, and you may need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker, bank or nominee as to how to vote your shares. Under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares with respect to non-discretionary matters unless you provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and procedures provided to you by your broker, bank, or nominee. We believe all the proposals presented to the shareholders will be considered non-discretionary and therefore your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares without your instruction. Your bank, broker, or other nominee can vote your shares only if you provide instructions on how to vote. As the beneficial holder, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee as to how to vote your shares and you should instruct your broker to vote your shares in accordance with directions you provide. If you do not provide voting instructions to your broker on a particular proposal on which your broker does not have discretionary authority to vote, your shares will not be voted on that proposal. This is called a “broker non-vote.” Broker non-votes are not considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal, assuming a valid quorum is established, except for the SPAC Merger Proposal. Broker non-votes will not be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as a vote cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and will therefore have the same effect as a vote against the SPAC Merger Proposal.
Vote Required for Approval
The following votes are required to approve each Proposal:
| ● | Business Combination Proposal: Approval of the Business Combination Proposal requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. |
| ● | Domestication Proposal: Approval of the Domestication Proposal requires a special resolution of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will have no right to vote on the Domestication Proposal in accordance with Article 47 of the SPAC Organizational Documents. |
| ● | SPAC Merger Proposal: Approval of the SPAC Merger Proposal requires approval by a majority of the shares outstanding. |
| ● | Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal: Approval of the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal requires a special resolution of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will have no right to vote on the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal in accordance with Article 47 of the SPAC Organizational Documents. |
| ● | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals: Approval of each Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General |
154
| Meeting. The shareholder votes regarding these proposals are advisory in nature, and are not binding on SPAC, the SPAC Board, the Company, Pubco or the Pubco Board. |
| ● | Equity Incentive Plan Proposal: Approval of the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. |
| ● | Adjournment Proposal: Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. |
The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by them in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own 5,750,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares, or approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, if all issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares vote on each of the Business Combination Proposal, Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and Adjournment Proposal, we would need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the such proposals in order to have them approved and adopted. If only a minimum quorum is present and votes on each of the Business Combination Proposal, Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and Adjournment Proposal, we would not need any SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of such proposals in order to have them approved and adopted. Similarly, we will need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the SPAC Merger Proposal in order to have the SPAC Merger Proposal approved and adopted.
The Sponsor holds the sole issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Share. The holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will have no right to vote on the Domestication Proposal or the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal in accordance with Article 47 of the SPAC Organizational Documents. Accordingly, each of the Domestication Proposal and the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal is expected to be approved.
Voting Your Shares
Shareholders of Record
If you are a shareholder of record, you may vote by mail or at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Each SPAC Ordinary Share that you own in your name entitles you to one vote on each of the proposals on which you are entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Your one or more proxy cards show the number of SPAC Ordinary Shares that you own.
Voting by Mail. You can vote your shares by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. By signing and dating the proxy card and returning it in the enclosed prepaid and addressed envelope, you are authorizing the individuals named on the proxy card to vote your shares at the Extraordinary General Meeting in the manner you indicate. We encourage you to sign, date and return the proxy card even if you plan to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting so that your shares will be voted if you are unable to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting. If you receive more than one proxy card, it is an indication that your shares are held in multiple accounts. Please sign and return all proxy cards to ensure that all of your shares are voted. If you sign and return the proxy card but do not give instructions on how to vote your shares, your SPAC Ordinary Shares will be voted as recommended by the SPAC Board. The SPAC Board unanimously recommends voting “FOR” the approval of the Business Combination Proposal, “FOR” the approval of the Domestication Proposal, “FOR” the approval of the SPAC Merger Proposal, “FOR” the approval of the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal, “FOR” the approval of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, “FOR” the approval of the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and “FOR” the approval of the Adjournment Proposal, if presented, to the Extraordinary General Meeting. Votes submitted by mail must be received by the close of business, New York City time, on [●].
Voting at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If you attend the Extraordinary General Meeting, you may also submit your vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting via the meeting website at http://www.cstproxy.com/[●], in which case any votes that you previously submitted by mail will be superseded by the vote that you cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
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Beneficial Owners
Beneficial owners of shares held in street name may instruct their bank, broker, or other nominee how to vote their shares. Beneficial owners should refer to the materials provided to them by their bank, broker, or other nominee for information on communicating these voting instructions. Beneficial owners may not vote their shares in person at the Extraordinary General Meeting unless they obtain a legal proxy from the shareholder of record, present it to the inspector of election at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and produce valid identification. Beneficial owners should contact their bank, broker, or other nominee for instructions regarding obtaining a legal proxy.
Who Can Answer Your Questions About Voting Your Shares
If you have questions about the Extraordinary General Meeting or how to vote your shares, you should contact:
Graf Global Corp.
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Tel: [●]
or:
[●]
You may also obtain additional information about SPAC from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” If you are a holder of SPAC Public Shares and you intend to seek redemption of your SPAC Public Shares, you will need to tender or deliver your SPAC Public Shares (and share certificates (if any) and other redemption forms), either physically or electronically, to Continental at the address below prior to the vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. If you have questions regarding the certification of your position or delivery of your shares, please contact:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Tel: (212) 509-4000
Attention: SPAC Redemptions Team
Email: spacredemptions@continentalstock.com
Proxy Solicitation
Proxies may be solicited by mail, telephone, on the internet, or in person. SPAC has engaged [●] to assist in the solicitation of proxies. SPAC has agreed to pay [●] a fee of $[●], plus disbursements.
If a shareholder grants a proxy, it may still vote its shares if it revokes its proxy before the Extraordinary General Meeting. A shareholder also may change its vote by submitting a later-dated proxy as described in the section entitled “The Extraordinary General Meeting — Proxy Solicitation”.
Revoking Your Proxy
If you are a SPAC Shareholder of record, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting by:
| ● | timely delivering a written revocation letter to James A. Graf, the Chief Executive Officer of SPAC; |
| ● | signing and returning by mail a proxy card with a later date so that it is received prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting; or |
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| ● | attending the Extraordinary General Meeting and voting electronically by visiting the website established for that purpose at https://www.cstproxy.com/[●] and entering the control number found on your proxy card, voting instruction form or notice you previously received. Attendance at the Extraordinary General Meeting will not, in and of itself, revoke a proxy. |
If you are a non-record (beneficial) SPAC Shareholder, you should follow the instructions of your bank, broker or other nominee regarding the revocation of proxies.
Redemption Rights
Pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents, a SPAC Public Shareholder (other than the Sponsor and the other holders of Founder Shares) may request that SPAC redeem all or a portion of his, her or its SPAC Public Shares for cash if the Business Combination is consummated. Holders of SPAC Public Shares who wish to exercise their redemption rights must, prior to [●], Eastern Time, on [●] (which date is two business days before the scheduled vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting), (A) hold SPAC Public Shares or hold SPAC Public Shares through SPAC Public Units and you elect to separate your SPAC Public Units into the underlying SPAC Public Shares and SPAC Public Warrants prior to exercising your redemption rights with respect to the SPAC Public Shares, (B) submit a written request to Continental, SPAC’s transfer agent, including the legal name, phone number and address of the beneficial owner of the SPAC Public Shares for which redemption is requested, that SPAC redeem all or a portion of your SPAC Public Shares for cash, and (C) tender or deliver your SPAC Public Shares (and share certificates (if any) and other redemption forms) to Continental, physically or electronically through the DTC. Any holder of SPAC Public Shares (other than the Sponsor and the other holders of Founder Shares) will be entitled to demand that such holder’s SPAC Public Shares be redeemed for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account not previously released to SPAC to pay its taxes, less taxes payable) (which, for illustrative purposes, was approximately $[●], or $[●] per SPAC Public Share, as of [●], 2026, the Record Date).
Prior to exercising redemption rights, SPAC Public Shareholders should verify the market price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares as they may receive higher proceeds from the sale of their SPAC Public Shares in the public market than from exercising their redemption rights if the market price per share is higher than the Redemption Price. SPAC cannot assure shareholders that they will be able to sell their SPAC Public Shares in the open market, even if the market price per share is higher than the Redemption Price stated above, as there may not be sufficient liquidity in the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares when SPAC Public Shareholders wish to sell their shares.
Any request for redemption, once made by a holder of SPAC Public Shares, may be withdrawn at any time up to the deadline to submitting redemption requests and thereafter, only with SPAC’s consent, until the Closing. If a holder delivers his, her or its SPAC Public Shares for redemption to Continental and later decides to withdraw such request prior to the deadline for submitting redemption requests, the holder may request that Continental return the shares (physically or electronically).
Any written demand of redemption rights must be received by Continental prior to the redemption deadline. No demand for redemption will be honored unless the holder’s SPAC Public Shares have been delivered (either physically or electronically) to Continental prior to the deadline for submitting redemption requests.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of SPAC Public Shares, together with any affiliate or any other person with whom he, she or it is acting in concert or as a partnership, syndicate or other group, will be restricted from seeking redemption with respect to more than 15% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Public Shares. Accordingly, all SPAC Public Shares in excess of 15% held by a shareholder, together with any affiliate of such holder or any other person with whom such holder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will not be redeemed.
As set forth in more detail elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, the SPAC Public Shareholders that do not elect to redeem their SPAC Public Shares will experience immediate dilution as a result of the Business Combination. Even if no SPAC Public Shareholders redeem their SPAC Public Shares in the Business Combination, the SPAC Public Shareholders’ ownership will decrease from approximately 59.4% of the SPAC Ordinary Shares prior to the Business Combination to owning approximately 20.9% of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 3.8% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock. As redemptions increase, the overall percentage ownership and voting percentage held by Sponsor, other holders of Founder Shares, and Company equityholders will increase as compared to the overall percentage ownership and voting percentage held by SPAC Public Shareholders, thereby increasing dilution to SPAC Public Shareholders. If the amount of any Transaction Financing is greater than the assumptions above, such financing would further increase dilution to SPAC Public Shareholders. Additionally, to the extent
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that the Sponsor Investment is made in the form of equity or equity-linked securities, the Sponsor will receive such additional equity pursuant to such investment, which will increase the Sponsor’s percentage ownership and decrease the percentage ownership of the SPAC Public Shareholders and others. The number of such potential equity interests will not be calculable until definitive agreements for any Sponsor Investment are entered into, if any. See “Risk Factors — The SPAC Public Shareholders will experience immediate dilution as a consequence of the issuance of Pubco Common Stock as consideration in the Business Combination, potential issuances in connection with financing, and due to future issuances of equity awards to Company employees, directors, or consultants. Having a minority share position may reduce the influence that our current shareholders have on the management of Pubco.”
Appraisal Rights
Potential Purchases of SPAC Public Shares and SPAC Public Warrants
At any time prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material non-public information), the Sponsor or its affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants, vote their SPAC Public Shares in favor of the Business Combination or not redeem their SPAC Public Shares.
However, other than as disclosed below in “Non-Redemption Agreements,” the Sponsor and its affiliates have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the Trust Account will be used to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants in such transactions. Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor has 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, which it may use to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into SPAC or Pubco, provided unused Discretionary Founder Shares will be forfeited. Of these 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares originally earmarked by the Sponsor, 425,602 Founder Shares have been allocated to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders pursuant to the Non-Redemption Agreements.
The purpose of any such transactions could be to increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the Business Combination, reduce the number of outstanding SPAC Public Warrants or satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of the Business Combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our shares may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our shares on a national securities exchange. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. Additionally, in the event that the Sponsor, SPAC’s directors, executive officers, and their affiliates were to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants from SPAC Public Shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act including, in pertinent part, through adherence to the following:
| ● | if the Sponsor or its affiliates were to purchase SPAC Public Shares from SPAC Public Shareholders, they would do so at a price no higher than the Redemption Price; |
| ● | if the Sponsor or its affiliates were to purchase SPAC Public Shares from SPAC Public Shareholders, such shares would not be voted in favor of approving the Business Combination; |
| ● | the Sponsor or its affiliates would not possess any redemption rights with respect to our SPAC Public Shares or, if they do acquire and possess redemption rights, they would waive such rights; and |
| ● | we would disclose in a Form 8-K, before the Extraordinary General Meeting to approve the Business Combination, the following material items: |
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| ● | the amount of our SPAC Public Shares purchased outside of the redemption offer by the Sponsor or its affiliates, along with the purchase price; |
| ● | the purpose of the purchases by the Sponsor or its affiliates; |
| ● | the impact, if any, of the purchases by the Sponsor or its affiliates on the likelihood that the Business Combination will be approved; |
| ● | the identities of our security holders who sold to the Sponsor or its affiliates (if not purchased on the open market) or the nature of our security holders (e.g., 5% security holders) who sold to the Sponsor or its affiliates; and |
| ● | the number of our SPAC Public Shares for which we have received redemption requests pursuant to our redemption offer. |
Non- Redemption Agreements
On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements with the Non-Redeeming Shareholders covering 4,256,015 Non-Redemption Shares, under which the Non-Redeeming Shareholders agreed not to redeem (or to rescind any redemption of) such shares in connection with a vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal presented at the Extension Meeting. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders were not affiliates of the SPAC, the Sponsor, or the SPAC’s officers or directors.
In exchange, the Sponsor agreed to transfer 425,602 Founder Shares to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders promptly after closing of the Business Combination, conditioned on (i) the shares not being redeemed, (ii) approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, and (iii) consummation of the Business Combination. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders also received registration rights for the Assigned Shares under the same registration rights agreement used by the Sponsor.
The Assigned Shares come from the Sponsor’s pool of up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares earmarked to incentivize non-redemptions/investment in support of the Business Combination; any unused portion of such shares will be forfeited at closing.
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PROPOSAL NO. 1 — THE BUSINESS COMBINATION PROPOSAL
Structure of the Business Combination
The following diagrams illustrate in simplified terms the current structure of the Company and SPAC as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and the expected structure of Pubco immediately following the Closing.
Structure Diagrams

* | Includes 4 league-owned teams plus 4 expansion teams |
See “Our Business Model” in the Business section for a more complete description of the ownership of OpCo
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| (1) | Reflects the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, assumes all 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares are used to incentivize non-redemptions of SPAC Public Shares, and includes 500,000 Sponsor Earnout Shares that will be outstanding but subject to vesting. Assumes no Sponsor Investment. |
| (2) | Includes 1,492,036 Earnout Shares. |
| (3) | Assumes the No Additional Redemptions Scenario. |
| (4) | Includes 507,964 Earnout Shares. |
| (5) | See “Our Business Model” in the Business section for a more complete description of the ownership of OpCo |
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Merger Consideration
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, at the Company Merger Effective Time, all outstanding Company Interests (including those issued upon conversions and exercises) will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, consisting of newly issued shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (x) $290,000,000 plus the Company’s Cash Position at the Company Merger Effective Time, divided by (y) $10.83. Each Seller’s Percentage Merger Consideration will be paid in Pubco Class A Common Stock, except that Big3 Founders holding Class A Units, Class B Units, or Preferred Units will receive their Percentage Merger Consideration in the form of Pubco Class B Common Stock.
Earnout
At the Closing, Pubco will cause the Earnout Participants to be issued an aggregate of an additional 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be unvested and subject to forfeiture.
The Earnout Shares will vest upon the first to be satisfied of the following conditions:
| (1) | if, at any time during the Earnout Period, the closing price of the Pubco Class A Common Stock as reported on the Stock Exchange is greater than or equal to the Earnout Price for a period of at least 20 days (which need not be consecutive) out of 30 consecutive trading days, all of the Earnout Shares will immediately vest; and |
| (2) | in the event that there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater than or equal to the Earnout Price, all of the Earnout Shares will immediately vest. |
Further, in the event that there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and immediately prior to (but subject to) the consummation of the Sale of Pubco, the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is less than the Earnout Price, (x) if such Sale Price is payable in cash or in the form of privately held securities or other consideration other than publicly tradable securities, then all of the Earnout Shares will be deemed forfeited and cancelled for no consideration or (ii) if such price is payable in the form of publicly tradable securities, then Pubco will cause the acquiror in such Sale of Pubco to provide for the conversion of all of the Earnout Shares into the kind and amount of such publicly tradable securities receivable upon such Sale of Pubco that the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive in such Sale of Pubco and will provide that the Earnout Shares, as so converted, will remain subject to vesting, with an appropriate adjustment to the Earnout Price to provide the same economic effect as contemplated by the earnout.
For so long as any Earnout Share remains subject to vesting, the holder thereof will not be entitled to exercise the voting rights carried by such Earnout Share and will not be entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions in respect of such Earnout Share.
Ownership of Pubco after the Closing
The following tables illustrate estimated ownership levels in Pubco, immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination, based on varying levels of redemptions by SPAC Public Shareholders. Each redemptions scenario assumes no Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment, the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, includes the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assumes the Company’s Cash Position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026).
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The following table excludes the dilutive effect of Pubco Warrants, Company Converted Warrants, and Pubco Class A Common Stock that will initially be available for issuance under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
| | No Additional Redemptions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ||||||
| | Scenario | | 25% Redemptions Scenario | | 50% Redemptions Scenario | | 75% Redemptions Scenario | | 100% Redemptions Scenario |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | |
|
| | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | | | | | | | of | | |
|
| | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent |
|
| | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of |
|
| | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting |
|
Pro Forma Ownership | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) |
|
Public Shares(2) | | 8,409,633 |
| — |
| 20.9 | % | 3.8 | % | 6,307,225 |
| — |
| 16.6 | % | 2.9 | % | 4,204,817 |
| — |
| 11.7 | % | 1.9 | % | 2,102,409 |
| — |
| 6.2 | % | 1.0 | % | — |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % |
Founder Shares(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) | | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 7.5 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 7.9 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 8.3 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 8.9 | % | 1.4 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 9.4 | % | 1.4 | % |
Company shareholders (other than Big3 Founders) | | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 18.2 | % | 3.3 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 19.2 | % | 3.4 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 20.3 | % | 3.4 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 21.6 | % | 3.4 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 23.0 | % | 3.5 | % |
Big3 Founders | | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 53.4 | % | 91.5 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 56.4 | % | 92.4 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 59.7 | % | 93.3 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 63.4 | % | 94.2 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 67.6 | % | 95.1 | % |
Total | | 20,210,627 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 18,108,219 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 16,005,811 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 13,903,403 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 11,800,994 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
* | Less than 1%. |
| (1) | Each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote, and each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. |
| (2) | Amount comprises the unredeemed Public Shares in a variety of redemptions scenarios. This amount reflects the assumed redemption of (i) 0 shares under the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, (ii) 2,102,408 shares under the 25% Redemptions Scenario, (iii) 4,204,816 shares under the 50% Redemptions Scenario, (iv) 6,307,224 shares under the 75% Redemptions Scenario, and (v) 8,409,633 shares under the 100% Redemptions Scenario. |
| (3) | In each redemptions scenario, includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, assuming that all such shares will be used to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco or otherwise to support the Transactions. Such amount includes 425,602 Assigned Shares. On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements with Non-Redeeming Shareholders covering 4,256,015 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, under which those shareholders agreed not to redeem (or to rescind any redemption of) such shares in connection with a vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal presented at the Extension Meeting. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders were not affiliates of SPAC, the Sponsor, or SPAC’s officers or directors. In exchange, the Sponsor agreed to transfer 425,602 Founder Shares to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders promptly after closing of the Business Combination, conditioned on (i) the shares not being redeemed, (ii) approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, and (iii) consummation of the Business Combination. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders also received registration rights for the Assigned Shares under the same registration rights agreement used by the Sponsor. The Assigned Shares come from the Sponsor’s pool of up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares earmarked to incentivize non-redemptions/investment in support of the Business Combination. Any unused portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares will be forfeited at the Closing. |
| (4) | Amount includes 30,000 Founder Shares held by each of SPAC’s Independent Directors. |
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| (5) | Amount includes 300,000 Transferred Shares, assuming the repayment of the following loans in cash at the Closing. On June 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the Convertible Promissory Note, replacing a prior promissory note dated June 4, 2026, and consolidating $200,000 in working capital advances previously made by Harraden into a fully drawn, non-interest bearing, unsecured Loan that was fully outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and is due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or SPAC’s liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, with Harraden also entitled to one warrant per dollar funded, issuable immediately prior to Closing on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants issued to the Sponsor. Subsequently, on August 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the August Convertible Promissory Note, under which SPAC may borrow up to an additional $300,000 for working capital and general corporate purposes on similar non-interest bearing, unsecured terms due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the August Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, and for each dollar funded Harraden is entitled to one warrant to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants, plus one unrestricted SPAC Ordinary Share transferred by the Sponsor, each issuable or to be transferred, as applicable, immediately prior to Closing. |
| (6) | Amount includes 500,000 Founder Shares that will be subject to vesting and will vest: (a) if the funds in the Trust Account plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, or (c) if there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater or equal to the Earnout Price. |
| (7) | Amount excludes 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, which will be forfeited by the Sponsor upon the consummation of the Business Combination. |
| (8) | Includes 507,964 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (9) | Includes 1,492,036 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
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Dilutive Instruments
The following table shows possible sources of dilution and the extent of such dilution that non-redeeming SPAC Public Shareholders could experience in connection with the closing of the Business Combination. In an effort to illustrate the extent of such dilution, the table below assumes the exercise of all Pubco Warrants for a cash exercise price of $11.50. The table excludes Pubco Common Stock that will initially be available for issuance under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, as such shares will not be outstanding on the Closing Date.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||
| | No Additional Redemptions | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ||||||
| | Scenario | | 25% Redemptions Scenario | | 50% Redemptions Scenario | | 75% Redemptions Scenario | | 100% Redemptions Scenario |
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| | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | | | | | | | Percent | | |
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| | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent | | Pubco | | Pubco | | Outstanding | | Percent |
|
| | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Class B | | Pubco | | of |
|
| | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting | | Common | | Common | | Common | | Voting |
|
Pro Forma Ownership | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) | | Stock | | Stock | | Stock | | Power(1) |
|
Public Shares(2) | | 8,409,633 |
| — |
| 14.6 | % | 3.5 | % | 6,307,225 |
| — |
| 11.3 | % | 2.7 | % | 4,204,817 |
| — |
| 7.9 | % | 1.8 | % | 2,102,409 |
| — |
| 4.1 | % | * |
| — |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % |
Founder Shares(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) | | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.2 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.4 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.6 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 5.8 | % | 1.3 | % | 3,000,000 |
| — |
| 6.1 | % | 1.3 | % |
Public Warrants | | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 19.9 | % | 4.8 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 20.7 | % | 4.9 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 21.5 | % | 4.9 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 22.4 | % | 5.0 | % | 11,500,000 |
| — |
| 23.3 | % | 5.0 | % |
Private Placement Warrants(10) | | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 10.4 | % | 2.5 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 10.8 | % | 2.5 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 11.2 | % | 2.6 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 11.7 | % | 2.6 | % | 6,000,000 |
| — |
| 12.2 | % | 2.6 | % |
Company shareholders (other than Big3 Founders) | | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 12.7 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 13.1 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 13.7 | % | 3.1 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 14.2 | % | 3.2 | % | 7,308,958 |
| — |
| 14.8 | % | 3.2 | % |
Big3 Founders | | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 37.2 | % | 84.7 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 38.6 | % | 85.5 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 40.1 | % | 86.3 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 41.8 | % | 87.1 | % | 1,492,036 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 43.6 | % | 87.9 | % |
Total | | 37,710,627 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 35,608,219 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 33,505,811 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 31,403,403 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 29,003,994 |
| 19,976,476 |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
* | Less than 1%. |
| (1) | Each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote, and each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. |
| (2) | Amount comprises the unredeemed Public Shares in a variety of redemptions scenarios. This amount reflects the assumed redemption of (i) 0 shares under the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, (ii) 2,102,408 shares under the 25% Redemptions Scenario, (iii) 4,204,816 shares under the 50% Redemptions Scenario, (iv) 6,307,224 shares under the 75% Redemptions Scenario, and (v) 8,409,633 shares under the 100% Redemptions Scenario. |
| (3) | In each redemptions scenario, includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, assuming that all such shares will be used to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco or otherwise to support the Transactions. Such amount includes 425,602 Assigned Shares. On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements with Non-Redeeming Shareholders covering 4,256,015 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, under which those shareholders agreed not to redeem (or to rescind any redemption of) such shares in connection with a vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal presented at the Extension Meeting. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders were not affiliates of SPAC, the Sponsor, or SPAC’s officers or directors. In exchange, the Sponsor agreed to transfer 425,602 Founder Shares to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders promptly after closing of the Business Combination, conditioned on (i) the shares not being redeemed, (ii) approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, and (iii) consummation of the Business Combination. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders also received registration rights for the Assigned Shares under the same registration rights agreement used by the Sponsor. The Assigned Shares come from the Sponsor’s pool of up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares earmarked to incentivize non-redemptions/investment in support of the Business Combination. Any unused portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares will be forfeited at the Closing. |
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| (4) | Amount includes 30,000 Founder Shares held by each of SPAC’s Independent Directors. |
| (5) | Amount includes 300,000 Transferred Shares, assuming the repayment of the following loans in cash at the Closing. On June 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the Convertible Promissory Note, replacing a prior promissory note dated June 4, 2026, and consolidating $200,000 in working capital advances previously made by Harraden into a fully drawn, non-interest bearing, unsecured Loan that was fully outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and is due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or SPAC’s liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, with Harraden also entitled to one warrant per dollar funded, issuable immediately prior to Closing on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants issued to the Sponsor. Subsequently, on August 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into the August Convertible Promissory Note, under which SPAC may borrow up to an additional $300,000 for working capital and general corporate purposes on similar non-interest bearing, unsecured terms due upon the earlier of the initial business combination or liquidation. At Harraden’s discretion, the August Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, and for each dollar funded Harraden is entitled to one warrant to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share on terms identical to SPAC Private Warrants, plus one unrestricted SPAC Ordinary Share transferred by the Sponsor, each issuable or to be transferred, as applicable, immediately prior to Closing. |
| (6) | Amount includes 500,000 Founder Shares that will be subject to vesting and will vest: (a) if the funds in the Trust Account plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, or (c) if there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater or equal to the Earnout Price. |
| (7) | Amount excludes 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, which will be forfeited by the Sponsor upon the consummation of the Business Combination. |
| (8) | Includes 507,964 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (9) | Includes 1,492,036 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding as of the Closing. |
| (10) | Amount assumes that the SPAC Private Warrants required to be issued or transferred to Harraden pursuant to the Loan and the August Loan are transferred to Harraden by the Sponsor, resulting in no additional dilution. |
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Share ownership presented in the two tables above is only presented for illustrative purposes and does not necessarily reflect what Pubco’s share ownership will be after the Closing. SPAC and Company cannot predict how many of the SPAC Public Shareholders will exercise their right to have their SPAC Public Shares redeemed for cash. As a result, the redemption amount and the number of SPAC Public Shares redeemed in connection with the Business Combination may differ from the amounts presented above, and therefore the ownership percentages of SPAC Public Shareholders may also differ if the actual redemptions are different from these assumptions. The SPAC Public Shareholders that do not elect to redeem their SPAC Public Shares will experience immediate dilution as a result of the Business Combination. The SPAC Public Shareholders currently own approximately 59.4% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. As noted in the above table, even if no SPAC Public Shareholders redeem their SPAC Public Shares in the Business Combination, the SPAC Public Shareholders’ ownership will decrease from approximately 59.4% of the SPAC Ordinary Shares prior to the Business Combination to owning approximately 20.9% of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 3.8% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock. As redemptions increase, the overall percentage ownership and voting percentage held by Sponsor, other holders of Founder Shares, and Company equityholders will increase as compared to the overall percentage ownership and voting percentage held by SPAC Public Shareholders, thereby increasing dilution to SPAC Public Shareholders. If the amount of any Transaction Financing is greater than the assumptions above, such financing would further increase dilution to SPAC Public Shareholders. Additionally, to the extent that the Sponsor Investment is made in the form of equity or equity-linked securities, the Sponsor will receive such additional equity pursuant to such investment, which will increase the Sponsor’s percentage ownership and decrease the percentage ownership of the SPAC Public Shareholders and others. The number of such potential equity interests will not be calculable until definitive agreements for any Sponsor Investment are entered into, if any. For more information about the consideration to be received in the Business Combination, these scenarios, and the underlying assumptions, see “Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information.” See also “Risk Factors — The SPAC Public Shareholders will experience immediate dilution as a consequence of the issuance of Pubco Common Stock as consideration in the Business Combination, potential issuances in connection with financing, and due to future issuances of equity awards to Company employees, directors, or consultants. Having a minority share position may reduce the influence that our current shareholders have on the management of Pubco.”
Each of the 25% Redemptions Scenario, 50% Redemptions Scenario, 75% Redemptions Scenario, and 100% Redemptions Scenario results in an amount of net cash, after the redemptions and the payment of transaction expenses, that is not sufficient to meet the Minimum Cash Condition, without additional financing. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, SPAC has not entered into any Financing Agreement for Transaction Financing, no Sponsor Investment has been made, and the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may elect not to consummate the Business Combination. Alternately, in the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, waive the Minimum Cash Condition. If the Company waives the Minimum Cash Condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of such event, however such condition may be waived at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, and, given such timing, you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Background of the Business Combination
The following chronology summarizes the key meetings and events that led to the signing of the Business Combination Agreement. This chronology does not purport to catalogue every correspondence among representatives of SPAC and the Company. Representatives of SPAC involved in the discussions and negotiations referenced herein included James A. Graf, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of SPAC. Representatives of the Company involved in the discussions and negotiations referenced herein included Jeff Kwatinetz and O’Shea Jackson Sr.
The Business Combination was the result of a broad search for a potential transaction using the network and investing and operating experience of the SPAC’s management team and the SPAC Board. The terms of the Business Combination Agreement were the result of extensive negotiations between SPAC and the Company. The following is a brief description and chronological summary of the background to the Business Combination and related transactions that led to the signing of the Business Combination Agreement, including all material discussions and information related to the background and negotiation of the Business Combination, but it does not purport to catalogue every conversation and correspondence by and among SPAC, the Company and their respective representatives and advisors.
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SPAC is a blank check company incorporated on November 17, 2021, as a Cayman Islands exempted company, formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Graf Global Corp., the SPAC, is the eighth special purpose acquisition company that James A. Graf has been directly involved in, as a member of the sponsor, management and/or board of directors, including seven special purpose acquisition companies that closed business combinations over the past 15 years. The companies that resulted from the seven closed business combinations in reverse chronological order are: NKGen Biotech, Inc. (OTC Expert Market: NKGN); Crown LNG Holdings Limited, which was delisted from Nasdaq in October 2025; Velodyne Lidar, Inc., which merged with Ouster Inc. (Nasdaq: OUST) in February 2023; Target Hospitality Corp. (Nasdaq: TH); WillScot Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: WSC); Videocon d2h Limited, which merged with Dish TV India Limited (NSE: DISHTV) in March 2018; and Global Eagle Entertainment Inc., which filed a voluntary petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware seeking relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code.
Graf Global Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor, is a Delaware limited liability company. The Sponsor was formed prior to the SPAC IPO for the purpose of acting as the sponsor of SPAC. It is responsible for organizing, directing, and managing the business and affairs of SPAC from its incorporation, through the consummation of the SPAC IPO, the negotiation of the Business Combination Agreement, until the consummation of the Business Combination. The Sponsor’s activities included identifying and negotiating terms with the IPO Underwriter, other third-party service providers such as SPAC’s auditors and legal counsel, and SPAC’s directors and officers, and searching for and negotiating with potential business combination targets, including the Company. Other than its investment in SPAC and its work on behalf of SPAC, the Sponsor is not engaged in any other business. For more information, please see “Questions and Answers About the Business Combination – Who is the Sponsor?”
On June 27, 2024, SPAC completed its initial public offering of 23,000,000 SPAC Units, including the full exercise by the IPO Underwriter of the overallotment option in the amount of 3,000,000 SPAC Units, at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $230,000,000 before transaction costs (including deferred underwriting commissions of approximately $9.8 million in the aggregate to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., the IPO Underwriter, upon the completion of SPAC’s initial business combination). Each SPAC Unit consists of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one-half of one SPAC Warrant. Each whole SPAC Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to certain adjustments beginning 30 days after the completion of SPAC’s initial business combination. Simultaneously with the closing of the SPAC IPO, SPAC consummated the private placement of an aggregate of 6,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant to the Sponsor and the IPO Underwriter, generating total proceeds of $6,000,000. At the closing of the IPO and the private placement of the SPAC Private Warrants, SPAC placed a total of $230,000,000 into the Trust Account, or approximately $10.00 per SPAC Public Share. Prior to the pricing of the IPO, neither SPAC, nor any authorized person on its behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to a business combination involving SPAC, on the one hand, and any prospective target, on the other hand.
Following the closing of the IPO, SPAC’s officers and directors commenced an active search for prospective businesses or assets to acquire in an initial business combination. During this process, SPAC estimates that it considered more than 100 potential business combination ideas. These included companies SPAC believed may be attractive to investors, and that may be interested in pursuing going public and/or need capital to continue and grow their businesses based on public information and relationships. SPAC engaged in discussions with approximately 30 such targets or their representatives pursuant to an executed non-disclosure agreement (“NDA”) governing the sharing of certain confidential information or otherwise. No such NDA imposed any “standstill” or similar restrictions that would restrict either the business combination target or SPAC from proposing or pursuing an alternative transaction. The targets that signed NDAs represented those companies that were willing to share information and engage with SPAC about a possible business combination following initial contact. The majority of the potential business combination target companies that SPAC considered were companies in the businesses of technology, industrial services, energy and energy transition, space, autonomous mobility, crypto currencies and sports teams among others. Other than the Company, SPAC was not aware of and did not consider other companies operating professional sports leagues.
On August 1, 2025, SPAC entered into a non-binding term sheet and letter of intent with Target A (as defined below), which included a period of exclusivity. Prior to SPAC entering into a letter of intent with Target A, SPAC had delivered draft term sheets or preliminary proposals to eight prospective business combination targets. In some cases, these non-binding terms sheets were very informal. They were based on limited or no non-public information or contact with target management, and were viewed by SPAC as required preliminary steps to commence discussions with the prospective business combination targets. These eight prospective businesses were comprised of (1) an industrial company engaged in the business of environmental remediation, nuclear decommissioning and deconstruction (“Target A”), (2) an industrial company engaged in heavy construction materials, focusing on aggregates, (3) an industrial company engaged in aircraft equipment and services, (4) a technology company engaged in autonomous
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vehicles, focusing on robo-taxis, (5) a technology company engaged in autonomous vehicles, focusing on long-haul trucking, (6) an aerospace company, focusing on satellites, (7) a technology company engaged in social media, and (8) a company engaged in digital currencies. SPAC ultimately executed a non-binding term sheet with Target A. Prior to executing a non-binding term sheet with Target A, SPAC ceased pursuit of such other potential targets. In each case, other than Target A, a draft term sheet was delivered by SPAC to the target company to further the discussions, but the parties did not substantially negotiate or reach any agreement on terms, did not mutually execute any non-binding term sheet, nor did they perform any substantial due diligence or test the waters or market a possible transaction with prospective investors.
Target A
On August 1, 2025, SPAC executed a non-binding letter of intent (“LOI”) with Target A. Pursuant to the exclusivity provision of the LOI, SPAC ceased the pursuit of all other potential targets with which it had entered a non-disclosure agreement at that time. The LOI contemplated, among other things, (i) a pre-money enterprise valuation based on an illustrative multiple of Target A’s forecasted 2025 pro forma adjusted EBITDA, (ii) a minimum of $100 million of gross cash proceeds to be made available to the combined company at closing, to be secured through PIPE commitments and/or non-redemption agreements prior to signing of definitive agreements, and (iii) an exclusivity period commencing upon a mutual “GO” decision following initial due diligence and market testing and ending 30 days thereafter, subject to extension by mutual written agreement. SPAC and Target A subsequently amended the letter of intent on September 30, 2025 to revise the exclusivity mechanics to commence upon the first wall-crossed investor meeting and end on November 28, 2025 (extendable to December 31, 2025), and again on December 19, 2025 to further extend the exclusivity period to January 31, 2026.
SPAC continued working with Target A and its advisors on the execution of the proposed transaction for approximately six months after executing the LOI, during which time the parties conducted due diligence, drafted transaction documentation and marketed the prospective transaction to potential private investment in public equity (“PIPE”) investors, with the expectation that the transaction would close. However, in January 2026, SPAC was informed by a representative of Target A’s majority shareholder that there had been an unexpected change in one important aspect of Target A’s business, not previously uncovered in due diligence, which resulted in increased uncertainty with respect to Target A’s ability to achieve its financial projections and appeal to public investors. The representative of Target A did not believe the issue would be resolved quickly, or before the expiration of SPAC’s deadline to complete an initial business combination. Accordingly, it was mutually agreed that it would not be prudent to continue with the public transaction at that time and action on the proposed transaction with Target A was terminated, with no further obligations of either SPAC or Target A.
Following the termination of the negotiations with Target A and release of the exclusivity restrictions, SPAC’s management team re-commenced its search for a potential business combination opportunity, revisiting prior prospective targets and exploring new opportunities.
The Company
In the approximately three months that elapsed between the termination of negotiations with Target A in January 2026 and the signing of a definitive term sheet with the Company in April 2026, SPAC was also engaged in preliminary discussions with 11 other potential business combination targets under signed NDAs and delivered one other draft term sheet. None of those were substantive discussions, terms were not negotiated, investors were not contacted, and due diligence was not performed. In addition to the Company, such potential business combination targets in early 2026 under NDA included, without limitation, businesses involved in utility services, energy transition and financial services among others.
James A. Graf, SPAC’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director, and Fehmi Zeko, managing partner of MC Strategic Advisors (“MC”), financial advisor to the Company, and a board director of the Company, first met in 2011 in connection with Mr. Graf’s first special purpose acquisition company, when Mr. Zeko served as a capital markets advisor to Global Eagle Acquisition Corp. Mr. Zeko had mentioned the Company to Mr. Graf informally several times over the years and originally introduced Jeffrey Kwatinetz, Co-founder and Chairman of the Company, to Mr. Graf and Graf I in early 2020, when a possible transaction with a special purpose acquisition company was first broached. None of those conversations were substantive, however, given the relative early stage of the business, and in early 2020 in particular, the uncertain impact of emerging COVID-19 on the Company’s upcoming season, no due diligence was performed, no prospective investors were contacted and no draft term sheets were delivered.
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On April 2, 2026, Mr. Zeko contacted Mr. Graf to explore whether SPAC would be interested in a potential business combination with the Company. Mr. Zeko provided a high-level update to Mr. Graf regarding the positive reception the Company has increasingly received over the years from the fans and media. Mr. Zeko suggested that Mr. Graf search public information on the Company to see the positive fan sentiment and media coverage of the Company and interest from investors in sports teams and emerging leagues. Of particular note related to a transaction, Mr. Zeko informed Mr. Graf that the Company’s auditor was working on PCAOB financial statements for a public offering and they were prepared to move quickly to announce a business combination before the opening of the Company’s ninth season in June 2026. Mr. Graf believed a potential deal with the Company to be very compelling due to the Company’s and its founders’ high profile. Mr. Graf was also drawn by the fact that this would be the first publicly traded professional sports league. The SPAC and the Company signed an NDA on April 2, 2026, which did not include a standstill or similar provision.
On April 3, 2026, Mr. Graf briefed the IPO Underwriter on the possible transaction. On April 4, 2026, Mr. Graf initially briefed the SPAC Board on the Company opportunity.
In the following days, through a series of emails, text correspondences, phone calls, and Zoom meetings, Mr. Zeko, his partner Mark Barber, Mr. Kwatinetz and members of the Company team provided SPAC with a presentation and general information related to the Company’s activities, the upcoming season, and the future potential of the Company, including without limitation the potential to increase the number of teams, the number of games and sponsorships, secure a paid media deal and expand to international markets. The Company and its advisors also responded to a series of preliminary business diligence questions from SPAC and the IPO Underwriter.
On April 12, 2026, based on the preliminary information provided, Mr. Graf delivered a draft letter of intent and term sheet (the “BIG3 LOI”) to Mr. Kwatinetz and Mr. Zeko. In the BIG3 LOI, SPAC proposed a valuation of $180 million with the merger consideration to be in the form of newly issued shares of stock based on a per share price of $10.00. The BIG3 LOI noted that such valuation was subject to feedback from prospective investors, the market and various of the Company stakeholders.
On April 22, 2026, SPAC’s counsel, White & Case LLP (“White & Case”), provided its preliminary due diligence request list to Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP (“EGS”), which was developed into a comprehensive tracker of data room content and information received. SPAC, White & Case, and the IPO Underwriter gained access to a data room beginning that week for business and legal diligence, and the parties and subject matter experts at White & Case scheduled calls with the Company and its counsel as required. White & Case was instructed to deliver a due diligence report to the SPAC Board and respond to any SPAC Board questions prior to the SPAC Board’s approval of the transaction.
On April 24, 2026, representatives from SPAC, the Company, the Company’s counsel, EGS, White & Case, and MC had a call to discuss terms of the BIG3 LOI in more detail. On that call, the parties discussed, among other things, revising the per-share price used for the Company’s share consideration from $10.00 to a per-share price equal to the price at which SPAC Public Shareholders could redeem their shares, which was estimated to be approximately $10.80 per share at the time, and a corresponding increase to the Company valuation from $180 million to $195 million. The parties agreed that the per-share price increase would minimize economic dilution. The parties also discussed whether the Company’s shareholder approval of the Business Combination would be obtained through a company written consent or a voting agreement. Other than this call, the numerous calls between SPAC and MC focused more on process and diligence items rather than discussing terms and conditions.
On April 28, 2026, Mr. Graf briefed the SPAC Board on (i) the fact that Target A was not expected to revive before the end of June 2026, (ii) the status of SPAC’s discussions with the Company, including the terms of the BIG3 LOI, and (iii) the fact that there were no other active discussions with other prospective companies. The SPAC Board was unanimous in support of proceeding with the Company and the BIG3 LOI was signed by SPAC and the Company on April 28, 2026. Among other things, the transaction contemplated by the BIG3 LOI was subject to SPAC’s satisfactory completion of due diligence and further discussion on valuation after getting feedback from prospective investors and the Company’s existing shareholders.
The executed BIG3 LOI included the following terms: (i) a pre-money equity value for the Company of $195 million, subject to favorable feedback from prospective investors and satisfactory due diligence; (ii) consideration paid in shares valued at $10.80 per share, totaling approximately 18 million shares to existing Company equity holders (to be refined after initial marketing); (iii) supervoting Class B common stock with 10 votes per share to be issued to the Big3 Founders, subject to customary sunset provisions; (iv) all other Company equityholders and all SPAC shareholders to receive Class A common stock with one vote per share; (v) a closing condition in favor of the Company of at least $50 million, which term was also non-negotiable for the Company, in net transaction proceeds after expenses and redemptions, (vi) at least $15 million in financing commitments to be sought before
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signing definitive agreements, including at least $5 million in shares to be retained by members of the Sponsor or their designees, (vii) Sponsor forfeiture of 2,750,000 of its 5,750,000 founder shares and retention of 2,500,000 upfront shares (including 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares), (viii) 500,000 Sponsor Earnout Shares subject to vesting upon the following conditions: (a) if the funds in the Trust Account plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of the SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, or (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, (vii) post-closing governance giving the Company control of the board (up to six directors) and retention of existing Company management with one board director to be nominated by SPAC, and (ix) a six-month lock-up on shares issued to certain existing equity holders of the Company and the Sponsor.
On April 29, 2026, the Company management including Mr. Kwatinetz and O’Shea Jackson Sr. (Ice Cube), the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, gave a presentation to Mr. Graf, Kenneth Weinstein, a SPAC Board director, and a team from the IPO Underwriter to discuss potential pre-marketing of the transaction before the signing of the Business Combination Agreement.
On May 1, 2026, SPAC’s Board met to review and approve its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and during such meeting, the Board also discussed the transaction and process along with White & Case in more detail.
Throughout May 2026, SPAC, the Company and their advisors worked on various drafts of an investor presentation with the initial intention to wall cross certain prospective PIPE investors and get market feedback, and possible PIPE commitments, prior to signing the Business Combination Agreement. Ultimately no prospective investors were wall-crossed and no investor meetings were scheduled. The decision not to pre-market the transaction was based on the expectation at the time that the parties would be in a position to sign the Business Combination Agreement and announce a transaction by the end of May 2026, and that it would be easier to schedule meetings and get feedback based on public information after the transaction was signed and announced.
On May 22, 2026, White & Case delivered the first draft of the Business Combination Agreement to EGS.
On May 25, 2026 and May 29, 2026, Mr. Graf updated the SPAC Board on the status of the transaction and related extension matters.
On May 26, 2026, White & Case sent initial drafts of the Sponsor Support Agreement, Lock-Up Agreement, Warrant Assumption Agreement and Sponsor Indemnification Agreement to EGS, which reflected the terms agreed to in the BIG3 LOI.
White & Case and EGS held calls on May 27, 2026 and May 29, 2026 to discuss open issues. Principal issues discussed included, among other things, (i) treatment of potential equity and debt financing raised by the Company between the signing of the Business Combination Agreement and the Closing, (ii) the parties to receive registration rights, (iii) interim operating covenants of the Company, (iv) the amount of annual increases in shares reserved for issuance under the equity incentive plan, (v) consent rights of the Company to extensions of the SPAC’s liquidation date, (vi) Closing SPAC Cash (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and the minimum cash condition, (vii) treatment of outstanding warrants of the Company, (viii) monetary thresholds for disclosure of material contracts, and (ix) various representations and warranties of the parties.
On May 28, 2026, SPAC and the Company informed NYSE of the pending transaction and intention to seek an extension of SPAC’s liquidation deadline.
On May 31, 2026, EGS sent a revised draft of the Business Combination Agreement to White & Case, in which EGS, among other changes, (i) made adjustments to the merger sequencing, (ii) increased dollar thresholds in certain representations regarding material contracts, (iii) added provisions regarding the procedure for SPAC’s board to make a Change in Recommendation (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), (iv) added carveouts to the Company’s conduct of business covenant allowing the Company to enter into equity or equity-linked financings up to $20 million and allowing equity grants under the Option Pool (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) without SPAC consent, (v) added a consent right of the Company for extensions of SPAC, (vi) added knowledge qualification to various representations and warranties and (vii) removed certain representations and warranties of the Company.
On June 1, 2026, the SPAC Board met to review the transaction and the draft Business Combination Agreement with White & Case.
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On June 1, 2026, EGS sent revised drafts of the Sponsor Support Agreement and Lock-Up Agreement to White & Case. EGS expanded the securities covered by the transfer restrictions in the Lock-Up Agreement to include any securities paid as dividends or distributions with respect to the restricted securities, as well as any other securities that may result from the exchange or conversion of restricted securities, and to eliminate the early termination of the transfer restrictions upon the satisfaction of a certain closing share price threshold of the combined company’s common stock after the consummation of the Business Combination. EGS also revised the Sponsor Support Agreement to reflect a transaction structure where the Class B ordinary shares of SPAC would convert directly into common stock of SPAC in connection with the Domestication.
On June 2, 2026, White & Case returned drafts of the Sponsor Support Agreement and Lock-Up Agreement. With respect to the Sponsor Support Agreement, White & Case (i) took the position that the existing transaction structure whereby the SPAC’s Class B ordinary shares convert into Class A ordinary shares of the SPAC prior to the Domestication would be most efficient, (ii) revised the vesting conditions applicable to the Sponsor Earnout Shares, and (iii) revised the rights of the Sponsor Earnout Shares to entitle the holder thereof to voting rights during the period when the shares are subject to vesting, in order to facilitate approval of future actions requiring any shareholder vote, and to entitle the holder thereof to dividends or other distributions during such period.
On June 3, 2026, White & Case sent a revised draft of the Business Combination Agreement to EGS, which among other changes, (i) reverted the merger sequencing, (ii) reverted the intended tax treatment of the transaction, (iii) removed the Change in Recommendation notice procedure, (iv) narrowed the Company’s consent right regarding SPAC extensions, (v) changed the party responsible for entering into financing agreements to Pubco rather than SPAC, (vi) expanded Company representations regarding Company IP Licenses and Outbound IP Licenses (each as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), (vii) added a Company representation for the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, (viii) removed knowledge qualification from certain Company representations, and (ix) added several restrictive interim operating covenants.
On June 4, 2026, EGS returned a draft of the Sponsor Support Agreement rejecting such changes to the voting rights and modifying the mechanics of the dividend and distribution rights, which White & Case agreed to, reflecting the compromise reached among the parties.
On June 5, 2026, EGS sent a revised draft of the Business Combination Agreement to White & Case, which among other things, (i) reinstated the Change in Recommendation Notice procedure from its prior draft, (ii) shifted responsibility for entering into financing agreements from Pubco to SPAC, (iii) removed a Company representation regarding insurance claims and (iv) removed Company representation for the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
On June 6, 2026, EGS returned a draft of the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement, which, among other minor changes, (i) removed exoneration from the agreement’s scope of indemnification and (ii) changed the agreement’s governing law provision from New York to Delaware.
On June 8, 2026, EGS sent a draft of the Registration Rights Agreement to White & Case, which reflected the terms set forth in the BIG3 LOI.
Also on June 8, 2026, White & Case sent a further revised draft of the Business Combination Agreement to EGS, which, among other things, (i) added a three-year lookback period to the litigation representation of the Company as a compromise position, (ii) added a minimum compensation threshold as a compromise to the restrictions on termination in the interim covenants of the Company, (iii) provided for an unqualified obligation of the Company to obtain consent of Company noteholders, (iv) required Pubco to repay the PPP Loan (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and (v) added a closing condition requiring the Company to deliver documentation evidencing release of all liens set forth on a schedule to the Business Combination Agreement.
On June 10, 2026, Mr. Graf and Mr. Kwatinetz spoke with one of the Company’s large institutional investors. Following that discussion and feedback from other internal Company discussions, the Company informed SPAC it would not proceed on a public transaction at less than a $290 million transaction value. The increase in valuation was the only material change from the signed BIG3 LOI to the Business Combination Agreement. SPAC management discussed with the SPAC Board the increase in valuation from $195 million to $290 million. SPAC and the SPAC Board ultimately accepted the proposed increase in valuation based (i) on belief that the market was not going to be sensitive to valuation at such levels, which belief was based on publicly reported information regarding financing and sale transactions involving sports teams and emerging leagues, (ii) on feedback from certain Company investors, and (iii) on the Company’s growth potential due to the Company’s access to public capital and ability to recruit and retain high quality management, staff, players and coaches.
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On June 10, 2026, EGS sent a further revised draft of the Business Combination Agreement to White & Case, which among other things, (i) increased the base merger consideration from $195 million to $290 million, (ii) added an earnout provision providing for an additional 2,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be issued to holders of Company Interests (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) at Closing, such shares to vest if during the five-years post-Closing, the Pubco Class A Common Stock trades at or above $15.00 for at least 20 of 30 consecutive trading days, or if there is a sale of Pubco above such price; (iii) provided for reasonable best efforts in the Company’s covenant to obtain the consent of Company noteholders; (iv) removed the closing condition requiring repayment of indebtedness; (v) added a carveout to the Lien-release closing condition excluding certain liens; and (vi) removed the restriction on terminating employees during the interim period.
On June 11, 2026, White & Case sent a further revised draft of the Business Combination Agreement to EGS, which among other things, (i) added a new tax treatment provision for the Earnout Shares and withholding mechanics and (ii) reinstated the closing condition for repayment of indebtedness with a narrowed scope to only the PPP Loan.
White & Case and EGS held a call on June 11, 2026 to close out remaining open issues with respect to the Business Combination Agreement, including (i) eligibility for the earnout, earnout mechanics and withholding, (ii) the Company noteholder consent closing condition, (iii) the covenant for repayment of indebtedness, and (iv) the outside date.
Also on June 11, 2026, White & Case returned a revised draft of the Registration Rights Agreement that, among other things, (i) restructured the agreement as a new, freestanding registration rights agreement to be entered into at the Closing, rather than an amendment and restatement of SPAC’s existing registration rights agreement (with such existing registration rights agreement to be terminated), (ii) added new demand registration rights permitting holders to request block trades and other coordinated offerings, (iii) added a provision restricting grants of more favorable registration rights to other holders without the Sponsor’s consent, and (iv) shortened the deadline to file the initial resale registration statement following the Closing Date from forty-five days to thirty days.
The parties worked through June 11, 2026 to complete all transaction documentation, all due diligence, and the announcement press release. The SPAC scheduled SPAC Board meetings for June 11, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to review the due diligence results with White & Case and approve the transaction and their recommendation to shareholders. The due diligence report, Business Combination Agreement, ancillary transaction documentation and the draft press release were delivered to the SPAC Board in near-final form on June 11, 2026, the same day as those meetings.
On June 11, 2026, the SPAC Board met twice, at 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., and approved the Business Combination Agreement and related ancillary transaction documentation. The SPAC Board unanimously (i) determined that it was in SPAC’s best interest and the interest of SPAC Shareholders for SPAC to enter into the Business Combination Agreement and each ancillary agreement thereto, (ii) approved the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the ancillary agreements, and (iii) adopted resolutions recommending the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and the approval of each ancillary agreement thereto by SPAC Shareholders.
Also on June 11, 2026, the Company Board met at 3:00 p.m. and unanimously approved the Business Combination Agreement and related transactions. The Company Board had previously been provided with drafts of the Business Combination Agreement and related ancillary transaction documentation and further reviewed the key terms of such agreements during the meeting, including noting the Big3 Founders would receive shares of SPAC Common Stock which had 10 votes per share, which would provide such holders with majority voting power of the SPAC following the Closing. The Company Board discussed the valuation of the Company as reflected in the Business Combination Agreement. The Company had retained MC as the Company’s investment banker, which MC assisted in establishing the valuation of the Company. The Company Board also engaged in a discussion regarding the effect of the Business Combination Agreement on the Company’s OpCo and had questions whether the Business Combination would cause any dilution to ownership or otherwise affect the revenue streams associated with the OpCo. Following the review of the Business Combination Agreement and discussions of the Company Board, the Company Board unanimously adopted resolutions (i) determining that it is in the best interest of the Company and its members to enter into the Business Combination Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and (ii) approved entry into the Business Combination Agreement and the ancillary agreements, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby.
SPAC did not retain a financial advisor to assist with establishing a valuation for the Company. Instead, SPAC relied in part on the over 100 years of collective investment banking, capital markets and deal-making experience of its management team and SPAC Board to value the Company and assess market receptivity to such a story. In accepting the Company’s proposed $290 million
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valuation, the SPAC team did not review revenue or profit projections for the Company, given the emerging nature of the Company’s business, expected transformation of the business model with the expected capital and public currency provided by the transaction, and the absence of directly comparable public companies. SPAC believed that there were no other publicly-traded professional sports leagues in the United States, and SPAC determined that valuation metrics for standalone publicly-traded major sports teams or other athletic promotions are not necessarily relevant to the business of an emerging league.
SPAC considered the Company to be a better potential business combination target than the other potential business combination targets in the SPAC pipeline at the time for several reasons, including, but not limited to: (i) the business scale of certain other potential business combination targets was too early for the public markets in SPAC’s view, (ii) the financing position of certain other potential business combination targets posed uncertainty with respect their own funding through a successful transaction, and (iii) SPAC viewed the Company’s business prospects, strategies, management team, structure, growth potential, likelihood of transaction execution success and valuation considerations favorably relative to the other potential business combination targets. In SPAC’s view, the high-profile involvement of Ice Cube, NBA Hall of Famers and All-Stars may broaden the potential investor base, and the Company may appeal to institutional investors that have expressed interest in sports. SPAC was also drawn to the Company as business combination target given its position as potentially the first publicly-traded professional sports league.
On June 12, 2026, the Business Combination Agreement and the ancillary transaction documents were finalized and executed by SPAC, the Company and other parties thereto. On that same date, the parties issued a joint press release publicly announcing the transaction and the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, and SPAC filed with the SEC Current Reports on Form 8-K, including the Press Release, the Investor Presentation, the Business Combination Agreement and the ancillary transaction documents.
Also on June 12, 2026, the Company obtained and delivered to the SPAC the written consent of a sufficient number of Company Interests required to approve the Business Combination Agreement and the Company Merger and each ancillary agreement to which the Company is a party.
On June 18, 2026, the Sponsor and SPAC’s independent directors converted all but one of their 5,750,000 SPAC Class B ordinary shares to SPAC Class A ordinary shares, to allow shareholders to retain more of their positions in an extension without exceeding 9.9% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Class A ordinary shares.
On June 26, 2026, SPAC held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders at which shareholders approved an amendment to the SPAC Organizational Documents to extend the date by which SPAC has to consummate an initial business combination from June 27, 2026 to September 27, 2026, and provided that SPAC has executed a definitive agreement for an initial business combination by September 27, 2026 but has not consummated an initial business combination by such date, to permit the SPAC Board, in its sole discretion, to further extend such date up to three times in one-month increments, to up to December 27, 2026. On the same date, the SPAC Board approved SPAC entering into certain non-redemption agreements to maximize the cash remaining in the Trust Account in the extension period. 14,159,633 shares were retained into the extension period, including founder shares, after the redemption window closed, with approximately $91.4 million retained in the Trust Account.
On July 17, 2026, SPAC announced that it would change the ticker symbol for its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, which are listed on NYSE American, to TONT.
On August 7, 2026, SPAC retained Roth Capital Partners, LLC as its non-exclusive capital markets advisor.
On September 27, 2026, the SPAC Board elected to extend the date by which the SPAC has to consummate a business combination from September 27, 2026 for an additional month to October 27, 2026.
On October 23, 2026, the SPAC Board elected to extend the date by which the SPAC has to consummate a business combination from October 27, 2026 for an additional month to November 27, 2026.
SPAC Board’s Reasons for the Approval of the Business Combination
On June 11, 2026, at a meeting of the board of directors, the SPAC Board unanimously (i) determined that it is fair, advisable and in the best interests of SPAC and the SPAC Shareholders for SPAC to enter into the Business Combination Agreement and each Ancillary Document, (ii) approved the Business Combination and other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, and approved SPAC’s execution, delivery of, and performance of its obligations under the Business Combination
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Agreement and each Ancillary Document thereto to which SPAC is, or is contemplated to be, a party and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Business Combination), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein and (iii) adopted resolutions recommending the adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and, as applicable, the approval of each Ancillary Document thereto to which SPAC is, or is contemplated to be, a party and the transactions contemplated thereby, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, by the SPAC Shareholders.
Before reaching its decision, the SPAC Board and/or members of the SPAC management team held extensive meetings (virtual and in-person) and teleconferences with the Company’s management team, advisors and stakeholders, and industry and subject matter specialists from White & Case, and additionally discussed the following, without limitation, amongst each other:
| ● | The Company’s historical financial statements, including the substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, and the Company’s current budget, capital expenditures, near-term funding requirements for the currently planned season and future growth plans; |
| ● | the SPAC Board did not review revenue or profit projections in accepting the valuation, given the emerging nature of the business, and instead considered publicly reported information regarding financing and sale transactions involving sports teams and emerging leagues, which information was not independently verified by SPAC or the SPAC Board; |
| ● | the results of the legal due diligence performed by White & Case, including, without limitation, a review of corporate matters, material contracts and business relationships, intellectual property and information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity, employment, compensation and benefits, real estate, and environmental information; and |
| ● | Perceived market enthusiasm about sports generally at the moment, including among other things, the New York Knicks’ dramatic run to the NBA championship and the World Cup in North America, and general lack of access to investable opportunities in sports for most investors. |
The SPAC Board considered a wide variety of reasons and factors in connection with its evaluation of the Business Combination. Given the complexity of those reasons and factors, the SPAC Board did not consider it practicable to, nor did it attempt to, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific reasons and factors it took into account in reaching its decision. Different individual members of the SPAC Board may have given different weight to different reasons and factors in their evaluation of the Business Combination. At the time that it approved the Business Combination, the SPAC Board viewed its position as being based on all of the information available and the reasons and factors presented to and considered by it and believed it had the necessary information to make an informed decision. This explanation of the SPAC Board’s reasons for the approval of the Business Combination and all other information presented in this section is forward-looking in nature and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the reasons and information discussed under the section of this proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
In the prospectus for the IPO, SPAC identified general criteria and guidelines that SPAC believed would be important although not required in evaluating prospective target businesses. The criteria, along with the SPAC Board’s evaluation of the Company as compared to the criteria, included the following:
| ● | Leading Industry Position with Supportive Long-Term Dynamics and Competitive Market Advantage. As a leading professional three-on-three basketball league with an established brand and following after nine seasons, the Company holds a leading position in an industry sector with attractive macro characteristics. The Company has sustainable competitive advantages that would be challenging for a competitor to replicate. Factors contributing to its sustainable competitive advantage include (i) its well-established brand name, built over nine seasons with seven years of broadcast exposure on CBS and social media engagements, as well as well-known co-founder Ice Cube, numerous NBA Hall of Famers and All-Stars and massive global total addressable market with basketball being one of the two or three leading sports in the world; (ii) effective territorial exclusivity and lack of comparable substitutes as the only professional three-on-three men’s league in the United States, with its games scheduled during the NBA and college off season; (iii) diverse base of sponsors, advertisers and fans; (iv) low cost, asset and contract-light operating model; (v) increased exposure as three-on-three basketball becomes a medal sport in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles; (vi) possible expansion with brand extensions into the community and international; and/or (vii) limited exposure to technological obsolescence. The Company has defended and grown its market position over time as a result of one or more of these sustainable competitive advantages, and is positioned |
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| to continue to do so in the future. We believe the Company can deliver secular and uncorrelated growth to create value for our shareholders over time. |
| ● | Potential Free Cash Flow, Prudent Debt and Financial Visibility. The Company expects to have minimal debt at the closing of the Business Combination. With its focus on maintaining tight controls on expenses, the Company has the potential to generate positive cash flow if revenues grow as the result increased sponsorship, advertising, ticket sales, merchandise, media rights or otherwise as the result of, among other things, from an increase in marketing spending and transaction proceeds (if any). The Company’s sponsorships, player contracts and expenses are expected to continue to be visible before the beginning of each season, with clearly defined sources and uses of cash. In the coming years, the Company expects to negotiate a paid television deal, which would provide for even more visibility into the economics of a season. Another factor related to cash flow is that the Company still owns four of the current eight teams and can sell those teams and new incremental teams to third parties on an opportunistic basis to provide additional working capital to the league. The league still benefits from a percentage of the teams economics after team sales. Use of capital for additional marketing, expanding the number of teams and games, international expansion and otherwise driving growth is mostly discretionary, with minimal capital required for existing core operations. We do not expect the Company to be subject to macro-economic conditions or industry cycles. |
| ● | Benefit Uniquely from a Business Combination with a Special Purpose Acquisition Company. The Company has a clear use of transaction proceeds and a clear catalyst or inflection point resulting from our capital (although the amount of cash available at Closing will depend on the level of redemptions by SPAC Public Shareholders), team, public listing and potential expansion and acquisition synergies that may drive growth in the business. Moreover, as the public listing and capital could drive a transformation of the business model with increased potential for growth, the marketing and public awareness process allowed by a special purpose acquisition company transaction allows (i) more of the time necessary to share the story and future plans with the market than in an IPO and (ii) fans to participate in the upside directly by buying shares in the market. SPAC also believes that the public acquisition currency and access to public capital will enhance the Company’s ability to recruit and retain high quality management, staff, players and coaches and potential for attractive acquisition opportunities to complement the Company’s business. |
| ● | Benefit from SPAC’s Capabilities. The SPAC Board believes the capabilities and relationships of SPAC’s management team and board of directors can assist the Company, including in positioning the Company for the capital markets, evaluating potential acquisitions and managing the going-public process. Mr. Graf has been involved, as a member of the sponsor, management and/or board, in the closing of seven special purpose acquisition company business combinations over the past 15 years. |
| ● | Committed and Capable Management Team. The BIG3 founders and management team are aligned with our shareholders, rolling their entire position into public equity. The Company’s management is expected to remain involved in the business, while the team is enhanced around them, and can clearly and confidently articulate the business plan and market opportunities to public market investors. We expect to help the Company to enhance the management team and board of directors by recruiting additional talent through our network of relationships, including those with public market experience. |
| ● | Potential to Grow, Including Through Further Acquisition Opportunities. The Company has the potential to grow both organically and inorganically through acquisitions and expansion, with management having identified a pipeline of potentially actionable accretive ideas. We expect to work with the ongoing management team to develop the business strategy around geographic expansion, new ventures, high-return capital expenditure projects and acquisitions, as well as creating and maintaining the optimal capital structure for growth. |
In considering the Business Combination, the SPAC Board concluded that the Company substantially met the above criteria. In addition, the SPAC Board considered other positive factors including, but not limited to, the following, which were not weighted and are not presented below in any order of significance:
| ● | Equity Research Potential. SPAC and the Company have met with equity research analysts and believe, given broad investor interest in sports, we will attract research coverage after closing. However, there are no assurances that any equity research analyst will initiate coverage following the Business Combination. |
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| ● | Potential to Attract a Wide Range of Investors. Hundreds of millions of people in the U.S. and abroad follow basketball, as one of the two or three of the most popular sports in the world. While three-on-three basketball is a well-known variation, three-on-three is expected to get even more attention around the world as a medal sport in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. We expect that the Company will appeal to a wide range of investors, beyond usual financial investors, including sports fans generally, and followers of Ice Cube and music as well. |
| ● | Public Company Readiness. The SPAC Board believes that the Company can be positioned to be a public company in terms of size, competitive advantages, value proposition and fan base. |
The SPAC Board also gave consideration to the following risks which were not weighted and are not presented below in any order of significance:
| ● | Limitations of Review: The SPAC Board considered that it did not obtain a fairness opinion from an independent investment banking firm representing that the consideration SPAC is paying to acquire the Company is fair to SPAC or the SPAC Shareholders from a financial point of view. In addition, there are inherent limitations in the due diligence review of the Company conducted by SPAC’s management team and legal advisors and that unknown risks may not have been identified. |
| ● | Exercise of Redemption Rights by Public Stockholders: The SPAC Board considered the risk that some or all of the SPAC Public Shareholders would decide to exercise their redemption rights, thereby depleting the amount of cash available to the Company at Closing. |
| ● | Costs of the Business Combination: The SPAC Board considered the risk that the announcement of the Business Combination and potential diversion of the Company’s management and employee attention may adversely affect the Company’s operations, along with the significant fees and expenses associated with completing the Business Combination and the substantial time and effort of management required to complete the Business Combination. |
| ● | Potential Inability to Complete the Business Combination: The SPAC Board considered the possibility that the Business Combination may not be completed and the resulting potential adverse consequences to SPAC, in particular the expenditure of time and resources in pursuit of the Business Combination and the fact that the Business Combination Agreement prohibits SPAC from soliciting other initial business combination proposals while the Business Combination Agreement is in effect, which could limit SPAC’s ability to seek an alternative business combination before the deadline to complete an initial business combination. |
| ● | SPAC Public Shareholders Will Have a Minority Ownership Interest in Pubco: |
| ● | Absence of Possible Structural Protections for Minority Shareholders: |
| ● | Industry: The SPAC Board considered certain risks associated with spectator sports and media deals in general. |
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| ● | Competition: The SPAC Board considered the risk of competition in the industry, including the potential for new entrants that would seek to attract the same audience. |
| ● | Early Stage: The SPAC Board considered the risk that the Company, while entering its tenth year of operations, is still in relatively early stages of growth. |
| ● | Going Concern and Financial Condition: The SPAC Board considered that the Company has a history of recurring net losses and negative cash flows from operations, and that the proceeds of the Business Combination, if any, may not be sufficient to fund the Company’s operations for at least the next 12 months. |
| ● | No Fairness Opinion: SPAC did not seek a third-party valuation and did not receive a valuation or fairness opinion from any third party in connection with the proposed Business Combination. The SPAC Board relied, in part, on the SPAC management team’s collective experience in public markets transactions. |
| ● | Closing Conditions: The fact that completion of the Business Combination is conditioned on the satisfaction of certain closing conditions that are not within SPAC’s control. |
| ● | Benefits Not Achieved: The risk that the potential benefits of the Business Combination may not be fully achieved or may not be achieved within the expected timeframe. |
| ● | Litigation: The possibility of litigation challenging the Business Combination or that an adverse judgment granting permanent injunctive relief could indefinitely enjoin consummation of the Business Combination. |
| ● | Listing Risks: The challenges associated with preparing the Company and its subsidiaries for the applicable disclosure and listing requirements to which the Company will be subject as a publicly traded company on the Stock Exchange. |
| ● | Interests of Certain Persons: The SPAC Board considered the potential conflicts of interest of the Sponsor and the SPAC Insiders in the Business Combination, including that the Sponsor and SPAC Insiders may realize a substantial profit on their investment even if the Business Combination is not favorable to SPAC Public Shareholders, and would lose their entire investment if no business combination is completed. |
| ● | Other Risks: The SPAC Board considered various other risks associated with the Company’s business, as described in the section of this proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. |
Overall, the SPAC Board concluded that the potential benefits of the Business Combination outweighed the potential risks associated with completing the Business Combination. Accordingly, the SPAC Board determined that the Business Combination is in the best interests of SPAC and the SPAC Shareholders.
Benefits and Detriments of the Business Combination
The following describes the potential benefits and detriments to certain groups of stakeholders in connection with the Business Combination:
| ● | SPAC: The SPAC Board determined that the Business Combination presents an attractive business opportunity in light of a variety of factors, including but not limited to the Company’s future business and financial condition and prospects, market opportunity, unique offering, experienced management team and attractive valuation. The SPAC Board also considered the potential detriments of the Business Combination to SPAC, including the uncertainty of potential benefits of the Business Combination being achieved, macroeconomic risks, and the risks and costs to SPAC if the Business Combination is not achieved, including the risk that it may result in SPAC being unable to complete a business combination and force SPAC to liquidate. For more information, see “— The SPAC Board’s Reasons for the Approval of the Business Combination,” and various risks described under the section entitled “Risk Factors.” |
| ● | Sponsor: The Sponsor expects to receive substantial consideration in the Business Combination, including the following securities: (i) 2,410,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 2,410,000 shares of Post- |
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| Domestication SPAC Common Stock held by the Sponsor at Closing (which is the result of the 7,187,500 Founder Shares originally purchased by the Sponsor prior to the IPO minus (i) 1,437,500 Founder Shares surrendered by the Sponsor prior to the IPO, (ii) 90,000 Founder Shares transferred to the three Independent Directors of SPAC in June 2024, (iii) 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares which will be used or forfeited, and (iv) 2,750,000 Founder Shares that will be forfeited by the Sponsor before the Domestication), which were initially purchased by the Sponsor prior to the SPAC IPO for an aggregate $25,000, of which 500,000 will be subject to vesting pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement as described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, (ii) 4,000,000 Pubco Private Warrants, and 4,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such warrants, which were in initially purchased by the Sponsor in a private placement that closed concurrently with the SPAC IPO for $1.00 per warrant, which will be assumed by Pubco at the time of the SPAC Merger. The Sponsor will also be entitled to continued indemnification by Pubco and the Company following the Closing pursuant to the terms of the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement. The Sponsor is also entitled to the repayment of any out-of-pocket expenses, advances or loans made by the Sponsor, of which approximately $3,000 is outstanding as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, and the payment of $20,000 per month by SPAC for providing office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement dated June 25, 2024, by and between SPAC and the Sponsor, of which $320,000 is accrued as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. For more information, see “— Compensation to be Received by the Sponsor and SPAC’s Officers and Directors in Connection with the Business Combination.” The Sponsor will only be able to realize a return on its investment in SPAC (which may be materially higher than the return realized by SPAC Public Shareholders) if SPAC completes a business combination. In addition, the Sponsor faces potential detriments from the Business Combination, including the possibility of litigation challenging the Business Combination or the Sponsor’s role in the Business Combination, and the risk that if the Business Combination is not achieved, SPAC may be unable to consummate a business combination and be forced to liquidate, resulting in the Sponsor’s investment being worthless. |
| ● |
| ● | SPAC Independent Directors: SPAC’s independent directors (Louis Bélanger-Martin, Kenneth Weinstein, and Fred Zeidman) each own 30,000 Founder Shares, which will be exchanged for 30,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock at Closing. Such persons have waived any claim against the Trust Account for redemption. Accordingly, in the event that SPAC liquidates, the SPAC independent directors may lose their entire investment. SPAC’s independent directors are also entitled to reimbursement for loans and advances to SPAC and for out-of-pocket expenses incurred related to identifying, negotiating, investigating and completing the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no such amounts were outstanding. In addition, the SPAC directors face potential additional detriments from the Business Combination, including the possibility of litigation challenging the Business Combination or such directors’ roles in the Business Combination. |
| ● | The Company: The Company Board determined that the Business Combination presents an attractive business opportunity in light of certain factors, including that the Business Combination will expand both the access to capital for the Company and the range of investors potentially available to the Company as a public company, and taking into account the Company’s expected cash resources and need for additional capital to fund its operations. Company equityholders (other than the Big3 Founders) are expected to own approximately 18.2% of the Pubco Common Stock outstanding and approximately 3.3% of the voting power of outstanding Pubco Common Stock (assuming the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, no Transaction Financing, the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, but including their pro rata portion of the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assuming the Company’s Cash Position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026) and without giving effect to any dilutive instruments). The Company Board also considered the potential detriments of the Business Combination to the Company, including the possibility that the Business Combination might not be completed in a timely manner or at all, the uncertainty of the potential benefits of the Business Combination being achieved, the costs involved in connection with completing the Business Combination, and the time and effort of the Company’s management required to complete the Business Combination. For more information, see “— Company’s Reasons for the Business Combination” and various risks described under the section entitled “Risk Factors.” |
| ● | Big3 Founders: As holders of Pubco Class B Common Stock, the Big3 Founders will have ten (10) votes per share of Pubco Class B Common Stock owned by them as of the Closing. The Big3 Founders are expected to be the only holders of Pubco Class B Common Stock immediately following the Closing. As a result, the Big3 Founders are expected to own, in the aggregate, 53.4% of the Pubco Common Stock outstanding and approximately 91.5% of the voting power of outstanding |
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| Pubco Common Stock (assuming the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, no Transaction Financing, the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, but including their pro rata portion of the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assuming the Company’s Cash Position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026) and without giving effect to any dilutive instruments). In addition, the Big3 Founders are expected to be executive officers and directors of Pubco after the Closing. As such, in the future, the Big3 Founders may receive such compensation, which may consist of cash or stock-based awards, and any other remuneration that the Pubco Board determines to pay to the executive officers and directors, including indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. |
| ● | Unaffiliated SPAC Public Shareholders: The unaffiliated SPAC Public Shareholders have the opportunity to evaluate and consider whether or not to redeem their SPAC Public Shares in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination. Non-redeeming SPAC Public Shareholders will have the opportunity to participate in the potential future growth of the Company, but may face a number of potential detriments in connection with their continued investment, including the uncertainties and risks identified by the SPAC Board described more fully in “— The SPAC Board’s Reasons for Approval of the Business Combination”, the various other risks associated with the Business Combination, the business of SPAC and the business of the Company, as described further under the section entitled “Risk Factors,” the potential conflicts of interest described under “— Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination,” and the potential material dilution they may experience as described more fully in the section entitled “Dilution.” Redeeming SPAC Public Shareholders have the opportunity to receive their pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account, less taxes paid and payable, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination. However, redeeming SPAC Public Shareholders face the potential of not realizing any future growth in value of the Company following the Business Combination. |
Satisfaction of 80% Test
At the time of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the SPAC Public Units, SPAC Public Shares, and SPAC Public Warrants were listed and trading on NYSE American. It is a requirement under NYSE American rules that SPAC completes one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of SPAC’s signing a definitive agreement in connection with its initial business combination.
As of the date of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the balance of funds in the Trust Account was approximately $249.2 million, including $9.8 million of deferred underwriting commissions payable and income earned on the Trust Account. 80% thereof was approximately $191.5 million. Based on the implied pre-money equity value of the Company of approximately $290 million as of the date of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the SPAC Board determined that such requirement was met. In light of the financial background and experience of the members of SPAC’s management team and the SPAC Board, the SPAC Board believes that the members of SPAC’s management team and the SPAC Board are qualified to determine whether the Business Combination meets the 80% test.
Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination
In considering the recommendation of the SPAC Board to vote in favor of approval of the Business Combination Proposal, the Domestication Proposal, the SPAC Merger Proposal, the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal, the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal, the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, and the Adjournment Proposal, shareholders should keep in mind that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that are different from or in addition to (and which may conflict with) the interests of unaffiliated SPAC Shareholders. Further, SPAC’s officers and directors have additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity, which are set forth in more detail in the section titled “Information Related to SPAC — Conflicts of Interest”. We believe there were no such opportunities that were not presented as a result of the existing fiduciary or contractual obligations of our officers and directors to other entities. The SPAC Board was aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Business Combination and Business Combination Agreement and in recommending to our shareholders that they vote in favor of the proposals to be presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, including the Business Combination Proposal. SPAC Shareholders should take these interests into account in deciding whether to
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approve the proposals presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting, including the Business Combination Proposal. These interests include, among other things:
| ● | the fact that the Sponsor originally acquired an aggregate of 7,187,500 Founder Shares which were purchased for an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, prior to the SPAC IPO. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. Of these 5,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor following the February 8, 2024 surrender, (i) 90,000 Founder Shares were transferred to the Independent Directors (30,000 Founder Shares each) on June 7, 2024, (ii) 2,750,000 Founder Shares will be forfeited and surrendered immediately before the Domestication, (iii) 500,000 Founder Shares may be transferred by the Sponsor, in its discretion, to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco and if not so transferred or used will be forfeited, and (iv) 500,000 of the Founder Shares will be subject to an earnout. The remaining Founder Shares are expected to have a significantly higher value at the time of the Business Combination than their original purchase price. At the Closing, the Sponsor and Independent Directors will hold an aggregate of 2,500,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the conversion of 2,500,000 Founder Shares, which if unrestricted and freely tradeable, would be valued at approximately $27.3 million, based on the $10.93 closing price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares on NYSE American on October 20, 2026. However, such shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will be subject to a lock-up described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. Additionally, pursuant to the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, Harraden has the option to receive Conversion Shares and is entitled to receive Issuance Warrants and Transferred Shares. The Issuance Warrants are identical to the SPAC Private Warrants held by the Sponsor. The Transferred Shares are to be transferred from the Sponsor to Harraden for each dollar funded by Harraden pursuant to the August Convertible Promissory Note. The Transferred Shares are subject to no transfer restrictions or any other lock-up provisions, earn outs, or other contingencies. Under both the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, in lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares, Issuance Warrants, and/or Transferred Shares, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy SPAC’s related obligations. The issuance and/or transfer of these securities is expected to reduce the post-Closing ownership percentage of the Sponsor. |
| ● | the fact that, as a result of the low purchase price paid for the Founder Shares, if the Business Combination is completed, the Sponsor and Independent Directors are likely to be able to make a substantial profit on its investment even at a time when the Pubco Class A Common Stock have lost significant value. Accordingly, the economic interests of the Sponsor and Independent Directors diverge from the economic interests of SPAC Public Shareholders because the Sponsor and Independent Directors will realize a gain on their investment from the completion of any business combination while SPAC Public Shareholders will realize a gain only if the post-closing trading price exceeds $10.00 per share; |
| ● | the fact that the Sponsor holds 4,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants, initially purchased for $1.00 per SPAC Private Warrant, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate, in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the closing of the SPAC IPO; such warrants will automatically be assumed by Pubco at the effective time of the SPAC Merger and will become Pubco Private Warrants exercisable for 4,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share. SPAC estimates that, at the Closing, if unrestricted and freely tradeable, such Pubco Warrants would be valued at approximately $1.0 million, based on the $0.25 closing price of the SPAC Public Warrants on NYSE American on October 20, 2026. However, such Pubco Warrants will be subject to a lock-up described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus; |
| ● | the fact that Sponsor and the Independent Directors and have waived their rights to redeem any SPAC Ordinary Shares held by them in connection with the shareholder vote to approve the Business Combination; |
| ● | the fact that, if SPAC were to liquidate rather than complete an initial business combination, the Sponsor will lose its entire investment in SPAC, which totals approximately $4,348,000 as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, comprising the $25,000 purchase price for the Founder Shares, the $4,000,000 purchase price for the SPAC Private Warrants purchased by Sponsor in a private placement concurrently with the SPAC IPO, and approximately $3,000 of other loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses, and $320,000 of accrued administrative services fees. However, if SPAC fails to consummate a business combination by the Business Combination Deadline and liquidates, such loans will not be converted into warrants and any loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses will only be repaid to the extent of any cash outside of the Trust Account. The potential loss of this investment may have incentivized Sponsor and its affiliates to pursue a business combination transaction on unfavorable terms in order to avoid a liquidation; |
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| ● | the fact that, if the Trust Account is liquidated, including in the event SPAC is unable to complete an initial business combination by the Business Combination Deadline, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to SPAC if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to SPAC, or a prospective target business with which SPAC has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per SPAC Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per SPAC Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per SPAC Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses; provided that such obligation will not apply to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable), any claims by SPAC’s independent registered public accounting firm, or any claims under the indemnity of the underwriters of the SPAC IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act; |
| ● | the fact that [●], a [director/officer] of SPAC, is expected to be a [director/officer] of Pubco after the Closing. As such, in the future, [●] may receive fees for his service to Pubco, which may consist of cash or stock-based awards, and any other remuneration that the Pubco Board determines to pay; |
| ● | the fact that, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Sponsor and Independent Directors will have customary registration rights, including demand and piggy-back rights, subject to cooperation and cut-back provisions with respect to the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants held by them following the consummation of the Business Combination. SPAC estimates that the Sponsor and Independent Directors will hold an aggregate of 2,500,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock, 4,000,000 Pubco Warrants, and 4,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying Pubco Warrants subject to registration rights; |
| ● | the fact that at or immediately prior to the Closing, if the Closing SPAC Cash is less than $100,000,000, the Sponsor must invest, or cause its affiliate or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing. To the extent that the Sponsor Investment is made in the form of equity or equity-linked securities, the Sponsor will receive such additional equity pursuant to such investment. The number of such potential equity interests will not be calculable until definitive agreements for any Sponsor Investment are entered into, if any; |
| ● | the fact that, pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement, commencing on June 25, 2024, through the earlier of consummation of the SPAC’s initial business combination and its liquidation, SPAC agreed to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor $20,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of the management team. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Company had outstanding accrued administrative support services fees of $320,000. Such amounts may not be recoverable if SPAC liquidates without completing an initial business combination; |
| ● | the fact that Pubco and the Company agreed to enter into the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement with Sponsor at the Closing, pursuant to which Pubco and the Company will indemnify, exonerate and hold harmless the Sponsor and the Sponsor Indemnified Persons from and against any and all Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities arising out of or relating to any pending or threatened action, cause of action, suit, litigation, investigation, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration or claim against any of them or in which any of them may be a participant or may otherwise be involved (including as a witness) that arise out of or relates to SPAC’s operations or conduct of its business, the Business Combination, and/or any claim against the Sponsor and/or a Sponsor Indemnified Person alleging any expressed or implied management, control or endorsement of any activities of SPAC, or any express or implied association with Pubco, Company, or SPAC, or any of their respective affiliates. The Sponsor Indemnification Agreement will not however apply to claims arising primarily out of (a) any breach by such Sponsor Indemnified Person of any other agreement between such Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and Company, Pubco or SPAC or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the other hand, or (b) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of such Sponsor Indemnified Person; and |
| ● | the continued indemnification of former and current directors and officers of SPAC and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
In addition, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our directors and officers have fiduciary, contractual or similar legal obligations to other entities, which may require our directors and officers to present a business combination opportunity to such other entity and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity, subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Cayman law. We
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believe, however, that there were no such corporate opportunities presented to our directors and officers which were not presented to SPAC, and therefore that our directors’ and officers’ additional fiduciary, contractual, or similar legal obligations to other entities did not impact our search for a business combination target. For more information, see “Information About SPAC — Conflicts of Interest.”
Compensation to be Received by the Sponsor and SPAC’s Officers and Directors in Connection with the Business Combination
Set forth below is a summary of the amount of compensation and securities received or to be received by the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors in connection with the Business Combination.
| | Securities to be Received | | Other Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Sponsor | | 2,410,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 2,410,000 Founder Shares in the SPAC Merger. On November 24, 2021, the Sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 for 7,187,500 Founder Shares, or approximately $0.003 per share. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. Of these 5,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor following the February 8, 2024 surrender, (i) 90,000 Founder Shares were transferred to three independent directors (30,000 Founder Shares each) on June 7, 2024, (ii) 2,750,000 Founder Shares will be forfeited and surrendered immediately before the Domestication, (iii) 500,000 Founder Shares may be transferred by the Sponsor, in its discretion, to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco, and (iv) 500,000 of the Founder Shares will be subject to an earnout provision. 4,000,000 Pubco Private Warrants upon the assumption of 4,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants. | | $20,000 per month through the Closing for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services provided by the Sponsor to members of the SPAC management team. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, $320,000 of accrued administrative services fees was outstanding. Indemnification by Pubco and Company pursuant to the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement, and coverage under Pubco’s directors’ and officer’s insurance policy pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement. |
James A. Graf | | See “Sponsor” above. Mr. Graf may be deemed to control the Sponsor. | | Reimbursement for loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, $3,000 was outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
Louis Bélanger-Martin | | 30,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 30,000 Founder Shares. | | Reimbursement for loans and advances to SPAC and for out-of-pocket expenses incurred related to identifying, negotiating, investigating and completing the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no such amounts were outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
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| | Securities to be Received | | Other Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kenneth Weinstein | | 30,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 30,000 Founder Shares. | | Reimbursement for loans and advances to SPAC and for out-of-pocket expenses incurred related to identifying, negotiating, investigating and completing the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no such amounts were outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
Fred S. Zeidman | | 30,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 30,000 Founder Shares. | | Reimbursement for loans and advances to SPAC and for out-of-pocket expenses incurred related to identifying, negotiating, investigating and completing the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no such amounts were outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
None of the funds in the Trust Account will be used to compensate our directors. However, as detailed above, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations, as discussed above. The reimbursement of expenses and advances to the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors may result in a material dilution of the equity interests of non-redeeming SPAC Public Shareholders.
Company Board’s Reasons for the Business Combination
In the course of reaching its decision to approve the Business Combination, the Company Board consulted with the Company’s senior management and legal counsel and considered a wide variety of factors. Ultimately, the Company Board concluded that the Business Combination represented the best option to generate capital resources to support the growth and advancement of the Company’s business.
Factors the Company Board considered included the following (which factors are not necessarily presented in any order of relative importance):
| ● | Expanded Access to Capital. The Company Board believes that becoming a publicly traded company may enhance access to capital, including potential proceeds, if any, available at Closing from the Trust Account after redemptions and from potential financing to help fund the Company’s operations and growth strategy following the Closing. |
| ● | Value Creation for Existing Shareholders. The Company Board believes that the Business Combination provides existing Company equityholders with the opportunity to obtain and hold publicly traded equity securities of Pubco, allowing them to participate in the potential future growth of the combined company following the Closing, while retaining a significant ownership stake in Pubco. |
| ● | Strategic Growth Drivers. The Company Board considered the Company’s numerous growth drivers, including the recent inclusion of 3x3 basketball in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the Company’s continuing broadcast partnership with CBS, growing sponsorship and media revenue, and opportunities to expand into additional markets, including internationally, each of which the Company Board believes the additional capital resources and public company platform resulting from the Business Combination will help the Company pursue. |
| ● | Cash Position After the Business Combination. The Company Board considered the anticipated cash resources available to Pubco following the Closing, including funds expected to be available from the Trust Account after giving effect to any redemptions, together with the proceeds of any financing, and the Company Board’s belief that such resources, combined |
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| with cash generated from the Company’s ongoing operations, would provide Pubco with capital to fund its growth strategy and working capital needs following the Closing. |
| ● | Creation of Liquidity for Company Existing Equityholders. The Company Board considered that the Business Combination is expected to provide the Company’s existing equityholders with liquidity by converting their current equity interests in a privately held company into shares of publicly traded common stock of Pubco, which, subject to applicable lock-up and other transfer restrictions, may be sold following the Closing. |
| ● | Increased Market Awareness of Big3 Brand. The Company Board considered that becoming a publicly traded company is expected to increase the visibility and awareness of the Company’s brand among fans, media partners, sponsors and other stakeholders, which the Company Board believes may enhance the Company’s ability to attract and retain sponsorship, media and licensing opportunities and continue to grow its fan base. |
| ● | The Company Board’s Assessment of the Existing Competition. The Company Board considered the competitive landscape in which the Company operates, including competition from other professional and collegiate basketball leagues and other sports and entertainment properties for fan attention, sponsorship dollars and media rights, and the Company Board’s belief that the Company’s differentiated 3x3 format, brand recognition and roster of players position it to compete effectively, including as a public company with access to additional capital resources. |
| ● | The Company Board’s Existing Fiduciary Duty. The Company Board considered its fiduciary duties to the Company and its equityholders, including its obligation to evaluate the Business Combination as compared to other strategic alternatives reasonably available to the Company, such as remaining a privately held company or pursuing alternative financing or business combination transactions, and concluded that the Business Combination represented the best alternative reasonably available to the Company to maximize value for its equityholders. |
| ● | Continued Control by the Company. The Company Board considered that, upon the Closing, the Company’s existing equityholders are expected to hold a substantial portion of the outstanding equity interests of Pubco, and that the Company’s founders and existing management are expected to continue to exercise significant influence over the management and strategic direction of Pubco following the Closing. |
| ● | Company’s Executive Management and Personnel. The Company Board considered the experience, industry knowledge and continuity provided by the Company’s existing management team, including Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer O’Shea Jackson Sr. (Ice Cube) and Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Jeffrey Kwatinetz, each of whom is expected to continue to lead the Company following the Closing, and the Company Board’s belief that this continuity of leadership will facilitate a smooth transition to operating as a public company. |
| ● | The Likelihood Pubco will Obtain a Stock Exchange Listing. The Company Board considered the likelihood that Pubco will satisfy the applicable initial listing requirements of the NYSE in connection with the Closing, and the anticipated benefits to the Company’s equityholders of holding shares of a company listed on a national securities exchange, including increased liquidity and visibility. |
| ● | The Terms of the Business Combination Agreement. The Company Board reviewed and considered the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement, including the aggregate Merger Consideration payable to the Company’s equityholders and the potential for additional Earnout Shares upon the achievement of certain post-Closing milestones, and the Company Board’s belief, following arm’s-length negotiations with SPAC, that such terms were fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its equityholders. |
| ● | The Conditions and Obligations of SPAC. The Company Board considered the conditions to the parties’ obligations to consummate the Business Combination, including the requirement that SPAC have available at least $50,000,000 in cash proceeds from the Trust Account and any transaction financing, the requirement that Pubco’s securities be approved for listing on a national securities exchange, and the Company Board’s assessment of the likelihood that these and the other closing conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement would be satisfied. |
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| ● | The Timeliness of a Successful Business Combination. The Company Board considered the anticipated timing of the Business Combination, including the expectation that the Closing would occur in the fourth quarter of 2026, and the importance of completing the Business Combination in a timely manner in order to capitalize on the Company’s current business momentum, including its ongoing season and the recent announcement of the inclusion of 3x3 basketball in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. |
The Company Board also considered a number of uncertainties and risks in its consideration of the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, including the following:
| ● | Potential Adverse Effects of Public Announcement. The possibility that the Business Combination might not be completed and the potential adverse effect of the public announcement of the Business Combination on the reputation of Company and the ability of Company to obtain financing in the future in the event that the Business Combination is not completed. |
| ● | The Risks of the SPAC Board Changing their Recommendation. The possibility that the SPAC Board could, under certain circumstances, change its recommendation that SPAC Shareholders vote in favor of the Proposals. |
| ● | Failure to Complete the Business Combination in a Timely Manner. The risk that the Business Combination might not be consummated in a timely manner or at all, for a variety of reasons, such as the failure of SPAC to obtain the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval. |
| ● | The Costs Incurred as a Result of Pursuing the Business Combination. The costs involved in connection with completing the Business Combination, the time and effort of Company personnel required to complete the Business Combination, the related disruptions or potential disruptions to Company’s business operations and future prospects and related administrative challenges associated with combining the companies. |
| ● | The Costs Associated with being a Public Company. The additional expenses and obligations to Company’s business that may result from being a public company and to which Company has not previously been subject. |
| ● | Various Other Risks. Various other risks associated with Pubco and the Business Combination, including the risks described in the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Risk Factors.” |
The foregoing information is not intended to be exhaustive, but is believed to include a summary of the material factors considered by the Company Board in its consideration of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Business Combination. After conducting an overall analysis of these and other factors, the Company Board concluded that the benefits, advantages and opportunities of a potential transaction outweighed the uncertainties and risks described above. Based on this overall analysis of the factors described above, the Company Board unanimously approved the Business Combination Agreement, the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
Interests of the Company and Company’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination
When you consider the recommendation of the SPAC Board in favor of Proposals, you should keep in mind that Company’s directors and officers have interests in the Business Combination that are different from or in addition to (and which may conflict with) those of Company equityholders and SPAC Shareholders generally. These interests include, among other things, those listed below:
| ● | Management Following the Business Combination. As described in the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Management of Pubco Following the Business Combination,” [●] are expected to hold these respective positions with Pubco upon the Closing. |
| ● | Compensation and Benefits. As described in the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Executive and Director Compensation of the Company,” certain members of the Company Board and Company’s executive officers are entitled to or are expected to receive, compensation and benefits in connection with their service to Company and Pubco. |
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| ● | Limitations of Liability, Indemnification and Insurance. The Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws will contain indemnification obligations pursuant to which Pubco’s directors and executive officers are indemnified against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred in connection with any action or proceeding brought against them by reason of the fact that they are or were agents of Pubco. Pubco believes the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws provisions are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. For a discussion of the indemnification and insurance provisions related to Pubco directors and officers under the Business Combination Agreement, please see the section of this proxy statement/prospectus titled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The Business Combination Agreement — Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.” |
Anticipated Accounting Treatment for the Business Combination
The Business Combination will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, although SPAC will acquire all of the outstanding equity interests of the Company in the Business Combination, SPAC will be treated as the “acquired” company and the Company will be treated as the accounting acquirer for financial statement reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Business Combination will be treated as the equivalent of the Company issuing stock for the net assets of SPAC, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of SPAC will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Business Combination will be those of the Company.
The Company has been determined to be the accounting acquirer based on evaluation of the following facts and circumstances under both the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and the 100% Redemptions Scenario:
| ● | The Company’s equityholders will have the greatest voting interest in the Pubco; |
| ● | The Company’s equityholders will have the ability to control decisions regarding election and removal of directors and officers of the Pubco; |
| ● | The Company will comprise the ongoing operations of the Pubco; and |
| ● | The Company’s existing senior management will be the senior management of the Pubco. |
See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” for more information.
The Business Combination Agreement
This section of the proxy statement/prospectus describes the material provisions of the Business Combination Agreement, but does not purport to describe all of the terms of the Business Combination Agreement. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Business Combination Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex A hereto. You are urged to read carefully the Business Combination Agreement in its entirety because it is the primary legal document that governs the Business Combination. The legal rights and obligations of the parties to the Business Combination Agreement are governed by the specific language of the Business Combination Agreement, and not this summary. For the purposes of this section “The Business Combination Agreement”, capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Business Combination Agreement.
The Business Combination Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants that the respective parties made to each other as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement or other specific dates. The assertions embodied in those representations, warranties and covenants were made for purposes of the contract among the respective parties and are subject to important qualifications and limitations agreed to by the parties in connection with negotiating the Business Combination Agreement. The representations, warranties and covenants in the Business Combination Agreement are also modified in important part by the underlying disclosure schedules, which are referred to herein as the “Schedules,” which are not filed publicly and which are subject to a contractual standard of materiality different from that generally applicable to shareholders and were used for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties rather than establishing matters as facts. Pubco, SPAC and the Company do not believe that the Schedules contain information that is material to an investment decision. Moreover, certain representations and warranties in the Business Combination Agreement may, may not have been or may not be, as applicable, accurate as of any specific date and do not purport to be accurate as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. Accordingly, no person should rely on the representations
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and warranties in the Business Combination Agreement or the summaries thereof in this proxy statement/prospectus as characterizations of the actual state of facts about Pubco, SPAC or the Company or any other matter.
Representations and Warranties
The Business Combination Agreement contains representations and warranties of the Company, SPAC, SPAC Merger Sub, Company Merger Sub and Pubco, certain of which are qualified by materiality and material adverse effect and knowledge and, as applicable, are further modified and limited by the Schedules. The representations and warranties of SPAC are also qualified by information included in SPAC’s SEC Reports that are available on the SEC’s website through EDGAR.
Representations and Warranties of the Company
Under the Business Combination Agreement, the Company has made customary representations and warranties (on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries) to SPAC relating to, among other things, organization and standing, due authorization to execute and deliver the Business Combination Agreement and ancillary documents, capitalization, company subsidiaries, governmental approvals and consents required in connection with the execution, non-contravention of organizational documents, applicable laws or certain agreements and instruments and the absence of liens as a result of entering into the Business Combination Agreement or the ancillary documents or consummating the Business Combination, delivery and performance of the Business Combination Agreement and ancillary documents, financial statements, absence of certain changes, compliance with laws, permits, litigation, material contracts, intellectual property, taxes and returns, matters relating to real property and personal property, title to and sufficiency of assets, employee matters, benefit plans, compliance in all material respects with environmental laws, transactions with related persons, insurance, books and records, material customers and suppliers, data protection and cybersecurity matters, compliance with applicable anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws and certain business practices, the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), finders’ and brokers’ fees, acknowledgement of no further representations and warranties and no misleading information supplied.
The warranties of the Company identified as fundamental under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement are those made pursuant to the following sections of the Business Combination Agreement: Section 5.1 (Organization and Standing), Section 5.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement), Section 5.3(a) (other than the first sentence thereof) (Capitalization), Section 5.3(b) (Capitalization), Section 5.4 (Subsidiaries), Section 5.6 (Non-Contravention) and Section 5.28 (Finders and Brokers).
Representations and Warranties of the Company, Pubco, the SPAC Merger Sub and the Company Merger Sub
Under the Business Combination Agreement, each of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub has made, jointly and severally, customary representations and warranties to SPAC relating to, among other things, organization and standing, due authorization to execute and deliver the Business Combination Agreement and ancillary documents, governmental approvals, non-contravention of organizational documents, applicable laws or certain agreements and instruments and the absence of liens as a result of entering into the Business Combination Agreement or the ancillary documents or consummating the Business Combination, ownership of Pubco Common Stock, capitalization, Pubco and Company Merger Sub activities and acknowledgement of no further representations and warranties and no misleading information supplied.
Representations and Warranties of SPAC
Under the Business Combination Agreement, SPAC has made customary representations and warranties to the Company and Pubco relating to, among other things, organization and standing, due authorization to execute and deliver the Business Combination Agreement and ancillary documents, governmental approvals and consents required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Business Combination Agreement and ancillary documents, non-contravention of organizational documents, applicable laws or certain agreements and instruments and the absence of liens as a result of entering into the Business Combination Agreement, capitalization, Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) filings, financial statements, absence of certain changes, compliance with laws, actions, orders and permits, taxes and returns, employees and employee benefit plans, properties, material contracts, transactions with affiliates, the Investment Company Act, finders’ and brokers’ fees, compliance with applicable anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws and certain business practices, the Trust Account of SPAC, acknowledgement of no further representations and warranties and no misleading information supplied.
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The warranties of SPAC identified as fundamental under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement are those made pursuant to the following sections of the Business Combination Agreement: Section 3.1 (Organization and Standing), Section 3.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement), Section 3.4 (Non-Contravention), Section 3.5(a) (other than the first sentence thereof) (Capitalization), Section 3.5(c) (Capitalization) and Section 3.16 (Finders and Brokers).
Survival of Representations and Warranties
No representations and warranties of the Company, SPAC, Pubco or SPAC Merger Sub or Company Merger Sub contained in the Business Combination Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations and warranties, will survive the Closing (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement).
Material Adverse Effect
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, a material adverse effect (a “Material Adverse Effect”) means, with respect to any specified person, any fact, event, occurrence, change or effect that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect upon (a) the business, assets, Liabilities, results of operations, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of such person and its subsidiaries (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of such person or any of its subsidiaries on a timely basis to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement or the Ancillary Documents (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) to which it is a party or bound or to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder; provided, however, that for purposes of clause (a) above, any changes or effects directly or indirectly attributable to, resulting from, relating to or arising out of the following (by themselves or when aggregated with any other changes or effects) shall not be deemed to be, constitute, or be taken into account when determining whether there has or may, would or could have occurred a Material Adverse Effect: (i) general changes in the financial or securities markets or general economic or political conditions in the country or region in which such person or any of its subsidiaries do business; (ii) changes, conditions or effects that generally affect the industries in which such person or any of its subsidiaries principally operate; (iii) changes in GAAP or other applicable accounting principles or mandatory changes in the regulatory accounting requirements applicable to any industry in which such person and its subsidiaries principally operate; (iv) conditions caused by acts of God, terrorism, war (whether or not declared), earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wild fires, weather conditions, natural or man-made disasters, emergencies, calamities, epidemics, pandemics, disease outbreaks, other acts of God or other force majeure events in the United States or other political conditions or natural disasters; (v) any failure in and of itself by such person and its subsidiaries to meet any internal or published budgets, projections, forecasts or predictions of financial performance for any period (provided that the underlying cause of any such failure may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent not excluded by another exception herein) and (vi), with respect to SPAC, the consummation and effects of the redemption (or any redemption in connection with the Extension); provided further, however, that any event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change referred to in clauses (i) - (iv) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur to the extent that such event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change has a disproportionate effect on such person or any of its subsidiaries compared to other participants in the industries in which such person or any of its subsidiaries primarily conducts its businesses.
Covenants
Conduct of Business by the Company
Unless SPAC shall otherwise consent in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the Interim Period (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), except as expressly contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement or the Ancillary Documents or as set forth on the Disclosure Schedules, the Company shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to (i) conduct their respective businesses, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) comply with all laws applicable to the Target Companies (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and their respective businesses, assets and employees, and (iii) take all commercially reasonable measures necessary or appropriate to preserve intact, in all material respects, their respective business organizations, to keep available the services of their respective managers, directors, officers, employees and consultants, and to preserve the possession, control and condition of their respective material assets, all as consistent with past practice.
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During the Interim Period, the Company has also agreed not to, and to cause its subsidiaries not to, except as otherwise contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the ancillary documents, the Schedules or as required by applicable law, or as consented to by SPAC in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed):
| ● | amend, waive or otherwise change, in any respect, its organizational documents, except as required by applicable law; |
| ● | authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any of its equity securities or any options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any of its equity securities, or other securities, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its shares or other equity securities or securities of any class and any other equity-based awards, or engage in any hedging transaction with a third person with respect to such securities; provided, that the foregoing shall not apply to (x) equity or equity-linked financings entered into by the Company providing operating capital in an aggregate amount up to $20,000,000 pursuant to which any such equity issued or issuable would convert into Merger Consideration (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) (“Bridge Financing”) or (y) amendments solely to extend the exercise period of outstanding Company Warrants by a period not exceeding five (5) years after the period of their original exercise period; |
| ● | split, reverse split, combine, subdivide, exchange, recapitalize or reclassify any of its shares or other equity interests or issue any other securities in respect thereof or pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, equity or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its equity interests, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any of its securities; |
| ● | incur, create, assume, prepay or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) (directly, contingently or otherwise) in excess of $300,000 individually or in the aggregate, make a loan or advance to or investment in any third party (other than advancement of expenses to employees in the ordinary course of business), or guarantee or endorse any Indebtedness, Liability or obligation of any person in excess of $300,000 individually or in the aggregate; |
| ● | (a) increase the wages, salaries, compensation, or benefits of its employees other than in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, and in any event not in the aggregate by more than five percent (5%), (b) fund or commit to fund any Company Benefit Plan (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), or make or commit to make any bonus, retention, transaction, severance, or other payment (whether in cash, property or securities) to any employee or other service provider, (c) increase compensation or other benefits of employees generally, or grant, announce (or promise to grant or announce), accelerate (or promise to accelerate) the vesting, funding, lapsing of restrictions or payment or in any way amend, modify, terminate or supplement the terms of any equity or equity-based or phantom equity award, or Company Benefit Plan, (d) forgive any loans or issue any loans to any employee, director, officer, or individual service provider (other than in connection with a qualified retirement plan, as applicable), (e) hire any new employee or engage any new independent contractor (who is a natural person) with annual cash compensation in excess of $250,000, (f) enter into, establish, materially amend or terminate any Company Benefit Plan (except for the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan) with, for or in respect of any current or former consultant, officer, manager director or employee, or (g) implement any layoffs of any employees of any Target Company in a manner that would trigger the WARN Act, in each case other than as required by applicable law, pursuant to the terms of any Company Benefit Plans or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
| ● | enter into, or make any commitment to enter into, adopt, or engage in any negotiations regarding, or terminate any collective bargaining agreement with respect to any of the Target Companies’ employees, except as required under the terms of any collective bargaining agreement in effect on the date hereof; |
| ● | make or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, settle any claim, action, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or controversy relating to Taxes, file any amended tax return or claim for refund, or make any material change in its accounting or Tax policies or procedures, in each case except as required by applicable law or in compliance with GAAP; |
| ● | transfer or license to any person or otherwise extend, materially amend or modify, permit to lapse or fail to preserve any material Company Registered IP, Company IP Licenses or other Company IP (excluding non-exclusive licenses of Company IP to Target Company customers in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), or disclose to any person who has not entered into a confidentiality agreement any trade secrets; |
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| ● | terminate, or waive or assign any material right under, any Company Material Contract (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) or enter into any contract that would be a Company Material Contract, in any case outside of the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
| ● | fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
| ● | fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain or renew any permits necessary for the conduct of the businesses of the Target Companies as currently conducted; |
| ● | establish any subsidiary or enter into any new line of business; |
| ● | fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep in force insurance policies or replacement or revised policies providing insurance coverage with respect to its assets, operations and activities in such amount and scope of coverage as are currently in effect; |
| ● | revalue any of its material assets or make any change in accounting methods, principles or practices, except to the extent required to comply with GAAP and after consulting with the Company’s outside auditors; |
| ● | other than as set forth in Schedule 6.2(b)(xv) of the Business Combination Agreement, waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim, action or proceeding (including any suit, action, claim, proceeding or investigation relating to the Business Combination Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby), other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that involve only the payment of monetary damages (and not the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, a Target Company or its affiliates) not in excess of $100,000 (individually or in the aggregate), or otherwise pay, discharge or satisfy any Actions, Liabilities or obligations, unless such amount has been reserved in the Company Financials (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); |
| ● | close or materially reduce its activities, or effect any layoff or other personnel reduction or change, at any of its facilities; |
| ● | acquire, including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other form of business combination, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, other business organization or any division thereof, or any material amount of assets outside the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
| ● | make capital expenditures in excess of $500,000 (individually for any project (or set of related projects) or $1,000,000 in the aggregate), except for those expenditures set forth on Schedule 6.2(b)(xvii) of the Business Combination Agreement; |
| ● | adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization; |
| ● | voluntarily incur any Liability or obligation (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) in excess of $250,000 individually or $1,000,000 in the aggregate other than pursuant to the terms of a Company Material Contract or Company Benefit Plan; |
| ● | sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber (including securitizations), or otherwise dispose of any material portion of its properties, assets or rights; |
| ● | enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to the voting of equity securities of any Target Company; |
| ● | take any action that would reasonably be expected to significantly delay or impair the obtaining of any consents of any Governmental Authority (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) to be obtained in connection with the Business Combination Agreement; |
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| ● | accelerate the collection of any trade receivables or delay the payment of trade payables or any other liabilities other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
| ● | enter into, amend, waive or terminate (other than terminations in accordance with their terms) any transaction with any Related Person (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) (other than compensation and benefits and advancement of expenses, in each case, provided in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice); or |
| ● | authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing actions. |
Conduct of Business of SPAC
Unless the Company otherwise consents in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the Interim Period, except as expressly contemplated by the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, the Schedules or the Ancillary Documents, SPAC shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, (i) conduct their respective businesses, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) comply with all laws applicable to SPAC and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses, assets and employees, and (iii) take all commercially reasonable measures necessary or appropriate to preserve intact, in all material respects, their respective business organizations, to keep available the services of their respective managers, directors, officers, employees and consultants, and to preserve the possession, control and condition of their respective material assets, all as consistent with past practice.
The SPAC shall not be, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Business Combination Agreement, prohibited or restricted from (i) extending, in accordance with the SPAC Organizational Documents and the IPO Prospectus, the deadline by which it must complete its Business Combination (an “Extension”); (ii) incurring costs and expenses in connection with the Extension; (iii) approving any other matters required in connection with the Extension and (iv) redeeming the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares held by its SPAC Public Shareholders as those SPAC Public Shareholders request in connection with the Extension pursuant to SPAC Organizational Documents.
During the Interim Period, SPAC has also agreed not to, except as otherwise contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, any ancillary documents, the disclosure schedules of SPAC or as required by applicable law or as consented to by the Company in writing (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed):
| ● | amend, waive or otherwise change, in any respect, its SPAC Organizational Documents except as required by applicable law; |
| ● | authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any of its equity securities or any options, warrants, restricted stock units, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any of its equity securities, or other securities, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its equity securities or other security interests of any class and any other equity-based awards, or engage in any hedging transaction with a third person with respect to such securities; provided that nothing in the Business Combination Agreement shall prevent SPAC from entering into any Transaction Financing (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) pursuant to Section 6.20 of the Business Combination Agreement or from converting any SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares to SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares; |
| ● | split, reverse split, combine, subdivide, exchange, recapitalize or reclassify any of its shares or other equity interests or issue any other securities in respect thereof or pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, equity or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its shares or other equity interests, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any of its securities; |
| ● | incur, create, assume, prepay or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise) in excess of $500,000 in the aggregate, make a loan or advance to or investment in any third party, or guarantee or endorse any Indebtedness, Liability or obligation of any person (provided, that Section 6.3(b)(iv) of the Business Combination Agreement shall not prevent SPAC from borrowing up to $1,000,000 to finance its ordinary course administrative costs and expenses and Expenses (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) incurred in connection with the consummation of the Domestication, Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (including any Transaction Financing) and the costs and expenses necessary for an Extension); |
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| ● | make or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, settle any claim, action, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or controversy relating to Taxes, file any amended tax return or claim for refund, or make any material change in its accounting or Tax policies or procedures, in each case except as required by applicable law or in compliance with GAAP; |
| ● | amend, waive or otherwise change the Trust Agreement in any manner adverse to SPAC; |
| ● | terminate, waive or assign any material right under any SPAC material contract; |
| ● | fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
| ● | establish any subsidiary or enter into any new line of business; |
| ● | fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep in force insurance policies or replacement or revised policies providing insurance coverage with respect to its assets, operations and activities in such amount and scope of coverage substantially similar to that which is currently in effect; |
| ● | revalue any of its material assets or make any material change in accounting methods, principles or practices, except to the extent required to comply with GAAP and after consulting SPAC’s outside auditors; |
| ● | waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim, action or proceeding (including any Action relating to the Business Combination Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby), other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that involve only the payment of monetary damages (and not the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, SPAC or its subsidiary) not in excess of $100,000 (individually or in the aggregate), or otherwise pay, discharge or satisfy any Actions, Liabilities or obligations, unless such amount has been reserved in SPAC financials; |
| ● | acquire, including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other form of business combination, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, other business organization or any division thereof, or any material amount of assets outside the ordinary course of business; |
| ● | make capital expenditures in excess of $100,000 individually for any project (or set of related projects) or $250,000 in the aggregate (excluding for the avoidance of doubt, incurring any Expenses); |
| ● | adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization (other than with respect to the Domestication and the Mergers); |
| ● | sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber (including securitizations), or otherwise dispose of any material portion of its properties, assets or rights; |
| ● | enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to the voting of SPAC Securities (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); |
| ● | take any action that would reasonably be expected to significantly delay or impair the obtaining of any consents of any Governmental Authority to be obtained in connection with the Business Combination Agreement; or |
| ● | authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing actions. |
Other Covenants of the Company
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the Company has agreed, among other things, to deliver to SPAC: (i) audited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for each of the twelve (12) months ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025, consisting of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and December 31,
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2025, and the related audited consolidated income statement, changes in members’ equity and statement of cash flows for the twelve (12) months then ended, and the related notes thereto, audited by a PCAOB qualified auditor in accordance with PCAOB auditing standards (collectively, the “Audited Financials”) as soon as practicable after the date of the Business Combination Agreement, but no later than sixty (60) days after the date of the Business Combination Agreement, (ii) within thirty (30) calendar days following the end of each calendar month, each three-month quarterly period and each fiscal year, an unaudited condensed consolidated income statement and an unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Target Companies for the period from December 31, 2025 through the end of such calendar month, quarterly period or fiscal year and the applicable comparative period in the preceding fiscal year, in each case accompanied by a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to the effect that all such financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Target Companies as of the date or for the periods indicated, in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments, (iii) the audited financial statements of Pubco and its subsidiaries as of a date to be determined in Pubco’s reasonable discretion, consisting of the audited consolidated balance sheet as of such date, together with the auditor’s report thereon, audited by a PCAOB qualified auditor in accordance with PCAOB auditing standards (the “Pubco Financials”), and (iv) an estimate of the cash position of the Company as of the Company Merger Effective Time. In addition, the Company shall (i) use reasonable best efforts to obtain the written consent or approval of each holder of a Note (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) for the conversion of the Notes into Company Interests prior to Closing, (ii) must obtain and fully pay the premium for a tail insurance policy providing coverage for up to a six-year period after the Closing, (iii) must use reasonable best efforts to ensure that, immediately after Closing and after giving effect to the Transactions, neither Pubco nor any of its subsidiaries will be a person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company” or required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act, and shall (iv) not, while in the possession of material non-public information, purchase or sell any securities of SPAC (other than in connection with the Mergers), communicate such information to any third party, take any other action with respect to SPAC in violation of applicable securities laws, or cause or encourage any third party to do the same.
Other Covenants of SPAC
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, SPAC has agreed, among other things, to: (i) keep current and timely file all of its public filings with the SEC (after giving effect to all applicable extension periods) and otherwise comply in all material respects with applicable securities laws and shall use commercially reasonable efforts prior to the Closing to maintain the listing of SPAC Public Units, SPAC Public Shares, and SPAC Public Warrants on the NYSE American; (ii) shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with the SPAC Organizational Documents and the Companies Act for a date no later than thirty (30) days following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) or as otherwise agreed upon by SPAC and the Company and (iii) terminate certain agreements.
Joint Covenants
The Business Combination Agreement also contains certain other covenants and agreements made among the various parties, including that each of the parties will use its commercially reasonable efforts, and will cooperate fully with the other parties, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate the Transactions and to comply as promptly as practicable with all requirements of governmental authorities applicable to the Transactions, including using its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) prepare and promptly file all documentation to effect all necessary filings, notices, petitions, statements, registrations, submissions of information, applications and other documents, (ii) obtain any consents of Governmental Authorities or other third persons as may be necessary for the consummation by such party or its (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) of the Transactions or required as a result of the execution or performance of, or consummation of the Transactions by such party or its affiliates, and (iii) execute and deliver any additional instruments necessary to consummate the Transactions.
Furthermore, the Business Combination Agreement contains additional customary covenants and agreements among the various parties pertaining to, among other matters:
| ● | taking all necessary action within its power so that, with effect from the Closing, the board of directors of Pubco is comprised of up to seven members of which (A) one shall be designated by SPAC, who shall be required to qualify as an independent director under Stock Exchange (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) rules, (B) up to six designated by the Company, after consultation with SPAC, with at least such number of the directors designated pursuant to sub-clause (B) required to qualify as independent directors under Stock Exchange (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) rules; |
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| ● | the preparation and filing of this registration statement on Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) included herein (and any amendments and supplements) for the purpose of soliciting proxies from SPAC Shareholders for the matters to be acted upon at the Extraordinary General Meeting and providing SPAC Shareholders an opportunity to exercise their redemption rights; |
| ● | confidentiality and public release, filing, announcement and other communications regarding the Business Combination Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby and related matters; |
| ● | promptly giving notice to the other party of any action related to the Business Combination Agreement or the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, keeping the other party reasonably informed with respect to its status; |
| ● | development of the terms of a new equity incentive plan to be adopted by Pubco no later than the effective date of the Registration Statement, the total size of which shall equal 10% of the sum of (x) the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock to be issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing and (y) the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion, exercise, or exchange of convertible, exercisable, or exchangeable securities outstanding immediately after the Closing, and which shall include an evergreen provision providing for an automatic annual increase of 5%; |
| ● | director and officer indemnification; |
| ● | entering into financing agreements with accredited investors for one or more Transaction Financings by Pubco and each of Pubco, SPAC and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions required, necessary or otherwise deemed to be proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Financing Agreements; |
| ● | making required antitrust filings as promptly as reasonably practicable; |
| ● | cooperating in all respects with each other party in connection with any filing or submission and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry and to reasonably cooperate with each other to prepare and file with Governmental Authorities requests for approval that are required in connection with the Transactions and shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to have such Governmental Authorities approve the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement as may be required; and |
| ● | cooperating to cause the Transactions to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), and to not take any action that could reasonably be expected to fail to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment. |
Exclusivity
Each party to the Business Combination Agreement has agreed that during the Interim Period, each party will not, without the prior written consent of the Company and SPAC, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, assist, initiate or facilitate the making, submission or announcement of, or intentionally encourage, any Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), (ii) furnish any non-public information regarding such party or its affiliates or their respective businesses, operations, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects or employees to any person or group (other than a party to the Business Combination Agreement or their respective representatives) in connection with or in response to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) engage or participate in discussions or negotiations with any person or group with respect to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, (iv) approve, endorse or recommend, or publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, or otherwise change, withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, or publicly propose to change, withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, SPAC Board Recommendation (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) (in the case of SPAC) or the Seller Written Consent or the Company’s recommendation therefor (in the case of the Company), (v) negotiate or enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement related to any Acquisition Proposal, (vi) release any third person from, or waive any provision of, any confidentiality agreement to which such party is a party or (vii) agree or resolve to do any of the foregoing. Each party shall notify the others as promptly as practicable (and in any event within 48 hours) in writing of the receipt by such party or any of its representatives of (i) any bona fide inquiries, proposals or offers, requests for information or
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requests for discussions or negotiations regarding or constituting any Acquisition Proposal or any bona fide inquiries, proposals or offers, requests for information or requests for discussions or negotiations that would reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, and (ii) any request for non-public information relating to such party or its affiliates in connection with any Acquisition Proposal, specifying in each case, the material terms and conditions thereof (including a copy thereof if in writing or a written summary thereof if oral), as applicable, and the identity of the party making such inquiry, proposal, offer or request for information. Each party shall keep the others promptly informed of the status of any such inquiries, proposals, offers or requests for information. During the Interim Period, each party shall, and shall cause its representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any solicitations, discussions or negotiations with any person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal and shall, and shall direct its representatives to, cease and terminate any such solicitations, discussions or negotiations.
Conditions to Closing
The respective obligations of each party to consummate the Transactions, including the Mergers, are subject to the satisfaction, or written waiver (where permissible), by the Company and SPAC of the following conditions:
| ● | SPAC’s shareholders having approved and adopted the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); |
| ● | any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Business Combination Agreement under any antitrust laws shall have expired or been terminated; |
| ● | requisite consents, including those required to be obtained from Governmental Authorities are obtained; |
| ● | no Governmental Authority having enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) or Order that is then in effect and which has the effect of making the transactions or agreements contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement illegal or which otherwise prevents or prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement; |
| ● | the Registration Statement having been declared effective by the SEC and shall remain effective as of the Closing; |
| ● | the Domestication of the SPAC having been consummated in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement; and |
| ● | the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock having been approved for listing on the Stock Exchange (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) upon the Closing. |
Conditions to the Obligations of the Company
The obligations of the Company to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction, or written waiver (by the Company, where permissible) of the following conditions:
| ● | the representations and warranties of SPAC being true and correct as determined in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement; |
| ● | SPAC having performed in all material respects all of its obligations and complied in all material respects with all of its agreements and covenants under the Business Combination Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date; |
| ● | the Sponsor Support Agreement (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) being in full force and effect; |
| ● | SPAC having delivered to the Company: (i) a certificate dated as of the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of SPAC, certifying as to the satisfaction of certain conditions specified in the Business Combination Agreement, (ii) a certificate signed by its secretary or another executive officer certifying and attaching the SPAC’s organizational documents, resolutions of the board of directors of SPAC authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of the |
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| Business Combination Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents, and evidence of the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval, (iii) good standing certificates for SPAC, and (iv) certain other documents; and |
| ● | minimum cash of at least $50,000,000 in aggregate cash proceeds available for release to SPAC or Pubco from the Trust Account in connection with the Transactions (after giving effect to the Redemption), plus the aggregate cash proceeds received by SPAC or Pubco in respect of any Transaction Financing, minus unpaid expenses of SPAC and the Company. |
Conditions to the Obligations of SPAC
The obligations of SPAC to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction, or written waiver (by SPAC where permissible) of the following conditions:
| ● | the representations and warranties of the Company being true and correct as determined in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement; |
| ● | each of the Company, SPAC Merger Sub, Company Merger Sub and Pubco having performed in all material respects all of their respective obligations and complied in all material respects with all of their respective agreements and covenants under the Business Combination Agreement to be performed or complied with by them on or prior to the Closing Date; |
| ● | no Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the Business Combination Agreement; |
| ● | the Target Companies and the Sellers having complied in all material respects with their respective covenants under the Seller Written Consent; |
| ● | the Company having obtained the written consent or approval of each holder of a Note (whether or not disclosed as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement) for the conversion of the Notes into Company Interests prior to Closing; |
| ● | the Company having delivered to SPAC: (i) a certificate dated as of the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of the Company, certifying as to the satisfaction of certain conditions specified in the Business Combination Agreement, (ii) a certificate signed by its secretary or another executive officer certifying and attaching the organizational documents and resolutions of the board of directors of each of the Company, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of the Business Combination Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents, and evidence of the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval, (iii) good standing certificates for the Company, (iv) written resignations of the directors, managers and board governors of the Company and its subsidiaries, (v) employment agreements with certain executives, (vi) a copy of the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), (vii) a FIRPTA certificate and Section 1446(f) Certifications, (viii) documents evidencing the release of all liens and (ix) certain other documents; |
| ● | D&O tail insurance having been obtained; |
| ● | the members of Pubco’s board of directors having been elected or appointed in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement; |
| ● | the charter and bylaws of Pubco having been amended and restated in a form mutually agreed by SPAC and the Company; |
| ● | Pubco having adopted the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan; and |
| ● | evidence that certain indebtedness due and outstanding under certain contracts of the Company will have been discharged in full. |
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Termination
The Business Combination Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing Date, as follows:
| ● | by mutual written consent of SPAC and the Company; |
| ● | by written notice by SPAC or the Company if any of the conditions to the Closing have not been satisfied or waived by the earlier of (i) December 27, 2026 and (ii) the last date for SPAC to complete a business combination pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents; provided, this right is not available to a party if the breach or violation by such party or its affiliates of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under the Business Combination Agreement was the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before the Business Combination Deadline; |
| ● | by written notice by either SPAC or the Company to the other if a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, and such Order or other action has become final and non-appealable; provided, that this right is not available to a party if the failure by such party or its affiliates to comply with any provision of the Business Combination Agreement has been a substantial cause of, or substantially resulted in, such action by such Governmental Authority; |
| ● | by written notice by the Company to SPAC, if there has been a material breach by SPAC of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in the Business Combination Agreement or if any representation or warranty of SPAC shall have become materially untrue or materially inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) of the Business Combination to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of the Business Combination Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the material breach or material inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such material breach or material inaccuracy is provided to SPAC or (B) the Business Combination Deadline; provided, that the Company shall not have the right to terminate the Business Combination Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(d) of the Business Combination Agreement if at such time the Company is in material uncured breach of the Business Combination Agreement; |
| ● | by written notice by SPAC to the Company, if (i) there has been a material breach by the Company of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in the Business Combination Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of such parties shall have become untrue or inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) of the Business Combination Agreement to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of the Business Combination Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the breach or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such breach or inaccuracy is provided by SPAC or (B) the Business Combination Deadline; provided, that SPAC shall not have the right to terminate the Business Combination Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(e) of the Business Combination Agreement if at such time SPAC is in material uncured breach of the Business Combination Agreement; |
| ● | by written notice by SPAC to the Company, if there shall have been a Material Adverse Effect on the Target Companies following the date of the Business Combination Agreement which is uncured and continuing; |
| ● | by written notice by either SPAC or the Company to the other, if SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting is held (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) and has concluded, SPAC’s shareholders have duly voted, and the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval was not obtained; or |
| ● | by written notice by SPAC to the Company, if the Company has not delivered the Audited Financials to SPAC on or before the date the audit is required to be delivered. |
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Fees and Expenses
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement, all Expenses incurred in connection with the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby will be paid by the party incurring such expenses, provided that (i) if the Closing occurs, all expenses incurred by SPAC will be paid or reimbursed by Pubco from the Trust Account, the Transaction Financing, or other cash sources available to Pubco or its subsidiaries at the Closing, (ii) all fees, costs and expenses (including filing fees) paid or payable by any party or any of its affiliates as a result of or in connection with or arising under any applicable antitrust laws, including fees and expenses relating to any pre-merger notification required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, shall be shared equally between the parties, (iii) all fees, costs and expenses (including filing fees and printer costs) paid or payable by any party or any of its affiliates as a result of or in connection with or arising from filing the Registration Statement with the SEC and mailing the Proxy Statement to the SPAC shareholders (including printing and mailing fees and SEC registration filing fees) shall be shared equally between the parties, and (iv) all fees, costs and expenses (including filing fees) paid or payable by any party or any of its affiliates as a result of or in connection with or arising from submitting to the Stock Exchange a listing application for the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants (including any filing fees arising therefrom) shall be shared equally between the parties.
Governing Law
The Business Combination Agreement is governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
Amendments
The Business Combination Agreement may be amended, supplemented or modified only by execution of a written instrument signed by SPAC, the Company and Pubco.
Ancillary Agreements
Sponsor Support Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on June 12, 2026, SPAC entered into a sponsor support agreement with the Insiders, Pubco and the Company, pursuant to which the Insiders agreed to, among other things, vote in favor of the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters (as defined in the proxy statement/prospectus) and otherwise support the Business Combination. In addition, the Sponsor Support Agreement prohibits each Insider from, among other things, selling, assigning or transferring any SPAC Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants held by such Insider except to certain permitted transferees, until the earliest of (a) the date of the Closing, (b) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; (c) the liquidation of SPAC; (d) the written agreement of each of the terminating Insider(s), SPAC, Pubco and the Company with respect to terminating the rights and obligations under the Sponsor Support Agreement of a specific Insider or a subset of Insiders; and (e) the written agreement of all Insiders, SPAC, Pubco and the Company to terminate the Sponsor Support Agreement in its entirety.
Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement (i) each Insider unconditionally and irrevocably agreed not to redeem any SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares owned by it in connection with the Business Combination, and (ii) the Sponsor also agreed, effective as of immediately prior to the Domestication and conditioned upon the Closing, to forfeit and surrender to SPAC an aggregate of 2,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor.
Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement (i) the Sponsor may, in its discretion, transfer to third parties up to an additional 500,000 Founder Shares held by it to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into SPAC or Pubco, provided that any portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares that are not so transferred will be forfeited, and (ii) 500,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be held by the Sponsor as of the Closing will be subject to vesting. Such Sponsor Earnout Shares will vest upon the first to be satisfied of any of the following conditions:
| (a) | in the event that the sum of (x) the funds contained in the Trust Account as of immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time, plus (y) the aggregate cash proceeds received by SPAC or Pubco in respect of any Transaction Financing, minus (z) the aggregate amount of cash proceeds that will be required to satisfy the Redemption (and, for the avoidance of |
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| doubt, before the payment of any expenses of SPAC or the Company) equals or exceeds $200,000,000, all of the Sponsor Earnout Shares will immediately vest; |
| (b) | if, at any time during the Earnout Period the closing price of the Pubco Class A Common Stock as reported on the Stock Exchange is greater than or equal the Earnout Price for a period of at least 20 days (which need not be consecutive) out of 30 consecutive trading days, all of the Sponsor Earnout Shares will immediately vest; and |
| (c) | in the event that there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater than or equal to the Earnout Price, all of the Sponsor Earnout Shares will immediately vest. |
Further, in the event that there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and immediately prior to (but subject to) the consummation of the Sale of Pubco, the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is less than the Earnout Price, (x) if such Sale Price is payable in cash or in the form of privately held securities or other consideration other than publicly tradable securities, then all of the Sponsor Earnout Shares will be deemed forfeited and cancelled for no consideration or (ii) if such price is payable in the form of publicly tradable securities, then Pubco will cause the acquiror in such Sale of Pubco to provide for the conversion of all of the Sponsor Earnout Shares into the kind and amount of such publicly tradable securities receivable upon such Sale of Pubco that the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive in such Sale of Pubco and will provide that the Sponsor Earnout Shares, as so converted, will remain subject to vesting, with an appropriate adjustment to the Earnout Price to provide the same economic effect as contemplated by the earnout.
For so long as any Sponsor Earnout Share remains subject to vesting, the holder thereof will not be entitled to exercise the voting rights carried by such Sponsor Earnout Share and will not be entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions in respect of such Sponsor Earnout Share.
Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, Sponsor agreed to provide financing support in connection with the Business Combination. If the Closing SPAC Cash is less than $100,000,000, the Sponsor will be required invest, or cause its affiliate or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing. If Closing SPAC Cash is greater than $100,000,000, then Sponsor has the option to make the Sponsor Investment. The purchase price of the Sponsor Investment will be equal to the lowest purchase price paid by any other investor in the Transaction Financing and will be made upon such other terms that are no less favorable to the Sponsor (or such affiliate or designee) than the terms offered to any other investor in any Transaction Financing.
The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Sponsor Support Agreement, which is included in this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex F.
Lock-Up Agreements
Concurrently with the Closing, the BIG3 Founders and other Sellers holding greater than 3% of the outstanding Company Interests, the Sponsor, the IPO Underwriter, and each director of SPAC will enter into the Lock-Up Agreement, pursuant to which such person will agree not to (i) lend, offer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, donate, assign, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Pubco Common Stock and Pubco Warrants to be received by such Lock-up Securityholder in the Business Combination until expiration of the lockup period specified therein, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such shares of Pubco Common Stock, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing from the Closing and ending (x) on the date that is six (6) months after the Closing for the Pubco Common Stock, or (y) on the date that is thirty (30) days after the Closing for the Pubco Warrants (including the Pubco Common Stock underlying the Pubco Warrants), subject to certain customary transfer exceptions. SPAC estimates that approximately 30.8 million shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 6.0 million Pubco Private Warrants will be subject to lockup pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreement immediately following the Closing, representing approximately 76.7% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock in the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and 34.3% of the total issued and outstanding Pubco Warrants following the Business Combination.
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Set forth below is a tabular presentation of the post-closing lock-ups:
Lock-Up Party | | Number and Type of Securities | | Lock-Up Term | | Permitted Transferees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sponsor | | 4,000,000 Pubco Warrants (including underlying shares) | | The earlier of (x) 30 days after the Closing Date and (y) the date Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of Pubco’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. | | Permitted transferees and transfers include: (i) transfers to Pubco directors and officers (including affiliates and family members, (ii) transfer by laws of descent, (iii) transfers by operations of law, (iv) transfers to a partnership, limited liability company, or entity of which the securityholder is the legal and beneficial owner, (v) affiliates, (vi) transfers to a trustor or trust, and (vii) transfers upon dissolution. |
| | 2,410,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock | | The earlier of (x) six (6) months after the Closing Date and (y) the date Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of Pubco’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. | | Permitted transferees and transfers include: (i) transfers to Pubco directors and officers (including affiliates and family members, (ii) transfer by laws of descent, (iii) transfers by operations of law, (iv) transfers to a partnership, limited liability company, or entity of which the securityholder is the legal and beneficial owner, (v) affiliates, (vi) transfers to a trustor or trust, and (vii) transfers upon dissolution. |
IPO Underwriter | | 2,000,000 Pubco Warrants (including underlying shares) | | The earlier of (x) 30 days after the Closing Date and (y) the date Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of Pubco’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. | | Permitted transferees and transfers include: (i) transfers to Pubco directors and officers (including affiliates and family members, (ii) transfer by laws of descent, (iii) transfers by operations of law, (iv) transfers to a partnership, limited liability company, or entity of which the securityholder is the legal and beneficial owner, (v) affiliates, (vi) transfers to a trustor or trust, and (vii) transfers upon dissolution. |
SPAC Independent Directors | | 90,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock, in the aggregate (30,000 shares each) | | The earlier of (x) six (6) months after the Closing Date and (y) the date Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of Pubco’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. | | Permitted transferees and transfers include: (i) transfers to Pubco directors and officers (including affiliates and family members, (ii) transfer by laws of descent, (iii) transfers by operations of law, (iv) transfers to a partnership, limited liability company, or entity of which the securityholder is the legal and beneficial owner, (v) affiliates, (vi) transfers to a trustor or trust, and (vii) transfers upon dissolution. |
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Lock-Up Party | | Number and Type of Securities | | Lock-Up Term | | Permitted Transferees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The BIG3 Founders and other Sellers holding greater than 3% of the outstanding Company Interests | | Merger Consideration and Earnout Shares | | The earlier of (x) six (6) months after the Closing Date and (y) the date Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of Pubco’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. | | Permitted transferees and transfers include: (i) transfers to Pubco directors and officers (including affiliates and family members, (ii) transfer by laws of descent, (iii) transfers by operations of law, (iv) transfers to a partnership, limited liability company, or entity of which the securityholder is the legal and beneficial owner, (v) affiliates, (vi) transfers to a trustor or trust, and (vii) transfers upon dissolution. |
The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Form of Lock-Up Agreement, which is included in this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex G.
Registration Rights Agreement
Concurrently with the Closing, Pubco, the Sponsor, the IPO Underwriter, SPAC’s officers and directors, and certain Sellers, and the Non-Redeeming Shareholders with respect to the Assigned Shares, will enter into the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, Pubco will agree that, within 30 days after the Closing Date, Pubco will file with the SEC (at Pubco’s sole cost and expense) a registration statement registering the resale of certain securities held by or issuable to the parties thereto, and Pubco will use its reasonable best efforts to have the Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. Such holders will also be entitled to customary piggyback registration rights and demand registration rights pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement. SPAC estimates that approximately 27.2 million shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 6.0 million Pubco Private Warrants will be subject to registration rights pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement immediately following the Closing, representing approximately 67.7% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock in the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and 34.3% of the total issued and outstanding Pubco Warrants following the Business Combination.
The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Form of Registration Rights Agreement, which is included in this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex H.
Warrant Assumption Agreement
Concurrently with the Closing, SPAC, Pubco, and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, will enter into the Warrant Assumption Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, SPAC will assign to Pubco all of SPAC’s right, title and interest in and to, and Pubco will assume all of SPAC’s liabilities and obligations under the Existing Warrant Agreement. As a result, at the Closing, each SPAC Warrant will automatically cease to represent a right to acquire SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and instead will represent a right to acquire Pubco Class A Common Stock pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Existing Warrant Agreement (as amended by the Warrant Assumption Agreement).
The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Form of Warrant Assumption Agreement, which is included in this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex I.
Sponsor Indemnification Agreement
Concurrently with the Closing, Pubco, the Company, and the Sponsor will enter into the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, Pubco and the Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Sponsor Indemnified Person from and against any and all Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities (as defined in the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement) arising out of or relating to any pending or threatened action, cause of action, suit, litigation, investigation, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration or claim against any of them or in which any of them may be a participant or may otherwise be involved (including as a witness) that arise out of or relate to SPAC’s operations or conduct of its business, the Business Combination, and/or any claim against the Sponsor
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and/or a Sponsor Indemnified Person alleging any expressed or implied management, control or endorsement of any activities of SPAC, or any express or implied association with Pubco, the Company, or SPAC, or any of their respective affiliates. The Sponsor Indemnification Agreement will not however apply to claims arising primarily out of (a) any breach by such Sponsor Indemnified Person of any other agreement between such Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and Pubco, the Company, SPAC, or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the other hand, or (b) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of such Sponsor Indemnified Person.
The foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Form of Sponsor Indemnification Agreement, which is included in this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex J.
Regulatory Approvals; Third-Party Consents
Each of SPAC and Company has agreed to use their respective reasonable best efforts to take all actions to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement in the most expeditious manner practicable and to obtain in the most expeditious manner practicable all actions, waivers, consents, approvals, orders and authorizations necessary to be obtained from any third party or any governmental entity in order to complete the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
The parties have determined that the Business Combination is not reportable under the HSR Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Thus, the Business Combination is not subject to the termination or expiration of any waiting period under the HSR Act.
Vote Required for Approval
The Closing is conditioned on approval of the Business Combination Proposal. If the Business Combination Proposal is not approved by SPAC Shareholders, the Business Combination will not be consummated.
Approval of the Business Combination Proposal requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will not constitute votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and therefore will have no effect on the Business Combination Proposal. Broker non-votes are not considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on the Business Combination Proposal.
The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by them in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own 5,750,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares, or approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, if all issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares vote on the Business Combination Proposal, we would need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Business Combination Proposal in order to have the Business Combination Proposal approved and adopted. If only a minimum quorum is present and votes on the Business Combination Proposal, we would not need any SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Business Combination Proposal in order to have the Business Combination Proposal approved and adopted.
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Resolution to be Voted Upon
“RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that subject to the approval of the Condition Precedent Proposals, the entry by Graf Global Corp. (“SPAC”) into the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2026, by and among SPAC, Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, and Big3 HoldCo LLC, attached to the proxy statement/prospectus accompanying the notice of meeting as Annex A (as it may be further amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which and among other things, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, the parties will complete the Business Combination (as such term is defined in the proxy statement/prospectus) described in the proxy statement/prospectus, and the performance by SPAC of its obligations thereunder and the consummation of the Business Combination, be approved, ratified and confirmed in all respects.”
Recommendation of the SPAC Board
THE SPAC BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION PROPOSAL.
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of SPAC’s directors may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals. In addition, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” for a further discussion of these considerations.
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PROPOSAL NO. 2 — THE DOMESTICATION PROPOSAL
Overview
If the Business Combination Proposal is approved, then SPAC is asking the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares to approve, by special resolution, a change of SPAC’s jurisdiction of incorporation by de-registering as an exempted company and transferring by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to migrate to and domesticate as a Delaware corporation in accordance with the SPAC Organizational Documents, Section 388 of the DGCL, and Part 12 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands. Under the Business Combination Agreement, approval of the Domestication Proposal is a condition to the consummation of the Business Combination. If, however, the Domestication Proposal is not approved, the Business Combination will not be consummated.
To effect the Domestication, SPAC will (i) file an application to deregister with the Cayman Registrar, together with the necessary accompanying documents, (ii) file a Certificate of Domestication with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the provisions thereof and Section 388 of the DGCL pursuant to which SPAC will be domesticated and continue as a Delaware corporation, and (iii) obtain a certificate of de-registration from the Cayman Registrar.
In accordance with applicable law, the Certificate of Domestication will provide that at the effective time of the Domestication, by virtue of the Domestication, and without any action on the part of any holder of SPAC Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants, (i) each then issued and outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Share shall convert automatically into one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and (ii) each then issued and outstanding whole SPAC Warrant will become a Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant exercisable for one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock in lieu of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share, pursuant to the Warrant Agreement. No fractional share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and no fractional Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants, or certificates or scrip, will be issued upon the conversion of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants pursuant to the Domestication. Instead, any fractional share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and fractional Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of or warrants, respectively.
The Domestication Proposal, if approved, will approve a change of SPAC’s jurisdiction of incorporation from the Cayman Islands to the State of Delaware. SPAC encourages shareholders to carefully consult the information in “Comparison of Corporate Governance and Shareholder Rights.”
Reasons for Domestication
The SPAC Board believes that it would be in the best interests of SPAC, simultaneously with the completion of the Business Combination, to effect the Domestication. Further, the SPAC Board believes that any direct benefit that the DGCL provides to a corporation also indirectly benefits its shareholders, who are the owners of the corporation. In addition, because the Company principally operates within the United States, and SPAC will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco by virtue of the completion of the SPAC Merger, it was the view of the SPAC Board that SPAC should be structured as a corporation organized in the United States.
The SPAC Board believes that there are several reasons why a reincorporation in Delaware is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders. These additional reasons can be summarized as follows:
| ● | Prominence, Predictability and Flexibility of Delaware Law. For many years, Delaware has followed a policy of encouraging incorporation in its state and, in furtherance of that policy, has been a leader in adopting, construing, and implementing comprehensive, flexible corporate laws responsive to the legal and business needs of corporations organized under its laws. Many corporations have chosen Delaware initially as a state of incorporation or have subsequently changed corporate domicile to Delaware. Because of Delaware’s prominence as the state of incorporation for many major corporations, both the legislature and courts in Delaware have demonstrated the ability and a willingness to act quickly and effectively to meet changing business needs. The DGCL is frequently revised and updated to accommodate changing legal and business needs and is more comprehensive, widely used and interpreted than other state corporate laws. This favorable corporate and regulatory environment is attractive to businesses such as the Company’s. |
| ● | Well-Established Principles of Corporate Governance. There is substantial judicial precedent in the Delaware courts as to the legal principles applicable to measures that may be taken by a corporation and to the conduct of a company’s board of directors, such as under the business judgment rule and other standards. Because the judicial system is based largely on legal |
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| precedents, the abundance of Delaware case law provides clarity and predictability to many areas of corporate law. We believe that such clarity would be advantageous to Pubco and its board of directors and management after the Closing to make corporate decisions and take corporate actions with respect to SPAC with greater assurance as to the validity and consequences of those decisions and actions. The Delaware courts have developed considerable expertise in dealing with corporate issues, and a substantial body of case law has developed construing Delaware law and establishing public policies with respect to corporate legal affairs. |
Regulatory Approvals; Third-Party Consents
SPAC is not required to make any filings or to obtain any approvals or clearances from any antitrust regulatory authorities in the United States or other countries in order to complete the Domestication. However, because the Domestication is intended to occur one business day prior to the Business Combination, it will not occur unless the Business Combination can be completed, which will require the approvals as described under “Proposal No. 1 - The Business Combination Proposal.”
The Domestication will not breach any covenants or agreements binding upon SPAC and will not be subject to any additional federal or state regulatory requirements, except compliance with the laws of the Cayman Islands and Delaware necessary to effect the Domestication.
Vote Required for Approval
Approval of the Domestication Proposal requires a special resolution of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, being a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of such holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares who, being present in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy, and entitled to vote thereon at the Extraordinary General Meeting, vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will have no right to vote on the Domestication Proposal in accordance with Article 47 of the SPAC Organizational Documents. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will not constitute votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and therefore will have no effect on the Domestication Proposal. Broker non-votes are not considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on the Domestication Proposal.
The Domestication Proposal is conditioned on the approval of the other Condition Precedent Proposals. Therefore, if the other Condition Precedent Proposals are not approved, the Domestication Proposal will have no effect, even if approved by holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares.
The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by them in favor of the Domestication Proposal. The Sponsor holds the sole issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Share. Accordingly, the Domestication Proposal is expected to be approved.
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Resolution to be Voted Upon
“RESOLVED, as a special resolution of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, that in accordance with Article 47 of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of Graf Global Corp. (“SPAC”), SPAC be transferred by way of continuation to the State of Delaware pursuant to Part 12 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and Section 388 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and, immediately upon being deregistered as an exempted company in the Cayman Islands, SPAC will be continued and domesticated as a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware and, conditioned upon, and with effect from, the registration of SPAC as a corporation in the State of Delaware, the registered office of SPAC be changed to Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801.”
Recommendation of the SPAC Board
THE SPAC BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE DOMESTICATION PROPOSAL.
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of SPAC’s directors may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals. In addition, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” for a further discussion of these considerations.
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PROPOSAL NO. 3 — THE SPAC MERGER PROPOSAL
This section describes certain terms of the Certificate of Merger, which may be material, but does not purport to describe all of the terms thereof. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Certificate of Merger. A copy of the Certificate of Merger is attached as Annex L to this proxy statement/prospectus and the following descriptions are qualified in their entirety by the full text in Annex L. SPAC Shareholders and other interested parties are urged to read the Certificate of Merger in its entirety prior to voting on the proposals presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Overview
In connection with the Business Combination, the SPAC shareholders are being asked to consider and vote on a proposal to authorize and approve, by a majority of the shares outstanding, the Merger and the Certificate of Merger. The form of the Certificate of Merger is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex L.
As a matter of Delaware law, approval of Post-Domestication SPAC shareholders is required for the authorization of the Certificate of Merger, including, without limitation:
| (i) | the Merger, being the merger of Merger Sub with and into Post-Domestication SPAC, with Post-Domestication SPAC continuing as the surviving company; and |
(ii)the Certificate of Merger to be entered into by Post-Domestication SPAC and Merger Sub in connection with the Merger.
Vote Required for Approval
The approval of the SPAC Merger Proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the SPAC Ordinary Shares outstanding.
Abstentions, while considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and will have the same effect as a vote against the SPAC Merger Proposal. Broker non-votes will not be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as a vote cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and will therefore have the same effect as a vote against the SPAC Merger Proposal.
The SPAC Merger Proposal is conditioned on the approval of the other Condition Precedent Proposals. Therefore, if the other Condition Precedent Proposals are not approved, the SPAC Merger Proposal will have no effect, even if approved by the holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares.
The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by them in favor of each of the proposals being presented at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own 5,750,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares, or approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, we will need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the SPAC Merger Proposal in order to have the SPAC Merger Proposal approved and adopted.
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Resolution to be Voted Upon
The full text of the resolution to be voted upon is as follows:
“RESOLVED, that, subject to the approval of the other Condition Precedent Proposals, Post-Domestication SPAC be authorized to merge with Merger Sub so that Post-Domestication SPAC will be the surviving company pursuant to the Certificate of Merger in the form attached to the proxy statement/prospectus accompanying the notice of meeting as Annex L.”
Recommendation of the SPAC Board
THE SPAC BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE SPAC MERGER PROPOSAL.
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of SPAC’s directors may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals. In addition, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 - The Business Combination Proposal - Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” for a further discussion of these considerations.
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PROPOSAL NO. 4 — THE POST-DOMESTICATION ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS PROPOSAL
Overview
If the Business Combination Proposal and the Domestication Proposal are approved and the Business Combination is consummated, with effect from the Domestication, the SPAC Organizational Documents will be amended and restated by the deletion in their entirety and the substitution in their place of the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Charter and Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Bylaws. SPAC urges shareholders to read the full text of the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Charter, a copy of which is included as Annex B, and the full text of the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Bylaws, a copy of which is included as Annex C.
We are asking the holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares to consider and vote upon and to approve the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal. The Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal is conditioned on the approval of the other Condition Precedent Proposals. Therefore, if the other Condition Precedent Proposals are not approved, the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal will have no effect, even if approved by holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares.
Reasons for the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal
The SPAC Board is proposing the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Organizational Documents to facilitate the structure of the Business Combination and to authorize all other changes in connection with the replacement of the SPAC Organizational Documents with the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Organizational Documents in connection with the Domestication.
The Domestication is one of the transactions that comprise the Business Combination, however, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, approximately one day after the Domestication, Merger Sub will merge with and into Post-Domestication SPAC, with Post-Domestication SPAC surviving the SPAC Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco and, in connection with the SPAC Merger, the Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants will be exchanged for Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants and the rights of Pubco stockholders and warrantholders will be governed by the Proposed Pubco Organizational Documents. Accordingly, your rights will only be governed by the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Organizational Documents for a brief period of time as part of the overall set of transactions that comprise the Business Combination:
Vote Required for Approval
Approval of the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal requires a special resolution of the holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will have no right to vote on the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal in accordance with Article 47 of the SPAC Organizational Documents.
Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will not constitute votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and therefore will have no effect on the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal. Broker non-votes are not considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal.
The Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal is conditioned on the approval of the other Condition Precedent Proposals. Therefore, if any of the Condition Precedent Proposals is not approved, the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal will have no effect, even if approved by holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares.
The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by them in favor of the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal. The Sponsor holds the sole issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Share. Accordingly, the Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal is expected to be approved.
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Resolution to be Voted Upon
“RESOLVED, as a special resolution of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, with effect from the Domestication, that the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of Graf Global Corp. (“SPAC”) currently in effect be amended and restated by the deletion in their entirety and the substitution in their place of the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Charter and Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Bylaws (in the forms attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B and Annex C, respectively), including, without limitation, the authorization of the change in authorized share capital as indicated therein.”
Recommendation of the SPAC Board
THE SPAC BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE POST-DOMESTICATION ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS PROPOSAL.
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of SPAC’s directors may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals. In addition, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 - The Business Combination Proposal - Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” for a further discussion of these considerations.
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PROPOSAL NO. 5 — THE ADVISORY ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS PROPOSALS
Overview
If the Condition Precedent Proposals are approved and the Domestication and Merger are consummated, Pubco will replace the Pubco Charter and Pubco Bylaws with the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws, under the DGCL. Accordingly, if the Business Combination is consummated, the rights of SPAC’s shareholders will no longer be governed by the SPAC Organizational Documents, under the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, or the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Organizational Documents, under the DGCL, but instead, SPAC shareholders will become Pubco shareholders and their rights will be governed by the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws, under the DGCL.
SPAC’s shareholders are asked to consider and vote upon and to approve, on a non-binding and advisory basis only, 11 separate proposals in connection with the adoption of the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws. These 11 proposals are being presented separately in accordance with SEC guidance to give shareholders the opportunity to present their separate views on important corporate governance provisions and will be voted upon on a non-binding advisory basis. This separate vote is not otherwise required by Cayman law, but pursuant to SEC guidance, SPAC is required to submit these provisions to its shareholders separately for approval. The shareholder votes regarding these proposals are advisory in nature, and are not binding on SPAC, the SPAC Board, the Company, Pubco, or the Pubco Board.
The Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws differ materially from the SPAC Organizational Documents. The following sets forth a summary of the principal changes proposed between the SPAC Organizational Documents, on the one hand, and the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws, on the other hand. This summary is qualified by reference to the complete text of the SPAC Organizational Documents, which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, and the complete text of the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D and Annex E. All shareholders are encouraged to read the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws in their entirety for a more complete description of their terms. Additionally, as the SPAC Organizational Documents are governed by the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws are governed by the DGCL, SPAC encourages shareholders to carefully consult the information set out under the section of this proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Comparison of Shareholder Rights Under Applicable Corporate Law Before and After Business Combination.”
| (a) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(a) — Dual Class Share Structure: to approve a provision stating that each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock carries 10 votes and each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock carries 1 vote, and holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock will vote together as a single class on all matters, receive notice of meetings pursuant to the Proposed Pubco Bylaws, and may vote as permitted under DGCL, except where law, the Proposed Pubco Charter, or any Preferred Stock Designation (as defined in the Proposed Pubco Charter) provides otherwise. |
| (b) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(b) — Authorized Share Capital: to approve authorized capital stock of Pubco of [●] shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, [●] shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and [●] shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Pubco Preferred Stock”). |
| (c) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(c) — Removal of Directors: to approve a provision that any or all of the directors of Pubco may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of capital stock of Pubco entitled to vote on the election of such director, voting together as a single class. |
| (d) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(d) — Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute: to approve a provision that Pubco will not be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL. |
| (e) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(e) — Charter Amendment: to approve a provision that amendment of the Proposed Pubco Charter generally requires the approval of the Pubco Board and a majority of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class, with the exception of certain provisions that |
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| would require the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of Pubco generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting as a single class. |
| (f) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(f) — Bylaws Amendment: to approve a provision expressly authorizing the Pubco Board to make, alter, amend or repeal the Proposed Pubco Bylaws by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Pubco Board. The Proposed Pubco Bylaws may also be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of stock of Pubco entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting as a single class. |
| (g) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(g) — Quorum Requirements: to approve a provision establishing that the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote constitutes a quorum for a meeting of Pubco Stockholders. |
| (h) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(h) — Exclusive Forum: to approve a provision (A) designating Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation and (B) the federal district courts of the United States of America as the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. |
| (i) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(i) — Board Structure: to approve provisions providing that (A) the Pubco Board shall not be classified and (B) the number of directors shall be fixed exclusively by the Pubco Board. |
| (j) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(j) — Written Consent: to approve a provision that, until the Final Conversion Date, stockholder action may be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting, and that following the Final Conversion Date, stockholder action must be taken at a duly called annual or special meeting and may not be taken by written consent. |
| (k) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(k) — Absence of Blank Check Company Provisions: to provide advisory approval of the absence of certain blank check provisions in the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws that will not be necessary to include in the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws following the consummation of the Business Combination. |
Reasons for the Approval of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals
Upon the consummation of the Business Combination, Pubco will be a Delaware corporation. The Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws are consistent with Delaware law. Additional reasons for the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals to be voted on by SPAC Shareholders are as follows:
| ● | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(a) — Dual Class Share Structure: creating a dual-class structure of shares of Pubco Class A and Class B Common Stock will promote long-term stability and alignment of interests by enabling Pubco’s key management team members to retain significant voting influence following the Business Combination, allowing them to pursue Pubco’s strategic vision without undue short-term market pressure, and will help ensure continuity of leadership, preserve Pubco’s culture, and provide the flexibility to make decisions that support sustained growth and value creation for stockholders. The Proposed Pubco Charter provides for the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock into Pubco Class A Common Stock on the Final Conversion Date and the automatic conversion of individual holders’ shares upon a non-Permitted Transfer, death, incapacity, or falling below a 50% holding threshold, and also permits voluntary conversion at any time. These provisions are designed to ensure that the enhanced voting rights associated with the Pubco Class B Common Stock remain with holders who maintain a significant, ongoing stake in Pubco, while providing defined outside dates and triggers that ensure the dual-class structure is time-limited. |
| ● | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(b) — Authorized Share Capital: the greater number of authorized shares of capital stock is desirable for Pubco to have enough additional authorized shares for financing its business, for acquiring other businesses, for forming strategic partnerships and alliances and for stock dividends and stock splits and to issue upon exercise of the equity grants made under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan (assuming the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan is approved at the Extraordinary General Meeting and contingent upon the Closing). |
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| ● | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(c) — Removal of Directors: requiring the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of capital stock of Pubco entitled to vote on the election of directors, voting together as a single class, to remove a director is intended to provide stability and continuity on the Pubco Board by ensuring that directors cannot be removed without a broad consensus of stockholders, consistent with the approach generally permitted under the DGCL. |
| ● | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(d) — Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute: Pubco will not be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover law. Section 203 is a default provision of the DGCL that prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination, such as a merger, with “interested stockholders” (a person or group owning 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock) for three years following the date that a person becomes an “interested stockholder,” unless: (i) before such stockholder becomes an “interested stockholder,” the board of directors approves the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; (ii) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at the time of the transaction (excluding stock owned by certain persons); or (iii) at the time or after the stockholder became an interested stockholder, the board of directors and at least two-thirds of the disinterested outstanding voting stock of the corporation approve the transaction. While Section 203 is the default provision under the DGCL, the DGCL allows companies to opt out of Section 203 of the DGCL by including a provision in their certificate of incorporation expressly electing not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL. |
| ● | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(g) — Quorum Requirements: a majority quorum requirement is intended to ensure that stockholder action is taken only when a meaningful proportion of shares are represented at a meeting, while avoiding an unduly high threshold that could make it difficult to conduct business if stockholder attendance is low. |
| ● | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(h) — Exclusive Forum: designating the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for intra-corporate disputes is intended to provide consistency and predictability by ensuring that such disputes are resolved by judges with expertise in Delaware corporate law, and to reduce the risk and cost of duplicative litigation in multiple jurisdictions. |
| ● | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(i) — Board Structure: the Proposed Pubco Charter provides that the Pubco Board shall not be classified. A declassified board structure allows stockholders to express their views on the performance of the entire board each year, rather than voting on only a subset of directors at each annual meeting, which the SPAC Board believes promotes greater accountability to stockholders. |
| ● | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(j) — Written Consent: the Proposed Pubco Charter provides that, until the Final Conversion Date, stockholder action may be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting, and that following the Final Conversion Date, stockholder action must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting. This structure is designed to provide flexibility during the period when the founding stockholders hold significant Class B voting power, while ensuring that after the conversion of Class B Common Stock, all stockholder actions are taken through the deliberative process of a formal meeting with appropriate notice to all stockholders. |
| ● | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(k) — Absence of Blank Check Company Provisions: it is desirable to omit the provisions that relate to operation as a blank check company prior to the consummation of its initial business combination because they would not be applicable after the Business Combination (such as the obligation to dissolve and liquidate if a business combination is not consummated within a certain period of time). |
Copies of the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws, as will be in effect upon consummation of the Business Combination, are attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D and Annex E.
Vote Required for Approval
The Closing is not conditioned on approval of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals.
Approval of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are
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entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. The shareholder votes regarding these proposals are advisory in nature, and are not binding on SPAC, the SPAC Board, the Company, Pubco or the Pubco Board. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will not constitute votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and therefore will have no effect on the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals. Broker non-votes are not considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals.
The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by them in favor of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own 5,750,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares, or approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, if all issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares vote on the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal, we would need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals in order to have the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals approved and adopted. If only a minimum quorum is present and votes on the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals, we would not need any SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals in order to have the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals approved and adopted.
Resolution to be Voted Upon
“RESOLVED, as eleven separate ordinary resolutions on a non-binding and advisory basis only, subject to the approval of the Condition Precedent Proposals, that the following governance provisions contained in the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws be and are hereby approved and adopted:
| (a) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(a) — Dual Class Share Structure: to approve a provision stating that each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock carries 10 votes and each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock carries 1 vote, and holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock will vote together as a single class on all matters, receive notice of meetings pursuant to the Proposed Pubco Bylaws, and may vote as permitted under DGCL, except where law, the Proposed Pubco Charter, or any Preferred Stock Designation (as defined in the Proposed Pubco Charter) provides otherwise. |
| (b) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(b) — Authorized Share Capital: to approve authorized capital stock of Pubco of [●] shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, [●] shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and [●]shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. |
| (c) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(c) — Removal of Directors: to approve a provision that any or all of the directors of Pubco may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of capital stock of Pubco entitled to vote on the election of such director, voting together as a single class. |
| (d) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(d) — Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute: to approve a provision that Pubco will not be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL. |
| (e) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(e) — Charter Amendment: to approve a provision that amendment of the Proposed Pubco Charter generally requires the approval of the Pubco Board and a majority of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class, with the exception of certain provisions that would require the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of Pubco generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting as a single class. |
| (f) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(f) — Bylaws Amendment: to approve a provision expressly authorizing the Pubco Board to make, alter, amend or repeal the Proposed Pubco Bylaws by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Pubco Board. The Proposed Pubco Bylaws may also be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of stock of Pubco entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting as a single class. |
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| (g) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(g) — Quorum Requirements: to approve a provision establishing that the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote constitutes a quorum for a meeting of Pubco Stockholders. |
| (h) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(h) — Exclusive Forum: to approve a provision designating the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for specified stockholder litigation, including derivative actions, breach of fiduciary duty claims, claims arising under the DGCL or the Proposed Pubco Charter or Proposed Pubco Bylaws, and claims governed by the internal affairs doctrine, subject to carve-outs including for claims arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, for which there is exclusive federal or concurrent federal and state jurisdiction. |
| (i) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(i) — Board Structure: to approve provisions providing that (A) the Pubco Board shall not be classified and (B) the number of directors shall be fixed exclusively by the Pubco Board. |
| (j) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(j) — Written Consent: to approve a provision that, until the Final Conversion Date, stockholder action may be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting, and that following the Final Conversion Date, stockholder action must be taken at a duly called annual or special meeting and may not be taken by written consent. |
| (k) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(k) — Absence of Blank Check Company Provisions: to provide advisory approval of the absence of certain blank check provisions in the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws that will not be necessary to include in the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws following the consummation of the Business Combination. |
Recommendation of the SPAC Board
THE SPAC BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SPAC SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF EACH OF THE ADVISORY ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS PROPOSALS.
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of SPAC’s directors may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals. In addition, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” for a further discussion of these considerations.
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PROPOSAL NO. 6 — THE EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN PROPOSAL
Overview
At the Extraordinary General Meeting, SPAC Shareholders will be asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc. 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, which is referred to herein as the “2026 Equity Incentive Plan,” a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex K.
On [●], 2026, the Pubco Board adopted and approved the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to SPAC Shareholders’ approval. The 2026 Equity Incentive Plan will become effective upon the Closing. If the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan is not approved by the SPAC Shareholders, it will not become effective, and no awards will be granted thereunder.
Reasons for the Adoption of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan
Management has determined that it is in the best interests of Pubco to adopt the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant to which we will be able to grant awards of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, dividend equivalent awards, and other stock- and cash-based awards.
Summary of Material Terms of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan
The following is a summary of the material features of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, a copy of which is included as Annex K to this proxy statement/prospectus.
Purpose
The purpose of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan is to enhance the ability of Pubco to attract, retain and motivate persons who make important contributions to Pubco by providing these individuals with equity ownership opportunities and/or equity-linked compensatory opportunities. Equity awards and equity-linked compensatory opportunities are intended to assist in further aligning the interests of directors, employees, and consultants with those of Pubco Stockholders.
Eligibility
The Administrator (as defined below) may grant awards to any director, employee or consultant of Pubco or its subsidiaries. Only employees are eligible to receive incentive stock options. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, approximately [●] individuals will be eligible to participate in the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, which includes approximately [●] non-employee directors, [●] employees, and [●] consultants.
Administration
The 2026 Equity Incentive Plan will be administered by the Pubco Board or one more committees or subcommittees of the Pubco Board, which will be comprised, unless otherwise determined by the Pubco Board, solely of not less than two members who will be non-employee directors (a “Committee”), or any officer that has been delegated administrative authority pursuant to the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan for the duration such delegation is in effect (collectively, the “Administrator”). The Administrator will have full power to (i) designate participants; (ii) determine the type or types of awards to be granted to a participant; (iii) determine the number of shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances awards may be settled or exercised in cash, shares, other securities, other awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended, and the method or methods by which awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, shares, other securities, other awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an award shall be made; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, settle any controversy regarding, correct any defect in and/or complete any omission in the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or award granted under, the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Administrator shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan; (ix) accelerate the vesting or exercisability of, payment for or lapse of restrictions on, awards; (x) to reprice existing awards or to grant awards in connection with or in consideration of the cancellation of an outstanding award with a higher price, in
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each case subject to certain limitations under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the administrator deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan.
Share Reserve
The maximum aggregate number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock (the “Shares”) that may be issued under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan is the sum of (A) ten percent (10%) of the sum of (w) the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock that are issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing, and (x) the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock that are issuable upon conversion, exercise, or exchange of convertible, exercisable, or exchangeable securities outstanding immediately after the Closing, plus (B) an increase commencing on January 1, 2028 and continuing annually on each anniversary thereof through and including January 1, 2036, equal to the lesser of (i) five percent (5%) of the sum of (y) the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding at the end of the most recently completed fiscal year, and (z) the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion, exercise, or exchange of (a) in-the-money options on the Shares and (b) in-the-money warrants of Pubco, in the case of each of (a) and (b), determined at the beginning of the applicable fiscal year, and (ii) such smaller number of Shares as determined by the Pubco Board or the Committee.
No more than 40,000,000 Shares may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options.
Shares issuable under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Shares. Shares underlying any awards under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan that are settled in cash, forfeited, canceled, repurchased, held back upon exercise of an option or settlement of an award to cover the exercise price or tax withholding satisfied without the issuance of stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) will be added back to the shares available for issuance under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, although shares shall not again become available for issuance as incentive stock options. Additionally, Shares issued as “substitute awards” (as defined in the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan) will not count against the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan’s share limit, except substitute awards that are incentive stock options will count against the incentive stock option limit.
The share reserve described herein may be subject to certain adjustments in the event of certain changes in the capitalization of Pubco (see “– Equitable Adjustments” below).
Annual Limitation on Awards to Non-Employee Directors
The 2026 Equity Incentive Plan contains a limitation whereby the value of all awards under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan and all other cash compensation paid by Pubco to any non-employee director may not exceed $1,000,000 for the first calendar year a non-employee director is initially appointed to the Pubco Board, and $750,000 in any other calendar year.
Types of Awards
The 2026 Equity Incentive Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards, dividend equivalent awards, and other stock- or cash-based awards (collectively, “awards”).
Stock Options. The 2026 Equity Incentive Plan permits the granting of both options intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the U.S. Tax Code and options that do not so qualify. Options granted under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan will be nonqualified options if they fail to qualify as incentive stock options or exceed the annual limit on incentive stock options. Incentive stock options may only be granted to employees of Pubco and its subsidiaries. Nonqualified options may be granted to any persons eligible to receive awards under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan.
The exercise price of each option will be determined by the Administrator, but such exercise price may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of one Share on the date of grant or, in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% or greater stockholder, 110% of such Share’s fair market value. The term of each option will be set by the Administrator and may not exceed ten (10) years from the date of grant (or five (5) years for an incentive stock option granted to a 10% or greater stockholder). The Administrator will determine at what time or times each option may be exercised, including the ability to accelerate the vesting of such options.
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Upon exercise of an option, the exercise price must be paid in full either in cash, wire transfer, check or, with approval of the Administrator, by surrender of other Shares that meet the conditions established by the Administrator to avoid adverse accounting consequences to Pubco, by a broker-assisted cashless exercise, for a nonqualified option, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to Pubco, such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by applicable law, or any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Administrator may award stock appreciation rights subject to such conditions and restrictions as it may determine. Stock appreciation rights entitle the recipient to Shares or cash, equal to the value of the appreciation in Pubco’s stock price over the exercise price, as set by the Administrator and which will be at least equal to the fair market value of a Share on the grant date. The term of each stock appreciation right will be set by the Administrator and may not exceed ten (10) years from the date of grant. The Administrator will determine at what time or times each stock appreciation right may be exercised, including the ability to accelerate the vesting of such stock appreciation rights.
Restricted Stock. A restricted stock award is an award of Shares that vest in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Administrator. The Administrator will determine the persons to whom grants of restricted stock awards are made, the number of restricted shares to be awarded, the price (if any) to be paid for the restricted shares, the time or times within which awards of restricted stock may be subject to forfeiture, the vesting schedule and rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of restricted stock awards. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, a participant generally will have the rights and privileges of a stockholder as to such restricted shares, including without limitation the right to vote such restricted shares and the right to receive cash dividends, if applicable.
Restricted Stock Units. Restricted stock units are the right to receive Shares at a future date in accordance with the terms of such grant upon the attainment of certain conditions specified by the Administrator. Restrictions or conditions could include, but are not limited to, the attainment of performance goals, continuous service with Pubco or its subsidiaries, the passage of time or other restrictions or conditions. The Administrator determines the persons to whom grants of restricted stock units are made, the number of restricted stock units to be awarded, the time or times within which awards of restricted stock units may be subject to forfeiture, the vesting schedule, and rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of the restricted stock unit awards. The value of the restricted stock units may be paid in Shares, cash, other securities, other property, or a combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Administrator.
The holders of restricted stock units will have no voting rights. Prior to settlement or forfeiture, restricted stock units awarded under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan may, at the Administrator’s discretion, provide for a right to dividend equivalents.
Performance Awards. The Administrator has the authority to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, or restricted stock units as a performance award, which means that such awards vest at least in part upon the attainment of one or more specified performance criteria. For each performance period, the Administrator will have the sole authority to select the length of such performance period, the types of performance award to be granted, the performance criteria that will be used to establish the performance goals, and the level(s) of performance which shall result in a performance award being earned. At any time, the Administrator may adjust or modify the calculation of a performance goal for a performance period, to appropriately reflect any circumstance or event that occurs during a performance period and that in the Administrator’s sole discretion, warrants adjustment or modification. Depending on the type of performance award granted, the previously discussed terms and conditions will also apply to a performance award.
Performance criteria for a performance award may be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of Pubco (and/or one or more subsidiaries, divisions, business segments or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing) and may include, without limitation, any of the following: (i) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); (ii) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (iii) revenue or revenue growth (measured on a net or gross basis); (iv) gross profit or gross profit growth; (v) operating profit (before or after taxes); (vi) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, or sales); (vii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, net cash provided by operations and cash flow return on capital); (viii) financing and other capital raising transactions (including, but not limited to, sales of Pubco’s equity or debt securities); (ix) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (x) gross or operating margins; (xi) productivity ratios; (xii) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total stockholder return); (xiii) expense targets; (xiv) margins; (xv) productivity and operating efficiencies; (xvi) customer satisfaction; (xvii) customer growth; (xviii) working capital targets; (xix) measures of economic value added; (xx) inventory control; (xxi) enterprise value; (xxii) sales; (xxiii) debt levels and net debt; (xxiv) combined ratio; (xxv) timely launch of new facilities; (xxvi) client retention; (xxvii) employee
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retention; (xxviii) timely completion of new product rollouts; (xxix) cost targets; (xxx) reductions and savings; (xxxi) productivity and efficiencies; (xxxii) strategic partnerships or transactions; and (xxxiii) personal targets, goals or completion of projects. Any one or more of the performance criteria may be used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of Pubco and/or one or more subsidiaries as a whole or any business unit(s) of Pubco and/or one or more subsidiaries or any combination thereof, or any of the above performance criteria may be compared to the performance of a selected group of comparison or peer companies, or a published or special index that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or as compared to various stock market indices.
Dividend Equivalents. An award of dividend equivalents entitles the holder to be credited with an amount equal to all dividends paid on one Share while the holder’s tandem award is outstanding. Dividend equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the participant, settled in cash or Shares, and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the award with respect to which the dividend equivalents are granted.
Other Stock- or Cash-Based Awards. Other stock-based awards may be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, other awards granted under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan and/or cash awards made outside of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan. The Administrator shall have authority to determine the service providers to whom and the time or times at which other stock-based awards shall be made, the amount of such other stock-based awards, and all other conditions of the other stock-based awards including any dividend and/or voting rights. The Administrator may grant cash awards in such amounts and subject to such performance or other vesting criteria and terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine.
Repricing
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, unless a repricing is approved by stockholders, in no case may the Administrator (i) amend an outstanding option or stock appreciation right to reduce the exercise price of the award, (ii) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding option or stock appreciation right in exchange for cash or other awards for the purpose of repricing the award, or (iii) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding option or stock appreciation right in exchange for an option or stock appreciation right with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original award.
Tax Withholding
Participants in the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan are responsible for the payment of any federal, state, or local taxes that Pubco or its subsidiaries are required by law to withhold upon the exercise of options or stock appreciation rights or vesting of other awards. Without limitation, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit a participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by (A) the delivery of Shares (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) owned by the participant having a fair market value equal to such withholding liability, (B) having Pubco withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the exercise or settlement of the award a number of Shares with a fair market value equal to such withholding liability, (C) deducting an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding obligation from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a participant, (D) accepting a payment from the participant in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, or by check made payable to the order of Pubco, or (E) if there is a public market for shares at the time the withholding obligation for a tax obligation is to be satisfied, selling Shares issued pursuant to the award creating the withholding obligation. The amount withheld pursuant to any of the foregoing payment forms will be determined by Pubco and may be up to (but not in excess of) the aggregate amount of such obligations based on the maximum statutory withholding rates in the participant’s jurisdiction for all tax obligations that are applicable to such taxable income.
Equitable Adjustments
In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property) of a merger, consolidation, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or other change in corporate structure affecting the Shares, the Administrator will adjust (i) the number and class of shares which may be delivered under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan (or number and kind of other securities or other property); (ii) the number, class and price (including the exercise or strike price of options and stock appreciation rights) of Shares subject to outstanding awards, (iii) any applicable performance criteria, performance period, and other terms and conditions of outstanding performance awards, and (iv) the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan’s numerical limits.
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Change in Control
In the event of a “change in control” (as defined in the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan), any outstanding award will be treated in accordance with the applicable award agreement. If the applicable award agreement does not specify the treatment of the award in a change in control, the award will be treated as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Administrator will not be obligated to treat all outstanding awards similarly.
Transferability of Awards
Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner, except to a participant’s estate or legal representative, and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the participant, only by the participant.
Term
The 2026 Equity Incentive Plan will become effective upon the Closing, and, unless terminated earlier, the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan will continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years.
Amendment and Termination
The Pubco Board may amend, alter, suspend or terminate the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan at any time. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan will materially impair the rights of any participant with respect to outstanding awards, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the participant and Administrator. Approval of the stockholders shall be required for any amendment, where required by applicable law, as well as (i) to increase the number of Shares available for issuance under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan and (ii) to change the persons or class of persons eligible to receive awards under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan.
Recoupment Policy
All awards granted under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, all amounts paid under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, and all Shares issued under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan shall be subject to reduction, recoupment, clawback, or recovery by Pubco in accordance with applicable laws and with Pubco policy.
Form S-8
Pubco intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 covering the Shares issuable under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan.
Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following is a general summary under current law of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations related to awards and certain transactions under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, based upon the current provisions of the U.S. Tax Code and regulations promulgated thereunder. This summary deals with the general federal income tax principles that apply and is provided only for general information. It does not describe all federal tax consequences under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, nor does it describe state, local, or foreign income tax consequences or federal employment tax consequences. The rules governing the tax treatment of such awards are quite technical, so the following discussion of tax consequences is necessarily general in nature and is not complete. In addition, statutory provisions are subject to change, as are their interpretations, and their application may vary in individual circumstances. This summary is not intended as tax advice to participants, who should consult their own tax advisors.
The 2026 Equity Incentive Plan is not qualified under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the U.S. Tax Code and is not subject to any of the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Pubco’s ability to realize the benefit of any tax deductions described below depends on Pubco’s generation of taxable income as well as the requirement of reasonableness and the satisfaction of Pubco’s tax reporting obligations.
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Incentive Stock Options. No taxable income is generally realized by the optionee upon the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. If Shares issued to an optionee pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option are sold or transferred after two years from the date of grant and after one year from the date of exercise, then generally (i) upon sale of such Shares, any amount realized in excess of the option exercise price (the amount paid for the Shares) will be taxed to the optionee as a long-term capital gain, and any loss sustained will be a long-term capital loss, and (ii) neither Pubco nor its subsidiaries will be entitled to any deduction for federal income tax purposes; provided that such incentive stock option otherwise meets all of the technical requirements of an incentive stock option. The exercise of an incentive stock option will give rise to an item of tax preference that may result in alternative minimum tax liability for the optionee.
If the Shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option are disposed of prior to the expiration of the two-year and one-year holding periods described above (a “disqualifying disposition”), generally (i) the optionee will realize ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the fair market value of the Shares at exercise (or, if less, the amount realized on a sale of such Shares) over the option exercise price thereof, and (ii) Pubco or its subsidiaries will be entitled to deduct such amount. Special rules will apply where all or a portion of the exercise price of the incentive stock option is paid by tendering Shares.
If an incentive stock option is exercised at a time when it no longer qualifies for the tax treatment described above, the option is treated as a nonqualified option. Generally, an incentive stock option will not be eligible for the tax treatment described above if it is exercised more than three months following termination of employment (or one year in the case of a termination of employment by reason of disability). In the case of a termination of employment by reason of death, the three-month rule does not apply.
Nonqualified Options. No income is generally realized by the optionee at the time a nonqualified option is granted. Generally, (i) at exercise, ordinary income is realized by the optionee in an amount equal to the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the Shares issued on the date of exercise, and Pubco or its subsidiaries receive a tax deduction for the same amount, and (ii) at disposition, appreciation or depreciation after the date of exercise is treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on how long the Shares have been held. Special rules will apply where all or a portion of the exercise price of the nonqualified option is paid by tendering Shares. Upon exercise, the optionee will also be subject to Social Security taxes on the excess of the fair market value of the Shares over the exercise price of the option.
Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Awards and Other Stock- and Cash-Based Awards. The current federal income tax consequences of other awards authorized under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan generally follow certain basic patterns: (i) stock appreciation rights are taxed and deductible in substantially the same manner as nonqualified options; (ii) nontransferable restricted stock subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture results in income recognition equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Shares over the price paid, if any, only at the time the restrictions lapse (unless the recipient elects to accelerate recognition as of the date of grant through a Section 83(b) election); and (iii) restricted stock units, dividend equivalents, and other stock- or cash-based awards are generally subject to tax at the time of payment. Pubco or its subsidiaries generally should be entitled to a federal income tax deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant at the time the participant recognizes such income.
The participant’s basis for the determination of gain or loss upon the subsequent disposition of Shares acquired from a stock appreciation right, restricted stock, restricted stock unit, dividend equivalent award, or other stock-based award will be the amount paid for such shares plus any ordinary income recognized when the shares were originally delivered, and the participant’s capital gain holding period for those shares will begin on the day after they are transferred to the participant.
Performance Awards. The tax consequences of performance awards will generally mirror those of the underlying award type, each of which is discussed above.
Parachute Payments. The vesting of any portion of an award that is accelerated due to the occurrence of a change in control (such as a sale event) may cause all or a portion of the payments with respect to such accelerated awards to be treated as “parachute payments” as defined in the U.S. Tax Code. Any such parachute payments may be non-deductible to either Pubco or its subsidiaries, in whole or in part, and may subject the recipient to a non-deductible 20% federal excise tax on all or a portion of such payment (in addition to other taxes ordinarily payable).
Section 409A. The foregoing description assumes that Section 409A of the U.S. Tax Code does not apply to an award under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan. In general, stock options and stock appreciation rights are exempt from Section 409A if the exercise price
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per share is at least equal to the fair market value per share of the underlying stock at the time the option or stock appreciation right was granted. Restricted stock awards are not generally subject to Section 409A. Restricted stock units are subject to Section 409A unless they are settled within two and one-half months after the end of the later of (1) the end of Pubco’s fiscal year in which vesting occurs or (2) the end of the calendar year in which vesting occurs. If an award is subject to Section 409A and the provisions for the exercise or settlement of that award do not comply with Section 409A, then the participant would be required to recognize ordinary income whenever a portion of the award vested (regardless of whether it had been exercised or settled). This amount would also be subject to a 20% federal tax and premium interest in addition to the federal income tax at the participant’s usual marginal rate for ordinary income.
New Plan Benefits
No awards have been previously granted under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan and no awards have been granted that are contingent on SPAC Shareholders’ approval of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan. The awards that are to be granted to any participant or group of participants are indeterminable at the date of this proxy statement/prospectus because participation and the types of awards that may be granted under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan are subject to the discretion of the Administrator. Consequently, no new plan benefits table is included in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Vote Required for Approval
The approval of the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will not constitute votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and therefore will have no effect on the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal. Broker non-votes are not considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal.
The Equity Incentive Plan Proposal is conditioned on the approval of the other Condition Precedent Proposals. Therefore, if any of the Condition Precedent Proposals is not approved, the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal will have no effect, even if approved by holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares.
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The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by them in favor of the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own 5,750,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares, or approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, if all issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares vote on the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, we would only need 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal in order to have the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal approved and adopted. If only a minimum quorum is present and votes on the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal, we would not need any SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal in order to have the Equity Incentive Plan Proposal approved and adopted.
Resolution to be Voted Upon
“RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that subject to the approval of the Condition Precedent Proposals, the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, in the form attached to the proxy statement/prospectus accompanying the notice of meeting as Annex K, be adopted and approved.”
Recommendation of the SPAC Board
THE SPAC BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN PROPOSAL.
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of SPAC’s directors may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals. In addition, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” for a further discussion of these considerations.
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PROPOSAL NO. 7 — THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL
Overview
The Adjournment Proposal allows the SPAC Board to submit a proposal to approve the adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or desirable in the reasonable determination of SPAC. The purpose of the Adjournment Proposal is to permit further solicitation of proxies and votes and to provide additional time for the parties to consummate the Business Combination.
Consequences if the Adjournment Proposal is Not Approved
If the Adjournment Proposal is presented to the Extraordinary General Meeting and is not approved by the SPAC Shareholders, the SPAC Board may not be able to adjourn the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or desirable. In such events, the Business Combination may not be completed.
Vote Required for Approval
Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will not constitute votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and therefore will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal. Broker non-votes are not considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal.
The Adjournment Proposal is not conditioned upon the approval of any other proposal to be voted on at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any SPAC Ordinary Shares owned by them in favor of the Adjournment Proposal. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own 5,750,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares, or approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, if all issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares vote on the Adjournment Proposal, we would need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Adjournment Proposal in order to have the Adjournment Proposal approved and adopted. If only a minimum quorum is present and votes on the Adjournment Proposal, we would not need any SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Adjournment Proposal in order to have the Adjournment Proposal approved and adopted.
Resolution to be Voted Upon
“RESOLVED, as an ordinary resolution, that the adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or desirable in the reasonable determination of the board of directors of Graf Global Corp., be approved.”
Recommendation of the SPAC Board
THE SPAC BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SPAC SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.
The existence of financial and personal interests of one or more of SPAC’s directors may result in a conflict of interest on the part of such director(s) between what he, she or they may believe is in the best interests of SPAC and its shareholders and what he, she or they may believe is best for himself, herself or themselves in determining to recommend that shareholders vote for the proposals. In addition, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a shareholder. See the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination” for a further discussion of these considerations.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations for (a) U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders (each as defined below) of the Domestication, (b) U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares that exercise their redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination, (c) U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants of the SPAC Merger and the other transactions comprising the Business Combination, (d) Sellers that hold Company Interests immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time of the Company Merger and the other transactions comprising the Business Combination, and (e) U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock, Pubco Class B Common Stock and Pubco Warrants (each, a “Pubco Security”) of the ownership and disposition of such Pubco Securities. This section applies only to Holders that hold their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, SPAC Warrants and Pubco Securities as “capital assets” for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment) and, in the case of Sellers, hold their Company Interests as capital assets or as interests in a partnership held for investment. For purposes of this section, references to “Pubco Common Stock” mean the Pubco Class A Common Stock and the Pubco Class B Common Stock (which have identical economic terms but differ in voting rights, with Pubco Class B Common Stock held by the High Vote Sellers).
This discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences (i) to the Sponsor or its affiliates or any other officer or director of SPAC or (ii) to any person holding Founder Shares, SPAC Private Warrants, Company Warrants, Company Convertible Securities, Sponsor Earnout Shares, Discretionary Founder Shares, or any other securities issued in connection with any Transaction Financing. This discussion is limited to U.S. federal income tax considerations and does not address any estate, gift or other U.S. federal non-income tax considerations or considerations arising under the tax laws of any U.S. state, or local or non-U.S. jurisdiction, and does not describe all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to any particular investor in light of their particular circumstances.
This discussion does not describe all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to any particular investor in light of their particular circumstances, including the alternative minimum tax, the Medicare tax on certain investment income and the different consequences that may apply to investors subject to special rules under U.S. federal income tax law, such as:
| ● | banks, financial institutions or financial services entities; |
| ● | broker-dealers; |
| ● | taxpayers that are subject to the mark-to-market accounting rules with respect to the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, SPAC Warrants, Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock, Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants or Pubco Securities; |
| ● | tax-exempt entities; |
| ● | governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof; |
| ● | insurance companies; |
| ● | regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts; |
| ● | partnerships (including entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or pass-through entities (including S corporations), or persons that hold or will hold the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, SPAC Warrants, Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock, Post-Domestication Warrants or Pubco Securities through such partnerships or pass-through entities; |
| ● | U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States; |
| ● | taxpayers that are subject to Section 7874 of the Code or to any special anti-inversion rules; |
| ● | except as specifically provided below, persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more (by vote or value) of SPAC Ordinary Shares, Company Interests or Pubco Common Stock; |
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| ● | persons that acquired their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, SPAC Warrants, Company Interests or Pubco Securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share or unit options, in connection with employee share or unit incentive plans or otherwise as compensation; |
| ● | persons that hold or will hold their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, SPAC Warrants, Company Interests or Pubco Securities as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedge, wash sale, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction; |
| ● | U.S. Holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; or |
| ● | “specified foreign corporations” (including “controlled foreign corporations”), “passive foreign investment companies” or corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax. |
This discussion is based on the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, all as of the date hereof. All of the foregoing is subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax considerations described herein. None of SPAC, Pubco or the Company has sought, or intends to seek, any rulings from the IRS as to any U.S. federal income tax considerations described herein. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not take positions inconsistent with the considerations discussed below or that any such positions would not be sustained by a court.
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DOMESTICATION, THE EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO SPAC CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES, THE SPAC MERGER, THE COMPANY MERGER, THE OTHER TRANSACTIONS COMPRISING THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF PUBCO SECURITIES. EACH HOLDER SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH HOLDER OF THE DOMESTICATION, THE EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION RIGHTS, THE MERGERS, THE OTHER TRANSACTIONS COMPRISING THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF PUBCO SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECTS OF U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS.
U.S. Holders
As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of a SPAC Class A Ordinary Share, a SPAC Warrant, a share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock, a Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant, a Pubco Security or a Company Interest who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust if (A) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a United States person.
Tax Effects of the Domestication to U.S. Holders
Generally
The U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders of the Domestication will depend primarily upon whether the Domestication qualifies as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code (an “F Reorganization”). Whether the Domestication will qualify as an F Reorganization is not free from doubt due to the absence of direct guidance on the application of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code to an entity that holds only investment-type assets. White & Case LLP, counsel to SPAC, will deliver an opinion, on the basis of customary assumptions, representations and covenants, that the Domestication should qualify as an F Reorganization, which opinion will be filed as Exhibit 8.1 to the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part. The obligations of SPAC to undertake the Domestication and the Business Combination are not conditioned on the receipt of an opinion regarding the Domestication’s qualification as an F Reorganization. If any of the assumptions, representations or covenants on which the opinion is based is or becomes incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate or is otherwise not complied with, the validity of the opinion described above may be adversely affected and the tax consequences of the Domestication could differ from those described herein. An opinion of counsel represents counsel’s legal judgment and is not binding on the IRS or any court.
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Assuming the Domestication qualifies as an F Reorganization, U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants generally are not expected to recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in connection with the Domestication, except as provided below under the sections entitled “Effects of Section 367 to U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares” and “PFIC Considerations”. The Domestication should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as if SPAC (as a Cayman Islands exempted company) (a) transferred all of its assets and liabilities to a newly formed Delaware corporation (referred to in this discussion as the “domesticated SPAC”) in exchange for all of the outstanding stock and warrants of the domesticated SPAC; and (b) then distributed such stock and warrants of the domesticated SPAC to the Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants in liquidation of SPAC. The taxable year of SPAC (as a Cayman Islands exempted company) will be deemed to end on the date of the Domestication. Following the Domestication, and immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time, each Holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (which will have converted into Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock) and each Holder of SPAC Warrants (which will have converted into Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants and will become exercisable for Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock in lieu of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Agreement) will hold such securities of the domesticated SPAC.
Subject to the discussion below under the section entitled “PFIC Considerations”, if the Domestication fails to qualify as an F Reorganization, a U.S. Holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants generally would be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having exchanged its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants for Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock or Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants of the domesticated SPAC in a taxable transaction. In such case, a U.S. Holder generally would recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock or Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants of the domesticated SPAC received and such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants deemed surrendered in exchange therefor, and any such gain or loss generally would be capital gain or loss.
Although the redemptions of U.S. Holders that exercise redemption rights with respect to SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Redemption”) will occur prior to the Domestication, it is possible that the IRS could assert that for U.S. federal income tax purposes such redemptions should be treated as occurring after the Domestication. If such redemptions are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as occurring after the Domestication, U.S. Holders exercising redemption rights would be subject to the potential tax consequences of the Domestication. All U.S. Holders considering exercising redemption rights with respect to SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares are urged to consult with their tax advisors with respect to the potential tax consequences to them of the Domestication and exercise of redemption rights, including the possibility that the redemptions are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as occurring after the Domestication despite the redemptions occurring in form prior to the Domestication.
Basis and Holding Period Considerations
Assuming the Domestication qualifies as an F Reorganization, subject to the discussion below under the section entitled “PFIC Considerations”: (a) the tax basis of a share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock or a Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant of the domesticated SPAC received by a U.S. Holder in the Domestication will equal such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the SPAC Class A Ordinary Share or SPAC Warrant surrendered in exchange therefor, increased by any amount included in the income of such U.S. Holder as a result of Section 367 of the Code (as discussed below); and (b) the holding period for a share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock or a Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant of the domesticated SPAC received by a U.S. Holder will include such U.S. Holder’s holding period for the SPAC Class A Ordinary Share or SPAC Warrant surrendered in exchange therefor.
If the Domestication fails to qualify as an F Reorganization, a U.S. Holder’s basis in the Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants of the domesticated SPAC received would be equal to the fair market value of such securities on the date of the Domestication, and such U.S. Holder’s holding period for such securities would begin on the day following the date of the Domestication. Holders who hold different blocks of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants (generally, securities purchased or acquired on different dates or at different prices) should consult their tax advisors to determine how the above rules apply to them.
Effects of Section 367 to U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares
Section 367 of the Code applies to certain transactions involving foreign corporations, including a domestication of a foreign corporation in a transaction that qualifies as an F Reorganization. Subject to the discussion below under the section entitled “PFIC Considerations”, Section 367 of the Code imposes U.S. federal income tax on certain U.S. persons in connection with transactions that would otherwise be tax-deferred. Section 367(b) of the Code will generally apply to U.S. Holders on the date of the Domestication.
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As noted above, although the redemptions of U.S. Holders that exercise redemption rights with respect to SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will occur prior to the Domestication, it is possible that the IRS could assert that for U.S. federal income tax purposes such redemptions should be treated as occurring after the Domestication. If such redemptions are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as occurring after the Domestication, U.S. Holders exercising redemption rights would be subject to the potential tax consequences of the Domestication, and the determination of whether a U.S. Holder is a 10% U.S. Shareholder (as defined below) or is otherwise subject to Section 367 of the Code would be determined as if the redemptions had not yet occurred at the time of the Domestication. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the possibility that the redemptions are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as occurring after the Domestication despite the redemptions occurring in form prior to the Domestication.
U.S. Holders Who Own 10 Percent or More (By Vote or Value) of SPAC Stock
Subject to the discussion below under the section entitled “PFIC Considerations”, a U.S. Holder who beneficially owns (directly, indirectly or constructively) 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of SPAC stock entitled to vote or 10% or more of the total value of all classes of SPAC stock (a “10% U.S. Shareholder”) on the date of the Domestication must include in income as a deemed dividend deemed paid by SPAC the “all earnings and profits amount” attributable to the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares it directly owns within the meaning of Treasury Regulations under Section 367 of the Code. A U.S. Holder’s ownership of SPAC Warrants will be taken into account in determining whether such U.S. Holder is a 10% U.S. Shareholder. Complex attribution rules apply in determining whether a U.S. Holder is a 10% U.S. Shareholder and all U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to these attribution rules.
A 10% U.S. Shareholder’s “all earnings and profits amount” with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares is the net positive earnings and profits of SPAC (as determined under Treasury Regulations under Section 367 of the Code) attributable to such SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (as determined under Treasury Regulations under Section 367 of the Code) but without regard to any gain that would be realized on a sale or exchange of such SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. Treasury Regulations under Section 367 of the Code provide that the “all earnings and profits amount” attributable to a shareholder’s stock generally is determined according to the principles of Section 1248 of the Code.
SPAC does not expect to have significant cumulative net earnings and profits on the date of the Domestication. If SPAC’s cumulative net earnings and profits through the date of the Domestication are less than or equal to zero, then a 10% U.S. Shareholder should not be required to include in gross income an “all earnings and profits amount” with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. However, the determination of earnings and profits is complex and may be impacted by numerous factors. SPAC’s cumulative net earnings and profits could be positive through the date of the Domestication, in which case a 10% U.S. Shareholder would be required to include its “all earnings and profits amount” in income as a deemed dividend deemed paid by SPAC under Treasury Regulations under Section 367 of the Code as a result of the Domestication.
U.S. Holders Who Own Less Than 10% (By Vote or Value) of SPAC Stock
Subject to the discussion below under the section entitled “PFIC Considerations”, a U.S. Holder who, on the date of the Domestication, is not a 10% U.S. Shareholder and whose SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares have a fair market value of $50,000 or more on the date of the Domestication will recognize gain (but not loss) with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in the Domestication or, in the alternative, may elect to recognize the “all earnings and profits amount” attributable to such U.S. Holder’s SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares as described below.
Subject to the discussion below under the section entitled “PFIC Considerations”, unless a U.S. Holder makes the “all earnings and profits election” as described below, such U.S. Holder generally must recognize gain (but not loss) with respect to Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock of the domesticated SPAC received in the Domestication in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of such Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock over the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares deemed surrendered in exchange therefor. U.S. Holders who hold different blocks of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (generally, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares purchased or acquired on different dates or at different prices) should consult their tax advisors to determine how the above rules apply to them.
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In lieu of recognizing any gain as described in the preceding paragraph, a U.S. Holder may elect to include in income as a deemed dividend deemed paid by SPAC the “all earnings and profits amount” attributable to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares under Section 367(b) of the Code. There are, however, strict conditions for making this election. This election must comply with applicable Treasury Regulations and generally must include, among other things:
| (i) | a statement that the Domestication is a Section 367(b) exchange (within the meaning of the applicable Treasury Regulations); |
| (ii) | a complete description of the Domestication; |
| (iii) | a description of any stock, securities or other consideration transferred or received in the Domestication; |
| (iv) | a statement describing the amounts required to be taken into account for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| (v) | a statement that the U.S. Holder is making the election that includes (A) a copy of the information that the U.S. Holder received from SPAC (or Pubco) establishing and substantiating the U.S. Holder’s “all earnings and profits amount” with respect to the U.S. Holder’s SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and (B) a representation that the U.S. Holder has notified SPAC (or Pubco) that the U.S. Holder is making the election; and |
| (vi) | certain other information required to be furnished with the U.S. Holder’s tax return or otherwise furnished pursuant to the Code or the Treasury Regulations. |
In addition, the election must be attached by an electing U.S. Holder to such U.S. Holder’s timely filed U.S. federal income tax return for the year of the Domestication, and the U.S. Holder must send notice of making the election to SPAC or Pubco no later than the date such tax return is filed. In connection with this election, Pubco will reasonably cooperate with U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, upon request, to make available to such requesting U.S. Holders information regarding SPAC’s earnings and profits.
SPAC does not expect to have significant cumulative earnings and profits through the date of the Domestication and if that proves to be the case, U.S. Holders who make this election are not expected to have a significant income inclusion under Section 367(b) of the Code, provided that the U.S. Holder properly executes the election and complies with the applicable notice requirements. However, as noted above, if it were determined that SPAC had positive earnings and profits through the date of the Domestication, a U.S. Holder that makes the election described herein could have an “all earnings and profits amount” with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, and thus could be required to include that amount in income as a deemed dividend deemed paid by SPAC under applicable Treasury Regulations as a result of the Domestication.
EACH U.S. HOLDER IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE CONSEQUENCES TO IT OF MAKING AN ELECTION TO INCLUDE IN INCOME THE “ALL EARNINGS AND PROFITS AMOUNT” ATTRIBUTABLE TO ITS SPAC CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES UNDER SECTION 367(b) OF THE CODE AND THE APPROPRIATE FILING REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH AN ELECTION.
A U.S. Holder who, on the date of the Domestication, is not a 10% U.S. Shareholder and whose SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares have a fair market value of less than $50,000 on the date of the Domestication generally should not be required to recognize any gain or loss or include any part of the “all earnings and profits amount” in income under Section 367 of the Code in connection with the Domestication. However, such U.S. Holder may be subject to taxation under the PFIC rules as discussed below under the section entitled “5. PFIC Considerations”.
ALL U.S. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE EFFECT OF SECTION 367 OF THE CODE TO THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
Tax Consequences for U.S. Holders of SPAC Warrants of the Domestication
Assuming the Domestication qualifies as an F Reorganization, subject to the considerations described above under the section entitled “Effects of Section 367 to U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares — a. U.S. Holders Who Own 10 Percent or More (By Vote or Value) of SPAC Stock” relating to a U.S. Holder’s ownership of SPAC Warrants being taken into account in determining whether such U.S. Holder is a 10% U.S. Shareholder for purposes of Section 367(b) of the Code and the considerations described below under the section entitled “PFIC Considerations” relating to the PFIC rules, a U.S. Holder of SPAC Warrants should not be
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subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to the exchange of SPAC Warrants (of SPAC as a Cayman Islands exempted company) for SPAC Warrants (of the domesticated SPAC) in the Domestication. If the Domestication is not properly treated as an F Reorganization, a U.S. Holder of SPAC Warrants generally would recognize gain or loss on the exchange in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the SPAC Warrants (of the domesticated SPAC) received and such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the SPAC Warrants surrendered.
PFIC Considerations
Regardless of whether the Domestication qualifies as an F Reorganization (and, if the Domestication qualifies as an F Reorganization, in addition to the discussion above under the section entitled “Effects of Section 367 to U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares”), the Domestication could be a taxable event to U.S. Holders under the PFIC provisions of the Code if SPAC is considered a passive foreign investment company (i.e., a PFIC).
Definition of a PFIC
A foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) corporation will be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes if either (a) at least 75% of its gross income in a taxable year, including its pro rata share of the gross income of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, is passive income or (b) at least 50% of its assets in a taxable year (generally determined based on fair market value and averaged quarterly over the year), including its pro rata share of the assets of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business received from unrelated persons) and gains from the disposition of passive assets. The determination of whether a foreign corporation is a PFIC is made annually; further, once a foreign corporation is classified as a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder during any given year, it retains such classification for that U.S. Holder’s entire holding period.
PFIC Status of SPAC
Because SPAC is a blank check company with no current active business prior to the Business Combination, and based upon the composition of its income and assets, and upon a review of its financial statements, SPAC believes that it likely has been a PFIC since its first taxable year and will likely be considered a PFIC for the taxable year which ends as a result of the Domestication. However, SPAC’s actual PFIC status for any taxable year will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year. Accordingly, there can be no assurance with respect to SPAC’s status as a PFIC for the taxable year which ends as a result of the Domestication. In addition, SPAC’s U.S. counsel expresses no opinion with respect to SPAC’s PFIC status for any taxable year.
Effects of PFIC Rules on the Domestication
Even if the Domestication qualifies as an F Reorganization, Section 1291(f) of the Code requires that, to the extent provided in Treasury Regulations, a U.S. person who disposes of stock of a PFIC (including for this purpose, under a proposed Treasury Regulation that generally treats an “option” (which would include a SPAC Warrant) to acquire the stock of a PFIC as stock of the PFIC, exchanging warrants of a PFIC for newly issued warrants in connection with a domestication transaction) recognizes gain notwithstanding any other provision of the Code. No final Treasury Regulations are currently in effect under Section 1291(f) of the Code. However, proposed Treasury Regulations under Section 1291(f) of the Code have been promulgated with a retroactive effective date. If finalized in their current form, those proposed Treasury Regulations would require gain recognition to U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants as a result of the Domestication if:
| (i) | SPAC were classified as a PFIC at any time during such U.S. Holder’s holding period in such SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants; and |
| (ii) | the U.S. Holder had not timely made (a) a QEF Election (as defined below) for the first taxable year in which the U.S. Holder owned such SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or in which SPAC was a PFIC, whichever is later (or a QEF Election along with a purging election), or (b) an MTM Election (as defined below) with respect to such SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. Under current law, neither a QEF Election nor an MTM Election can be made with respect to warrants. |
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The tax on any such recognized gain would be imposed based on a complex set of computational rules designed to offset the tax deferral with respect to the undistributed earnings of SPAC. Under these rules (the “excess distributions regime”):
| ● | the U.S. Holder’s gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for such U.S. Holder’s SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants; |
| ● | the amount of gain allocated to the U.S. Holder’s taxable year in which the U.S. Holder recognized the gain, or to the period in the U.S. Holder’s holding period before the first day of the first taxable year in which SPAC was a PFIC, will be taxed as ordinary income; |
| ● | the amount of gain allocated to each other taxable year (or portion thereof) of the U.S. Holder and included in such U.S. Holder’s holding period would be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and applicable to the U.S. Holder; and |
| ● | an additional tax equal to the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the U.S. Holder in respect of the tax attributable to each such other taxable year or portion thereof (described in the third bullet above) of such U.S. Holder. |
In addition, the proposed Treasury Regulations provide coordinating rules with Section 367(b) of the Code, whereby, if the gain recognition rule of the proposed Treasury Regulations applied to a disposition of PFIC stock that results from a transfer with respect to which Section 367(b) of the Code requires the U.S. Holder to recognize gain or include an amount in income as a deemed dividend deemed paid by SPAC, the gain realized on the transfer is taxable as an excess distribution under the excess distributions regime, and the excess, if any, of the amount to be included in income under Section 367(b) of the Code over the gain realized under these rules is taxable as provided under Section 367(b) of the Code. See the discussion above under the section entitled “Effects of Section 367 to U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares”.
It is difficult to predict whether, in what form and with what effective date, final Treasury Regulations under Section 1291(f) of the Code may be adopted or how any such final Treasury Regulations would apply. Therefore, U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares that have not made a timely and effective QEF Election (or a QEF Election along with a purging election) or an MTM Election may, pursuant to the proposed Treasury Regulations, be subject to taxation under the PFIC rules on the Domestication with respect to their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants under the excess distributions regime in the manner set forth above. A U.S. Holder that made a timely and effective QEF Election (or a QEF Election along with a purging election) or an MTM Election with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares is referred to herein as an “Electing Shareholder” and a U.S. Holder that is not an Electing Shareholder is referred to herein as a “Non-Electing Shareholder”.
Any gain recognized by a Non-Electing Shareholder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or a U.S. Holder of SPAC Warrants as a result of the Domestication pursuant to the PFIC rules would be taxable income to such U.S. Holder and taxed under the excess distributions regime in the manner set forth above, with no corresponding receipt of cash.
As noted above, if SPAC is considered a PFIC, the Domestication could be a taxable event under the PFIC rules regardless of whether the Domestication qualifies as an F Reorganization, and, absent a QEF Election (or a QEF Election along with a purging election) or an MTM Election, a U.S. Holder would be taxed under the excess distributions regime in the manner set forth above.
ALL U.S. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF THE PFIC RULES ON THE DOMESTICATION, INCLUDING THE IMPACT OF ANY PROPOSED OR FINAL TREASURY REGULATIONS.
QEF Election and Mark-to-Market Election
The impact of the PFIC rules on a U.S. Holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will depend on whether the U.S. Holder has made a timely and effective election to treat SPAC as a “qualified electing fund” under Section 1295 of the Code for the taxable year that is the first year in the U.S. Holder’s holding period of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares during which SPAC qualified as a PFIC (a “QEF Election”) or, if in a later taxable year, the U.S. Holder made a QEF Election along with a purging election. One type of purging election creates a deemed sale of the U.S. Holder’s SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at their then fair market value and requires the U.S. Holder to recognize gain pursuant to such purging election subject to the excess distributions regime described above. As a
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result of any such purging election, the U.S. Holder would increase the adjusted tax basis in its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares by the amount of the gain recognized and, solely for purposes of the PFIC rules, would have a new holding period in its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the application of the rules governing purging elections to their particular circumstances.
A U.S. Holder’s ability to make a timely and effective QEF Election (or a QEF Election along with a purging election) with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares is contingent upon, among other things, the provision by SPAC of a “PFIC Annual Information Statement” to such U.S. Holder. Pubco will reasonably cooperate with any requesting U.S. Holder to provide PFIC Annual Information Statements to such requesting U.S. Holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares with respect to each taxable year for which SPAC is determined to be a PFIC. As discussed above, a U.S. Holder is not able to make a QEF Election with respect to SPAC Warrants under current law. An Electing Shareholder generally would not be subject to the excess distributions regime discussed above with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. As a result, an Electing Shareholder generally is not expected to recognize gain or loss as a result of the Domestication except to the extent described under “Effects of Section 367 to U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares”, but rather would include annually in gross income its pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gain of SPAC, whether or not such amounts are actually distributed.
The impact of the PFIC rules on a U.S. Holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares may also depend on whether the U.S. Holder has made a mark-to-market election under Section 1296 of the Code (an “MTM Election”). U.S. Holders who hold (actually or constructively) stock of a foreign corporation that is classified as a PFIC may elect to mark such stock to its market value each taxable year if such stock is “marketable stock”, generally, stock that is regularly traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the SEC, including the NYSE American. No assurance can be given that SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares are considered to be marketable stock for purposes of the MTM Election for any taxable year or whether the other requirements of this election are satisfied. If such an election is available and has been made, such Electing Shareholder generally would not be subject to the excess distributions regime discussed above with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in connection with the Domestication. Instead, in general, such Electing Shareholder will include as ordinary income each year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at the end of its taxable year over its adjusted tax basis in its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. The Electing Shareholder also will recognize an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of its adjusted tax basis in its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares over the fair market value of its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at the end of its taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the MTM Election). The Electing Shareholder’s tax basis in its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts, and any further gain recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition of its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will be treated as ordinary income. However, if the MTM Election is not made by a U.S. Holder with respect to the first taxable year of its holding period for the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in which SPAC is a PFIC, then the excess distributions regime discussed above will apply to certain dispositions of, distributions on and other amounts taxable with respect to, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, including in connection with the Domestication. Under current law, an MTM Election is not available with respect to warrants, including SPAC Warrants.
THE RULES DEALING WITH PFICS ARE VERY COMPLEX AND ARE IMPACTED BY VARIOUS FACTORS IN ADDITION TO THOSE DESCRIBED ABOVE, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION OF THE RULES ADDRESSING OVERLAPS IN THE PFIC RULES AND THE SECTION 367(b) RULES AND THE RULES RELATING TO CONTROLLED FOREIGN CORPORATIONS. ALL U.S. HOLDERS OF SPAC CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES AND SPAC WARRANTS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PFIC RULES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WHETHER A QEF ELECTION (OR A QEF ELECTION ALONG WITH A PURGING ELECTION), AN MTM ELECTION OR ANY OTHER ELECTION IS AVAILABLE AND WHETHER AND HOW ANY OVERLAP RULES APPLY, AND THE CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF ANY SUCH ELECTION OR OVERLAP RULE AND THE IMPACT OF ANY PROPOSED OR FINAL PFIC TREASURY REGULATIONS.
Tax Effects to U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares of Exercising Redemption Rights
Generally
The U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares that exercises its redemption rights with respect to its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of shares under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of shares by a U.S. Holder, the tax consequences to such U.S. Holder are as described below under the section entitled “Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Sale”. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale
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of shares, a U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences to such U.S. Holder as described below under the section entitled “Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Distribution”.
Whether a redemption of shares qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares of SPAC stock treated as held by the redeemed U.S. Holder before and after the redemption (including any shares treated as constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as a result of owning SPAC Warrants) relative to all of the stock of SPAC outstanding both before and after the redemption. The redemption generally will be treated as a sale of shares (rather than as a corporate distribution) if the redemption (1) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. Holder, (2) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. Holder’s interest in SPAC or (3) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
In determining whether any of the foregoing tests result in a redemption qualifying for sale treatment, a U.S. Holder takes into account not only shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also shares that are constructively owned by it under certain attribution rules set forth in the Code. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to shares owned directly, shares owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any shares that the holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of SPAC Warrants.
In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of SPAC’s outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption of shares must, among other requirements, be less than 80% of the percentage of SPAC’s outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption (taking into account redemptions by other holders). There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest in SPAC if either (1) all of the shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (2) all of the shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other shares (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as a result of owning SPAC Warrants). The redemption will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if the redemption results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in SPAC. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in SPAC will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly held corporation where such stockholder exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction”.
If none of the foregoing tests is satisfied, then the redemption of shares will be treated as a corporate distribution to the redeemed U.S. Holder and the tax effects to such a U.S. Holder will be as described below under the section entitled “Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Distribution”. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. Holder in the redeemed shares will be added to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining SPAC stock or, if it has none, to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its SPAC Warrants or possibly in other SPAC stock constructively owned by it.
Redeeming U.S. Holders generally will be subject to the PFIC rules relating to the excess distributions regime, QEF Election and MTM Election described above under the section entitled “Tax Effects of the Domestication to U.S. Holders — PFIC Considerations” with respect to any gain or loss recognized by the U.S. Holder on its deemed sale of its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (if the redemption were treated as a sale of shares) or any corporate distributions deemed received on its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (if the redemption were treated as a corporate distribution) without regard to any potential limitations or other interactions of such PFIC rules in connection with an F Reorganization or Section 367 of the Code as discussed therein.
U.S. Holders who actually or constructively own at least 5% by vote or value (or, if SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares are not then publicly traded, at least 1% by vote or value) or more of the total outstanding SPAC stock may be subject to special reporting requirements with respect to a redemption of shares, and such holders should consult with their tax advisors with respect to their reporting requirements.
U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the possibility that the redemptions are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as occurring after the Domestication despite the redemptions occurring in form prior to the Domestication and the consequences thereof to them based on their particular circumstances.
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Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Distribution
If the redemption of a U.S. Holder’s shares is treated as a corporate distribution, as discussed above under the section entitled “Generally”, the amount of cash received in the redemption generally will constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from SPAC’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles.
Distributions in excess of SPAC’s current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale of shares and will be treated as described below under the section entitled “Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Sale”.
As discussed above, a redeeming U.S. Holder generally will be subject to the PFIC rules relating to the excess distributions regime, QEF Election and MTM Election described above under the section entitled “Tax Effects of the Domestication to U.S. Holders — PFIC Considerations” with respect to any corporate distributions deemed received on its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (if the redemption were treated as a corporate distribution) without regard to any potential limitations or other interactions of such PFIC rules in connection with an F Reorganization or Section 367 of the Code as discussed therein.
Taxation of Redemption Treated as a Sale
If the redemption of a U.S. Holder’s shares is treated as a sale, as discussed above under the section entitled “Generally”, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received in the redemption and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares redeemed. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares so disposed of exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders generally will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. It is unclear, however, whether certain redemption rights with respect to the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares may suspend the running of the applicable holding period of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares for this purpose. If the running of the holding period for the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. Holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a redemption that is treated as a sale of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at regular ordinary income tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
As discussed above, a redeeming U.S. Holder generally will be subject to the PFIC rules relating to the excess distributions regime, QEF Election and MTM Election described above under the section entitled “Tax Effects of the Domestication to U.S. Holders — PFIC Considerations” with respect to any gain or loss recognized by the U.S. Holder on its deemed sale of its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (if the redemption were treated as a sale of shares) without regard to any potential limitations or other interactions of such PFIC rules in connection with an F Reorganization or Section 367 of the Code as discussed therein.
U.S. Holders who hold different blocks of shares (including as a result of holding different blocks of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares purchased or acquired on different dates or at different prices) should consult their tax advisors to determine how the above rules apply to them.
ALL U.S. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF AN EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION RIGHTS.
Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders
Intended Tax Treatment
It is intended that (i) the Mergers (i.e., the SPAC Merger and the Company Merger) taken together with the other relevant portions of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement) qualify as an integrated transaction described in Section 351 of the Code (a “Section 351 Transaction”) and (ii) if the 368 Requirement (as defined below) is satisfied, the SPAC Merger also qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code (a “Section 368(a) Reorganization”). The “368 Requirement” will be satisfied if the amount of cash in the Trust Account immediately following the deduction of amounts required to satisfy the Redemption Amount is not less than fifty percent (50%) of the cash in the Trust Account immediately prior to such deduction.
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However, the provisions of Sections 351 and 368(a) of the Code are complex and qualification as a non-recognition transaction under either of these provisions is subject to factual and legal uncertainties and could be adversely affected by events or actions that occur prior to or following the Business Combination. There are also significant factual and legal uncertainties as to whether the SPAC Merger qualifies as a Section 368(a) Reorganization. For example, under Section 368(a) of the Code, the acquiring corporation (or, in the case of certain reorganizations structured similarly to the SPAC Merger, its corporate parent) must continue, either directly or indirectly through certain controlled corporations, either a significant line of the acquired corporation’s historic business or use a significant portion of the acquired corporation’s historic business assets in a business. However, there is an absence of guidance directly on point as to how the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code apply in the case of an acquisition of a corporation with investment-type assets, such as SPAC. In addition, the SPAC Merger’s ability to qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization could be adversely affected by events or actions that occur prior to or at the time of the SPAC Merger, some of which are outside the control of SPAC. For example, the requirements for Section 368(a) Reorganization treatment could be adversely affected by the magnitude of SPAC Class A Ordinary Share redemptions that occur in connection with the Business Combination.
The Closing (including the Mergers) is not conditioned upon the receipt of any opinion of counsel regarding the tax treatment of the Business Combination (including the Mergers) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and none of SPAC, the Company or Pubco has sought or intends to seek a ruling from the IRS regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Business Combination (including the Mergers). Although SPAC, the Company and Pubco currently intend to take the position that the Mergers qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) to the extent permitted by applicable law, the facts and circumstances of the Business Combination (including the Mergers) render the issue uncertain and, notwithstanding the position that SPAC, the Company and Pubco intend to take, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge that conclusion or that a court would not sustain such a challenge. None of SPAC, the Company, Pubco or any other party to the Business Combination Agreement makes any representation or provides any assurance regarding the tax treatment of the Business Combination (including the Mergers).
Exchange of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock for Pubco Class A Common Stock Pursuant to the SPAC Merger
If the SPAC Merger qualifies as part of a Section 351 Transaction or as a Section 368(a) Reorganization, no gain or loss should be recognized by a U.S. Holder of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock who exchanges such stock solely for Pubco Class A Common Stock pursuant to the SPAC Merger. In such case, the aggregate adjusted tax basis of the Pubco Class A Common Stock received by a U.S. Holder in the SPAC Merger should equal the aggregate adjusted tax basis of the shares of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock surrendered by such U.S. Holder in the SPAC Merger. In addition, the holding period of such Pubco Class A Common Stock should include the period during which the shares of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock surrendered in the SPAC Merger were held by such U.S. Holder, although the running of the holding period for such shares may be suspended as a result of any redemption rights with respect thereto.
U.S. Holders who hold different blocks of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants (generally, securities purchased or acquired on different dates or at different prices) should consult their tax advisors to determine how the above rules apply to them, and the discussion above does not specifically address all of the consequences to U.S. Holders who hold different blocks of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants.
Assumption of Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants by Pubco
The appropriate U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Pubco Warrants held by U.S. Holders in respect of their Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants as a result of the Warrant Assumption Agreement is uncertain because, as described above, it is unclear whether the SPAC Merger separately qualifies as a Section 368(a) Reorganization.
If the Mergers only qualify as part of a Section 351 Transaction (and the SPAC Merger does not also qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization), a U.S. Holder that in the SPAC Merger only exchanges Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants for Pubco Warrants (and does not also exchange any Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock for Pubco Class A Common Stock in the SPAC Merger) generally will recognize gain or loss upon such deemed exchange of warrants equal to the difference between the fair market value of the Pubco Warrants received and such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its SPAC Warrants. Such U.S. Holder’s basis in the Pubco Warrants received in the SPAC Merger will equal the fair market value of the Pubco Warrants. Such U.S. Holder’s holding period in the Pubco Warrants will begin on the day after the SPAC Merger. If the SPAC Merger qualifies as a Section 368(a) Reorganization (whether or not the Mergers also qualify as part of a Section 351 Transaction), a U.S. Holder whose Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants are assumed by Pubco and thereafter constitute Pubco Warrants would not recognize gain or loss
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upon such deemed exchange of warrants. In such case, a U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Pubco Warrants received would equal such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants exchanged therefor, and the holding period of the Pubco Warrants would include the holding period of the Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants exchanged therefor (which, assuming the Domestication qualifies as an F Reorganization, generally will include the holding period of the SPAC Warrants from which the Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants of the domesticated SPAC were derived, as described above under “Tax Effects of the Domestication to U.S. Holders — Basis and Holding Period Considerations”).
If the Mergers qualify as part of a Section 351 Transaction (and the SPAC Merger does not qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization), a U.S. Holder that in the SPAC Merger exchanges both Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock for Pubco Class A Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants for Pubco Warrants (in contrast to the warrant-only fact pattern addressed above) will recognize gain (but not loss) in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the amount of gain realized by such holder (generally, the excess (if any) of (x) the fair market values of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and the Pubco Warrants received by such holder over (y) such holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and the Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants exchanged therefor) and (ii) the fair market value of the Pubco Warrants received by such holder in such exchange. To determine the amount of gain, if any, that such U.S. Holder must recognize, the holder must compute the amount of gain or loss realized as a result of the SPAC Merger on a share-by-share and warrant-by-warrant basis by allocating the aggregate fair market value of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and the Pubco Warrants received by such U.S. Holder among the Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants owned by such U.S. Holder immediately prior to the SPAC Merger in proportion to their fair market values. Any loss realized by such U.S. Holder would not be recognized. In this case, the holding period of the Pubco Class A Common Stock received in the SPAC Merger will include the holding period during which the Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock exchanged therefor was held by such U.S. Holder, and the holding period of the Pubco Warrants received in the SPAC Merger will begin on the day after the SPAC Merger.
U.S. Holders of Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants are urged to consult with their tax advisors regarding the treatment of their Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants in connection with the Business Combination.
Consequences of Company Merger to Sellers
The Company Merger is intended to constitute the Sellers’ contribution of their Company Interests to Pubco as part of the Section 351 Transaction. Accordingly, provided the Mergers qualify as a Section 351 Transaction, and subject to the discussion below regarding Sections 751 and 752 of the Code, a Seller whose Company Interest is cancelled in the Company Merger in exchange for shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or Pubco Class B Common Stock generally should not recognize gain or loss as a result of the Company Merger.
In such case, a Seller’s aggregate adjusted tax basis in the shares of Pubco Common Stock received should equal such Seller’s aggregate adjusted tax basis in the Company Interest treated as contributed (determined under Section 705(a) of the Code and as reduced by the Seller’s share of the Company’s liabilities treated as transferred under Section 752 of the Code). With respect to holding period, however, Revenue Ruling 84-111 imposes a split holding period on the stock received in an interests-over incorporation: a Seller generally should be able to include its holding period in its Company Interest in the holding period of the shares of Pubco Common Stock received, except that a new holding period generally should begin with respect to the portion of such shares attributable to the Seller’s indirect interest in Section 751 hot assets and any other assets of the Company that are not capital assets or assets described in Section 1231 of the Code. Accordingly, a Seller may hold shares of Pubco Common Stock with a divided holding period, which may affect whether gain on a subsequent disposition of such shares is long-term or short-term. In addition, the following partnership-specific rules can override the general non-recognition treatment described above.
Section 752 liability shifts and Section 357(c) gain.
Under Section 752 of the Code, a decrease in a Seller’s share of the Company’s liabilities as a result of the Company Merger is treated as a deemed cash distribution by the Company to the Seller. Because each Seller’s entire Company Interest is cancelled in the Company Merger and no Seller retains any interest in the Company or continues as a partner in the Company following the Company Merger, each Seller’s share of the Company’s liabilities will drop to zero, and the resulting Section 752(b) deemed cash distribution will equal the entire Section 752 share of the Company’s liabilities that had been allocated to such Seller’s Company Interest immediately before the Company Merger. The amount of any such deemed cash distribution is treated as “money received” by the Seller and reduces the Seller’s adjusted tax basis in the shares of Pubco Common Stock received in the Section 351 Transaction. If the amount of the Company’s liabilities so treated as assumed or as taken subject to by Pubco exceeds the Seller’s adjusted tax basis in its
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Company Interest immediately before the Company Merger (adjusted for the applicable Section 752 shifts), Section 357(c) of the Code will require the Seller to recognize gain equal to such excess, notwithstanding the general non-recognition rule of Section 351 of the Code. The character of any such Section 357(c) gain will be determined under Section 751(a) of the Code (as described below) to the extent attributable to Section 751 hot assets and otherwise generally will be capital gain under Section 741 of the Code.
Section 751 hot-asset consequences.
The Company may hold, at the time of the Business Combination, “unrealized receivables” within the meaning of Section 751(c) of the Code (which include depreciation recapture) and, if applicable, “inventory items” within the meaning of Section 751(d) of the Code (collectively, “Section 751 hot assets”). Because each Seller’s entire Company Interest is cancelled in the Company Merger, each Seller is treated for this purpose as having sold or exchanged its entire Company Interest. Under Section 751(a) of the Code, any gain recognized by a Seller (including any Section 357(c) gain described above) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent that such gain would have been allocated to such Seller had the Company sold all of its Section 751 hot assets at fair market value in a fully taxable transaction immediately before the Company Merger. Because no Seller remains a partner in the Company following the Company Merger, the Section 752(b) deemed cash distribution described above is not a distribution to a continuing partner, and the additional rules of Section 751(b) of the Code are not expected to apply to the Sellers in connection with the Company Merger. The amount and character of any gain recognized by a Seller will depend on the Company’s asset tax bases, liabilities and Section 751 hot assets immediately before the Company Merger and on each Seller’s particular circumstances.
The application of Section 751(a) of the Code in an interests-over incorporation of a partnership is not entirely settled where the liabilities treated as transferred do not exceed the Seller’s adjusted tax basis in its Company Interest. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position that results in a greater amount of ordinary income to a Seller than described above, and Sellers are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of Sections 751 and 752 of the Code to them in light of their particular circumstances.
Sellers are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences to them of the Company Merger, including the possible characterization of the Company Merger as an assets-over transaction under Rev. Rul. 99-6 and the potential application of Sections 351, 357, 741, 751 and 752 of the Code, and the effect on their basis and holding period in the shares of Pubco Common Stock they receive, in light of their particular circumstances.
Earnout Shares
The parties intend that the Earnout Shares be treated as stock consideration delivered by Pubco in connection with the Mergers as part of the Section 351 Transaction. Under this intended treatment, an Earnout Participant that is a Seller generally would allocate its aggregate adjusted tax basis in its Company Interest (as adjusted for applicable Section 752 shifts) among the shares of Pubco Common Stock received in the Company Merger and the Earnout Shares received in respect of the same Company Interest. No additional gain or loss should be recognized upon the vesting of an Earnout Share, and the holding period of a vested Earnout Share should include the holding period of the Company Interest to which it is attributable, subject to the discussion under “Consequences of Company Merger to Sellers” above.
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of contingent stock consideration issued in the context of a Section 351 Transaction, and in particular the timing and manner of basis recovery in respect of forfeited shares, is not entirely free from doubt. Earnout Participants are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences to them of the issuance, vesting and forfeiture of the Earnout Shares in light of their particular circumstances.
Failure to Qualify as a Section 351 Transaction or Section 368(a) Reorganization
In the event that the Mergers do not qualify as part of a Section 351 Transaction or as a Section 368(a) Reorganization, generally, the SPAC Merger will be treated as a taxable sale or exchange of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants by U.S. Holders in exchange for Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants. In such case, subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the deemed sale or exchange of its Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock or Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants pursuant to the SPAC Merger in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value of the Pubco Class A Common Stock or Pubco Warrants (as applicable) received by the U.S. Holder in the SPAC Merger and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock or Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants surrendered therefor. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term
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capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period in the Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock or Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses realized by a U.S. Holder on a taxable sale or exchange of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock or Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants is subject to certain limitations. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in shares of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock generally will equal the U.S. Holder’s basis carried over from the Domestication, reduced by any prior distributions with respect to such shares treated as a return of basis. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in SPAC Warrants generally will equal the U.S. Holder’s basis carried over from the Domestication.
In the event that the Mergers do not qualify as part of a Section 351 Transaction, the Company Merger generally will be treated as a taxable sale by each Seller of its Company Interest to Pubco in exchange for shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or Pubco Class B Common Stock (as applicable). In such case, subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, each Seller of Company Interests generally will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of (x) the fair market value of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or Pubco Class B Common Stock received by such Seller and (y) the amount of the Company’s liabilities allocable to such Seller’s Company Interest that are treated as assumed or as taken subject to by Pubco (which are treated as an amount realized under Sections 752 and 358(d) of the Code) and (ii) the Seller’s adjusted tax basis in its Company Interest, determined under Section 705(a) of the Code and adjusted for the applicable shifts in the Seller’s share of the Company’s liabilities under Section 752 of the Code. The gain or loss on such deemed sale or exchange as is generally treated as capital gain or loss, except to the extent attributable to the Company’s Section 751 hot assets, which are treated as giving rise to ordinary income or loss. Any capital gain or loss so recognized generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Seller’s holding period in its Company Interest exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate Sellers will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates, and the deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
In the case of a taxable Company Merger, each Seller’s aggregate adjusted tax basis in the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or Pubco Class B Common Stock, as applicable, received in exchange for its Company Interest generally will equal the fair market value of such shares on the date of the Business Combination, and the Seller’s holding period in such shares generally will begin on the day following the date of the Business Combination.
None of SPAC, the Company or Pubco has sought or intends to seek any ruling from the IRS regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination, including the tax consequences described herein, and no assurance can be given that the IRS will agree with the views expressed herein, or that a court will not sustain any challenge by the IRS with respect to conclusions expressed herein in the event of litigation.
Integration of Partial Redemptions with the Business Combination
If a U.S. Holder elects to redeem some but not all of its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in connection with the Business Combination, it is possible that such redemption may be treated as integrated with the Business Combination rather than as a separate transaction. If the SPAC Merger qualifies as a Section 368(a) Reorganization, and if the redemption is treated as integrated with the SPAC Merger (rather than as a separate transaction), cash received by such U.S. Holder in the redemption may also be treated as taxable boot received in the Section 368(a) Reorganization. In that case, such U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain (but not loss) in an amount not in excess of the cash received. If the receipt of the cash has the effect of the distribution of a dividend, such gain will be treated as a dividend to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s ratable share of the undistributed earnings and profits of the domesticated SPAC (the corporation whose Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock is treated as surrendered in the SPAC Merger) and/or potentially the undistributed earnings and profits of Pubco, and any remaining gain will be capital gain. If the receipt of the cash does not have the effect of a dividend, the entire gain will be capital gain.
If the SPAC Merger does not qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization but the Mergers qualify as part of a Section 351 Transaction, it is possible that such cash, together with the Pubco Warrants received in exchange for SPAC Warrants pursuant to the Warrant Assumption Agreement, may be treated as taxable boot received in the Section 351 Transaction, in which case gain (but not loss) may be recognized on the SPAC Merger and the redemption in an amount equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate amount of gain realized by such holder (generally, the sum of the excess (if any) of (x) the value of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants received in the SPAC Merger and the amount of cash received in the redemption over (y) such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants exchanged therefor pursuant to the SPAC Merger and/or the redemption, computed on an asset-by-asset basis) and (B) the sum of the amount of cash received in the redemption and the value of the Pubco Warrants received in the SPAC Merger. Under this possible characterization, such U.S. Holder may be required to recognize an amount of gain or income (if any) that is different than if the redemption of SPAC Class A Ordinary
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Shares were treated as a separate transaction from the exchange pursuant to the SPAC Merger and would not be entitled to recognize any loss with respect to its redeemed SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares.
U.S. Holders that redeem some but not all of their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in connection with the Business Combination are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the potential integration of their redemption with the Business Combination and the resulting U.S. federal income tax consequences in light of their particular circumstances.
Ownership and Disposition of Pubco Common Stock and Pubco Warrants
Distributions
In general, distributions of cash or other property paid to U.S. Holders of Pubco Common Stock (other than certain distributions of Pubco stock or rights to acquire Pubco stock) generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from Pubco’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits generally will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Pubco Common Stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the Pubco Common Stock and will be treated as described below under the section entitled “Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition”.
Dividends paid to a U.S. Holder that is treated as a taxable corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including, but not limited to, dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends paid to a non-corporate U.S. Holder of Pubco Common Stock may constitute “qualified dividend income” that will be subject to tax at the reduced rates accorded to long-term capital gains.
Non-corporate U.S. Holders that do not meet the applicable minimum holding period requirement or that elect to treat the dividend income as “investment income” pursuant to Section 163(d)(4) of the Code (dealing with the deduction for investment interest expense) will not be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation applicable to qualified dividend income. In addition, the reduced rates will not apply to dividends if the recipient of a dividend is obligated to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. This disallowance applies even if the minimum holding period has been met.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition
A U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of Pubco Common Stock or Pubco Warrants in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the amount realized (i.e., the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition) and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Pubco Common Stock or Pubco Warrants disposed of.
Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period in the Pubco Common Stock or Pubco Warrants so disposed of exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders generally will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses realized by a U.S. Holder on a sale or other taxable disposition of Pubco Common Stock or Pubco Warrants is subject to certain limitations.
Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of Pubco Warrants
A U.S. Holder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the acquisition of a share of Pubco Class A Common Stock on the exercise of a Pubco Warrant for cash. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a share of Pubco Class A Common Stock received upon exercise of a Pubco Warrant generally should equal the sum of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Pubco Warrant exchanged therefor and the exercise price. The U.S. Holder’s holding period for a share of Pubco Class A Common Stock received upon exercise of the Pubco Warrant will begin on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the Pubco Warrant and will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the Pubco Warrant. If a Pubco Warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the lapsed Pubco Warrant.
The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a Pubco Warrant are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may be tax-deferred, either because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for
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U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either tax-deferred situation, a U.S. Holder’s basis in the Pubco Class A Common Stock received would equal the U.S. Holder’s basis in the Pubco Warrants exercised therefor. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a realization event, a U.S. Holder’s holding period in the Pubco Class A Common Stock would be treated as commencing on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the Pubco Warrants. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the Pubco Class A Common Stock would include the holding period of the Pubco Warrants exercised therefor.
It is also possible that a cashless exercise of a Pubco Warrant could be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a U.S. Holder could be deemed to have surrendered a number of Pubco Warrants equal to the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock having a value equal to the aggregate exercise price of the total number of Pubco Warrants to be exercised (the “surrendered warrants”). The U.S. Holder would recognize capital gain or loss with respect to the surrendered warrants in an amount generally equal to the difference between (i) the total exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the warrants deemed surrendered. In this case, a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock received would equal the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Pubco Warrants exercised plus the exercise price of such warrants. A U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock would commence on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the Pubco Warrants.
Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise of warrants, there can be no assurance which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise of Pubco Warrants.
Possible Constructive Distributions
The terms of each Pubco Warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock for which the Pubco Warrant may be exercised, or to the exercise price of the Pubco Warrant, in certain events. An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. A U.S. Holder of a Pubco Warrant would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from Pubco if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder’s proportionate interest in Pubco’s assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock that would be obtained upon exercise of such warrant) as a result of a distribution of cash to the holders of the Pubco Class A Common Stock which is taxable to the U.S. Holders of such shares as described under “— Distributions” above. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described under that section in the same manner as if the U.S. Holder of such warrant received a cash distribution from Pubco equal to the fair market value of such increased interest.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of dividends (and constructive dividends) on Pubco Securities and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of Pubco Securities effected within the United States (and in certain cases, outside of the United States), other than U.S. Holders that are exempt recipients (such as corporations). A U.S. Holder may also be subject to backup withholding on such payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number (generally on a valid IRS Form W-9) and make other required certifications, or otherwise establish an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, and the U.S. Holder generally may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information.
Non-U.S. Holders
As used herein, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of a SPAC Class A Ordinary Share, a SPAC Warrant, a share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock, a Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant, a Pubco Security or (solely in the case of a Seller) a Company Interest who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| ● | a non-resident alien individual, other than certain former citizens and residents of the United States subject to U.S. tax as expatriates; |
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| ● | a foreign corporation; or |
| ● | an estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder. |
Tax Effects of the Domestication to Non-U.S. Holders
The Domestication is not expected to result in any U.S. federal income tax consequences to a Non-U.S. Holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants unless the Domestication fails to qualify as an F Reorganization and either (A) such Non-U.S. Holder holds its SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants in connection with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States) or (B) such Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the Domestication and certain other requirements are met. Non-U.S. Holders will own stock and warrants of a U.S. corporation, i.e., the domesticated SPAC, rather than a non-U.S. corporation, after the Domestication.
Although the redemptions of Non-U.S. Holders that exercise redemption rights with respect to SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will occur prior to the Domestication, it is possible that the IRS could assert that for U.S. federal income tax purposes such redemptions should be treated as occurring after the Domestication. If such redemptions are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as occurring after the Domestication, Non-U.S. Holders exercising redemption rights would be subject to the potential tax consequences of the Domestication. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the possibility that the redemptions are treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as occurring after the Domestication despite the redemptions occurring in form prior to the Domestication, including the U.S. federal income tax considerations to them of such treatment.
Tax Effects to Non-U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares of Exercising Redemption Rights
The U.S. federal income tax consequences to a Non-U.S. Holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares that exercises its redemption rights will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of the shares redeemed, as described above under the section entitled “U.S. Holders — Tax Effects to U.S. Holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares of Exercising Redemption Rights — Generally”. Regardless of whether the redemption is treated as a sale of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares or as a corporate distribution on the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the redemption is not expected to result in any U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Non-U.S. Holder unless (A) such Non-U.S. Holder holds such SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares in connection with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States) or (B) such Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the redemption and certain other requirements are met.
Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to Non-U.S. Holders
Provided the Mergers qualify as a Section 351 Transaction or the SPAC Merger qualifies as a Section 368(a) Reorganization, as discussed above under the section entitled “U.S. Holders — Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders”, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination for Non-U.S. Holders of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants generally should be similar to those described above for U.S. Holders, except that (i) if the Mergers qualify solely as part of a Section 351 Transaction (and the SPAC Merger does not also qualify as a Section 368(a) Reorganization), the assumption of SPAC Warrants by Pubco pursuant to the Warrant Assumption Agreement is a taxable transaction (see “U.S. Holders — Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders — Assumption of SPAC Warrants by Pubco”), which generally is not expected to result in any U.S. federal income tax consequences to a Non-U.S. Holder unless (A) the gain, if any, is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States) or (B) such Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the SPAC Merger and certain other requirements are met, and (ii) if the SPAC Merger qualifies as a Section 368(a) Reorganization, a Non-U.S. Holder generally should not recognize gain or loss on the deemed exchange of SPAC Warrants for Pubco Warrants pursuant to the Warrant Assumption Agreement.
Provided the Mergers qualify as a Section 351 Transaction (and, in particular, that the Company Merger is treated as a deemed contribution of Company Interests by the Sellers to Pubco), a Seller that is a Non-U.S. Holder and whose Company Interest is treated as deemed contributed to Pubco in exchange for shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or Pubco Class B Common Stock generally
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should not recognize gain or loss on such deemed contribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In each case, the transferor’s aggregate tax basis in the Pubco Common Stock received should equal such transferor’s aggregate adjusted tax basis in the Company Interest deemed contributed (determined under Section 705(a) of the Code and as reduced by the Seller’s share of the Company’s liabilities treated as transferred under Section 752 of the Code), and, subject to the split holding period described above under the section entitled “U.S. Holders — Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders — Consequences of Company Merger to Sellers”, the holding period in the Pubco Common Stock received should include the holding period in the Company Interest deemed contributed. A Seller that is a Non-U.S. Holder is also subject to the rules described under that section regarding deemed cash distributions under Section 752 of the Code, gain under Section 357(c) of the Code and ordinary income under Section 751 of the Code, and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder, any gain so recognized may be effectively connected income to the extent described below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, because a Company Interest is treated as an interest in a partnership, Pubco may be required to withhold 10% of the amount realized on the transfer under Section 1446(f) of the Code with respect to a Non-U.S. transferor unless such transferor delivers a valid certification of nonrecognition treatment satisfying the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1446(f)-2(b)(6). Non-U.S. Sellers are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the Section 1446(f) certification requirements applicable to them.
In the event that the Mergers do not qualify as part of a Section 351 Transaction, the Company Merger generally will be treated as taxable sales or exchanges by the Sellers of their Company Interests for shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or Pubco Class B Common Stock, as described above under the section entitled “U.S. Holders — Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders — Failure to Qualify as a Section 351 Transaction or Section 368(a) Reorganization”. Because the Company is expected to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is engaged in a trade or business within the United States, a Non-U.S. Holder of Company Interests generally will be treated as engaged in such trade or business. Under Section 864(c)(8) of the Code, any gain recognized by a Seller that is a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business to the extent that such Seller would have been allocated effectively connected gain had the Company sold all of its assets at fair market value immediately prior to the Company Merger. Any such effectively connected gain generally would be taxable to such Seller that is a Non-U.S. Holder on a net income basis, at the regular rates applicable to U.S. persons. In addition, any gain recognized by a Seller that is a Non-U.S. Holder may result in U.S. federal income tax consequences to such Non-U.S. Holder if (A) the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the Company Merger and certain other requirements are met; or (B) the Company Interests are treated as “United States real property interests” under Section 897(g) of the Code because the Company has held United States real property interests during the applicable look-back period, in which case gain on the deemed sale generally would be treated as effectively connected income under Section 897 of the Code. Sellers that are Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them of a failure of the Mergers to qualify as part of a Section 351 Transaction, including the potential application of the effectively connected income, 183-day, partnership-interest FIRPTA look-through and Section 1446(f) withholding rules described above in light of their particular circumstances.
Ownership and Disposition of Pubco Securities
Taxation of Distributions
In general, any distributions (including constructive distributions, but not including certain distributions of Pubco stock or rights to acquire Pubco stock) made to a Non-U.S. Holder of shares of Pubco Common Stock, to the extent paid out of Pubco’s current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, Pubco will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of thirty percent (30%), unless such Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E). Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of Pubco Common Stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of such securities, which will be treated as described below under the section entitled “— Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Pubco Securities”. In addition, if Pubco determines that it is likely to be classified as a “United States real property holding corporation” (see the section entitled “— Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Pubco Securities” below), the applicable withholding agent may withhold fifteen percent (15%) of any distribution that exceeds Pubco’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.
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The withholding tax generally does not apply to dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder who provides an IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. resident, subject to an applicable income tax treaty providing otherwise.
A Non-U.S. Holder that is treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of thirty percent (30%) (or a lower applicable treaty rate).
Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Pubco Securities
A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of its Pubco Securities, unless:
| ● | the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States); |
| ● | such Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of such disposition (as such days are calculated pursuant to Section 7701(b)(3) of the Code) and certain other requirements are met; or |
| ● | Pubco is or has been a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the applicable Pubco Securities being disposed of, except, in the case where shares of Pubco Common Stock are “regularly traded” on an “established securities market” (as such terms are defined under applicable Treasury Regulations), the Non-U.S. Holder is disposing of Pubco Common Stock and has owned, whether actually or based on the application of constructive ownership rules, five percent (5%) or less of Pubco Common Stock at all times within the shorter of the five-year period preceding such disposition of Pubco Common Stock or such Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for such Pubco Common Stock. There can be no assurance that Pubco Common Stock will be treated as regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose. It is unclear how the rules for determining the five percent (5%) threshold for this purpose would be applied with respect to Pubco Common Stock, including how a Non-U.S. Holder’s ownership of SPAC Warrants (or, following the Domestication and the SPAC Merger, the Pubco Warrants) impacts the five percent (5%) threshold determination with respect to Pubco Common Stock. |
Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the foregoing rules in light of their particular facts and circumstances.
Unless an applicable treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a Non-U.S. Holder that is treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a thirty percent (30%) rate (or a lower applicable income tax treaty rate).
If the second bullet point applies to a Non-U.S. Holder, such Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. tax on such Non-U.S. Holder’s net capital gain for such year (including any gain realized in connection with the redemption) at a tax rate of thirty percent (30%) (or a lower applicable tax treaty rate).
If the third bullet point above applies to a Non-U.S. Holder, gain recognized by such holder will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. In addition, Pubco may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition or redemption. Pubco is not expected to be a USRPHC immediately after the Business Combination. However, such determination is factual in nature and subject to change. Accordingly, no assurance can be provided as to whether Pubco would be treated as a USRPHC in any taxable year.
Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them in respect of any loss recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of their Pubco Securities.
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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of distributions and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of Pubco Securities. A Non-U.S. Holder may have to comply with certification procedures to establish that it is not a U.S. person in order to avoid U.S. information reporting and backup withholding requirements. The certification procedures required to claim a reduced rate of withholding under a tax treaty generally will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding as well.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be allowed as a credit against such Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Provisions commonly referred to as “FATCA” impose withholding of thirty percent (30%) on payments of dividends (including constructive dividends) on Pubco Securities to “foreign financial institutions” (which is broadly defined for this purpose and in general includes investment vehicles) and certain other non-U.S. entities unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements (generally relating to ownership by U.S. persons of interests in or accounts with those entities) have been satisfied by, or an exemption applies to, the payee (typically certified as to by the delivery of a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN-E). Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. Under certain circumstances, a Non-U.S. Holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such withholding taxes, and a Non-U.S. Holder might be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return to claim such refunds or credits. Thirty percent (30%) withholding under FATCA was scheduled to apply to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of property that produces U.S.-source interest or dividends beginning on January 1, 2019, but on December 13, 2018, the IRS released proposed Treasury Regulations that, if finalized in their proposed form, would eliminate the obligation to withhold on gross proceeds. Although these proposed Treasury Regulations are not final, taxpayers generally may rely on them until final Treasury Regulations are issued. However, there can be no assurance that final Treasury Regulations will provide the same exceptions from FATCA withholding as the proposed Treasury Regulations. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effects of FATCA on their ownership and disposition of Pubco Securities.
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MATERIAL CAYMAN ISLANDS TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following summary contains a description of material Cayman Islands income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of ordinary shares, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase ordinary shares. The summary is based upon the tax laws of Cayman Islands and regulations thereunder as of the date hereof, which are subject to change.
The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to SPAC levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or after execution brought within, the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by SPAC. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
SPAC has applied for and received a tax exemption undertaking from the Cayman Islands government that, in accordance with the Tax Concessions Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, for a period of 20 years from the date of the undertaking, no law which is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations will apply to SPAC or its operations and, in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax will be payable (i) on or in respect of the shares, debentures or other obligations of SPAC or (ii) by way of the withholding in whole or in part of a payment of dividend or other distribution of income or capital by SPAC to its shareholders or a payment of principal or interest or other sums due under a debenture or other obligation of SPAC.
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INFORMATION ABOUT SPAC
References in this section of this proxy statement/prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” refer to Graf Global Corp. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to Graf Global Corp.’s officers and directors.
General
We are a blank check company incorporated on November 17, 2021 as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (referred to in this section of this proxy statement/prospectus as our “business combination”). We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenue to date. Based on our business activities, the Company is a “shell company” as defined under the Exchange Act because we have no operations and nominal assets consisting almost entirely of cash.
SPAC’s IPO
The registration statement for our initial public offering was declared effective on June 25, 2024. On June 27, 2024, we consummated the initial public offering of 23,000,000 SPAC Public Units, which includes the full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option in the amount of 3,000,000 SPAC Public Units, at $10.00 per SPAC Public Units, generating gross proceeds of $230,000,000. Each SPAC Public Units consists of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one-half of one SPAC Public Warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share at $11.50 per share.
Simultaneously with the closing of the SPAC IPO, we consummated the sale of an aggregate of 6,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants at a price of $1.00 per SPAC Private Warrants, in a private placement to the Company’s sponsor, Graf Global Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., the representative of the underwriters of the initial public offering, generating gross proceeds of $6,000,000.
Prior to the consummation of our initial public offering, on November 24, 2021, our Sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 for certain expenses on our behalf in exchange for the issuance of 7,187,500 Founder Shares. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. The number of Founder Shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such Founder Shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after the SPAC IPO.
Following the closing of the initial public offering, on June 27, 2024, an amount of $230,000,000 ($10.00 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants was placed in the Trust Account, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, to be held as cash or invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, until the earlier of (i) the completion of a business combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described below. To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that the Company holds investments in the Trust Account, the Company may, at any time in its own discretion, instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in an interest bearing bank demand deposit account.
Extension
We initially had 24 months from the closing of the SPAC IPO, or June 27, 2026, to consummate an initial business combination. On June 26, 2026, SPAC held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, at which shareholders approved an amendment to SPAC’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to extend the date by which SPAC has to consummate an initial business combination. At the Extension Meeting, shareholders voted on and approved a proposal to, as a special resolution, amend the SPAC Organizational Documents to extend the date by which SPAC must consummate an initial business combination from June 27, 2026 to September 27, 2026, and provided that SPAC has executed a definitive agreement for an initial business combination by September 27, 2026 but has not consummated an initial business combination by such date, to permit the SPAC Board, in its sole discretion, to further extend such date up to three times in one month increments, to up to December 27, 2026. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the SPAC Board has extended the date to consummate the initial business combination to November 27, 2026.
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In connection with the Extension Meeting, shareholders holding an aggregate of 14,590,367 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for approximately $10.86 per share from the funds held in the Trust Account, leaving approximately $91.4 million in cash in the Trust Account after satisfaction of such redemptions. Following such redemptions, SPAC had an aggregate of 14,159,633 ordinary shares outstanding, of which 14,159,632 were SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and 1 was a SPAC Class B Ordinary Share.
Also in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into the Non-Redemption Agreements with certain non-affiliated existing shareholders covering 4,256,015 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, under which those shareholders agreed not to redeem (or to rescind any redemption of) such shares in connection with a vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal presented at the Extension Meeting. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders were not affiliates of SPAC, the Sponsor, or SPAC’s officers or directors.
In exchange, the Sponsor agreed to transfer the 425,602 Assigned Shares to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders promptly after the closing of the business combination, conditioned on (i) the shares not being redeemed, (ii) approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, and (iii) consummation of the business combination. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders also received registration rights for the Assigned Shares under the same registration rights agreement used by the Sponsor.
The Assigned Shares are expected to come from the Sponsor’s pool of up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares earmarked to incentivize non-redemptions/investment in support of the Business Combination; any unused portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares will be forfeited at closing.
Founder Share Conversion
On June 18, 2026, Sponsor and certain members of the SPAC Board, Louis Bélanger-Martin, Kenneth Weinstein and Fred Zeidman, irrevocably exercised their right to convert an aggregate of 5,749,999 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, on a one-for-one basis into an aggregate of 5,749,999 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, pursuant to the terms of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares and the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares issued in connection with the SPAC Class B Ordinary Share conversions are subject to the same restrictions as applied to the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares prior to such conversions, including, among other things, certain transfer restrictions and waiver of redemption rights, as described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Ticker Change
On July 27, 2026, in connection with the Business Combination, the ticker symbol on the NYSE American exchange for the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares changed from “GRAF” to “TONT.” In addition, the ticker symbols for the SPAC Public Units and SPAC Public Warrants changed from “GRAF U” to “TONT U” and from “GRAF WS” to “TONT WS,” respectively. Upon the closing of the Business Combination, Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Public Warrants are expected to trade on the NYSE under the same ticker symbols “TONT” and “TONT WS,” respectively.
Effecting SPAC’s Initial Business Combination
On June 12, 2026, we entered into the Business Combination Agreement, by and among SPAC, Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, and BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, pursuant to which the following will occur: (i) SPAC will, as an intermediate and transitory step in the Business Combination transaction, transfer by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to re-domicile as and become a Delaware corporation pursuant to Part 12 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, (ii) following the Domestication, SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into Post-Domestication SPAC, with Post-Domestication SPAC continuing as the surviving entity, (iii) following the SPAC Merger, Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity, (iv) as a result of which Mergers, Post-Domestication SPAC and the Company will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco and Pubco will be renamed “Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.” and become a publicly traded company, and (v) the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and documents related thereto. A copy of the Business Combination Agreement is attached to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A.
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We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations until the consummation of the Business Combination. We intend to effectuate the Business Combination using cash held in the Trust Account.
If not all of the funds released from the Trust Account are used for redemptions of SPAC Public Shares, we may use the balance of the cash released to us from the Trust Account for general corporate purposes, including to pay transaction expenses and for the Company’s working capital.
Fair Market Value of the Company’s Business; Satisfaction of 80% Test
At the time of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the SPAC Public Units, SPAC Public Shares, and SPAC Public Warrants were listed and trading on the NYSE American. It is a requirement under NYSE American rules that SPAC completes one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of SPAC’s signing a definitive agreement in connection with its initial business combination.
As of the date of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the balance of funds in the Trust Account was approximately $249.2 million, including $9.8 million of deferred underwriting commissions payable and income earned on the Trust Account. 80% thereof was approximately $191.5 million. Based on the implied pre-money equity value of the Company of approximately $290 million as of the date of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the SPAC Board determined that such requirement was met. In light of the financial background and experience of the members of SPAC’s management team and the SPAC Board, the SPAC Board believes that the members of SPAC’s management team and the SPAC Board are qualified to determine whether the Business Combination meets the 80% test.
Shareholder Approval of the Business Combination
Pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents and Cayman Islands law, because SPAC is seeking shareholder approval in connection with the Business Combination, the approval of the Business Combination requires an ordinary resolution, being the affirmative vote (in person, including virtually, or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares that are entitled to vote and are voted at the Extraordinary General Meeting. A quorum for the Extraordinary General Meeting will consist of holders of one-third of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares entitled to vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting, present in person (including virtually) or represented by proxy. The holders of Founder Shares will count towards this quorum and, pursuant to the Insider Letter and the Sponsor Support Agreement, our Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares have agreed to vote any Founder Shares they hold, and any SPAC Public Shares purchased during or after our SPAC IPO (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of the Business Combination. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will not constitute votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting and therefore will have no effect on the Business Combination Proposal. Broker non-votes are not considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum, will not count as votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on the Business Combination Proposal. The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own 5,750,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares, or approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, if all issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares vote on the Business Combination Proposal, we would need only 1,329,818, or 15.8%, of the 8,409,633 outstanding SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Business Combination Proposal in order to have the Business Combination Proposal approved and adopted. If only a minimum quorum is present and votes on the Business Combination Proposal, we would not need any SPAC Public Shares to be voted in favor of the Business Combination Proposal in order to have the Business Combination Proposal approved and adopted. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of the Sponsor and other Holders of Founder Shares, may make it more likely that we will consummate the Business Combination. Each SPAC Public Shareholder may elect to redeem its SPAC Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the Business Combination or whether they were a shareholder on the record date for the Extraordinary General Meeting. For more information, please see the section entitled “The Extraordinary General Meeting.”
Potential Purchases of SPAC Public Shares and SPAC Public Warrants
The Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors do not have any plans at this time to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants from SPAC Public Shareholders or to take any other actions to incentivize non-redemption. However, at any time prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting, during a period when they are not then aware of any material nonpublic information regarding SPAC or its securities, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates may purchase SPAC Public Shares
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or SPAC Public Warrants in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market, although they are under no obligation to do so. There is no limit on the number of SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants that such persons may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Stock Exchange rules. However, other than as expressly stated herein, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the Trust Account will be used to purchase SPAC Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants in such transactions. Such purchases of SPAC Public Shares may include a contractual acknowledgment that such shareholder, although still the record holder of SPAC’s shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights.
In the event that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates purchase SPAC Public Shares in privately negotiated transactions from SPAC Public Shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The purpose of such transaction could be to increase the likelihood of obtaining shareholder approval of the Business Combination, reduce the number of outstanding SPAC Public Warrants, or satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. SPAC expects any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants and the number of beneficial holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to obtain or maintain the quotation, listing or trading of SPAC’s securities on the NYSE American.
In the event that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates were to purchase Public Shares or SPAC Public Warrants from SPAC Public Shareholders, such purchases would be structured in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act. To the extent that the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors or their affiliates purchase SPAC Public Shares in compliance with the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act, such shares would not be voted in favor of approving the Business Combination. See “Business Combination — SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants” for more information.
Liquidation if No Business Combination
SPAC currently has until November 27, 2026 to complete a business combination, which date may be extended by the SPAC Board from month to month until up to December 27, 2026.
If we are unable to consummate a business combination within the Combination Period, we will: as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the SPAC Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding SPAC Public Shares, which redemption will constitute full and complete payment and completely extinguish SPAC Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions or other distributions, if any), subject to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants if we fail to complete our business combination within the Combination Period.
In connection with our SPAC IPO, the Sponsor and SPAC’s officers and directors entered into the Insider Letter, pursuant to which they agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and SPAC Public Shares in connection with the completion of an initial business combination. Such redemption rights waiver was provided at the time of the SPAC IPO without any separate consideration paid. Additionally, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor and each holder of Founder Shares agreed not to redeem any SPAC Ordinary Shares held by them in connection with the Business Combination. Such redemption rights waiver was provided without any separate consideration paid in connection with providing such waiver. The holders of Founder Shares collectively own 5,750,000 Founder Shares, or approximately 40.6% of the issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares.
Our Sponsor, officers, and directors have agreed, pursuant to the Insider Letter, that they will not propose any amendment to the SPAC Organizational Documents (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our SPAC Public Shares if we do not complete an initial business combination within the Combination Period or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial
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business combination activity, unless we provide the SPAC Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their SPAC Public Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (less taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding SPAC Public Shares, subject to limitations and on the conditions described herein. For example, the SPAC Board may propose such an amendment if it determines that additional time is necessary to complete the Business Combination, subject to the prior written consent of BIG3 HoldCo LLC under the Business Combination Agreement. In such event, we will conduct a proxy solicitation and distribute proxy materials pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act seeking shareholder approval of such proposal, and in connection therewith, provide the SPAC Public Shareholders with the redemption rights described above upon shareholder approval of such amendment.
Our placing of funds in the Trust Account may not protect those funds from third party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (except for our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses and other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of the SPAC Public Shareholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the Trust Account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the Trust Account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account, our management will consider whether competitive alternatives are reasonably available to us and will only enter into an agreement with such third party if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be in the best interests of SPAC under the circumstances. The underwriter of our SPAC IPO as well as our registered independent public accounting firm will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the Trust Account.
Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where 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. Upon redemption of the SPAC Public Shares, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by SPAC Public Shareholders could be less than the $10.00 per SPAC Public Share initially held in the Trust Account, due to claims of such creditors. Pursuant to the Insider Letter, our Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per SPAC Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per SPAC Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per SPAC Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of our SPAC IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and we believe that our Sponsor’s only assets are securities of SPAC. Therefore, we cannot ensure that our Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the Trust Account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per SPAC Public Share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and our SPAC Public Shareholders will receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of their SPAC Public Shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Facilities
We currently utilize office space at 1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400, The Woodlands, Texas 77380 from our Sponsor. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations. We pay our Sponsor (and/or its affiliates or designees) an aggregate of up to $20,000 per month for office space, secretarial, administrative and support services provided to us and members of
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our management team. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Employees
We currently have one executive officer: James A. Graf, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Graf is not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but he intends to devote as much of his time as he deems necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time Mr. Graf will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the stage of the business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination.
The Sponsor
Graf Global Sponsor LLC, the Sponsor, is a Delaware limited liability company. The Sponsor was formed prior to the SPAC IPO for the purpose of acting as the sponsor of SPAC. It is responsible for organizing, directing, and managing the business and affairs of SPAC from its incorporation, through the consummation of the SPAC IPO, and the negotiation of the Business Combination Agreement, until the consummation of the Business Combination. The Sponsor’s activities included identifying and negotiating terms with the underwriter of the SPAC IPO, other third-party service providers such as SPAC’s auditors and legal counsel, and SPAC’s directors and officers, and searching for and negotiating with potential business combination targets. Other than its investment in SPAC and its work on behalf of SPAC, the Sponsor is not engaged in any business.
The Sponsor made an initial investment of $25,000 to cover certain pre-IPO expenses, in exchange for the issuance of 7,187,500 Founder Shares, or approximately $0.003 per share. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. Simultaneously with the completion of the SPAC IPO, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 4,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants for $1.00 per warrant, or an aggregate of $4,000,000.
The Sponsor and other holders of Founder Shares collectively own 40.6% of our issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. James A. Graf is the sole managing member of and has full authority over the Sponsor. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, funds managed by Harraden have an indirect interest in approximately 43.4% of the Sponsor’s Founder Shares. None of the other non-managing Sponsor investors, nor any other persons, have direct or indirect material interests in the Sponsor.
Mr. Graf has served as a founder, executive officer, and/or director of seven special purpose acquisition companies, which are summarized as follows:
Graf Acquisition Corp. IV/NKGen Biotech, Inc.
Mr. Graf founded and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Graf Acquisition Corp. IV, a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company. Graf IV completed its initial public offering in May 2021, in which it sold 17,161,500 units, each consisting of one share of common stock and one-fifth of one redeemable warrant, generating gross proceeds of approximately $172,000,000. In May 2023, Graf IV held a special meeting of stockholders to seek stockholder approval to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from May 25, 2023 to September 29, 2023, and to permit the board of directors to elect to wind up operations on an earlier date if desired. In connection with the extension, Graf IV agreed to deposit or cause to be deposited $0.03 for each public share that was not redeemed, up to an aggregate of $165,000 for each calendar month (or a pro rata portion thereof if less than a full month), until the earlier to occur of September 29, 2023, the closing of an initial business combination, and liquidation. In connection with the extension, 11,078,000 public shares were redeemed. Graf IV completed its initial business combination with NKGen Biotech, Inc. in September 2023 for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $161 million in stock consideration. In connection with the special meeting of stockholders of Graf IV to approve the business combination, shareholders holding 3,386,528 public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares. Together with the public shares redeemed in connection with the extension, an aggregate of approximately 84.3% of the public shares issued in Graf IV’s initial public offering were redeemed. Mr. Graf assumed the role of Interim Chief Financial Officer of NKGen upon the closing of the business combination. Following the business combination, NKGen’s common stock and warrants initially traded on Nasdaq, and are now traded over the counter on the OTC Expert Market, under the symbols “NKGN” and “NKGNW”, respectively; share prices for such securities are not publicly available.
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Catcha Investment Corp./Crown LNG Holdings Limited
Mr. Graf served as an independent director of Catcha Investment Corp., a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company, from February 2021 until the completion of its business combination in July 2024. Catcha completed its initial public offering in February 2021, in which it sold 30,000,000 units, each consisting of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant, generating gross proceeds of approximately $300,000,000. In February 2023, Catcha held an extraordinary general meeting to seek shareholder approval to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from February 17, 2023 to February 17, 2024, and to permit the board of directors to elect to wind up operations on an earlier date if desired. In connection with the extension, Catcha agreed to deposit or cause to be deposited $75,000 each month of the extension (or a pro rata portion thereof if less than a month) until the earlier of (i) the date of the extraordinary general meeting held in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an initial business combination, and (ii) the date that $900,000 has been deposited. In connection with the extension, 27,785,141 public shares were redeemed. In February 2024, Catcha held a second extraordinary general meeting to seek shareholder approval to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from February 17, 2024 by up to three times for one month each to up to May 17, 2024. In connection with the extension, 641,303 public shares were redeemed. In May 2024, Catcha held a third extraordinary general meeting to seek shareholder approval to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from May 17, 2024 by up to three times for one month each to up to July 17, 2024. In connection with the extension, 208,674 public shares were redeemed. Catcha completed its initial business combination with Crown LNG Holding AS in July 2024. In connection with the extraordinary general meeting to approve the business combination, shareholders holding 1,144,993 public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares. Together with the public shares redeemed in connection with the extensions, an aggregate of approximately 99.3% of the public shares issued in Catcha’s initial public offering were redeemed. Crown LNG’s securities were delisted from Nasdaq in October 2025.
Graf Industrial Corp./Velodyne Lidar, Inc.
Mr. Graf founded and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Graf Industrial Corp., a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company. Graf I completed its initial public offering in October 2018, in which it sold 24,376,512 units, each consisting of one share of common stock and one warrant, generating gross proceeds of approximately $244,000,000. In April 2020, Graf I held a special meeting of stockholders to seek stockholder approval to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from April 18, 2020 to July 31, 2020. In connection with the extension, 12,921,275 public shares were redeemed. Graf I completed its initial business combination with Velodyne Lidar, Inc. in September 2020, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.5 billion in cash and stock consideration. In connection with the special meeting of stockholders of Graf I to approve the business combination, shareholders holding 3,286 public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares. Together with the public shares redeemed in connection with the extension, an aggregate of approximately 53.0% of the public shares issued in Graf I’s initial public offering were redeemed. Mr. Graf served as a director of Velodyne from September 2020 to February 2021. Velodyne’s completed a merger of equals with Ouster Inc in February 2023 and the common stock and warrants are now traded on Nasdaq under the symbols “OUST” and “OUSTW”, respectively.
Platinum Eagle Acquisition Corp./Target Hospitality Corp.
Mr. Graf served as a non-independent director of Platinum Eagle Acquisition Corp., which was founded by Jeff Sagansky and Eli Baker and in which Harry Sloan was an initial shareholder and was a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company. Platinum Eagle completed its initial public offering in January 2018, in which it sold 32,500,000 units, each containing one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one warrant, generating gross proceeds of $325,000,000. There was no vote held to extend the date by which Platinum Eagle was required to complete its initial business combination because Platinum Eagle completed its initial business combination within its initial completion window of 24 months of following its initial public offering. Platinum Eagle completed its initial business combination in March 2019, in which it acquired all of the outstanding equity interests of Target Logistics Management, LLC and RL Signor Holdings, LLC for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.3 billion. In connection with the extraordinary general meeting to approve the business combination, shareholders holding approximately 18.2 million public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares, or an aggregate of approximately 56% of the public shares issued in Platinum Eagle’s initial public offering. In the transaction, Platinum Eagle changed its name to Target Hospitality Corp. Target Hospitality is a vertically integrated specialty rental and hospitality services company. Target Hospitality’s common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “TH”.
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Double Eagle Acquisition Corp./ WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.
In 2015, Mr. Graf co-founded, together with Mr. Sagansky and Mr. Baker, Double Eagle Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company in which Mr. Graf served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Sloan was also an initial shareholder. Double Eagle completed its initial public offering in September 2015, in which it sold 50,000,000 units, each containing one Class A ordinary share and one warrant, generating gross proceeds of $500,000,000. In September 2017, Double Eagle held an extraordinary general meeting to extend the date by which it must complete a business combination from September 16, 2017 to December 31, 2017. In connection with the extension, 295,671 public shares were redeemed. Double Eagle completed its initial business combination in November 2017, in which it acquired 90% of the shares of Williams Scotsman International, Inc. (KNA WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.,) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.1 billion, paid in cash and common stock. In connection with the extraordinary general meeting to approve the business combination, shareholders holding 21,128,456 public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares. Together with the public shares redeemed in connection with the extension, an aggregate of approximately 42.8% of the public shares issued in Double Eagle’s initial public offering were redeemed. In the transaction, Double Eagle changed its name to WillScot Corporation. WillScot is a specialty rental services market leader providing modular space and portable storage solutions to diverse end markets across North America. WillScot’s common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “WSC.”
Silver Eagle Acquisition Corp./Videocon d2h Limited
In 2013, Messrs. Graf, Sagansky and Sloan founded Silver Eagle Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company. Mr. Graf served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer. Silver Eagle completed its initial public offering in July 2013, in which it sold 32,500,000 units, each containing one share of common stock and one warrant, generating gross proceeds of $325,000,000. There was no vote held to extend the date by which Silver Eagle was required to complete its initial business combination because Silver Eagle completed its initial business combination within its initial completion window of 21 months of following its initial public offering, or 24 months from the closing of the initial public offering if it had executed a letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement for an initial business combination within 21 months. Silver Eagle completed its business combination in March 2015, in which it contributed approximately $273.3 million to Videocon d2h Limited, in exchange for equity shares of VDTH represented by ADSs that were listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “VDTH,” upon the closing of the business combination. VDTH is a leading direct-to-home pay-TV service provider in India. In connection with the special meeting of stockholders to approve the business combination, one stockholder holding just 100 public shares exercised its rights to redeem those shares, or an aggregate of less than 1% of the public shares issued in Silver Eagle’s initial public offering. In November 2016, VDTH agreed to merge with and into Dish TV India Limited (NSE: DISHTV) under a scheme of arrangement, a transaction which ultimately was completed in March 2018 and resulted in the exchange of VDTH ADS for common stock of Dish TV listed in India or Global Depositary Receipts representing Dish TV shares that are listed on the London Stock Exchange. Following the closing of the initial business combination, Mr. Graf served as a special advisor to VDTH in 2015 and 2016, with a focus on investor relations, mergers and acquisition and debt financing, and served as an alternate member of the board of directors of VDTH from the completion of the business combination through completion of the merger with Dish TV in March 2018.
Global Eagle Acquisition Corp./Row 44, Inc. and Advanced Inflight Alliance AG
In 2011, Messrs. Graf, Sagansky and Sloan founded Global Eagle Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company formed for substantially similar purposes as our company. Mr. Graf served as Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer. Global Eagle completed its initial public offering in May 2011, in which it sold 18,992,500 units, each containing one share of common stock and one warrant, generating gross proceeds of approximately $190 million. There was no vote held to extend the date by which Global Eagle was required to complete its initial business combination because Global Eagle completed its initial business combination within its initial completion window of 21 months of following its initial public offering. Global Eagle completed its business combination in January 2013, acquiring 100% of the shares of Row 44, Inc., and 86% of the shares of AIA, and changed its name to Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. GEE is a worldwide provider of media content, connectivity systems and operational data solutions to the travel industry. In connection with the special meeting of stockholders to approve the business combination, stockholders holding 10,164,081 public shares exercised their rights to redeem those shares, or an aggregate of approximately 53.5% of the public shares issued in Global Eagle’s initial public offering. Following the closing of the initial business combination, Mr. Graf served as a special advisor to GEE in 2013, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financing and investor relations, and served as Vice Chairman of the board of supervisors of Global Entertainment AG, the intermediate holding company for AIA in 2013 to 2014. In
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July 2020, GEE filed a voluntary petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware seeking relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code.
For information about conflicts of interest with respect to the Sponsor, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — Interests of the Sponsor and SPAC’s Directors and Officers in the Business Combination”. For information about the compensation of the Sponsor and our officers and directors, see “Information About SPAC — Executive and Director Compensation”. For information about the securities owned by the Sponsor, including transfer restrictions and required surrender and forfeitures, see “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” and “Certain Relationships and Related Persons Transactions”.
Directors and Executive Officers; Biographies
Our officers and directors are as follows:
Name | | Age | | Position |
James A. Graf |
| 62 |
| Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director |
Louis Bélanger-Martin |
| 55 |
| Director |
Kenneth Weinstein |
| 64 |
| Director |
Fred S. Zeidman |
| 80 |
| Director |
James A. Graf, has served as our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director since November 2021, as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and director of Graf Industrial Corp. II since January 2026 (a special purpose acquisition company that has not yet completed its initial public offering), and as Interim Chief Financial Officer of NKGen Biotech, Inc. since October 2023. Mr. Graf served as an independent director of Catcha Investment Corp, a blank check company, from February 2021 through the completion of its business combination with Crown LNG Holdings Limited in July 2024. Previously, Mr. Graf served as the Chief Executive Officer of Graf IV, a blank check company, from its inception in January 2021 through the completion of its initial business combination with NKGen in September 2023. Mr. Graf served as the Chief Executive Officer and director of Graf I, a blank check company, from June 2018 through the completion of its initial business combination with Velodyne in September 2020 and served as an independent director of Velodyne from September 2020 until February 2021. Mr. Graf also served as a non-independent director of Platinum Eagle from January 2018 through the completion of its business combination with Target Logistics Management, LLC and RL Signor Holdings, LLC in March 2019. Mr. Graf served as the Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Double Eagle from its inception in June 2015 through its business combination with Williams Scotsman (KNA WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp.) in November 2017. He served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of Silver Eagle from its inception in April 2013 through Silver Eagle’s business combination with VDTH, and he served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of Global Eagle from its inception in February 2011 to its business combination with Row 44 and AIA in January 2013. Subsequently, Mr. Graf served as Vice Chairman of Global Entertainment AG, the holding company for GEE’s publicly listed German subsidiary, AIA from 2013 to 2014 and Special Advisor to GEE in 2013. He served as a Special Advisor to VDTH from 2015 to 2016. From 2008 to 2011, Mr. Graf served as Managing Director of TC Capital Ltd., an investment bank in Singapore. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Graf was engaged as a consultant to provide financial advisory services to Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. In 2001, Mr. Graf founded and became the Chief Executive Officer of Praedea Solutions, Inc., an enterprise software company with operations in the United States, Malaysia and Ukraine. The assets of Praedea Solutions, Inc. were sold in 2006 to Mergent Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xinhua Finance Ltd. and renamed Mergent Data Technology, Inc., where Mr. Graf continued to serve as Chief Executive Officer from 2006 to 2007. Praedea Solutions Inc. was renamed PSI Capital Inc. and currently serves as an investment holding company for Mr. Graf’s private investments, where Mr. Graf continues to serve as the Chief Executive Officer. Prior to founding Praedea, Mr. Graf was a Managing Director at Merrill Lynch in Singapore from 1998 to 2000 and a consultant to Merrill Lynch in 2001. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Graf served as a director and then Managing Director and President of Deutsche Bank’s investment banking entity in Hong Kong, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell (Hong Kong) Ltd. From 1993 to 1996, he was a Vice President at Smith Barney in Hong Kong and Los Angeles. From 1987 to 1993, Mr. Graf was an analyst and then associate at Morgan Stanley in New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Singapore. In March 2026, Mr. Graf secured the Democratic nomination in a campaign for County Judge of Montgomery County, Texas. The general election will be held in November 2026 and, if elected, Mr. Graf would become the Montgomery County Judge, a non-judicial, executive position with responsibilities that include acting as the presiding officer of the county Commissioners Court and head of emergency management for the county. Mr. Graf received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1987. We believe that Mr. Graf’s extensive business background and SPAC experience qualifies him to serve on our board of directors.
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Louis Bélanger-Martin, CPA has served on our board of directors since June 25, 2024. Mr. Bélanger-Martin has over 30 years of management, financial and business development experience. Since 2020, he has been Chief Financial Officer of Smize & Dream, a fast-growing super-premium, all-natural ice cream business he founded together with Tyra Banks, with whom he also worked on the development of the ModelLand location-based entertainment concept in Santa Monica, CA. Since 1996, Mr. Bélanger-Martin has been Co-Founder and Partner of Group W Inc., a multi-industry private equity firm. Since January 2026, he was elected Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SkyFive, a Munich-based aerospace telecom company that provides air-to-ground broadband connectivity for airlines and other aircraft operators. It was founded in 2019 as a spin-off from Nokia. Mr. Bélanger-Martin was Vice Chairman of the board of Global Eagle Entertainment from 2013 to 2016 after completing the merger of AIA with Global Eagle Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, in 2013. He served as AIA’s Chief Executive Officer from 2011 to 2013. From 1995 to 2010, Mr. Bélanger-Martin served as Chief Executive Officer of DTI Software, a provider of in-flight entertainment software and services, which he co-founded and which was sold to AIA in 2008. Mr. Bélanger-Martin has been a director of Sonifi Solutions, Inc. (formerly LodgeNet), a privately held interactive content and connectivity solutions provider, and Hybrid Paytech World Inc., a mobile credit, debit and ecouponing company that is publicly listed on The Canadian Securities Exchange. Other roles have included Strategic Advisor at the One Web constellation of low earth orbit satellites in 2019-2020 and board member of e2ip Technologies in 2016-2019. Mr. Bélanger-Martin is a certified management accountant and Canadian CPA. Mr. Bélanger-Martin received a BA in business administration from École des sciences de la gestion (ESG UQAM) in Montreal, a law certificate from University of Montreal in 1994, certification as a member of the Certified Management Accountants of Canada in 1996, and a Harvard Business School executive education program on effective corporate boards in 2013. We believe Mr. Bélanger-Martin is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive experience as a Chief Executive Officer, as someone who sold his company into a SPAC and as a certified management accountant.
Kenneth Weinstein, PhD, has served on our board of directors since June 25, 2024. Dr. Weinstein is currently the Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute and Founding Chair and CEO of the Indo-Pacific Forum, an organization he co-founded in 2022 with the late Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, to promote concrete initiatives to enhance connectivity, resilience, security and prosperity in the free and open Indo-Pacific. He joined Hudson in 1991, was appointed Chief Executive Officer in June 2005, was named president and Chief Executive Officer in March 2011 and maintained those positions through 2020. Under his leadership, Hudson grew significantly in size, prominence, visibility and impact, recruiting top-flight talent and advising officials around the globe. From 2017 until 2020, Dr. Weinstein chaired the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the oversight body for US Agency for Global Media, and was Chair of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting and the Open Technology Fund. He previously was a member of the National Humanities Council, the governing body of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dr. Weinstein served, from 2018 to 2023, on the Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations, which provides counsel on trade agreements to the United States Trade Representative. In March 2020, he was nominated to serve as US ambassador to Japan. His nomination was reported unanimously out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in September 2020, but his nomination expired with the end of the 116th Congress. Dr. Weinstein has written widely for publications in the United States, Europe and Asia. In 2006, he was decorated with a knighthood in arts and letters by the government of France. In September 2024, Dr. Weinstein was appointed as Ombudsman for CBS News, serving as an independent, internal advocate for journalistic integrity and transparency. Dr. Weinstein earned his BA in General Studies in the Humanities from the University of Chicago, DEA in Soviet and Eastern European studies from Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris and PhD in Government from Harvard University. We believe Dr. Weinstein is well qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his vast company leadership background and experience as chair and board member of various organizations.
Fred S. Zeidman, has served on our board of directors since June 25, 2024. Mr. Zeidman served as Chairman of Good Works II Acquisition Corp. from February 2021 through March 2023. He served as Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman of Good Works Acquisition Corp. from June 2020 until the merger with Cipher Mining in August 2021. Mr. Zeidman served as Chairman of Gordian Group LLC, a U.S. investment bank specializing in board level advice in complex financial matters from December 2014 through February 2021 and is currently Chairman of WoodRock & Co. Over the course of his distinguished 50-year career, Mr. Zeidman has served in a number of high-profile executive roles. He is also a director of Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. (NASDAQ: BJDX), Camber Energy, Inc. (NYSE American: CEI) and Prosperity Bank in Houston. His leadership roles have included: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Unibar Corporation, the largest domestic independent drilling fluids company, until its sale to Anchor Drilling Fluids in 1992, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crown Services (1992 until its sale to ARS in1994), President and Chief Executive Officer of Intersystems, President and Chief Executive Officer of Interpak Systems (March 2002 to December 2007), Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Seitel, Inc. (June 2002 until the sale of the company in February 2007), a Houston-based onshore seismic data provider where he was instrumental in the successful turnaround of the company, Chief Bankruptcy Trustee of AremisSoft Corp. (1999-2002), Chief Restructuring Officer of TransMeridian Exploration Inc. (August 2009 until the sale in November 2009), a Director of the REMA subsidiary of NRG Energy, Lead Director of Straight Path
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Communications (July 2013 until its sale to Verizon Corp. in May 2017), and CFO of the Texas Heart Institute where he led a complex financial restructuring and assisted in the integration of St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital System and Baylor College of Medicine into Catholic Health Initiatives. Mr. Zeidman was appointed Chairman of the US Holocaust Memorial Council by President George W. Bush in 2002, and served until 2010, and he was reappointed to the Council by President Donald Trump in 2019. He was Chairman of the University of Texas Health Science System Houston. Mr. Zeidman was a Director of the Texas Heart Institute. He is on the board of the Development Corp of Israel (Israel Bonds) and served on the Board and Executive Committee of the National World War II Museum. Mr. Zeidman holds a Bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master’s in Business Administration from New York University. We believe that Mr. Zeidman is well qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive leadership, restructuring and corporate finance experience as well as his extensive relationships in the investing, investment banking and restructuring businesses.
Executive and Director Compensation
None of our executive officers or directors has received any cash compensation for services rendered. We reimburse our Sponsor, for office space, secretarial and administrative services provided to members of our management team in an amount not to exceed $20,000 per month in the event such space and/or services are utilized and we do not pay directly for such services. No compensation of any kind, including any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee or monies in respect of any payment of a loan, will be paid by us to our Sponsor, officers and directors, or any affiliate of theirs, for services rendered prior to, or for any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, these individuals will be entitled to certain payments including, but not limited to, reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Additionally, these individuals will be eligible to receive a transfer or reallocation of Founder Shares for any extraordinary services rendered in order to identify or effectuate the consummation of our initial Business Combination; any such transfer or reallocation will be disclosed.
Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our Sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial business combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account. Other than quarterly audit committee review of such payments, we do not expect to have any additional controls in place governing our reimbursement payments to our directors and executive officers for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with identifying and consummating an initial business combination.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. All of these fees will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed initial business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed initial business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.
We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after our initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
Set forth below is a summary of the amount of compensation and securities received or to be received by the Sponsor and officers and directors of SPAC in connection with the Business Combination.
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| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Securities to be Received | | Other Compensation |
| | | | |
The Sponsor | | 2,410,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 2,410,000 Founder Shares in the SPAC Merger. On November 24, 2021, the Sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 for 7,187,500 Founder Shares, or approximately $0.003 per share. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. Of these 5,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor following the February 8, 2024 surrender, (i) 90,000 Founder Shares were transferred to three independent directors (30,000 Founder Shares each) on June 7, 2024, (ii) 2,750,000 Founder Shares will be forfeited and surrendered immediately before the Domestication, (iii) 500,000 Founder Shares may be transferred by the Sponsor, in its discretion, to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco, and (iv) 500,000 of the Founder Shares will be subject to an earnout provision. 4,000,000 Pubco Private Warrants upon the assumption of 4,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants. | | $20,000 per month through the Closing for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services provided by the Sponsor to members of the SPAC management team. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, $320,000 of accrued administrative services fees was outstanding. Indemnification by Pubco and Company pursuant to the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement, and coverage under Pubco’s directors’ and officer’s insurance policy pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement. |
James A. Graf | | See “Sponsor” above. Mr. Graf may be deemed to control the Sponsor. | | Reimbursement for loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, $3,000 was outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
Louis Bélanger-Martin | | 30,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 30,000 Founder Shares. | | Reimbursement for loans and advances to SPAC and for out-of-pocket expenses incurred related to identifying, negotiating, investigating and completing the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no such amounts were outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
Kenneth Weinstein | | 30,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 30,000 Founder Shares. | | Reimbursement for loans and advances to SPAC and for out-of-pocket expenses incurred related to identifying, negotiating, investigating and completing the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no such amounts were outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Securities to be Received | | Other Compensation |
| | | | |
Fred S. Zeidman | | 30,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the exchange of 30,000 Founder Shares. | | Reimbursement for loans and advances to SPAC and for out-of-pocket expenses incurred related to identifying, negotiating, investigating and completing the Business Combination. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no such amounts were outstanding. Continued indemnification and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
Our board of directors consists of four members. Our board is divided into three classes, with only one class of directors being appointed in each year, and with each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of shareholders) serving a three-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of James Graf, will expire at our first annual meeting of shareholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Fred Zeidman and Kenneth Weinstein, will expire at our second annual meeting of shareholders. The term of office of the third class of directors consisting of Louis Bélanger-Martin, will expire at our third annual meeting of shareholders. We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders until after we consummate our initial business combination. Subject to any other special rights applicable to the shareholders, any vacancies on our board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present and voting at the meeting of our board, or by a majority of the holders of our ordinary shares. Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our officers may consist of a Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretaries and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Director Independence
An “independent director” is defined generally as a person who, in the opinion of the SPAC Board, has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). The SPAC Board has determined that Louis Bélanger-Martin, Kenneth Weinstein and Fred Zeidman are “independent directors” as defined in NYSE American listing standards and applicable SEC rules.
Committees of the SPAC Board
Our board of directors has three standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Each of our audit committee, our compensation committee and our nominating and corporate governance committee are composed solely of independent directors. Subject to phase-in rules, the rules of the NYSE American and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and the rules of the NYSE American require that the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Each committee operates under a charter that was approved by our board and has the composition and responsibilities described below. The charter of each committee is available as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.
Audit Committee
The members of our audit committee are Louis Bélanger-Martin, Kenneth Weinstein and Fred Zeidman, each of whom meet the independent director standard under NYSE American listing standards and under Rule 10-A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act. Mr. Bélanger-Martin serves as chairperson of the audit committee.
Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that each of Mr. Bélanger-Martin, Mr. Zeidman and Dr. Weinstein qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules and has accounting or related financial management expertise.
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We have adopted an audit committee charter, which details the principal functions of the audit committee, including:
| ● | assisting board oversight of (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) our independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, and (4) the performance of our internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm; the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent auditors and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us; |
| ● | pre-approving all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures; reviewing and discussing with the independent registered public accounting firm all relationships the auditors have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence; |
| ● | setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent registered public accounting firm describing (1) the independent registered public accounting firm’s internal quality-control procedures and (2) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues; |
| ● | meeting to review and discuss our annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent auditor, including reviewing our specific disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”; reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction; and |
| ● | reviewing with management, the independent, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. |
Compensation Committee
The members of our compensation committee are Louis Bélanger-Martin, Kenneth Weinstein and Fred Zeidman. Under the NYSE American listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least two members of the compensation committee, all of whom must be independent. Mr. Bélanger-Martin, Dr. Weinstein and Mr. Zeidman are independent and Dr. Weinstein chairs the compensation committee.
We have adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:
| ● | reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our chief executive officer’s compensation evaluating our chief executive officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration of our chief executive officer based on such evaluation; |
| ● | reviewing and making recommendations to the SPAC Board with respect to the compensation, and any incentive compensation and equity based plans that are subject to board approval of all of our other officers; |
| ● | reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans; |
| ● | implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans; |
| ● | assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements; |
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| ● | approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees; |
| ● | producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and |
| ● | reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than the payment of $20,000 per month to our Sponsor for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support and reimbursement of expenses, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing shareholders, officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate the consummation of an initial business combination. Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of an initial business combination, the compensation committee will only be responsible for the review and recommendation of any compensation arrangements to be entered into in connection with such initial business combination.
Our compensation committee charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by the NYSE American and the SEC.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The members of our nominating and corporate governance are Louis Bélanger-Martin, Kenneth Weinstein and Fred Zeidman and Mr. Zeidman serves as chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee.
We have adopted a nominating and corporate governance committee charter, which details the purpose and responsibilities of the nominating and corporate governance committee, including:
| ● | identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors, consistent with criteria approved by the board, and recommending to the board of directors candidates for nomination for appointment at the annual general meeting of shareholders or to fill vacancies on the board of directors; |
| ● | developing and recommending to the board of directors and overseeing implementation of our corporate governance guidelines; |
| ● | coordinating and overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the board of directors, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the company; and |
| ● | reviewing on a regular basis our overall corporate governance and recommending improvements as and when necessary. |
The nominating and corporate governance committee charter also provides that the nominating and corporate governance committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of, and terminate, any search firm to be used to identify director candidates, and will be directly responsible for approving the search firm’s fees and other retention terms.
We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our shareholders. Prior to our initial business combination, holders of our SPAC Public Shares will not have the right to recommend director candidates for nomination to our board of directors.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more officers serving on our board of directors.
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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. We have filed a copy of our Code of Ethics as an exhibit to the registration statement in connection with our SPAC IPO. You are able to review this document by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics and the charters of the committees of our board of directors can be provided without charge upon request from us. If we make any amendments to our Code of Ethics other than technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments, or grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions requiring disclosure under applicable SEC or NYSE American rules, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Insider Trading Policy
We have adopted insider trading policies and procedures governing the purchase, sale, and other dispositions of the Company’s securities by directors, officers and employees that are reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations (the “Insider Trading Policy”). It is also the policy of the Company to comply with all applicable securities laws when transacting in its own securities. A copy of the Insider Trading Policy is filed as an exhibit to SPAC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Conflicts of Interest
Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe the following fiduciary duties:
| (i) | duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole; |
| (ii) | duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose; |
| (iii) | directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion; |
| (iv) | duty to exercise powers fairly as between different sections of shareholders; |
| (v) | duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests; and |
| (vi) | duty to exercise independent judgment. |
In addition to the above, directors also owe a duty of care which is not fiduciary in nature. This duty has been defined as a requirement to act as a reasonably diligent person having both the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and the general knowledge, skill and experience of that director.
As set out above, directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position of conflict and this includes a duty not to engage in self-dealing, or to otherwise benefit as a result of their position at the expense of the company. However, in some instances what would otherwise be a breach of this duty can be forgiven and/or authorized in advance by the shareholders provided that there is full disclosure by the directors. This can be done by way of permission granted in the SPAC Organizational Documents or alternatively by shareholder approval at general meetings.
Certain of our officers and directors presently have, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to another entity pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
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Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties, contractual obligations, or other material management relationships. The fiduciary duties owed by such individuals are prescribed by applicable law based on the jurisdiction of such entity’s incorporation, formation or organization.
Individual | | Entity | | Entity’s Business | | Affiliation |
James A. Graf | | NKGen Biotech, Inc. | | Clinical stage biotechnology company | | Interim Chief Financial Officer |
Louis Bélanger-Martin | | Smize & Dream | | Food and Beverage | | Chief Financial Officer |
| | Group W Inc. | | Private Equity | | Co-Founder and Partner |
| | SkyFive AG | | Aerospace Telecommunications | | Chairman of Supervisory Board |
Kenneth Weinstein | | Hudson Institute, Inc. | | Non-Profit | | Japan Chair |
| | Indo Pacific Forum, Inc. | | Non-Profit | | Founding Chair and CEO |
Fred S. Zeidman | | WoodRock & Co. | | Financial Advisory Services | | Chairman |
| | Bluejay Diagnostics, Inc. | | Life Sciences | | Director |
| | Camber Energy | | Energy | | Director |
| | Prosperity Bank | | Commercial Bank | | Director |
The precise duties owed by a director or officer to an entity can vary depending on the law of jurisdiction of the entity’s formation, and in some cases, may be varied by contractual arrangement with the entity and/or its equity holders. However, in general, the typical common law duties owed by a director or officer to an entity are to act with skill, care and diligence that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director or officer (as applicable) in relation to the company and, also, to act with the skill, care and diligence in keeping with a standard of care commensurate with any particular skill they have which enables them to meet a higher standard than a director or officer (as applicable) without those skills.
In addition, the Sponsor and our executive officers and directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination. However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete the Business Combination.
Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
| ● | the fact that the Sponsor originally acquired an aggregate of 7,187,500 Founder Shares which were purchased for an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, prior to the SPAC IPO. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. Of these 5,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor following the February 8, 2024 surrender, (i) 90,000 Founder Shares were transferred to the Independent Directors (30,000 Founder Shares each) on June 7, 2024, (ii) 2,750,000 Founder Shares will be forfeited and surrendered immediately before the Domestication, (iii) 500,000 Founder Shares may be transferred by the Sponsor, in its discretion, to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or Pubco and if not so transferred or used will be forfeited, and (iv) 500,000 of the Founder Shares will be subject to an earnout. The remaining Founder Shares are expected to have a significantly higher value at the time of the Business Combination than their original purchase price. At the Closing, the Sponsor and Independent Directors will hold an aggregate of 2,500,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issued upon the conversion of 2,500,000 Founder Shares, which if unrestricted and freely tradeable, would be valued at approximately $27.3 million, based on the $10.93 closing price of the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares on NYSE American on October 20, 2026. However, such shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock will be subject to a lock-up described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. Additionally, pursuant to the Convertible Promissory Note and August Convertible Promissory Note, Harraden has the option to receive Conversion Shares and is entitled to receive Issuance Warrants and Transferred Shares. The Issuance Warrants are identical to the SPAC Private Warrants held by the Sponsor. The Transferred Shares are to be transferred from the Sponsor to Harraden for each dollar funded by Harraden pursuant to the August Convertible Promissory Note. The Transferred Shares are subject to no transfer restrictions or any other lock-up provisions, earn outs, or other contingencies. Under both the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, in lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares, Issuance Warrants, and/or Transferred Shares, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy SPAC’s |
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| related obligations. The issuance and/or transfer of these securities is expected to reduce the post-Closing ownership percentage of the Sponsor. |
| ● | the fact that, as a result of the low purchase price paid for the Founder Shares, if the Business Combination is completed, the Sponsor and Independent Directors are likely to be able to make a substantial profit on its investment even at a time when the Pubco Class A Common Stock have lost significant value. Accordingly, the economic interests of the Sponsor and Independent Directors diverge from the economic interests of SPAC Public Shareholders because the Sponsor and Independent Directors will realize a gain on their investment from the completion of any business combination while SPAC Public Shareholders will realize a gain only if the post-closing trading price exceeds $10.00 per share; |
| ● | the fact that the Sponsor holds 4,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants, initially purchased for $1.00 per SPAC Private Warrant, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate, in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the closing of the SPAC IPO; such warrants will automatically be assumed by Pubco at the effective time of the SPAC Merger and will become Pubco Private Warrants exercisable for 4,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share. SPAC estimates that, at the Closing, if unrestricted and freely tradeable, such Pubco Warrants would be valued at approximately $1.0 million, based on the $0.25 closing price of the SPAC Public Warrants on NYSE American on October 20, 2026. However, such Pubco Warrants will be subject to a lock-up described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus; |
| ● | the fact that Sponsor and the Independent Directors and have waived their rights to redeem any SPAC Ordinary Shares held by them in connection with the shareholder vote to approve the Business Combination; |
| ● | the fact that, if SPAC were to liquidate rather than complete an initial business combination, the Sponsor will lose its entire investment in SPAC, which totals approximately $4,348,000 as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, comprising the $25,000 purchase price for the Founder Shares, the $4,000,000 purchase price for the SPAC Private Warrants purchased by Sponsor in a private placement concurrently with the SPAC IPO, and approximately $3,000 of other loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses, and $320,000 of accrued administrative services fees. However, if SPAC fails to consummate a business combination by the Business Combination Deadline and liquidates, such loans will not be converted into warrants and any loans, advances, and out-of-pocket expenses will only be repaid to the extent of any cash outside of the Trust Account. The potential loss of this investment may have incentivized Sponsor and its affiliates to pursue a business combination transaction on unfavorable terms in order to avoid a liquidation; |
| ● | the fact that, if the Trust Account is liquidated, including in the event SPAC is unable to complete an initial business combination by the Business Combination Deadline, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to SPAC if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to SPAC, or a prospective target business with which SPAC has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per SPAC Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per SPAC Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per SPAC Public Share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses; provided that such obligation will not apply to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable), any claims by SPAC’s independent registered public accounting firm, or any claims under the indemnity of the underwriters of the SPAC IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act; |
| ● | the fact that [●], a [director/officer] of SPAC, is expected to be a [director/officer] of Pubco after the Closing. As such, in the future, [●] may receive fees for his service to Pubco, which may consist of cash or stock-based awards, and any other remuneration that the Pubco Board determines to pay; |
| ● | the fact that, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Sponsor and Independent Directors will have customary registration rights, including demand and piggy-back rights, subject to cooperation and cut-back provisions with respect to the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants held by them following the consummation of the Business Combination. SPAC estimates that the Sponsor and Independent Directors will hold an aggregate of 2,500,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock, 4,000,000 Pubco Warrants, and 4,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying Pubco Warrants subject to registration rights; |
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| ● |
| ● | the fact that, pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement, commencing on June 25, 2024, through the earlier of consummation of the SPAC’s initial business combination and its liquidation, SPAC agreed to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor $20,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of the management team. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Company had outstanding accrued administrative support services fees of $320,000. Such amounts may not be recoverable if SPAC liquidates without completing an initial business combination; |
| ● | the fact that Pubco and the Company agreed to enter into the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement with Sponsor at the Closing, pursuant to which Pubco and the Company will indemnify, exonerate and hold harmless the Sponsor and the Sponsor Indemnified Persons from and against any and all Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities arising out of or relating to any pending or threatened action, cause of action, suit, litigation, investigation, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration or claim against any of them or in which any of them may be a participant or may otherwise be involved (including as a witness) that arise out of or relates to SPAC’s operations or conduct of its business, the Business Combination, and/or any claim against the Sponsor and/or a Sponsor Indemnified Person alleging any expressed or implied management, control or endorsement of any activities of SPAC, or any express or implied association with Pubco, Company, or SPAC, or any of their respective affiliates. The Sponsor Indemnification Agreement will not however apply to claims arising primarily out of (a) any breach by such Sponsor Indemnified Person of any other agreement between such Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and Company, Pubco or SPAC or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the other hand, or (b) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of such Sponsor Indemnified Person; and |
| ● | the continued indemnification of former and current directors and officers of SPAC and the continuation of directors’ and officer’s liability insurance after the Business Combination. |
Our executive officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of an initial business combination. Each of our executive officers is engaged in several other endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide for indemnification of our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law, including for any liability incurred in their capacities as such, except through their own actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect. We have purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.
Our officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account, and have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to us and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, any indemnification provided will only be able to be satisfied by us if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the Trust Account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination.
Our indemnification obligations may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. Furthermore, a shareholder’s
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investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
Legal Proceedings
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, to the knowledge of our management, there was no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such, and we and the members of our management team have not been subject to any such proceeding.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements
SPAC has registered its securities under the Exchange Act and has reporting obligations, including the requirement to file annual and quarterly reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, SPAC’s annual reports contain consolidated financial statements audited and reported on by SPAC’s independent registered public accounting firm.
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF SPAC
References in this section of this proxy statement/prospectus to the “Company,” “our,” “us” or “we” refer to SPAC. References to SPAC’s “management” or SPAC’s “management team” refer to SPAC’s officers and directors. The following discussion and analysis provides information which SPAC’s management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of its results of operations and financial condition. This discussion and analysis should be read together with SPAC’s financial statements and related notes thereto that are included elsewhere in the proxy statement/prospectus. In addition to historical financial information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. See the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Actual results and timing of selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” or elsewhere in the proxy statement/prospectus.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands on November 17, 2021 formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We intend to effectuate our business combination using cash derived from the proceeds of the SPAC IPO and the sale of the SPAC Private Warrants, our shares, debt or a combination of cash, shares and debt.
We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to complete a business combination will be successful.
Convertible Promissory Notes
On June 10, 2026, the Company entered into the Convertible Promissory Note with Harraden and James A. Graf, pursuant to which SPAC may borrow up to $200,000 from Harraden for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Loan includes $50,000 advanced by Harraden to SPAC in March 2026, $75,000 advanced by Harraden to SPAC in April 2026, and $75,000 drawn by SPAC concurrently with the execution of the Convertible Promissory Note. As a result, the Loan has been fully drawn down and no amounts are available for further drawdowns. The Convertible Promissory Note replaced and superseded the promissory note among SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf dated June 4, 2026.
The Loan may, at Harraden’s discretion, be converted into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at a conversion price equal to $10.00 per share. In addition, pursuant to the Convertible Promissory Note, Harraden is entitled to receive one Issuance Warrant for each dollar funded under the Loan to be issued immediately prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination. The terms of the Issuance Warrants will be identical to those of the SPAC Private Warrants that were issued to the Sponsor, including the transfer restrictions applicable to such SPAC Private Warrants. In lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares and/or Issuance Warrants, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy SPAC’s obligations to issue Conversion Shares and Issuance Warrants under the Convertible Promissory Note. The Loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and is due at the earlier of (i) the consummation of the Business Combination or (ii) the liquidation of SPAC. If SPAC liquidates, the Loan will be repaid only from funds held outside of the Trust Account.
Additionally, on August 10, 2026, the Company entered into the August Convertible Promissory Note with Harraden and James Graf, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $300,000 from Harraden for working capital and general corporate purposes. The August Loan may, at Harraden’s discretion, be converted into Conversion Shares. In addition, pursuant to the August Convertible Promissory Note, for each dollar funded under the August Loan as of immediately prior to the closing of the Company’s initial business combination, Harraden is entitled to receive (i) one Issuance Warrant and (ii) one Transferred Share. The terms of the Issuance Warrants will be identical to those of the Private Placement Warrants, including the transfer restrictions applicable to such Private Placement Warrants, however the Transferred Shares will not be subject to transfer restrictions.
The August Loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and is due at the earlier of the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination or the liquidation of the Company. If the Company liquidates, the August Loan will be repaid only from funds held outside of the Trust Account. The maturity date of the August Loan may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined under the August Convertible Promissory Note).
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In lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares, Issuance Warrants, and/or Transferred Shares, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy the Company’s obligations under the August Convertible Promissory Note. The Company also agreed to register the resale of the Conversion Shares, Issuance Warrants, Transferred Shares, and the Class A Ordinary Shares underlying the Issuance Warrants.
Founder Share Conversion
On June 18, 2026, the Sponsor and certain members of the SPAC Board - Louis Bélanger-Martin, Kenneth Weinstein and Fred Zeidman - irrevocably exercised their right to convert an aggregate of 5,749,999 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share, on a one-for-one basis into an aggregate of 5,749,999 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share, pursuant to the terms of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares and the SPAC Organizational Documents.
Extension
On June 26, 2026, SPAC held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of SPAC, at which shareholders approved an amendment to the SPAC Organizational Documents to extend the date by which SPAC has to consummate an initial Business Combination from June 27, 2026 to September 27, 2026, and provided that SPAC has executed a definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination by September 27, 2026 but has not consummated an initial Business Combination by such date, to permit the SPAC Board, in its sole discretion, to further extend such date up to three times in one month increments, to up to December 27, 2026. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the SPAC Board has extended the date to consummate the initial business combination to November 27, 2026.
In connection with the Extension Meeting, shareholders holding an aggregate of 14,590,367 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares exercised their right to redeem their shares for approximately $10.86 per share from the funds held in the SPAC’s Trust Account, leaving approximately $91.4 million in cash in the Trust Account after satisfaction of such redemptions. Following such redemptions, SPAC had an aggregate of 14,159,633 SPAC Ordinary Shares outstanding, of which 14,159,632 were SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and 1 was a SPAC Class B Ordinary Share.
On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Extension Meeting, SPAC and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements with certain of SPAC’s existing shareholders with respect to an aggregate of 4,256,015 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders are not affiliates of SPAC, the Sponsor, or SPAC’s officers or directors. Pursuant to the Non-Redemption Agreements, the Non-Redeeming Shareholders agreed to not redeem (or to validly rescind any redemption requests previously made in respect of) the Non-Redemption Shares in connection with the vote to approve the Extension. In exchange for this commitment from the Non-Redeeming Shareholders, the Sponsor has agreed to transfer and assign to such Non-Redeeming Shareholders promptly following the closing of the initial Business Combination an aggregate of 425,602 Founder Shares, provided that, among other conditions, (i) the Non-Redeeming Shareholders do not exercise (or validly rescind any prior exercise of) their redemption rights with respect to the Non-Redemption Shares in connection with the Extension, (ii) the Extension is approved at the Extension Meeting, and (iii) SPAC’s initial Business Combination is consummated. The Non-Redeeming Shareholders will have registration rights with respect to such Assigned Shares and will enter into the same form of registration rights agreement entered into by the Sponsor upon the closing of the Business Combination.
In connection with the proposed Business Combination, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor is permitted to transfer up to 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares to third parties to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into SPAC or otherwise to support the proposed business combination, provided that any Discretionary Founder Shares that are not so transferred will be forfeited by the Sponsor upon the closing of the Business Combination. If the Business Combination is consummated, the Assigned Shares will be transferred to the Non-Redeeming Shareholders from the allocation of Discretionary Founder Shares.
Business Combination Agreement
On June 12, 2026, SPAC entered into the Business Combination Agreement with BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, and Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and on the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, among other things, (a) on the day that is one day prior to the date of the SPAC Merger, SPAC will transfer, by way of continuation, out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to re-domicile as and become a Delaware corporation, and (b) at the closing, (i) SPAC Merger
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Sub will merge with and into SPAC, with SPAC continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco and (ii) Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco.
Concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the Company entered into the Sponsor Support Agreement with the Sponsor, each of SPAC’s independent directors, Pubco and the Company, pursuant to which the Insiders agreed to, among other things, vote in favor of and otherwise support the Business Combination. In addition, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor will, effective as of immediately prior to the Domestication and conditioned upon the closing of the Business Combination, forfeit and surrender to SPAC an aggregate of 2,750,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor. The Sponsor may, in its discretion, transfer to third parties up to an additional 500,000 Founder Shares held by the Sponsor to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into SPAC or Pubco or otherwise to support the Business Combination, provided that any portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares that are not so transferred shall be forfeited by the Sponsor and surrendered to SPAC. In addition, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, 500,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be held by the Sponsor as of the closing will be subject to vesting over a five-year period.
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities from November 17, 2021 (inception) through June 30, 2026 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the SPAC IPO, and subsequent to the SPAC IPO, our search for, negotiation of, and efforts to consummate a Business Combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our Business Combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash held in the Trust Account. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses.
For the three months ended June 30, 2026, we had a net loss of $507,053, which consists of interest income on cash held in the Trust Account of $2,132,285, offset by general and administrative expenses of $1,941,351 and non-redemption agreements expenses of $697,987.
For the six months ended June 30, 2026, we had a net income of $1,593,435, which consists of interest income on cash held in the Trust Account of $4,263,818, offset by general and administrative expenses of $1,972,396 and non-redemption agreements expenses of $697,987.
For the three months ended June 30, 2025, we had a net income of $2,296,567, which consists of interest income on cash held in the Trust Account of $2,489,888, offset by general and administrative expenses of $193,321.
For the six months ended June 30, 2025, we had a net income of $4,466,724, which consists of interest income on cash held in the Trust Account of $4,933,194, offset by general and administrative expenses of $466,470.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, we had a net income of $8,019,450, which consists of interest income on cash held in the Trust Account of $9,844,588, offset by general and administrative costs of $1,825,138.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we had a net income of $5,233,485, which consists of interest income on cash held in the Trust Account of $5,764,764, offset by general and administrative costs of $531,279.
Liquidity and Going Concern
On June 27, 2024, we consummated the SPAC IPO of 23,000,000 SPAC Public Units, which includes the full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option in the amount of 3,000,000 SPAC Public Units, at $10.00 per SPAC Public Unit, generating gross proceeds of $230,000,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the SPAC IPO, we consummated the sale of an aggregate of 6,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants at a price of $1.00 per SPAC Private Warrant, in a private placement generating gross proceeds of $6,000,000.
Following the SPAC IPO, the full exercise of the over-allotment option, and the sale of the SPAC Private Warrants, a total of $230,000,000 was placed in the Trust Account. We incurred $14,455,519 of transaction expenses, consisting of $4,000,000 of cash underwriting fee, $9,800,000 of deferred underwriting fee, and $655,519 of other offering costs.
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For the six months ended June 30, 2026, cash used in operating activities was $179,550. Net income of $1,593,435 was affected by interest earned on cash held in the Trust Account of $4,263,818 and non-redemption agreements expenses of $697,987. Changes in operating assets and liabilities provided $1,792,846 of cash for operating activities.
For the six months ended June 30, 2025, cash used in operating activities was $287,390. Net income of $4,466,724 was affected by interest earned on cash held in the Trust Account of $4,933,194. Changes in operating assets and liabilities provided $179,080 of cash for operating activities.
As of June 30, 2026, we had cash held in the Trust Account of $91,383,294 (including $19,873,170 of interest income). We may withdraw interest from the Trust Account to pay taxes, if any. We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account (less income taxes payable), to complete our Business Combination. To the extent that our share capital or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, we had cash of $21,149 and $699, respectively, and working capital deficit of $3,140,421 and $1,168,025, respectively. We intend to use the funds held outside the Trust Account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a Business Combination.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, cash used in operating activities was $393,929. Net income of $8,019,450 was affected by interest earned on cash held in the Trust Account of $9,844,588. Changes in operating assets and liabilities provided $1,431,209 of cash for operating activities.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, cash used in operating activities was $912,010. Net income of $5,233,485 was affected by payment of operation costs through promissory note of $32,151 and interest earned on cash held in the Trust Account of $5,764,764. Changes in operating assets and liabilities used $412,882 of cash for operating activities.
As of December 31, 2025, we had cash held in the Trust Account of $245,609,352 (including $15,609,352 of interest income). We may withdraw interest from the Trust Account to pay taxes, if any. We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account (less income taxes payable), to complete our Business Combination. To the extent that our share capital or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, we had cash of $699 and $479,628, respectively, and working capital deficit of $1,168,025 and working capital surplus of $547,403, respectively. We intend to use the funds held outside the Trust Account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete a Business Combination.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor, or certain of our officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete a Business Combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our Trust Account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1.5 million of such working capital loans may be converted into warrants of the post-Business Combination entity at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the SPAC Private Warrants.
In connection with our assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with ASC 205-40, “Going Concern,” as of June 30, 2026, we may need to raise additional capital through loans or additional investments from our Sponsor, stockholders, officers, directors, or third parties. Our officers, directors and Sponsor may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion, to meet our working capital needs. Accordingly, we may not be able to obtain additional financing. If we are unable to raise additional capital, we may be required to take additional
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measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and reducing overhead expenses. We cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to us on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Business Combination. If a Business Combination is not consummated by the Business Combination Deadline, currently up to December 27, 2026, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution. Management has determined that the liquidity condition, the date of mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should be required to liquidate after the Business Combination Deadline. We intend to complete the initial Business Combination before the end of the Business Combination Deadline. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to consummate any Business Combination by the end of the Business Combination Deadline.
Promissory Notes – Related Parties
On June 10, 2026, we entered into the Convertible Promissory Note with Harraden and James A. Graf, pursuant to which we may borrow up to $200,000 from Harraden for working capital and general corporate purposes. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, we received $75,000 in working capital advances from a related party, which were subsequently incorporated into and replaced by a convertible promissory note entered into on June 10, 2026. The Loan includes $50,000 advanced by Harraden to us in March 2026, $75,000 advanced by Harraden to us in April 2026, and $75,000 drawn by us concurrently with the execution of the Convertible Promissory Note. As a result, the Loan has been fully drawn down and no amounts are available for further drawdowns. The Convertible Promissory Note replaced and superseded the promissory note among us, Harraden, and James A. Graf dated June 4, 2026.
The Loan may, at Harraden’s discretion, be converted into Conversion Shares. In addition, pursuant to the Convertible Promissory Note, Harraden is entitled to receive Issuance Warrants for each dollar funded under the Loan to be issued immediately prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination. The terms of the Issuance Warrants will be identical to those of the SPAC Private Warrants that were issued to the Sponsor, including the transfer restrictions applicable to such SPAC Private Warrants. In lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares and/or Issuance Warrants, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy our obligations to issue Conversion Shares and Issuance Warrants under the Convertible Promissory Note.
The Loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and is due at the earlier of (i) the consummation of the Business Combination or (ii) our liquidation. If we liquidate, the Loan will be repaid only from funds held outside of the Trust Account. As of June 30, 2026, there was a total amount of $200,000 outstanding under the Convertible Promissory Note.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of June 30, 2026. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.
Contractual Obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than an agreement to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor $20,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of the management team. We began incurring these fees on June 25, 2024 and will continue to incur these fees monthly until the earlier of the completion of the Business Combination and our liquidation. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, we incurred $60,000 and $120,000 in administrative support services fees, respectively, of which $240,000 and $120,000 is included in accrued expenses as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, we incurred and paid $60,000 and $120,000 in administrative support service fees, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, we incurred administrative support services fees of $240,000 and $124,000, respectively. We paid $120,000 and $124,000 during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024,
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we had outstanding accrued administrative support services fees of $120,000 and $0, respectively, which are included in accrued expenses in the accompanying balance sheets.
The underwriters were entitled to an underwriting discount of $0.20 per SPAC Public Unit on SPAC Public Units other than those sold pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional SPAC Public Units, or $4,000,000 in the aggregate, paid upon the closing of the SPAC IPO. In addition, the underwriters are entitled to a deferred fee of $0.40 per SPAC Public Unit on SPAC Public Units other than those sold pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional SPAC Public Units, and $0.60 per SPAC Public Unit on SPAC Public Units sold pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option or $9,800,000 in the aggregate. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that SPAC completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of the condensed financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, in our financial statements. These accounting estimates require the use of assumptions about matters, some of which are highly uncertain at the time of estimation. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments, and we evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis. To the extent actual experience differs from the assumptions used, our condensed financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus could be materially affected. We believe that the following accounting policies involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity. Using a valuation, SPAC estimated the fair value of the SPAC Public Warrants as of the SPAC IPO and Non-Redemption Agreements as of June 26, 2026. Other than estimating the value of the SPAC Public Warrants and Non-Redemption Agreements, we did not have any other critical accounting estimates as of June 30, 2026.
Warrant Instruments
We accounted for the SPAC Public Warrants and SPAC Private Warrants issued in connection with the SPAC IPO and the private placement in accordance with the guidance contained in FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”, whereby under that provision, the warrants that do not meet the criteria for equity treatment must be recorded as liability. Accordingly, we evaluated and classified the warrant instruments under equity treatment at their assigned value. Such guidance provides that the warrants described above will not be precluded from equity classification. Equity-classified contracts are initially measured at fair value (or allocated value). Subsequent changes in fair value are not recognized as long as the contracts continue to be classified in equity in accordance with ASC 480 and ASC 815.
Non-Redemption Agreements
We evaluated the Non-Redemption Agreements entered into in connection with shareholder redemption votes, under which certain SPAC Public Shareholders agreed not to redeem their shares in exchange for Founder Shares transferred by our Sponsor. Management accounts for these agreements in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”, whereby under that provision, the warrants that do not meet the criteria for equity treatment must be recorded as liability. Accordingly, we evaluated and classified the Non-Redemption Agreements under equity treatment at their assigned value. Such guidance provides that the Non-Redemption Agreements described above will not be precluded from equity classification. Equity-classified contracts are initially measured at fair value (or allocated value). Subsequent changes in fair value are not recognized as long as the contracts continue to be classified in equity in accordance with ASC 480 and ASC 815.
SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
We account for our SPAC Ordinary Shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” SPAC Ordinary Shares subject to mandatory redemption are classified as a liability instrument and measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable SPAC Ordinary Shares (including SPAC Ordinary Shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within our control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, SPAC Ordinary Shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. Our SPAC Ordinary Shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of our control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, SPAC Ordinary Shares
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subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of our condensed balance sheets.
Net Income per Ordinary Share
We comply with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”. We have two classes of shares, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares. Income and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Net income per SPAC Ordinary Share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of SPAC Ordinary Shares outstanding for the period. Accretion associated with the redeemable SPAC Ordinary Shares is excluded from income (loss) per SPAC Ordinary Share as the redemption value approximates fair value.
Recent Accounting Standards
In November 2024, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2024 - 03, “Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220 - 40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses”, requiring public entities to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to the unaudited condensed financial statements on an interim and annual basis. ASU 2024 - 03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. SPAC is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2024 - 03.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on SPAC’s unaudited condensed financial statements.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this section to “BIG3,” “Holdco,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company” refer to BIG3 HoldCo LLC prior to the consummation of the Business Combination. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors.
Overview
BIG3 is the leading professional 3-on-3 basketball league in the United States, sitting at the intersection of basketball, hip-hop and entertainment. Since commencing its first season in 2017, BIG3 has developed a growing fanbase attracted to its exciting, fast-paced gameplay and unique format.
Corporate History and Structure
OpCo holds and operates substantially all of the assets and business of BIG3. OpCo’s membership interests consist of Class A units and Class B units. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, HoldCo owns all outstanding Class A units of OpCo and 800 of the Class B units. The remaining 400 of the Class B units of OpCo are held by third-party team owners (the “Third-Party Owners”), each of whom holds 100 Class B units.
Holders of Class A units (the “Class A Members”) are entitled to 25% of ordinary distributions and have the right to appoint a total of two governors (collectively, the “Class A Governors”) to OpCo’s board of governors, each of whom is entitled to two votes. Holders of Class B units (the “Class B Members”) are entitled to 75% of ordinary distributions and have the right to appoint one governor (collectively, the “Class B Governors”) to the board of governors for each team operated, each of whom is entitled to one vote. The consent of the Class A Governors is required for certain significant actions for as long as HoldCo and its affiliates hold at least 60% of all Class A units. The consent of two-thirds of the board of governors is required for certain other significant actions.
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there are a total of eight active teams, four of which are owned by HoldCo and four of which are owned by Third-Party Owners. Teams were first sold to Third-Party Owners in 2024, and such teams commenced playing in the 2025 season.
BIG3 intends to sell additional teams to third-party owners in the future. Future team owners will purchase newly issued Class B units of OpCo and become party to OpCo LLC Agreement.
After the Closing, SPAC shareholders will become Pubco shareholders and their rights will be governed by the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws, as described in “Proposal No. 5 — The Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals.”
Industry and Market Opportunity
Overview
BIG3 operates in the global sports media industry, which has seen continued expansion in recent years. Sports content occupies a distinctive position within the broader media landscape: it is difficult to replicate or substitute, and it retains commercial value in an environment in which audiences for scripted and other non-live programming have fragmented across a growing number of platforms. These characteristics have supported sustained growth in the value of sports media rights, in sports-related advertising and in the valuations of professional sports franchises.
According to Ampere Analysis, the global sports media rights market was valued at approximately $65 billion in 2025 and is projected to increase to approximately $78 billion by 2030. Growth in the market has been driven in part by the entry of streaming platforms and technology companies into the market for live sports rights, which has increased the number of bidders for a finite supply of live sports content, and by the unbundling of rights packages by established leagues into a greater number of separately licensed windows, formats and territories. Rights holders have also expanded the ways in which content is monetized, including through direct-to-consumer distribution, ad-supported streaming, international licensing and highlight and short-form rights.
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Sports Advertising
Although sports programming accounted for only approximately 12% of total television viewership in 2025, sports-related advertising is projected to represent approximately 32% of total television advertising spending in 2026 and approximately 50% by 2030, according to Adwave and eMarketer. As audiences continue to migrate away from traditional linear television (pre-scheduled content on fixed television channels), BIG3 management believes live sports has become one of the few remaining categories of programming capable of aggregating mass audiences on a scheduled basis, and that advertiser demand has concentrated accordingly. For example, the 2026 FIFA World Cup final attracted approximately 66.4 million U.S. viewers, and the 2026 NBA Finals attracted an average of approximately 20.6 million viewers per game.
Franchise Valuations and Institutional Investment
Valuations of professional sports franchises have increased due to factors such as the increased value of media rights, a limited supply of professional sports franchise assets, expanding global audiences and increased institutional investment. Several major North American leagues have in recent years revised their ownership rules to permit investment by private equity funds and other institutional investors, which has expanded the pool of available capital and may have contributed to increased valuations across the sector. According to Sportico, franchise valuations in certain established U.S. professional sports leagues, namely Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL), increased by approximately 13% to 20% year-over-year in 2025, while certain emerging sports leagues, namely the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), experienced valuation increases exceeding 100% in 2025 compared to 2024.
We believe that these trends indicate increasing opportunities for BIG3 to attract additional commercial partners and raise future capital.
BIG3’s Position Within the Industry
BIG3 benefits from basketball’s global fan base of approximately 3 billion people. During the 2026 season, BIG3 games had an average viewership of approximately 530,000 on CBS, and approximately 1.2 billion social media views and impressions.
BIG3 Basketball Games
Gameplay and Viewing Experience
BIG3 plays under its unique “Fireball3” rules, which are designed specifically for 3-on-3 basketball. Fireball3 diverges from traditional 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 basketball in several key ways:
| ● | Games end when a team reaches 50 points, with no game clock. |
| ● | There is a 14-second shot clock (versus the NBA’s 24-second shot clock). |
| ● | Beyond standard two- and three-point shots, designated circle areas award four points. |
| ● | Shooting fouls award a single free throw worth the attempted shot’s value. |
| ● | “Bring the Fire” allows a team to challenge a foul call with the players involved playing one-on-one. |
| ● | A wider range of defensive strategies is allowed, including hand-checking. |
BIG3 believes that these rules make the game faster, more entertaining and easier to follow, driving increased viewership and player participation.
Many BIG3 games also currently feature live hip-hop music, and dancers, creating a festival-like entertainment experience and generating broader appeal to potential fans.
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BIG3 Teams
BIG3 currently has eight active teams, all based in major metropolitan areas. The Boston Ball Hogs, Chicago Triplets, Dallas Power and DMV Trilogy (in D.C., Maryland and Virginia) are all owned by HoldCo, and the Detroit Amplifiers, Houston Rig Hands, Los Angeles Riot and Miami 305 are owned by Third-Party Owners. Teams typically have five or six players. Many of BIG3’s players and coaches have played or coached in the NBA.
BIG3 expects to expand its team roster in the coming years. The OpCo LLC Agreement sets forth the procedure for the allocation of proceeds from team sales through the issuance of Class B units. For details, see “Our Business Model — Team Sales.”
Season
BIG3 operates as a touring league with a city-based team model. Each team’s home city hosts at least one game per season as its “home” game, and the rest are played across the country. All eight teams compete without divisional alignments.
The 2026 season was the ninth season of the league and consisted of thirty-six regular season games, plus post-season playoffs and a championship game. The season runs for approximately eight weeks in the summer, during the gap between the NBA Finals (early June) and the start of the NFL season (September), which allows BIG3 to reach sports fans and families seeking affordable entertainment during the summer months.
At the end of the regular season, the top four teams advance to the playoffs. BIG3 requires the reigning champion to retain its roster the following season—a “beat the champ to be the champ” rule similar to boxing or the UFC.
During the playoffs, BIG3 also hosts an All-Star Game and announces annual awards, which are voted on by players and coaches.
For the 2026 season, BIG3 averaged approximately 530,000 viewers per game on CBS, compared with approximately 488,000 for TMRW’s Golf League, approximately 214,000 for the National Women’s Soccer League, approximately 265,000 for the Premier Lacrosse League and approximately 135,000 for the Unrivaled women’s three-on-three basketball league.
In addition, BIG3 generated approximately 1.2 billion views and impressions across social media platforms during the 2026 season.
Players and Coaches
Unlike the NBA and other major sports leagues, BIG3 does not have a traditional free agency system. Player movement occurs solely through an annual draft. (Mid-season trades are also permitted). Each team retains its captain and two co-captains, while the remaining spots are filled through the draft, except that the defending champion keeps its entire roster intact and its players cannot be selected by other teams.
Salaries for players and coaches have historically been our largest annual operating expense. We also incur operating expenses for travel and lodging of players, coaches and gameday staff.
Players enter into employment agreements with OpCo. For 2026, base compensation terms were as follows:
| ● | Captains receive $10,000 per regular season win and $8,000 per loss, and Co-Captains receive $8,000 per regular season win and $7,000 per loss. |
| ● | All other players receive $5,000 per regular season win and $4,000 per loss, which is increased to $8,000 and $7,000 for players returning to play for the championship team or runner-up team from the immediately preceding season. |
| ● | Captains and Co-Captains are entitled to 50% compensation for games missed due to illness or injury (an “Excused Game”), while all other players are compensated only for games played. |
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| ● | All players receive $10,000 per game played by the player’s team during the Playoffs (if any), to the extent that the player actually plays in such games. |
In addition to the compensation described above, each player selected for the All-Star Game is entitled to a $12,000 bonus.
BIG3 also provides a discretionary prize pool for the two teams that make it to the championship. For the 2026 season, the total prize pool was $750,000, with $400,000 awarded to the winning team and $350,000 awarded to the runner-up team.
All players are entitled to profit participation for the league year, from a pool equal to forty percent (40%) of league profits. The pool is allocated among the teams based on each team’s league profit participation percentage, which ranges from 30% for the championship team to 2.5% for the last-place team. Each team’s allocated pool is then shared among that team’s players based on the number of games played by each player (as well as Excused Games, solely for Captains and Co-Captains). Aggregate profit participation payable for a league year, together with all base compensation payable for that league year, may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of profits for that league year. In addition, a player’s profit participation is offset by the base compensation paid to him for the league year, with the result that base compensation operates as an advance against, rather than in addition to, profit participation.
Additionally, all players are entitled to 20% of net merchandising revenue attributable to their player-specific merchandise (prorated where multiple players are associated with such merchandise).
OpCo is also party to employment agreements with coaches, providing for base compensation of $10,000 per regular season win, $8,000 per regular season loss, $10,000 per playoff game coached and $12,000 for coaching the All-Star Game. Coaches are also entitled to 50% compensation for Excused Games.
Coaches are also entitled to profit participation for the league year and a percentage of net merchandising revenue on the same terms described above.
We believe that BIG3 is attractive to former professional NBA players and coaches who still want to compete in the U.S. after their days of 82-game regular NBA seasons have ended.
Competition and Competitive Strengths
Given that BIG3 operates in the sports media industry, we consider any type of discretionary leisure and entertainment provider to be a competitor with respect to our consumers’ time and disposable income.
We believe that the following competitive strengths contribute to our success and differentiate us from our competitors:
| ● | Market Leader in 3-on-3 Basketball: Since our founding in 2017, we have grown into the established leader in 3-on-3 basketball in the United States. We intend to leverage our market position, growing fan community and other competitive advantages (as discussed below) to drive expanded commercial opportunities through additional team sales, sponsorships and licensing opportunities. |
| ● | Exciting and Fast-paced Gameplay and Unique Format: Our unique “Fireball3” rules make the game faster, more entertaining and easier to follow than competing alternative sports leagues. Additionally and unlike many other competitors, BIG3 games often feature live hip-hop music, and dancers, which creates a festival-like entertainment experience and generates broader appeal to potential fans. |
| ● | Social-Media-Friendly and Savvy: Our strategic social outreach and fast-paced gameplay have driven viral content with sports, entertainment and culture platforms and influencers. During the 2026 season, BIG3 games had an average viewership of approximately 530,000 on CBS, and approximately 1.2 billion social media views and impressions. |
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| ● | Management Team: BIG3’s leadership team and advisors are strategically positioned to execute the Company’s business model and enhance its appeal to its target demographic and industry partners. Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ice Cube, brings credibility and authentic connections within music, entertainment and youth culture—key drivers of BIG3’s brand resonance with younger and multicultural audiences. Co-founder and Executive Chairman, Jeffrey Kwatinetz, contributes extensive experience in entertainment management and business operations, enabling disciplined execution of the Company’s growth strategy. Commissioner Clyde Drexler, a Hall of Famer and former NBA superstar, lends credibility to the league’s competitive integrity and appeal to basketball enthusiasts. Additionally, the Company benefits from guidance by prominent advisors such as Amy Trask, whose tenure as the first female chief executive officer of an NFL team provides valuable sports industry expertise. Management believes that this combination of entertainment acumen, basketball authority and sports business leadership positions BIG3 to effectively engage sponsors and media partners while maintaining the quality and authenticity of its product for its core fanbase. |
| ● | Diverse and Engaged Audience Base: BIG3 attracts diverse and young audiences. In 2025, 76% of attendees of BIG3 live games in-arena self-identified as non-white and 78% were under age 45, based on BIG3 2025 metrics. As for BIG3’s television viewership, 54% of 2025 CBS viewers were non-white, representing a 31% year-over-year increase. Our fan base gives sponsors and media partners a unique platform to reach a young and multicultural demographic. |
Our Business Model
Overview
Pursuant to the OpCo LLC Agreement, HoldCo and the Third-Party Owners will share all financial results of OpCo proportionally based on their ownership interests. Currently, HoldCo holds a 75% interest in OpCo and the Third-Party Owners collectively hold a 25% interest. Accordingly, all operating profits, operating losses and capital call obligations (provided, that each Initial Investor, as defined below, is not required to fund or make any payment with respect to the first $10.0 million of additional capital contributions) flow to the parties according to these percentages.
Team Sales
As noted previously, BIG3 expects to increase the number of its teams in the coming years. Currently, there are twelve teams, eight of which are active. Four of the active teams have been sold. The OpCo LLC Agreement governs the allocation of the proceeds from the issuance of Class B units in connection with future team sales as follows:
| ● | Initial Expansion Teams (Teams 13–16): Prior to December 15, 2027, Class A Members will receive 70.5% of proceeds (pro rata based on their Class A percentage interests), two certain Class B Members will each receive 2.25%, and Class B Members operating the Detroit Amplifiers, Houston Rig Hands, Los Angeles Riot or Miami 305 (the “Initial Investor-Owned Teams,” and such members, the “Initial Investors”) will receive the remaining 25% (distributed equally). On or after December 15, 2027, the allocation shifts: Class A Members will receive 50% of proceeds (pro rata based on their Class A percentage interests), and Class B Members operating Initial Investor-Owned Teams will receive the remaining 50% (distributed equally). |
| ● | Secondary Expansion Teams (Teams 17–20): Prior to December 15, 2027, Class A Members will receive 50% of proceeds (pro rata based on their Class A percentage interests), and other Class B Members (excluding those operating Initial or Secondary Expansion Teams) will receive 50% of proceeds (distributed equally). On or after December 15, 2027, Class A Members will receive 25% of proceeds (pro rata based on their Class A percentage interests), and other Class B Members (excluding those operating Initial or Secondary Expansion Teams) will receive 75% of proceeds (distributed equally). |
| ● | Additional Expansion Teams (Team 21 and Beyond): Class A Members will receive 25% of proceeds (pro rata based on their Class A percentage interests), and Class B Members will receive 75% of proceeds (pro rata based on their existing Class B percentage interests immediately prior to the new team’s admission). |
In September 2024, Jeffrey Kwatinetz and Ice Cube entered into a Funding Agreement with OpCo (the “Funding Agreement”), pursuant to which they lent $2.0 million to OpCo. The Funding Agreement provides that the lenders may elect to convert the $2.0 million loan (as well as a $0.9 million loan previously provided to OpCo) into a 29% interest in the total gross sale proceeds and/or gross franchise fee realized by OpCo from a future sale of a team franchise.
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Broadcasting and Media
Since 2018, many of our games are broadcast live on CBS and the CBS Sports Network. Beginning with the 2026 season, replays on BET provide secondary window for fans who miss the original broadcast. The economic terms of our agreements with CBS and BET are described below in “Key Commercial Agreements.”
Games not broadcast live by CBS are streamed on Fubo and also available on YouTube.
For each gameday, CBS allocates a two-to-three-hour broadcast window for airing two to three BIG3 games. Because our games use a 50-point format with no game clock, CBS has flexibility in managing broadcast length through commercial breaks and in-game programming.
The 2026 season was also broadcast in Brazil by Globo Comunicação e Participações S.A. and in China by Migu Video Co. Ltd.
Ticket Sales
We generate revenue from selling tickets to live games. Historically, game tickets have cost between $25 and $850, varying by city, arena, seat location and game type (regular season or playoffs). We have also adopted a flat pricing plan during certain seasons, in response to industry trends. Historically, VIP packages have cost an additional $85 to $500 and include on-court shooting, meet-and-greet opportunities with players and other perks. During the 2025 season, we estimate an average of 7,850 total attendees per game, including paid tickets and other attendees.
Sponsorship and Merchandising
We generate sponsorship revenue from companies that pay to associate their brands with BIG3. This includes logos on jerseys, courts and stadium signage. For the 2026 season, BIG3’s sponsors include Verizon, iHeartRadio, Monster Energy, Mars and Walmart.
We generate merchandising revenue from the sale of branded products, such as jerseys, hats, T-shirts and other gear carrying BIG3 and team logos. Branded products are sold at games, online and in retail stores.
Although our sponsorship revenue has trended upward over time, actual sponsorship amounts are dependent upon sponsor budgets and various other factors, and cannot be predicted with reasonable certainty.
Working Capital Requirements
Our business model does not require significant pre-season capital outlays. The majority of our expenses are payable during or after the season.
Strategy
Long-Term Model
Key elements of our long-term strategy to expand our business and grow revenue over the next three to five years include the following:
| ● | Team and League Expansion: Increasing the number of teams will generate additional revenue and support the continued development of the league, broaden our commercial network and provide additional opportunities for revenue generation. We also intend to increase the length of the playing season. |
| ● | Sponsorship Expansion: As viewership grows, we intend to attract more sponsors, increase the price of sponsorship from current levels and sign additional multi-year sponsorship deals. |
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| ● | National or International Media Rights Deal: We intend to negotiate a comprehensive media rights deal, which may significantly expand the league’s reach beyond current viewership, dramatically increasing BIG3’s visibility and commercial value. |
Strategic Growth Opportunities
Our strategic growth opportunities include the following:
| ● | International Expansion: BIG3 may expand into Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, leveraging the momentum provided by the introduction of 3-on-3 basketball into the Olympic Games. |
| ● | Shoulder Programming: BIG3 may leverage its high-profile base of players (including former NBA stars) to develop a portfolio of original media and entertainment programming beyond live game broadcasts. Such programming may include player-focused reality shows, documentaries, behind-the-scenes content, interview programs and other basketball-related entertainment formats. |
| ● | Licensing: BIG3 may license third-party manufacturers to produce and distribute BIG3-branded products both in the U.S. and internationally (including licensing games for international distribution). Through licensing, BIG3 could receive fees from partners who design, manufacture and sell products under the BIG3 name, without bearing the production or distribution costs themselves. Potential product categories include apparel, collectibles and lifestyle goods. |
| ● | Amateur Participation: BIG3 could expand its footprint by developing or licensing 3-on-3 basketball leagues for youth and adult players across different skill levels. This would create additional revenue streams and sponsorship opportunities at the local level and extend BIG3’s brand into communities where professional games may not be readily accessible, creating grassroots awareness and engagement. |
| ● | Other Opportunities: Other opportunities currently under consideration include video gaming collaborations, sports betting partnerships and a fantasy basketball league, as well as exhibition games and a global championship competition. |
BIG3 cannot provide assurances that the anticipated benefits of the strategic growth opportunities discussed above will be realized in the long-term or at all. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to BIG3’s Business and Industry” for more information.
Key Commercial Agreements
CBS Agreement
OpCo is party to a Programming Agreement, dated March 21, 2019 (as amended from time to time, the “CBS Agreement”), with CBS Sports, a division of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (“CBS Sports”), and CSTV Networks, Inc. d/b/a CBS Sports Network (“CBSSN,” and together with CBS Sports, “CBS”), pursuant to which CBS provides production and telecasting services for BIG3 games. The agreement has been renewed via amendment each season and provides for a fixed payment by BIG3 to CBS for each season. The CBS Agreement provides for payment of a fixed license fee to CBS as well as reimbursement for CBS’ production costs.
For 2026, CBS had the exclusive right to distribute 21 of 37 hours of live BIG3 games in the United States.
BET Agreement
OpCo is party to a License Agreement, dated March 16, 2026 (the “BET Agreement”), with Black Entertainment Television, LLC (“BET”), pursuant to which OpCo has licensed to BET the right to re-air the 2026 games originally broadcast by CBS on BET’s linear network and YouTube channel.
Pursuant to the BET Agreement, BIG3 paid a fixed license fee in four installments over the 2026 season. In addition to the license fee, BIG3 is also entitled to receive 50% of any in-show integrations and title sponsorships (net of BET’s agency commissions, up to a maximum of 15%, and certain other expenses incurred by BET).
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Fubo Agreement
OpCo is party to a Distribution Agreement, dated June 12, 2026 (the “Fubo Agreement”), with FuboTV Media LLC (“Fubo”), pursuant to which OpCo has licensed to Fubo (i) telecasting of 2026 live games not broadcast by CBS and (ii) archived game telecasts, for Fubo’s sports streaming service in the United States and Canada. The Fubo Agreement has a term of one year and provides that OpCo is entitled to 50% of all revenues received by Fubo in connection with Fubo’s sale of advertising time for BIG3 content, net of taxes, agency commissions, distribution fees and sales and other costs incurred by Fubo.
Fubo has the right to distribute the 16 hours of live BIG3 games in the United States that were not broadcast by CBS.
Sponsorship Agreements
Each season, BIG3 enters into sponsorship agreements with corporate sponsors. Sponsorships for the 2026 season amounted to $3.4 million in the aggregate.
Competition
BIG3 competes with many alternative forms of entertainment. The competitive landscape is broad, and BIG3 competes on several distinct fronts. Many of BIG3’s competitors have substantially greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than BIG3, longer operating histories, larger and more established fan bases, and longer-term media rights and sponsorship arrangements.
Competition for audience and attendance. BIG3 competes for the discretionary time and spending of consumers with other professional and collegiate sports, live music and touring entertainment, motion pictures, streaming and short-form video platforms, social media, video games and interactive entertainment, and other leisure activities. Because BIG3’s season runs from June through August, it competes most directly with sports properties that occupy the same summer window, including Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the WNBA, NASCAR, professional golf and tennis, and, in certain years, the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup. In addition, BIG3 competes for live attendance in each touring market with local sporting events, concerts, festivals and other events held in the same market during the same period.
Competition within basketball and 3-on-3. BIG3 competes with other basketball properties for fan attention, including the WNBA, the NBA G League, collegiate basketball and international leagues, as well as with organized 3-on-3 basketball competitions, including FIBA 3x3 events and Olympic 3x3 basketball. BIG3 also competes with a growing number of alternative and emerging sports properties that employ shortened formats, celebrity participation or entertainment-forward presentation, several of which have secured national media distribution and institutional investment.
Competition for media rights and distribution. BIG3 competes with other content owners for a finite number of national broadcast and streaming windows, and for the programming budgets of television networks, streaming services and digital platforms. Competition for these windows has intensified as technology companies and streaming services have entered the market for live sports rights, and as established leagues have expanded the volume of rights packages they offer.
Competition for sponsorship and advertising. BIG3 competes for sponsorship, licensing and advertising spending with other sports leagues, teams, venues, athletes, media properties and entertainment platforms. Sponsors allocate budgets across a wide range of properties based on audience size and composition, brand fit, activation opportunities and measurable return, and BIG3’s ability to attract and retain sponsors depends in part on its viewership, attendance and demographic profile relative to those alternatives.
Competition for players, coaches and personnel. BIG3’s roster is composed principally of former NBA and international professional players. BIG3 competes for these players with international professional leagues, exhibition and barnstorming events, broadcasting and media opportunities, coaching positions and other post-career commercial opportunities, each of which may offer greater compensation or a less demanding schedule than BIG3. BIG3 also competes for coaches, executives and other personnel with other sports and entertainment businesses.
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Intellectual Property
Our intellectual property rights include registered and unregistered trademarks and pending applications to register trademarks in the United States and foreign countries for team names and brands (e.g., Ball Hogs, Triplets, Power, Trilogy, Rig Hands, L.A. Riot, Detroit Amplifiers, Miami 305) and league programs and initiatives (e.g., BIG3, BIG3 Cup, BIG3 Draft, BIG3 All-Star Game, Big 3 Playoffs, BIG3 Championship, Big 3 in 3 Minutes, Fireball 3, BIG3 Fireball 3, 3s and Ones, and Bring the Fire). We seek to establish and maintain trademark protection consistent with our business objectives.
We also have registered and primarily unregistered copyrights, including in 1) league rules; 2) website design graphics and content, including news articles, press releases, player announcements, game recaps and previews, and photographs depicting players, coaches, celebrities, games, events, sponsors, community and promotional activities; 3) game broadcasts, game footage, highlight reels, interviews, player features, promotional videos, advertisements, social media videos, short-form videos, and related productions, and documentary, episodic, and long-form programming, including the BIG3 documentary series, draft coverage, behind-the-scenes programming, championship coverage, season recap programming, and related audiovisual productions. As described in the “Key Commercial Agreements” section, we have entered into contracts where we retain our copyrights but license broadcast rights to CBS and BET.
We own 94 domain names, which include domain names we use as well as domain names that are variants of domain names we use.
We also maintain social media content accounts, including:
| ● | Instagram: @thebig3 |
| ● | X: @thebig3 |
| ● | YouTube: @big3 |
| ● | TikTok: @thebig3 |
| ● | Snapchat: @thebig3 |
| ● | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebig3basketball |
We consider intellectual property critical to the operation of our business and to drive growth in our commercial revenue, particularly with respect to sponsorship revenue. We seek to obtain and maintain intellectual property rights consistent with our business objectives and financial resources available to devote to intellectual property protection. Certain of our commercial partners have contractual rights in sponsorship agreements to use our trademarks. In order to protect our trademark rights, we seek to maintain control over and approve uses of our intellectual property by our commercial partners.
Facilities
BIG3 games are held in facilities leased from third parties, typically professional or college basketball arenas. We do not maintain long-term facility leases or multi-year venue commitments for our events. Instead, facility arrangements are negotiated on an annual basis for each season, requiring us to secure venue availability, negotiate rates and finalize terms prior to each competitive season. Games are not always held in the same facilities from one year to another, but we do not anticipate difficulty in securing venues. Historically, the number of arena venues used in a given season has ranged between eight and ten.
In July 2026, we commenced a month-to-month lease of a corporate office in Miami Beach, Florida, for approximately $1,400 per month. Nearly all corporate employees work remotely, but the Florida office serves as our principal executive office.
We also have a month-to-month lease of warehouse space in Northridge, California for storage of game-related equipment, for $1.35 per square foot per month. For the 2025 season, we incurred approximately $27,500 in fees under this lease.
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Employees and Human Resources
As of December 31, 2025, BIG3 and its subsidiaries had twelve full-time employees. In addition, for the 2026 season, BIG3 had 48 players and coaches as part-time employees of OpCo. None of our employees is represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement, and we have not experienced any work stoppages. We offer competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits program, including health insurance and a 401(k) plan, to attract and retain qualified personnel.
We pay for lodging and intra-city transportation of players, coaches and gameday staff. For the 2026 season, we incurred approximately $3.5 million in costs for lodging and transportation.
Seasonality
Our business is highly seasonal, as we generate substantially all of our revenue between June and August, and we generate limited revenue during the remainder of the year. Because of this seasonality, our results of operations fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter, and our results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full fiscal year or for any future period.
Additionally, our workforce requirements vary significantly throughout the year due to the seasonal nature of our business. We employ a substantially larger workforce during the game season, with corresponding reductions during the off-season. This seasonal staffing model allows us to manage labor costs efficiently while maintaining adequate operating capacity during the game season. Many of our seasonal workers are independent contractors.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business. Other than as set forth below, we are currently not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that we believe will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.
During 2022, BIG3 offered and sold a series of non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) in multiple tiers, including FIRE Tier NFTs and Gold Tier NFTs, which included various stated utilities and benefits to NFT holders for a specified team. Benefits included purchaser branding on team apparel, tickets, merchandise and entitlement to specified proceeds if the team is subsequently sold. The NFTs were sold to individual purchasers and entities at specified price points at the time of issuance. HoldCo is a defendant in two pending legal actions brought by NFT purchasers in California alleging damages arising from HoldCo’s discontinuation of the NFT utilities. The matters are in the early stages of litigation and remain unresolved. HoldCo is currently unable to predict the outcome of these matters or estimate a reasonably possible range of loss, if any, beyond amounts already paid, due to the early stage of the proceedings and uncertainties associated with litigation. Accordingly, no additional liability has been recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements related to these matters.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
Between June 2026 and August 2026, HoldCo sold an aggregate of 10,352,234 Class A Units to various investors at a price of $1.6443 per unit. No underwriters were involved in the offering, and no underwriting discounts or commissions were paid. The Company relied on the exemption in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
In connection with the issuance of the foregoing Class A Units, holders of certain outstanding convertible notes elected to convert approximately $35.4 million of outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest into 26,946,590 Class A Units at a conversion price of $1.3154 per unit. Upon conversion, the applicable convertible notes were cancelled and the Company’s obligations thereunder were terminated. The Company relied on the exemption in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Between June 2026 and August 2026, the Company issued an aggregate of 596,003 Class A Units to certain purchasers of a series of non-fungible tokens, in connection with settlement agreements between the Company and such purchasers, at a valuation of $1.6443 per unit. The Company relied on the exemption in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY
The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ (for purposes of this section, “the Company” “we” “our” or “us”) financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the Company’s audited annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2026, and related notes included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. This discussion and analysis should also be read together with the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.” This discussion and other parts of this proxy statement/prospectus contain forward-looking statements reflecting our current expectations, estimates, and assumptions concerning events and financial trends that may affect our future operating results or financial position. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below and those discussed in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Overview
BIG3 is the leading professional 3-on-3 basketball league in the United States, sitting at the intersection of basketball, hip-hop and entertainment. Since commencing its first season in 2017, BIG3 has developed a growing fanbase attracted to its exciting, fast-paced gameplay and unique format.
OpCo holds and operates substantially all of the assets and business of BIG3. OpCo’s membership interests consist of Class A units and Class B units. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, HoldCo owns all outstanding Class A units of OpCo and 800 of the Class B units. The remaining 400 of the Class B units of OpCo are held by third-party team owners, each of whom holds 100 Class B units.
Holders of Class A units are entitled to 25% of ordinary distributions and have the right to appoint a total of two governors to OpCo’s board of governors, each of whom is entitled to two votes. Holders of Class B units are entitled to 75% of ordinary distributions and have the right to appoint one governor to the board of governors for each team operated, each of whom is entitled to one vote.
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there are a total of eight active teams, four of which are owned by HoldCo and four of which are owned by Third-Party Owners. Teams were first sold to Third-Party Owners in 2024, and such teams commenced playing in the 2025 season.
BIG3 intends to sell additional teams to third-party owners in the future. Future team owners will purchase newly issued Class B units of OpCo and become party to OpCo LLC Agreement.
Explanatory Note
Our business is highly seasonal, as we generate substantially all of our revenue between June and August, and we generate limited revenue during the remainder of the year. Because of this seasonality, our results of operations fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter, and our results for any one quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full fiscal year or for any future period.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
We generate revenue primarily from live event operations, including ticket sales and other event-related activities; sponsorship and advertising arrangements; media and broadcast rights, including digital media and content distribution; and merchandise sales. Event revenue is recognized at the time the underlying event occurs. Sponsorship revenue is recognized over the sponsorship term as the related benefits are provided and the performance obligations are satisfied. Media rights revenue is recognized over time as the associated rights are delivered over the contractual broadcast period. Merchandise revenue is recognized at the point in time control of the product transfers to the customer. Our activities are primarily concentrated in the United States.
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Broadcast Purchase
Broadcast purchase costs consist of amounts paid to broadcast and distribution partners to carry our games and related programming.
Production
Production costs consist of the costs of producing and staging our games and related content, including venue and event production costs, production crew and equipment, and content production and post-production costs.
Marketing and Advertising Expense
Marketing and advertising expense consists of the costs of promoting the league, our games and our brand, including advertising, promotional and digital marketing costs. Advertising and marketing costs are expensed as incurred.
Professional Fees
Professional fees consist of fees paid to outside legal counsel, accountants and auditors, consultants and other third-party advisors.
Salaries
Salaries consist of compensation and related costs for our employees and personnel.
Travel
Travel expense consists of travel, lodging, ground transportation and related costs incurred in connection with our games and league operations.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense consists of other costs of operating our business that are not included in the captions described above, including office and administrative costs, technology and other overhead costs.
Results of Operations
The results of operations presented below should be reviewed in conjunction with HoldCo’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, HoldCo’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, and other information included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
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The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 and the dollar and percentage change between the two periods.
| | | | | | | | | |
| | Six months | | Six months | | | | |
|
| | ended June 30, | | ended June 30, | | $ | | % |
|
| | 2026 | | 2025 | | Change | | Change |
|
REVENUE |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Events |
| 155,504 |
| 638,338 |
| (482,834) |
| (75.6) | % |
Sponsorships |
| 545,000 |
| 829,000 |
| (284,000) |
| (34.3) | % |
Media |
| 657,092 |
| 891,765 |
| (234,673) |
| (26.3) | % |
Merchandise |
| 936 |
| 11,160 |
| (10,224) |
| (91.6) | % |
Fan experience |
| 1,143 |
| — |
| 1,143 |
| — | |
Total net sales |
| 1,359,675 |
| 2,370,263 |
| (1,010,588) |
| (42.6) | % |
OPERATING EXPENSES |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Broadcast purchase |
| 818,751 |
| 957,600 |
| (138,849) |
| (14.5) | % |
Production |
| 1,305,956 |
| 1,863,076 |
| (557,120) |
| (29.9) | % |
Uniform |
| 188,944 |
| 221,490 |
| (32,546) |
| (14.7) | % |
Marketing & advertising |
| 462,855 |
| 836,428 |
| (373,573) |
| (44.7) | % |
Professional fees |
| 1,007,205 |
| 567,019 |
| 440,186 |
| 77.6 | % |
Insurance |
| 279,331 |
| 564,204 |
| (284,873) |
| (50.5) | % |
Salaries |
| 1,803,137 |
| 1,747,774 |
| 55,363 |
| 3.2 | % |
Agency commission |
| 55,448 |
| 116,680 |
| (61,232) |
| (52.5) | % |
Travel |
| 1,023,140 |
| 1,253,632 |
| (230,492) |
| (18.4) | % |
General & administrative |
| 327,704 |
| 373,218 |
| (45,514) |
| (12.2) | % |
Total operating expenses |
| 7,272,471 |
| 8,501,121 |
| (1,228,650) |
| (14.5) | % |
Loss from operations |
| (5,912,796) |
| (6,130,858) |
| (218,062) |
| (3.6) | % |
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Gain on settlement of notes payable |
| — |
| 42,138 |
| (42,138) |
| (100.0) | % |
Legal settlement |
| (287,501) |
| (65,000) |
| (222,501) |
| 342.3 | % |
Interest expense |
| (2,052,741) |
| (1,492,600) |
| (560,141) |
| 37.5 | % |
Total other income (expense), net |
| (2,340,242) |
| (1,515,462) |
| (824,780) |
| 54.4 | % |
Net loss |
| (8,253,038) |
| (7,646,320) |
| 606,718 |
| 7.9 | % |
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | | (2,063,260) | | (1,911,580) | | (151,680) | | 7.9 | % |
Net loss attributable to BIG3 HoldCo LLC | | (6,189,778) | | (5,734,740) | | (455,038) | | 7.9 | % |
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The following table sets forth our consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and the dollar and percentage change between the two periods.
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | $ | | % |
|
| | 2025 | | 2024 | | Change | | Change |
|
REVENUE |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Events |
| 2,025,844 |
| 2,453,332 |
| (427,488) |
| (17.4) | % |
Sponsorships |
| 3,190,000 |
| 1,660,209 |
| 1,529,791 |
| 92.1 | % |
Media |
| 4,100,677 |
| 5,382,286 |
| (1,281,609) |
| (23.8) | % |
Merchandise |
| 88,846 |
| 180,588 |
| (91,742) |
| (50.8) | % |
Total net sales |
| 9,405,367 |
| 9,676,415 |
| (271,048) |
| (2.8) | % |
OPERATING EXPENSES |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Broadcast purchase |
| 6,016,495 |
| 6,075,410 |
| (58,915) |
| (1.0) | % |
Production |
| 4,633,833 |
| 4,937,954 |
| (304,121) |
| (6.2) | % |
Uniform |
| 354,684 |
| 490,394 |
| (135,710) |
| (27.7) | % |
Marketing & advertising |
| 1,979,993 |
| 2,144,525 |
| (164,532) |
| (7.7) | % |
Professional fees |
| 1,371,527 |
| 2,124,355 |
| (752,828) |
| (35.4) | % |
Insurance |
| 1,010,742 |
| 1,050,468 |
| (39,726) |
| (3.8) | % |
Salaries |
| 7,105,216 |
| 8,046,962 |
| (941,746) |
| (11.7) | % |
Agency commission |
| 565,910 |
| 711,469 |
| (145,559) |
| (20.5) | % |
Travel |
| 3,421,009 |
| 4,064,101 |
| (643,092) |
| (15.8) | % |
General & administrative |
| 722,007 |
| 820,826 |
| (98,819) |
| (12.0) | % |
Total operating expenses |
| 27,181,416 |
| 30,466,464 |
| (3,285,048) |
| (10.8) | % |
Loss from operations |
| (17,776,049) |
| (20,790,049) |
| (3,014,000) |
| (14.5) | % |
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
Gain on legal settlement |
| — |
| 7,500,000 |
| (7,500,000) |
| (100.0) | % |
Gain on settlement of notes payable |
| 42,138 |
| 1,684,187 |
| (1,642,049) |
| (97.5) | % |
Miscellaneous expense |
| (115,000) |
| — |
| (115,000) |
| — | |
Other income |
| — |
| 2,316,175 |
| (2,316,175) |
| (100.0) | % |
Interest expense |
| (4,314,206) |
| (3,936,643) |
| (377,563) |
| 9.6 | % |
Total other income (expense), net |
| (4,387,068) |
| 7,563,719 |
| (11,950,787) |
| (158.0) | % |
Net loss |
| (22,163,117) |
| (13,226,330) |
| (8,936,787) |
| 67.6 | % |
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest |
| (5,540,779) |
| — |
| (5,540,779) |
| — | |
Net loss attributable to BIG3 HoldCo LLC |
| (16,622,338) |
| (13,226,330) |
| (3,396,008) |
| 25.7 | % |
Revenue
Total net sales decreased by $1.0 million, or 42.6%, for the six months ended June 30, 2026 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2025. Event revenue decreased by $0.5 million, or 75.6%, sponsorship revenue decreased by $0.3 million, or 34.3%, media revenue decreased by $0.2 million, or 26.3%, and merchandise revenue decreased by less than $0.1 million, or 91.6%. The decrease was due to fewer games being held during this portion of the year for the 2026 season (8 games) compared to the 2025 season (12 games), as well as a reduced number of sponsors.
Total net sales decreased by $0.3 million, or 2.8%, in the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. Sponsorship revenue increased by $1.5 million, or 92.1%, media revenue decreased by $1.3 million, or 23.8%, event revenue decreased by $0.4 million, or 17.4%, and merchandise revenue decreased by $0.1 million, or 50.8%. Sponsorship revenue increased primarily due to the addition of three new sponsors for the 2025 season. Media revenue decreased due primarily to a reduction in televised hours on CBS (from 24 hours in the 2024 season to 21 hours in the 2025 season), the loss of two broadcast media buyers and broadcast media buyers allocating spend to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2026 Winter Olympics. Event revenue decreased primarily due to a slight decline in overall game attendance in 2025, reflecting in part a change in the mix of markets in which games were played as compared to the 2024 season. The decrease in merchandise revenue was primarily attributable to distribution and product quality issues arising in connection with the transition to a new merchandise partner in 2025.
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Broadcast Purchase
Broadcast purchase costs decreased by $0.1 million, or 14.5%, for the six months ended June 30, 2026 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2025. The decrease was due to fewer games being held during this portion of the year for the 2026 season (8 games) compared to the 2025 season (12 games), as well as more favorable broadcasting terms.
Broadcast purchase costs were substantially unchanged in the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to the year ended December 31, 2024.
Production
Production costs decreased by $0.6 million, or 29.9%, for the six months ended June 30, 2026 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2025. The decrease was due to fewer games being held during this portion of the year for the 2026 season (8 games) compared to the 2025 season (12 games), as well as a reduced number of sponsors and more favorable production terms.
Production costs decreased by $0.3 million, or 6.2%, in the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in the number of teams from twelve in the 2024 season to eight in the 2025 season, and the corresponding reduction in games played (from 49 games in 2024 to 37 games in 2025).
Marketing and Advertising Expense
Marketing and advertising expense decreased by $0.4 million, or 44.7%, for the six months ended June 30, 2026 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2025. The decrease was due to fewer games being held during this portion of the year for the 2026 season (8 games) compared to the 2025 season (12 games), as well as reduced investment in marketing during the 2026 season due to increased in-kind advertising provided through BIG3’s partnership with iHeartRadio.
Marketing and advertising expense decreased by $0.2 million, or 7.7%, in the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in the number of teams from twelve in the 2024 season to eight in the 2025 season, and the corresponding reduction in games played (from 49 games in 2024 to 37 games in 2025).
Professional Fees
Professional fees increased by $0.4 million, or 77.6%, for the six months ended June 30, 2026 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2025. The increase was due to fees associated with the Business Combination.
Professional fees decreased by $0.8 million, or 35.4%, in the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to termination of third-party consultants and legal fees incurred in 2024 in connection with the closing of the initial four team sales, which did not recur in 2025. We expect that professional fees in the year ended December 31, 2026 will increase as a result of costs associated with the Business Combination and operating as a public company upon the consummation of the Business Combination.
Salaries
Salaries increased by $0.1 million, or 3.2%, for the six months ended June 30, 2026 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2025. The increase was due to new hires as well as a promotion and increase in compensation of BIG3’s current President.
Salaries decreased by $0.9 million, or 11.7%, in the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decreased number of teams in the league and corresponding reduction in the number of players and coaches.
Travel
Travel expense decreased by $0.2 million, or 18.4%, for the six months ended June 30, 2026 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2025. The decrease was due to fewer games being held during this portion of the year for the 2026 season (8 games) compared to the 2025 season (12 games).
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Travel expense decreased by $0.6 million, or 15.8%, in the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decreased number of teams in the league and corresponding reduction in the number of players and coaches.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense decreased by less than $0.1 million, or 12.2%, for the six months ended June 30, 2026 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2025. The decrease was due to general cost savings initiatives taken by the Company.
General and administrative expense decreased by $0.1 million, or 12.0%, in the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to general cost savings initiatives taken by the Company.
Other Income (Expense)
Other income (expense), net, was expense of $2.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026 compared to expense of $1.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, an unfavorable change of $0.8 million. The change was primarily due to a $0.6 million increase in interest expense and $0.3 million of legal settlement expense recognized in 2026 in connection with the settlement of NFT-related claims through the issuance of Class A Units, compared to $0.1 million of legal settlement expense in 2025. The increase in interest expense was due to accrual of PIK interest.
Other income (expense), net, was expense of $4.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to income of $7.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2024, an unfavorable change of $12.0 million. The change was primarily due to the $7.5 million gain on legal settlement and $2.3 million of other income recognized in 2024, neither of which recurred in 2025, a $1.6 million decrease in gain on settlement of notes payable and a $0.4 million increase in interest expense.
Trend Information
Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our revenues, net income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause reported financial information not necessarily to be indicative of future operating results or financial condition.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
To date, we have financed our operations primarily through a combination of operating revenues, team sales, equity contributions from members, debt financing and convertible note financing.
As of June 30, 2026, we had cash of $5.5 million, and as of December 31, 2025, we had cash of $1.4 million. We do not hold any cash equivalents.
During the six months ended June 30, 2026, we issued 6,126,255 Class A Units in connection with capital contributions from investors totaling approximately $9.8 million. Subsequent to June 30, 2026, we received aggregate cash proceeds of approximately $7.5 million from the issuance of 4,459,851 Class A Units.
On August 10, 2021, OpCo entered into notes payable with a third party. The notes have a principal balance of $5.5 million, bear no stated interest rate and have no stated maturity date.
Between 2019 and 2023, OpCo issued multiple rounds of convertible promissory notes (as amended, the “Convertible Notes”). The Convertible Notes generally bear interest at a rate of 15% per annum. Interest is payable annually or can be paid-in-kind. Since inception, no interest payments have been made and all unpaid interest has been added to the outstanding balance. The Convertible Notes have a maturity date of May 24, 2028. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the balance of the Convertible Notes was approximately $30.7 million and $30.2 million, respectively.
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On September 15, 2026, in connection with a Qualified Financing (as defined in the Convertible Notes) consisting of the issuance of Class A Units at a price of $1.6443 per unit, holders of the Convertible Notes elected to convert approximately $30.4 million of outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest into 23,092,576 Class A Units at a conversion price of $1.3154 per unit, representing 80% of the price per Class A Unit in the Qualified Financing. Upon conversion, the converted Convertible Notes were canceled and our obligations thereunder were terminated.
Jeffrey Kwatinetz and Ice Cube lent OpCo $0.3 million and $0.6 million on June 12, 2024 and June 7, 2024, respectively, and $1.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively, on September 26, 2024. The loans bear no stated interest rate and have no stated maturity date. As of each of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the balance of the loans was approximately $3.1 million. Pursuant to a Funding Agreement, dated September 26, 2024, between the lenders and OpCo (the “Funding Agreement”), the lenders may elect to convert the loans into a 29% interest in the total gross sale proceeds and/or gross franchise fee realized by OpCo from a future sale of a team franchise.
On April 30, 2020, OpCo obtained a Paycheck Protection Program loan under the SBA 7(a) program (as amended, the “PPP Loan”). The PPP Loan, which is currently past due, bore interest at 1.0% per annum and required monthly principal and interest payments. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the loan balance was approximately $0.8 million.
We expect to incur significant expenses in connection with our ongoing activities (including future BIG3 seasons) as we continue to implement our business strategy.
We will need additional funding in connection with these activities (for more information, see the section “Going Concern” below). Our future funding requirements, both short-term and long-term, will depend on many factors, including:
| ● | the level of revenue we generate from media and broadcast rights, sponsorship and advertising arrangements, live events and merchandise sales; |
| ● | the costs of our league and event operations, including broadcast purchase, production, travel and personnel costs, and the number of teams and games in each season; |
| ● | the costs of operating as a public company, including hiring additional personnel as well as increased director and officer insurance premiums, audit and legal fees, investor relations fees and expenses related to compliance with public company reporting requirements under the Exchange Act and rules implemented by the SEC and Nasdaq. |
The Business Combination is subject to customary closing conditions, and the amount and timing of any cash proceeds that may be delivered to Pubco upon Closing are uncertain (including due to the unforeseeable number of Public Shares that may be redeemed at or prior to the Closing); accordingly, there can be no assurance regarding the proceeds that Pubco may ultimately receive from the Business Combination or their use.
Going Concern
Our consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. Since inception, we have incurred recurring operating losses and have experienced negative cash flows from operations. We incurred net losses of $22.2 million and $13.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and had total members’ deficits, including noncontrolling interests, of $41.4 million and $35.2 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, we incurred net losses of $8.3 million and $7.6 million, respectively, and used net cash in operating activities of $6.1 million and $5.7 million, respectively, and we had a total members’ deficit, including noncontrolling interests, of $39.5 million as of June 30, 2026. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to generate profit from operations and/or obtain additional financing through debt borrowings, equity contributions or other capital raising transactions.
Management’s plans include selling additional teams, pursuing additional equity and debt financing from existing and prospective investors, increasing sponsorship and media rights revenues, implementing cost-control measures intended to reduce operating expenditures, and pursuing the Business Combination. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining sufficient additional capital or achieving profitable operations. In particular, the Business Combination is subject to customary closing conditions, and the amount and timing of any cash proceeds that may be delivered to Pubco upon Closing are uncertain (including due
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to the unforeseeable number of Public Shares that may be redeemed at or prior to the Closing); accordingly, there can be no assurance regarding the proceeds that Pubco may ultimately receive from the Business Combination or their use. Accordingly, management has concluded that these plans do not alleviate the substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the consolidated financial statements are issued. Our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. See Note 12 to our audited consolidated financial statements and Note 11 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, and Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024
The following table shows our cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, investing activities and financing activities for the stated periods:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the | | For the | | | | | | | | | | | ||
| | six months | | six months | | | | | | | | | | | ||
| | ended | | ended | | | | Year ended | | Year ended | | | ||||
| | June 30, | | June 30, | | | | December 31, | | December 31, | | | ||||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | | Variance | | 2025 | | 2024 | | Variance | ||||
Operating activities | | $ | (6,073,322) | | $ | (5,653,295) |
| (420,027) | | $ | (17,278,204) | | $ | (20,354,939) |
| 3,076,735 |
Investing activities | |
| — | |
| — |
| — | |
| — | |
| — |
| — |
Financing activities | |
| 10,120,834 | |
| 11,960,000 |
| (1,839,166) | |
| 15,960,000 | |
| 22,561,803 |
| (6,601,803) |
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was $6.1 million compared to $5.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, an increase of $0.4 million. The increase was primarily due to the $0.6 million increase in our net loss and a $4.5 million increase in accounts receivable and contributions receivable in 2026 compared to a $2.2 million increase in 2025, partially offset by larger increases in deferred revenue ($1.4 million in 2026 compared to $0.7 million in 2025), accounts payable ($1.9 million in 2026 compared to $1.4 million in 2025) and accrued interest ($1.7 million in 2026 compared to $1.5 million in 2025), as well as $1.3 million of investor advances received in 2026.
Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2025 was $17.3 million compared to $20.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of $3.1 million. The decrease was primarily due to a $9.1 million favorable change in non-cash adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities, which reflected the absence in 2025 of the $7.5 million non-cash gain on legal settlement and the $1.7 million non-cash gain on settlement of notes payable recognized in 2024, and a $2.9 million favorable change in operating assets and liabilities, partially offset by the $8.9 million increase in our net loss.
Investing Activities
We had no investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 or the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was $10.1 million compared to $12.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, a decrease of $1.8 million. Financing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2026 consisted of $10.1 million of capital contributions. Financing activities in the six months ended June 30, 2025 consisted of $12.0 million of payments received on capital contributions receivable, partially offset by $40,000 of payments made on notes payable.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2025 was $16.0 million compared to $22.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of $6.6 million. Financing activities in 2025 consisted of $16.0 million of payments received on notes receivable for capital contributions, partially offset by $40,000 of payments made on notes payable. Financing activities in 2024 consisted of $20.8 million of capital contributions and $3.1 million of borrowings on long-term debt, partially offset by $1.3 million of payments made on notes payable.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We did not have over the past two fiscal years, and we currently do not have, any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires HoldCo’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported periods. Other than as set forth below, HoldCo does not currently have any critical accounting estimates that could have a material impact on its financial statements. In preparing condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates include revenue recognition, collectability of receivables, valuation of debt instruments, assessment of variable interest entities, going concern considerations, and evaluation of contingent liabilities.
HoldCo has other key accounting policies, which involve the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that are significant to understanding its results, which are described in Note 1 to HoldCo’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and Note 1 to HoldCo’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2026 appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
We expect Pubco to be an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act. The JOBS Act permits companies with emerging growth company status to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards, delaying the adoption of these accounting standards until they would apply to private companies. Pubco has elected to use this extended transition period to enable it to comply with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date it (i) is no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opts out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, Pubco’s financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting standards as of public company effective dates.
In addition, Pubco intends to rely on the other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, Pubco is not required to, among other things: (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on its system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis); and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation-related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation to median employee compensation.
Pubco will remain an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act until the earliest of (i) the last day of its first fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the closing of the Business Combination, (ii) the last date of our fiscal year in which it has total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, (iii) the date on which it is deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the rules of the SEC with at least $700.0 million of outstanding securities held by non-affiliates or (iv) the date on which it has issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the previous three-years.
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Additionally, following the Business Combination, Pubco will also be a smaller reporting company as defined in the Exchange Act. Even after Pubco no longer qualifies as an emerging growth company, it may still qualify as a “smaller reporting company,” which would allow it to take advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements including exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this proxy statement/consent solicitation statement/prospectus and Pubco’s periodic reports and proxy statements.
Pubco will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as its voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of its second fiscal quarter, or its annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and its voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, we do not have any material exposure to market risk, including interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk, or commodity price risk, that would require disclosure under this Item.
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EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY
Introduction
The following is a discussion and analysis of the compensation arrangements of the Company’s executive officers and/or directors, each of whom is expected to be an executive officer and/or director of Pubco. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements that are based on Pubco current plans, considerations, expectations and determinations regarding future compensation programs. The actual compensation programs that Pubco adopts following the closing of the Business Combination may differ materially from the currently planned programs that are summarized in this discussion. As an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, the Company is not required to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and has elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this section to “we,” “our” or “us” refer to the Company prior to the consummation of the Business Combination and to Pubco after the Business Combination. All share numbers in this subsection are shown on a pre-Business Combination basis.
As an emerging growth company, Pubco has opted to comply with the executive compensation disclosure rules applicable to “smaller reporting companies,” as such term is defined in the rules promulgated under the Securities Act. This section discusses the material components of the executive compensation program for our Chief Executive Officer and our two other most highly compensated executive officers, whom we refer to as our “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs.” For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (“Fiscal Year 2025”), our NEOs were:
| ● | O’Shea Jackson Sr., our Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer; |
| ● | Jeffrey Kwatinetz, our Co-Founder and Executive Chairman; and |
| ● | Sean Bannon, our President. |
Executive Compensation Program
The objective of our compensation program is to provide a total compensation package to our executives that will enable Pubco to attract, motivate and retain outstanding individuals, align the interests of our executive team with those of our stockholders, encourage individual and collective contributions to the successful execution of our short- and long-term business strategies and reward our executives for performance.
The compensation program for our NEOs for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (“Fiscal Year 2024”) and Fiscal Year 2025 consisted of a base salary commensurate with their skill set, experience, performance, role and responsibilities.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table presents information regarding the total compensation awarded to or earned by the NEOs for services rendered to the Company in all capacities for Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Stock | | All Other | | |
| | | | Salary | | Bonus | | Awards | | Compensation | | Total | |
Name and Principal Position | | Year | | ($)(1) | | ($)(2) | | ($)(3) | | ($)(4) | | ($) | |
O’Shea Jackson Sr. |
| 2024 |
| | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer |
| 2025 |
| | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
| 2024 |
| | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
Co-Founder, Executive Chairman |
| 2025 |
| | 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
Sean Bannon |
| 2024 | | $ | 166,666.64 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
President |
| 2025 | | $ | 216,666.60 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| 0 |
(1) | The amounts reported in this column represent the annual base salary amounts earned with respect to Fiscal Year 2024 and Fiscal Year 2025. The NEOs are not entitled to interest on the accrued but unpaid wages. For additional information, see below under “Elements of Compensation — Base Salary” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions.” |
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(2) | None of the NEOs received a bonus for services provided in Fiscal Year 2024 or Fiscal Year 2025. For additional information, see below under “Elements of Compensation — Bonuses.” |
(3) | None of our NEOs were granted stock awards, option awards, or other equity or equity-based incentives in Fiscal Year 2024 or Fiscal Year 2025. |
(4) | Amounts reported in this column represent (i) health insurance premiums paid by the Company on behalf of each NEO, and (ii) certain fringe benefits. For additional information, see below under “Elements of Compensation — Other Benefits.” |
Narrative Disclosure to the Summary Compensation Table
Elements of Compensation
Base Salary
Each NEO receives a base salary to compensate them for services rendered to the Company. The base salary payable to each such Named Executive Officer provides a fixed compensation component commensurate with the executive’s skill, experience, role and responsibilities.
The base salary amounts shown in the “Summary Compensation Table” above reflect the actual amounts earned by our NEOs for services provided in Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025.
Bonuses
None of our NEOs received a cash bonus for services provided in Fiscal Year 2024 or 2025.
Equity-based Compensation
None.
Other Benefits
Our NEOs are generally eligible to participate in the health and welfare benefit programs offered by the Company, including medical, dental, and vision benefit plans, on the same basis as other employees, subject to the terms and eligibility requirements of those plans. The Company did not offer any retirement benefits in Fiscal Year 2024 or 2025.
Outstanding Equity Awards at End of Fiscal Year 2025
On August 23, 2019, each of O’Shea Jackson Sr. and BEK, LLC, a company controlled by Jeffrey Kwatinez, was granted 584,484 fully-vested Class B profit interest units of BIG3 Basketball, LLC, with a liquidation threshold of $7.0558 per unit. These were subsequently exchanged for equivalent Class B units of HoldCo.
Additionally, on July 22, 2022, each of O’Shea Jackson Sr. and BEK, LLC was granted 305,000 fully-vested Class B profit interest units of BIG3 Basketball, LLC, with a liquidation threshold of $7.0558 per unit. These grants were subsequently exchanged for equivalent Class B units of HoldCo.
None of our NEOs held outstanding equity awards in the Company as of December 31, 2025.
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Director Compensation Program
No non-employee directors received any compensation for services rendered to the Company for Fiscal Year 2024 or 2025, and no non-employee directors held any outstanding equity as of the end of Fiscal Year 2024 or 2025.
Executive Officer and Director Compensation After the Business Combination
Following the consummation of the Business Combination, Pubco intends to develop an executive compensation program and a director compensation program, each of which will be designed to align compensation with Pubco’s business objectives and the creation of stockholder value, while enabling Pubco to attract, retain, incentivize and reward individuals who contribute to the long-term success of Pubco. Decisions regarding the executive compensation and director compensation programs will be made by the compensation committee of the Pubco Board.
Pubco is in the process of negotiating employment agreements with its executive officers and expects to enter into an employment agreement with each of its executive officers prior to the Closing. Pubco also intends to grant equity awards, under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan to be adopted by Pubco, to Pubco’s executive officers. The type of awards, the number of shares subject to such awards, and the other terms and conditions of such awards cannot be determined at this time as they are subject to an arm’s length negotiation with each executive. As party to the anticipated employment agreements and recipients of the anticipated equity awards, Pubco’s executive officers may have interests in the Business Combination that are different from, or in addition to, the stockholders of Pubco.
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MANAGEMENT OF PUBCO FOLLOWING THE BUSINESS COMBINATION
References in this section to “Pubco,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and its subsidiaries immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination.
Executive Officers, Directors and Director Nominees After the Business Combination
The following persons are expected to serve as Pubco executive officers and directors following the Business Combination. The biographical information concerning the executive officers, directors and director nominees has been set forth as below as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.
Name | | Age | | Position |
O’Shea Jackson Sr. | | 57 | | Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Jeffrey Kwatinetz | | 61 | | Executive Chairman |
Sean Bannon | | 35 | | President, Secretary |
[●] | | [●] | | Chief Financial Officer |
[●] | | [●] | | Director |
[●] | | [●] | | Director |
[●] | | [●] | | Director |
[●] | | [●] | | Director |
[●] | | [●] | | Director |
Biographical Information
The following is a brief biography of each of the executive officers and directors of Pubco upon the Closing of Business Combination:
O’Shea Jackson Sr. has been a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of BIG3 since inception and will serve as the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Pubco upon Closing. Mr. Jackson, known professionally as Ice Cube, has worked as a recording artist, actor, director, and producer for over 40 years. He first became known as a member of the hip hop group N.W.A. and has since released 12 studio albums as a solo artist, most recently Man Up in 2025. His albums have sold more than 10 million copies in total. Mr. Jackson has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and has received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. As an actor, writer, producer, and/or director, Mr. Jackson has worked on film franchises including Friday, Barbershop, 21 Jump Street, Are We There Yet?, and Ride Along, as well as the films Boyz n the Hood and Straight Outta Compton. Mr. Jackson co-authored the Contract With Black America and co-founded the Contract With Black America Institute. In 2024, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame named him the first recipient of the Ice Cube Impact Award. We believe Mr. Jackson is qualified to serve on the Pubco Board because of his role as a co-founder of BIG3 and his experience in entertainment, media, and sports.
Jeffrey Kwatinetz has served as the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Pubco since inception and will serve as the Executive Chairman of the Pubco Board upon Closing. Mr. Kwatinetz is a co-founder and Executive Chairman of BIG3. He has worked in the talent management, music, film, and television industries for about 30 years. He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Firm, a talent management company. From 1997 to 2008, he led an earlier version of The Firm, which managed music artists including Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Jennifer Lopez, Backstreet Boys, Kelly Clarkson, Korn, 30 Seconds to Mars, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, Staind, and Enrique Iglesias. During that time, The Firm also began managing film and television talent, including Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Adams, Rachel Weisz, Vin Diesel, and Cameron Diaz. Mr. Kwatinetz led the acquisition of Warner Music Group from AOL Time Warner in 2004. He also owns the record label Prospect Park. Seven albums by Five Finger Death Punch released through that label have been certified platinum. Mr. Kwatinetz has been a producer of the television series Wilfred and Royal Pains and of the films The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Big Momma’s House, and Burden. He co-authored the Contract With Black America and co-founded the Contract With Black America Institute. Mr. Kwatinetz spent five years as a visiting assistant professor at Northwestern University. He received a J.D. with honors from Harvard Law School and an M.A. and a B.S. from Northwestern University. We believe Mr. Kwatinetz is qualified to serve on the Pubco Board because of his role as a co-founder of BIG3 and his experience in talent management, media, and corporate transactions.
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Sean Bannon currently serves as the President and a director of BIG3, overseeing oversees all aspects of the company’s business, including media rights, marketing, finance, operations, corporate development and capital raising activities. He will serve as President and Secretary of Pubco after the Closing. Prior to his current position, Mr. Bannon has held positions of increasing responsibility since joining BIG3 in December 2019, beginning as Assistant to the Founder and Chief Executive Officer and then the Senior Vice President for Business Development, where he has been responsible for helping expand the league’s television viewership and social media audience, attract new investment and capital, and grow its commercial and media presence. Before joining BIG3, Mr. Bannon worked in political consulting in Washington, D.C., where he served as an assistant and later as chief of staff to a former advisor to the President of the United States. Mr. Bannon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness Economics from the University of Arizona.
Board of Directors
The Pubco Board will consist of up to seven (7) directors following the completion of the Business Combination, including one (1) person designated by SPAC and up to six (6) persons designated by the Company, with at least such number of whom shall be required to qualify as an independent director under the rules of NYSE or any other national securities exchange. [ ] is designee of SPAC and [ ] are designees of the Company. All members of the Pubco Board shall be elected for a one-year term and may be re-elected for successive terms.
Director Independence
In connection with the Business Combination, the Pubco Board undertook a review of the independence of its anticipated directors and considered whether any such anticipated, director has a material relationship with it that could compromise that director’s ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out that director’s responsibilities. Pubco expects each of [ ] will be an “independent director,” as defined under the applicable rules of NYSE or any other national securities exchange.
Board Committees
The Pubco Board will direct the management of Pubco’s business and affairs and will conduct its business through meetings of the Pubco Board and standing committees. Following the Closing, Pubco will have a standing audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee. Each committee will operate under a charter that will be approved by the Pubco Board. The committees will have the composition and responsibilities described below.
In addition, from time to time, special committees may be established under the direction of the Pubco Board when necessary to address specific issues.
Audit Committee
Upon the completion of the Business Combination, Pubco’s audit committee will consist of [ ], [ ] and [ ], with [ ] serving as chair. Under the listing standards of NYSE and applicable SEC rules, Pubco is required to have three members of the audit committee, all of whom must be independent. [ ], [ ] and [ ] are each independent. Each member of the audit committee is financially literate, and the Pubco Board has determined that [ ] qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.
Pubco’s audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| ● | appointing, compensating, retaining, evaluating, terminating and overseeing its independent registered public accounting firm; |
| ● | discussing with its independent registered public accounting firm their independence from management; |
| ● | reviewing, with its independent registered public accounting firm, the scope and results of their audit; |
| ● | approving all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by its independent registered public accounting firm; |
| ● | overseeing the financial reporting process and discussing with management and its independent registered public accounting firm the quarterly and annual financial statements that its files with the SEC; |
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| ● | overseeing its financial and accounting controls and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; |
| ● | reviewing its policies on risk assessment and risk management; |
| ● | reviewing related person transactions; and |
| ● | establishing procedures for the confidential anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting, internal controls or auditing matters. |
The Pubco Board will adopt a written charter for the audit committee, which will be available on Pubco’s corporate website upon the completion of the Business Combination. The information on any of Pubco’s websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this proxy statement/prospectus or to be part of this proxy statement/prospectus.
Compensation Committee
Upon the completion of the Business Combination, Pubco’s compensation committee will consist of [ ], [ ] and [ ], with [ ] serving as chair. Under the listing standards of NYSE and applicable SEC rules, Pubco is required to have a compensation committee of at least two members, all of whom must be independent. [ ], [ ] and [ ] are each independent.
Pubco’s compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| ● | reviewing and approving the corporate goals and objectives, evaluating the performance of and reviewing and approving the compensation of its Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers; |
| ● | administering any incentive compensation plans of Pubco approved by the Pubco Board; |
| ● | reviewing and approving all employment agreement and severance arrangements for Pubco’s executive officers; |
| ● | making recommendations to the Pubco Board regarding the compensation of Pubco’s directors; and |
| ● | retaining and overseeing any compensation consultants. |
The Pubco Board will adopt a written charter for the compensation committee, which will be available on Pubco’s corporate website upon the completion of the Business Combination. The information on any of Pubco’s websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this proxy statement/prospectus or to be part of this proxy statement/prospectus.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Upon the completion of the Business Combination, Pubco’s nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of [ ], [ ] and [ ], with [ ] serving as chair. The Pubco Board has affirmatively determined that [ ], [ ] and [ ] each meets the definition of “independent director” under the rules of NYSE.
Pubco’s nominating and corporate governance committee will be responsible for, among other things:
| ● | develop the criteria and qualifications for membership on the Pubco Board; |
| ● | recruit, review, nominate and recommend candidates for election to the Pubco Board or to fill vacancies on the Pubco Board; |
| ● | review candidates proposed by shareholders and conduct appropriate inquiries into the background and qualifications of any such candidates; and |
| ● | have such other powers and authority as the Board may provide by resolution. |
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The Pubco Board will adopt a written charter for the nominating and corporate governance committee, which will be available on Pubco’s corporate website upon the completion of the Business Combination. The information on any of Pubco’s websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this proxy statement/prospectus or to be part of this proxy statement/prospectus.
Clawback Policy
Pubco will adopt a compensation recovery policy that is compliant with the listing rules of NYSE as required by the Dodd-Frank Act.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Pubco will adopt a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to its directors, officers and employees, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of the code will be posted on Pubco’s corporate website upon the completion of the Business Combination. The nominating and corporate governance committee of Pubco will be responsible for overseeing the code of business conduct and ethics and must approve any waivers of the code of business conduct and ethics for employees, executive officers and directors. In addition, Pubco intends to post on Pubco’s website all disclosures that are required by law or the listing standards of NYSE concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the code. The information on any of Pubco’s websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this proxy statement/prospectus or to be part of this proxy statement/prospectus.
Risk Oversight
Upon the Closing, one of the key functions of the Pubco Board will be informed oversight of Pubco’s risk management process. The Pubco Board does not anticipate having a standing risk management committee, but rather anticipates administering this oversight function directly through the Pubco Board as a whole, as well as through various standing committees of the Pubco Board that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. In particular, the Pubco Board will be responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure, and Pubco’s audit committee will have the responsibility to consider and discuss Pubco’s major financial risk exposures and the steps its management will take to monitor and control such exposures, including guidelines and policies to govern the process by which risk assessment and management is undertaken. The audit committee will also monitor compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Pubco’s compensation committee will also assess and monitor whether Pubco’s compensation plans, policies and programs comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Indemnification Agreements
The Proposed Pubco Charter will become effective immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination and will contain provisions that limit the personal liability of Pubco’s directors and officers to Pubco for loss or damages incurred by Pubco as a result of the carrying out of their functions, unless that liability arises through the actual fraud or willful default of such person. Pursuant to the Proposed Pubco Charter, no person shall be found to have committed actual fraud or willful default unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect. Consequently, Pubco’s directors and officers will not be personally liable to Pubco for loss or damages incurred by Pubco as a result of the carrying out of their functions, unless a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to effect that liability has arisen through the actual fraud or willful default of such person.
In addition, the Proposed Pubco Charter contain indemnification provisions entitling Pubco’s directors and officers to indemnification out of the assets of Pubco against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud or willful default.
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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
The following table sets forth information regarding (i) the beneficial ownership of SPAC Ordinary Shares as of October 20, 2026, which is prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, (ii) the beneficial ownership of Company units, on an as-converted basis, as of October 20, 2026, which is prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, and (iii) the expected beneficial ownership of shares of Pubco Common Stock immediately following consummation of the Business Combination (assuming the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and the 100% Redemptions Scenario as described below) by:
| ● | each of SPAC’s current executive officers and directors; |
| ● | each of the Company’s current executive officers and directors; |
| ● | each person who will become an executive officer or director of Pubco post-Business Combination; |
| ● | all executive officers and directors of SPAC as a group pre-Business Combination, all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group pre-Business Combination, and all executive officers and directors of Pubco as a group post-Business Combination; and |
| ● | each person who is expected to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of Pubco Common Stock post-Business Combination. |
Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she, or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person or entity and the percentage ownership of that person or entity in the table below, all shares subject to option held by such person or entity were deemed outstanding prior to the Business Combination if such securities are currently exercisable, or exercisable within 60 days of October 20, 2026 and were deemed outstanding post-Business Combination if such securities are exercisable within 60 days of the Closing. These shares were not deemed outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person or entity.
The expected beneficial ownership of shares of Pubco Common Stock post-Business Combination assumes two scenarios:
| ● | No Additional Redemptions Scenario: This presentation assumes that no SPAC Public Shareholders will exercise redemption rights with respect to SPAC Public Shares for a pro rata share of the funds in the Trust Account. Thus, the amount of funds held in the Trust Account is available for the Business Combination. |
| ● | 100% Redemptions Scenario: This presentation assumes that 8,409,633 Public Shares are redeemed for aggregate redemption payments of $91.4 million, based on a redemption price of approximately $10.87 per share. This scenario includes all adjustments contained in the “no additional redemptions” scenario and presents additional adjustments to reflect the effect of the 100% redemptions. The Business Combination Agreement contains a Minimum Cash condition to the Closing that Closing SPAC Cash shall be at least $50.0 million, which would not be satisfied in the 100% Redemptions Scenario. In the event that such condition is not satisfied, the Company can elect to waive compliance with such condition. |
Based on the foregoing assumptions, we estimate that there would be 18,210,627 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 19,976,760 shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination in the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, and 9,800,994 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 19,976,760 shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination in the 100% Redemptions Scenario. Excludes 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, because such shares do not carry voting rights and are not transferrable until they vest. If the actual facts are different from the foregoing assumptions, ownership in Pubco and the columns under Post-Business Combination in the table that follows will be different.
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Unless otherwise indicated, SPAC believes that all persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to the voting securities beneficially owned by them.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| ||||||||
| | Pre-Business Combination | | Post-Business Combination | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 100% | | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | No Redemptions | | Redemptions |
| ||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | Scenario | | Scenario |
| ||||||||||||||||
| | SPAC | | | | SPAC | | | | Pubco | | | | Pubco | | | | % of | | Pubco | | | | Pubco | | | | % of | |
| | Class A | | | | Class B | | | | Class A | | | | Class B | | | | Total | | Class A | | | | Class B | | | | Total |
|
Name and Address of | | Ordinary | | | | Ordinary | | | | Common | | | | Common | | | | Voting | | Common | | | | Common | | | | Voting |
|
Beneficial Owner (1) | | Shares | | % | | Shares | | % | | Stock | | % | | Stock | | % | | Power(2) | | Stock | | % | | Stock | | % | | Power(2) |
|
SPAC Directors and Executive Officers Pre-Business Combination | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
James A. Graf |
| 5,659,999 |
| 40.6 | % | 1 |
| 100.0 | % | 2,410,000 |
| 13.2 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 1.1 | % | 2,410,000 |
| 24.6 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 1.1 | % |
Louis Bélanger-Martin |
| 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | * |
| 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | * | |
Kenneth Weinstein |
| 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | * |
| 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | * | |
Fred S. Zeidman |
| 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | * |
| 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | * | |
All SPAC Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (4 individuals) |
| 5,749,999 |
| 40.6 | % | 1 |
| 100.0 | % | 2,500,000 |
| 13.7 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 1.1 | % | 2,500,000 |
| 25.5 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 1.2 | % |
Pubco Directors and Executive Officers Post-Business Combination |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
O’Shea Jackson Sr.(4) |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 5,960,665 |
| 29.8 | % | 27.3 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 5,960,665 | | 29.8 | % | 28.4 | % |
Jeffrey Kwatinetz(5) |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 7,462,881 |
| 37.4 | % | 34.2 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 7,462,881 | | 37.4 | % | 35.6 | % |
Sean Bannon |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | — | | 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % |
All Pubco Directors and Executive Officers as a Group ([3] individuals) |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 13,423,546 |
| 67.2 | % | 61.6 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 13,423,546 | | 67.2 | % | 64.1 | % |
5% Holders |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5,659,999 |
| 40.6 | % | 1 |
| 100.0 | % | 2,410,000 |
| 13.2 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 1.1 | % | 2,410,000 |
| 24.6 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % | 1.1 | % | |
BigFourH Holdings LLC(6) | | — | | 0.0 | % | — | | 0.0 | % | — | | 0.0 | % | 6,844,321 | | 34.3 | % | 31.4 | % | — | | 0.0 | % | 6,844,321 | | 34.3 | % | 32.7 | % |
3on3 Funding LLC(7) | | — | | 0.0 | % | — | | 0.0 | % | 2,152,909 | | 11.8 | % | — | | 0.0 | % | 1.0 | % | 2,152,909 | | 22.0 | % | — | | 0.0 | % | 1.0 | % |
* | Less than 1% |
| (1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals prior to the Business Combination is c/o Graf Global Corp., 1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400, The Woodlands, Texas 77380 and following the Business Combination is 429 Lenox Ave, Suite 421, Miami Beach, Florida 33139. |
| (2) | Each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote, and each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock will entitle the holder thereof to ten (10) votes per share on all matters on which the Pubco Class B Common Stock are entitled to vote. |
| (3) | In each redemptions scenario, excludes 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares and 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, as any unused portion of such shares is required to be forfeited at Closing, but includes 300,000 Transferred Shares and 500,000 Sponsor Earnout Shares. Graf Global Sponsor LLC is the record holder of the shares reported herein. James A. Graf is the sole managing member of Graf Global Sponsor LLC. James A. Graf has voting and investment discretion with respect to the Ordinary Shares held of record by Graf Global Sponsor LLC. |
| (4) | Consists of 5,695,569 shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock held by O’Shea Jackson Sr. and 265,097 shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock held by Cube Vision Film Productions, LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. O’Shea Jackson Sr. Excludes an additional 445,200 Earnout Shares to be held by Mr. Jackson, as such shares do not carry voting rights and are not transferrable. |
| (5) | Consists of securities held of record by BEK, LLC, an entity controlled by Jeffrey Kwatinetz. Excludes an additional 557,400 Earnout Shares to be held by Mr. Kwatinetz, as such shares do not carry voting rights and are not transferrable. |
| (6) | Excludes an additional 511,200 Earnout Shares to be held by BigFourH Holdings LLC, as such shares do not carry voting rights and are not transferrable. |
| (7) | Excludes an additional 160,800 Earnout Shares to be held by 3on3 Funding LLC, as such shares do not carry voting rights and are not transferrable. |
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
SPAC Relationships and Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
In November 2021, the Sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, to cover certain expenses on SPAC’s behalf in consideration of 7,187,500 Founder Shares. On February 8, 2024, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares for no consideration, resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,750,000 Founder Shares. On June 7, 2024, the Sponsor transferred 30,000 Founder Shares to each of SPAC’s three independent directors (an aggregate of 90,000 Founder Shares), resulting in the Sponsor holding 5,660,000 Founder Shares.
On June 18, 2026, the Sponsor and certain members of the SPAC Board — Louis Bélanger-Martin, Kenneth Weinstein, and Fred Zeidman— irrevocably exercised their right to convert an aggregate of 5,749,999 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, on a one-for-one basis into an aggregate of 5,749,999 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, pursuant to the terms of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares and the SPAC Organizational Documents.
Private Placement Warrants
The Sponsor and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. purchased an aggregate of 6,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $6,000,000, or $1.00 per warrant, in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with the closing of the SPAC IPO. Of those SPAC Private Warrants, the Sponsor purchased 4,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants and the IPO Underwriter purchased 2,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants. The SPAC Private Warrants are identical to the SPAC Public Warrants except that, so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees, (i) may not (including the underlying securities), subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination, (ii) and will be entitled to registration rights and (iii) with respect to SPAC Private Warrants held by the IPO Underwriter and/or its respective designees, will not be exercisable more than five years from the commencement of sales in the SPAC IPO in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8). A portion of the purchase price of the SPAC Private Warrants was added to the proceeds from the SPAC IPO to be held in the Trust Account such that $230,000,000 is held in the Trust Account. If SPAC does not complete the Business Combination within the required timeline, upon liquidation, the SPAC Private Warrants will expire.
Administrative Services Agreement
SPAC currently utilizes office space at 1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400, The Woodlands, Texas 77380 from the Sponsor. SPAC considers the current office space adequate for its current operations. SPAC pays the Sponsor (and/or its affiliates or designees) an aggregate of up to $20,000 per month for office space, secretarial, administrative and support services provided to SPAC and members of SPAC’s management team. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, SPAC incurred $60,000 and $120,000 in administrative support services fees, respectively, of which $240,000 and $120,000 is included in accrued expenses as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 in the accompanying condensed balance sheets. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, SPAC incurred and paid $60,000 and $120,000 in administrative support service fees, respectively. Upon completion of the Business Combination or liquidation, SPAC will cease paying these monthly fees.
Reimbursement of Out-of-Pocket Expenses
In addition, the Sponsor, officers and directors, or their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on SPAC’s behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable Business Combinations. SPAC’s audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by SPAC to the Sponsor, executive officers or directors, or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial Business Combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, SPAC incurred $5,924 and $11,515 such expenses, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, SPAC incurred $0 and $26,138 such expenses, respectively.
After the Business Combination, members of SPAC’s management team who remain may be paid consulting, management or other fees from Pubco with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to the SPAC Shareholders, to the extent known, in this proxy statement/prospectus or other tender offer materials, as applicable, furnished to the SPAC Shareholders. It is unlikely the amount of
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such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of this proxy statement/prospectus or such other tender offer materials or at the Extraordinary General Meeting to consider the Business Combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of Pubco and the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation.
No compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid by SPAC to the Sponsor, executive officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of the Business Combination without shareholder approval. However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations.
Working Capital Loans
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with the Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of SPAC’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan SPAC funds as may be required on a non-interest basis. If SPAC completes the Business Combination, SPAC will repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the Business Combination does not close, SPAC may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from the Trust Account will be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into SPAC Private Warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant, at the option of the lender; provided that, for purposes of such $1,500,000 limit, the Convertible Promissory Note and August Convertible Promissory Note, each with Harraden, will be treated as Working Capital Loans and will count toward such limit. The warrants would be identical to the SPAC Private Warrants, including as to exercisability and exercise price. Except as set forth above, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. Prior to the completion of the Business Combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our Trust Account.
Any of the foregoing payments to the Sponsor, repayments of loans from the Sponsor or repayments of Working Capital Loans prior to the Business Combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account. There was a total of $500,000 of outstanding Working Capital Loans, consisting of the Convertible Promissory Note and August Convertible Promissory Note with Harraden.
Registration Rights Agreement
The holders of Founder Shares, SPAC Private Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the SPAC Private Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans), are entitled to registration rights pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement entered into at the closing of the SPAC IPO. These holders are entitled to certain demand and “piggyback” registration rights. SPAC will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Related Party Loans and Advances
On November 20, 2021, as amended on February 9, 2024, the Sponsor agreed to loan SPAC up to $300,000 pursuant to a promissory note. The promissory note is non-interest bearing, unsecured and due on the earlier of December 31, 2024, or the closing of the SPAC IPO. The outstanding balance of $155,688 was repaid at the closing of the SPAC on June 27, 2024.
Promissory Notes
On June 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden Circle Investments LLC, and James A. Graf entered into a convertible promissory note, replacing a prior promissory note dated June 4, 2026, and consolidating $200,000 in working capital advances previously made by Harraden ($50,000 in March 2026, $75,000 in April 2026, and $75,000 drawn at signing). The resulting $200,000 loan is fully drawn, non-interest bearing, unsecured, and due upon the earlier of the initial Business Combination or the SPAC’s liquidation (repayable, in liquidation, only from funds held outside the Trust Account). At Harraden’s discretion, the Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, and Harraden is entitled to one warrant per dollar funded, issuable immediately prior to closing of the Business Combination on terms identical to the SPAC Private Warrants issued to the Sponsor. As of June 30, 2026, $200,000 was outstanding under the Convertible Promissory Note. In lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares and/or Issuance Warrants, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy SPAC’s obligations
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to issue Conversion Shares and Issuance Warrants under the Convertible Promissory Note. As of June 30, 2026, there was a total amount of $200,000 outstanding under the Convertible Promissory Note.
On August 10, 2026, SPAC, Harraden, and James A. Graf entered into a convertible promissory note, pursuant to which SPAC may borrow up to $300,000 for working capital and general corporate purposes. The August Loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured, and due upon the earlier of the consummation of SPAC’s initial business combination or SPAC’s liquidation, with its maturity date subject to acceleration upon an event of default. The August Loan has been fully drawn as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. At Harraden’s discretion, the August Loan may convert into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share, and for each dollar funded, Harraden is entitled to receive one warrant to purchase one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one SPAC Ordinary Share transferred by the Sponsor, in each case issuable immediately prior to closing of the initial business combination. The Issuance Warrants carry terms and transfer restrictions identical to the SPAC Private Warrants, while the Transferred Shares are unrestricted. In lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares, Issuance Warrants, and/or Transferred Shares, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy SPAC’s obligations under the August Convertible Promissory Note.
Advance from Related Party
SPAC’s Chief Executive Officer paid certain operating expenses on behalf of SPAC. These amounts are payable and have been recorded as due to related party in the accompanying condensed balance sheets. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the outstanding balance related to these payments was $0 and $14,663, respectively.
Company Relationships and Related Party Transactions
The Company incurred accounts payable relating to reimbursement of operating expenditures paid by Ice Cube on behalf of the Company. The amounts are non-interest-bearing and payable on demand. As of December 31, 2025 and June 30, 2026, the Company had accrued expenses reimbursable to Ice Cube in the aggregate amount of $55,200 and $0, respectively.
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Between 2019 and 2023, OpCo issued multiple rounds of convertible promissory notes (as amended, the “Convertible Notes”), as set forth below. Certain holders of the Convertible Notes are officers, members of the board of managers and/or significant holders of OpCo. In 2024, the Convertible Notes were assigned to HoldCo. The Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 15% per annum and are convertible into class A units of HoldCo. Interest is payable annually or can be paid-in-kind. Since inception, no interest payments have been made and all unpaid interest has been added to the outstanding balance. The Convertible Notes have a maturity date of May 24, 2028. As of December 31, 2025 and June 30, 2026, the balance of the Convertible Notes was approximately $30.6 million and $30.2 million, respectively.
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Date | | Purchaser | | Note Amount | |
August 23, 2019 | | 2014 Kwatinetz Family Trust V/A Dated 03/24/14 | | $ | 25,000 |
August 23, 2019 | | 3on3 Funding LLC | | $ | 875,000 |
July 26, 2021 | | 3on3 Funding LLC | | $ | 1,322,000 |
August 23, 2019 | | BEK, LLC | | $ | 3,500,000 |
August 11, 2021 | | BEK, LLC | | $ | 900,000 |
August 26, 2021 | | BEK, LLC | | $ | 500,000 |
March 7, 2022 | | BEK, LLC | | $ | 500,000 |
March 14, 2022 | | BEK, LLC | | $ | 500,000 |
July 26, 2021 | | BigFourH Holdings LLC | | $ | 500,000 |
July 26, 2021 | | Done Deal Holdings, LLC | | $ | 50,000 |
August 13, 2021 | | Done Deal Holdings, LLC | | $ | 50,000 |
July 26, 2021 | | Harrison Boyd | | $ | 1,000,000 |
August 23, 2019 | | Mark Geragos | | $ | 1,000,000 |
August 11, 2021 | | Mark Geragos | | $ | 500,000 |
October 12, 2021 | | Mark Geragos | | $ | 300,000 |
August 23, 2019 | | O’Shea Jackson Sr. | | $ | 500,000 |
July 26, 2021 | | O’Shea Jackson Sr. | | $ | 500,000 |
August 11, 2021 | | O’Shea Jackson Sr. | | $ | 700,000 |
September 7, 2021 | | O’Shea Jackson Sr. | | $ | 500,000 |
March 7, 2022 | | O’Shea Jackson Sr. | | $ | 500,000 |
March 14, 2022 | | O’Shea Jackson Sr. | | $ | 500,000 |
August 23, 2019 | | Rafael Fogel | | $ | 75,000 |
August 23, 2019 | | Samuel Wald | | $ | 150,000 |
July 26, 2021 | | Shetsky Investments, LLC | | $ | 125,000 |
July 26, 2021 | | WH3 Revocable Trust | | $ | 500,000 |
Jeffrey Kwatinetz and Ice Cube lent OpCo $0.3 million and $0.6 million on June 12, 2024 and June 7, 2024, respectively, and $1.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively, on September 26, 2024. The loans bear no stated interest rate and have no stated maturity date. As of each of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the balance of the loans was approximately $3.1 million. Pursuant to the Funding Agreement, the lenders may elect to convert the loans into a 29% interest in the total gross sale proceeds and/or gross franchise fee realized by OpCo from a future sale of a team franchise.
Post-Business Combination Relationships and Related Party Transactions
Sponsor Earnout Shares
On June 12, 2026, Pubco entered into a sponsor support agreement with SPAC, the Insiders and the Company, pursuant to which, among other things, 500,000 Sponsor Earnout Shares as of the Closing will be subject to vesting and will vest upon the following conditions: (a) if the funds in the trust account of the SPAC plus any financing, minus cash used for redemptions of the SPAC Public Shares equals or exceeds $200 million, (b) if during the Earnout Period, the closing price of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $15.00 for at least 20 days out of 30 consecutive trading days, and (c) if there is a sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a sale price that is greater or equal to the Earnout Price.
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Lock-Up Agreements
Concurrently with the Closing, the BIG3 Founders and other Sellers holding greater than 3% of the outstanding Company Interests, the Sponsor, the IPO Underwriter and each director of SPAC will enter into the Lock-Up Agreement, pursuant to which the Lock-up Securityholder will agree not to (i) lend, offer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, donate, assign, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Pubco Common Stock and Pubco Warrants to be received by such Lock-up Securityholder in the Business Combination until expiration of the lockup period specified therein, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such shares of Pubco Common Stock, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing from the Closing and ending (x) on the date that is six (6) months after the Closing for the Pubco Common Stock, or (y) on the date that is thirty (30) days after the Closing for the Pubco Warrants (including the Pubco Common Stock underlying the Pubco Warrants), subject to certain customary transfer exceptions.
SPAC estimates that approximately 30.8 million shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 6.0 million Pubco Private Warrants will be subject to lockup pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreement immediately following the Closing, representing approximately 76.7% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock in the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and 34.3% of the total issued and outstanding Pubco Warrants following the Business Combination.
Registration Rights Agreement
Concurrently with the Closing, Pubco, the Sponsor, the IPO Underwriter, SPAC’s officers and directors, and certain Sellers will enter into the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, Pubco will agree that, within 30 days after the Closing Date, Pubco will file with the SEC (at Pubco’s sole cost and expense) the Resale Registration Statement, and Pubco will use its reasonable best efforts to have the Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. Such holders will also be entitled to customary piggyback registration rights and demand registration rights pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.
SPAC estimates that approximately 27.2 million shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 6.0 million Pubco Private Warrants will be subject to registration rights pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement immediately following the Closing, representing approximately 67.7% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock in the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and 34.3% of the total issued and outstanding Pubco Warrants following the Business Combination.
Sponsor Indemnification Agreement.
Concurrently with the Closing, Pubco, the Company, and the Sponsor will enter into the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, Pubco and the Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sponsor Indemnified Persons from and against any and all Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities (as defined in the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement) arising out of or relating to any pending or threatened action, cause of action, suit, litigation, investigation, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration or claim against any of them or in which any of them may be a participant or may otherwise be involved (including as a witness) that arise out of or relate to SPAC’s operations or conduct of its business, the Business Combination, and/or any claim against the Sponsor and/or a Sponsor Indemnified Person alleging any expressed or implied management, control or endorsement of any activities of SPAC, or any express or implied association with Pubco, the Company, or SPAC, or any of their respective affiliates. The Sponsor Indemnification Agreement will not however apply to claims arising primarily out of (a) any breach by such Sponsor Indemnified Person of any other agreement between such Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and Pubco, the Company, SPAC, or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the other hand, or (b) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of such Sponsor Indemnified Person.
Related Party Transactions Policy
Upon the consummation of the Business Combination, Pubco will adopt a related party transaction policy. Pubco expects that this related party transaction policy will require certain related party transactions to be approved by the Pubco Board or a designated committee thereof, which may include the audit committee, once implemented.
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COMPARISON OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
This section of the proxy statement/prospectus describes the material differences between the rights of SPAC Shareholders and the rights of Pubco Stockholders upon completion of the Domestication. The SPAC is an exempted company incorporated under the Companies Act. The rights of SPAC Shareholders are currently governed by the Companies Act, Cayman Islands law generally and the SPAC Organizational Documents. Upon completion of the Business Combination, the rights of the SPAC Shareholders who become shareholders of Pubco will be governed by the DGCL and the Pubco Organizational Documents, as they will be in effect as of the Closing. The Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and Cayman Islands law generally differ in some material respects from laws generally applicable to United States corporations and their stockholders. In addition, the SPAC Organizational Documents differ in certain material respects from the Pubco Organizational Documents. As a result, when you become a stockholder of Pubco, your rights will differ in some regards as compared to when you were a shareholder of SPAC.
Below is a summary chart outlining important similarities and differences in the corporate governance and stockholder/shareholder rights associated with each of the SPAC and Pubco according to applicable law and the organizational documents of the SPAC and Pubco. This section does not include a complete description of all differences between the rights of the SPAC Shareholders and Pubco Stockholders following completion of the Business Combination, nor does it include a complete description of the specific rights of these shareholders. Furthermore, the identification of some of the differences in the rights of these shareholders as material is not intended to indicate that other differences do not exist.
You are urged to read carefully the relevant provisions of the Companies Act and the DGCL and the organizational documents of each company. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the SPAC Organizational Documents, the Proposed Pubco Charter, attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D, and the Proposed Pubco Bylaws, attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex E, as well as the Delaware corporate law and corporate laws of the Cayman Islands, including the Companies Act, to understand how these laws apply to SPAC and Pubco.
Comparison of Shareholder Rights Under Applicable Corporate Law and the Organizational Documents of SPAC and Pubco
Provision | | Pubco - Delaware | | SPAC - Cayman Islands |
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Applicable Legislation | | Laws of the State of Delaware | | The Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands |
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Authorized Shares | | The Proposed Pubco Charter authorizes [ ] shares of all classes of capital stock, consisting of (i) [ ] shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, comprised of [ ] shares of Class A Common Stock and [ ] shares of Class B Common Stock, and (ii) [ ] shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share. | | The SPAC Organizational Documents authorize 481,000,000 shares, consisting of 400,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, 80,000,000 Class B ordinary shares and 1,000,000 preference shares, each with a par value of US$0.0001. |
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Provision | | Pubco - Delaware | | SPAC - Cayman Islands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Voting, in general | | The Proposed Pubco Charter provides that, except as otherwise required by law or the Proposed Pubco Charter, holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, with each holder of Class A Common Stock entitled to one vote per share and each holder of Class B Common Stock entitled to ten votes per share. Under the DGCL, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast, and other matters are generally decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter. Consistent with the DGCL, the Proposed Pubco Bylaws provide that directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders by the holders of stock entitled to vote in the election, and that, unless otherwise required by law, the Proposed Pubco Charter or the Proposed Pubco Bylaws, all other matters brought before a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present will be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on the matter. | | The SPAC Organizational Documents provide that, subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares, every member present (in person, by proxy, or by duly authorized representative) has one vote for every share of which they are the holder. Under the Companies Act and the SPAC Organizational Documents, routine corporate matters may be approved by an ordinary resolution (being a resolution passed by a simple majority of the shareholders as, being entitled to do so, vote in person or, where proxies are allowed, by proxy at a general meeting). |
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Stockholder/Shareholder Approval of Business Combinations | | Under the DGCL, and subject to certain statutory exceptions (including for mergers between a parent corporation and a majority-owned subsidiary under Section 253 of the DGCL, and for certain mergers not requiring a vote of the surviving corporation’s stockholders under Section 251(f) of the DGCL), a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets generally requires approval by the corporation’s board of directors and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock of the corporation entitled to vote thereon. Neither the Proposed Pubco Charter nor the Proposed Pubco Bylaws impose a greater voting requirement for the approval of business combinations generally. | | Mergers require a special resolution, and any other authorization as may be specified in the relevant articles of association. Parties holding certain security interests in the constituent companies must also consent. All mergers (other than parent/subsidiary mergers) require shareholder approval - there is no exception for smaller mergers. Where a bidder has acquired 90% or more of the shares in a Cayman Islands company, it can compel the acquisition of the shares of the remaining shareholders and thereby become the sole shareholder. A Cayman Islands company may also be acquired through a ‘scheme of arrangement’ sanctioned by a Cayman Islands court and approved by 75% in value of the shareholders present and voting at a shareholders’ meeting (or, in the case of a creditor scheme, a majority in number representing 75% in value of the creditors present and voting). |
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Provision | | Pubco - Delaware | | SPAC - Cayman Islands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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General Vote Required for Combinations with Interested Stockholders/Shareholders | | Section 203 of the DGCL generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” (generally, a holder of 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock) for three years following the date such person became an interested stockholder, unless (i) the board approved the business combination or the transaction resulting in the person becoming an interested stockholder before such time, (ii) the interested stockholder acquired at least 85% of the corporation’s voting stock (excluding certain shares) in the transaction that made it an interested stockholder, or (iii) the business combination is approved by the board and by the affirmative vote of at least 662/3% of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder. The Proposed Pubco Charter provides that Pubco has elected not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL, and accordingly this statutory restriction will not apply to Pubco. | | No similar provision. |
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Requirement for Quorum | | Under the DGCL, unless otherwise specified in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (and in no event less than one-third of the shares entitled to vote), a quorum for a meeting of stockholders consists of a majority of the shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy. Consistent with this default rule, the Proposed Pubco Bylaws provide that the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote will constitute a quorum for a meeting of Pubco Stockholders. | | Under the SPAC Organizational Documents, the quorum for a general meeting is one-third of the shares, with holders who are individuals present in person or by proxy, or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative or proxy. |
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Stockholder/Shareholder Consent to Action Without Meeting | | Under the DGCL, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at a stockholders’ meeting may instead be taken by written consent of the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize the action at a meeting. The Proposed Pubco Charter permits stockholder action by written consent in lieu of a meeting until the Final Conversion Date. From and after the Final Conversion Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by Pubco Stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders, and stockholders will no longer be permitted to act by written consent. | | Under the Companies Act, shareholders may act by written resolution in lieu of a meeting. The SPAC Organizational Documents provide that a resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of all of the members entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at general meetings (including a special resolution) is as valid and effective as if passed at a duly convened general meeting. |
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Provision | | Pubco - Delaware | | SPAC - Cayman Islands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Appraisal Rights | | Under Section 262 of the DGCL, stockholders of a Delaware corporation who do not vote in favor of certain mergers or consolidations, and who otherwise comply with the required statutory procedures, are generally entitled to demand appraisal of, and to receive payment in cash for, the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, together with interest, if any. Appraisal rights are generally unavailable, however, for shares of a class or series listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders as of the record date, unless the merger consideration consists of anything other than stock of the surviving corporation, stock of another corporation that is so listed or so widely held, cash in lieu of fractional shares, or a combination thereof, or in certain other circumstances specified by the DGCL. Neither the Proposed Pubco Charter nor the Proposed Pubco Bylaws alter the appraisal rights available to Pubco Stockholders under the DGCL. | | Minority shareholders that dissent from a statutory merger of a Cayman Islands company are entitled to be paid the fair market value of their shares, which if necessary may ultimately be determined by the court. However, these rights are not available where an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange for the shares in question. |
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Inspection of Books and Records | | Under Section 220 of the DGCL, any stockholder of record has the right, upon written demand under oath stating a proper purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a stockholder, to inspect during the usual hours of business the corporation’s stock ledger, list of stockholders and other books and records, and to make copies or extracts therefrom. Consistent with Section 220 of the DGCL, the Proposed Pubco Bylaws provide that any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, has the right, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose, to inspect for any proper purpose Pubco’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, its annual financial statements and its minutes of stockholder meetings for the past three years. | | Shareholders generally do not have any rights to inspect or obtain copies of the register of shareholders or other corporate records of a company. The directors may from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of SPAC or any of them shall be open to the inspection of shareholders not being directors, and no shareholder (not being a director) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of SPAC except as conferred by law or authorized by the directors or by ordinary resolution. |
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Provision | | Pubco - Delaware | | SPAC - Cayman Islands |
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Stockholder/Shareholder Lawsuits | | Under the DGCL, a stockholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of a corporation to enforce the corporation’s rights, subject to procedural requirements, including that the plaintiff was a stockholder at the time of the transaction complained of (or acquired shares thereafter by operation of law), that the plaintiff fairly and adequately represents the interests of similarly situated stockholders, and that the plaintiff first make a demand on the board of directors to bring the action or plead with particularity why such a demand would be futile. Delaware law also permits direct and class action claims by stockholders for certain breaches of fiduciary duty, subject to applicable procedural requirements. | | In the Cayman Islands, the decision to institute proceedings on behalf of a company is generally taken by the company’s board of directors. A shareholder may be entitled to bring a derivative action on behalf of the company, but only in certain limited circumstances. |
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Number and Classification of Directors | | Under the DGCL, the number of directors constituting the board is fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the bylaws, unless the certificate of incorporation fixes the number, in which case a change requires a charter amendment. A board need not be classified into separate classes unless the certificate of incorporation or an initial bylaw, or a bylaw adopted by the stockholders, so provides. The Proposed Pubco Charter and the Proposed Pubco Bylaws provide that the size of the Pubco Board will be fixed exclusively by the Pubco Board from time to time and will consist of not less than one director. The Pubco Board is not classified; unless otherwise provided by the Proposed Pubco Charter and subject to the special rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, directors will be elected annually and will hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified. | | Under the SPAC Organizational Documents, the board of directors consists of not less than one person. The Company may by ordinary resolution increase or reduce the limits on the number of directors. The board of directors is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. |
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Removal of Directors | | Under the DGCL, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise, directors of a corporation without a classified board may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote in an election of directors. The Proposed Pubco Charter provides that directors may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of Pubco’s capital stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. | | Under the SPAC Organizational Documents, the Company may by ordinary resolution appoint any person to be a director or may by ordinary resolution remove any director. |
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Provision | | Pubco - Delaware | | SPAC - Cayman Islands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Fiduciary Duties of Directors | | Under Delaware law, directors of a Delaware corporation owe fiduciary duties of care and loyalty to the corporation and its stockholders. The duty of care generally requires directors to act on an informed basis, in good faith and with the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances. The duty of loyalty generally requires directors to act in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the corporation and its stockholders, and to refrain from using their position to further their own personal interests at the expense of the corporation. Neither the Proposed Pubco Charter nor the Proposed Pubco Bylaws alter the fiduciary duties owed by Pubco’s directors under Delaware law. | | A director owes fiduciary duties to a company, including to exercise loyalty, honesty and good faith to the company as a whole. In addition to fiduciary duties, directors of SPAC owe a duty of care, diligence and skill. Such duties are owed to the company but may be owed directly to creditors or shareholders in certain limited circumstances. |
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Indemnification of Directors and Officers | | Section 145 of the DGCL permits a Delaware corporation to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with certain actions, suits or proceedings, if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, subject to certain limitations. The Proposed Pubco Charter provides that Pubco will, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, indemnify and advance expenses to directors, officers, employees and agents of Pubco (and certain persons serving at Pubco’s request in similar capacities for other entities) who are or were made, or threatened to be made, a party to certain actions, suits or proceedings by reason of such service, subject to receipt of an undertaking to repay such advanced expenses if it is ultimately determined that the person is not entitled to indemnification. | | A Cayman Islands company generally may indemnify its directors or officers except with regard to their own actual fraud, willful neglect or willful default. Under the SPAC Organizational Documents, no person shall be found to have committed actual fraud, willful neglect or willful default unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect. |
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Provision | | Pubco - Delaware | | SPAC - Cayman Islands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Limited Liability of Directors | | Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a Delaware corporation to include a provision in its certificate of incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal monetary liability of directors (and, in limited circumstances, certain officers) for breach of fiduciary duty, except for liability (i) for any breach of the duty of loyalty, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions (applicable to directors only), or (iv) for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit. Consistent with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Proposed Pubco Charter provides that a director or officer of Pubco will not be personally liable to Pubco or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except to the extent such exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. | | Liability of directors may be unlimited, except with regard to their own actual fraud, willful neglect or willful default. |
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Exclusive Forum | | The DGCL permits a Delaware corporation to designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery lacks jurisdiction, another Delaware state court, or if no Delaware state court has jurisdiction, a federal court located in Delaware) as the exclusive forum for certain internal corporate claims, and separately permits a corporation to designate the federal district courts of the United States as the exclusive forum for claims arising under the Securities Act. Consistent with the DGCL, the Proposed Pubco Charter provides that, unless the Pubco Board consents in writing to an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for derivative actions brought on Pubco’s behalf, claims of breach of fiduciary duty, claims arising under the DGCL, the Proposed Pubco Charter or the Proposed Pubco Bylaws, and other claims governed by the internal affairs doctrine, subject to certain exceptions (including for claims as to which the Court of Chancery lacks subject matter jurisdiction or an indispensable party is not subject to its jurisdiction, and for claims arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, for which there is exclusive or concurrent federal jurisdiction). | | Under the SPAC Organizational Documents, unless SPAC consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Cayman Islands shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with the SPAC Organizational Documents or otherwise related in any way to each shareholder’s shareholding in SPAC. This provision does not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. |
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Provision | | Pubco - Delaware | | SPAC - Cayman Islands |
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Blank Check Preferred Stock | | The Proposed Pubco Charter authorizes the Board of Directors to issue shares of Preferred Stock, in one or more series, and to fix the voting powers, designations, preferences and other rights of each series, without a separate vote of the stockholders. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote thereon, without a separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock. See the FOURTH Article, Section A of the Proposed Pubco Charter. | | The SPAC Organizational Documents authorize the issuance of 1,000,000 preference shares, and the directors may allot, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of shares (including preference shares) with such rights and restrictions as they think proper, without a general meeting vote, subject to the terms of the memorandum and applicable law. |
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Corporate Name | | The Proposed Pubco Charter provides that the name of the corporation is “Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.” | | The SPAC Organizational Documents provide that the name of the company is “Graf Global Corp.” |
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Perpetual Existence | | The Proposed Pubco Charter provides that the Corporation is to have a perpetual existence. | | The SPAC Organizational Documents provide that if SPAC does not consummate a Business Combination (as defined in the SPAC Organizational Documents) within 24 months from the consummation of its initial public offering (or such earlier or later date as provided in the SPAC Organizational Documents) or such later time as the SPAC Shareholders may approve, SPAC shall redeem the public shares and, as promptly as reasonably possible, cease operations except for the purposes of winding up, subject to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for the claims of creditors. |
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Provisions Related to Status as Blank Check Company | | Not applicable. Following the Business Combination, Pubco will operate as the ongoing public company and will not be subject to the blank check company restrictions (such as the Trust Account and the deadline to complete a Business Combination) that apply to SPAC prior to the Business Combination. | | The SPAC Organizational Documents set forth various provisions related to SPAC’s status as a blank check company prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, including restrictions on the issuance of additional shares, redemption and tender offer mechanics tied to the Trust Account, and the deadline to complete a Business Combination. |
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DESCRIPTION OF PUBCO SECURITIES
As a result of the Business Combination, SPAC Shareholders who receive shares of Pubco Common Stock in connection with the Business Combination will become stockholders of Pubco. Your rights as Pubco Stockholders will be governed by Delaware law and the Proposed Pubco Charter and the Proposed Pubco Bylaws. The following summary of the material terms of our securities is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of such securities. SPAC urges you to read the applicable provisions of Delaware law and the Proposed Pubco Charter and the Proposed Pubco Bylaws carefully and in their entirety because they describe your rights as a holder of shares of Pubco Common Stock.
Authorized and Outstanding Stock
The Proposed Pubco Charter authorizes the issuance of [●] shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, [●] shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and [●] shares of Pubco Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
Common Stock
Voting. Holders of shares of Pubco Common Stock exclusively possess all voting power with respect to Pubco and are entitled to vote on all matters submitted to Pubco Stockholders for their vote or approval. Each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock has the voting power of one vote, and each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock has the voting power of ten (10) votes. The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote will constitute a quorum for a meeting of Pubco’s stockholders. Under the terms of the Proposed Pubco Bylaws, directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of Pubco’s stockholders by the holders of stock entitled to vote in the election. Unless otherwise required by law, the Proposed Pubco Charter or the Proposed Pubco Bylaws, all other matters brought before any meeting of Pubco’s stockholders at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter, unless the matter is one upon which, by applicable law, the Proposed Pubco Charter (as further described below), the Proposed Pubco Bylaws or applicable stock exchange rules, a different vote is required, in which case such provision shall govern and control the decision of such matter.
Following the Business Combination (assuming that no SPAC Public Shareholders exercise their redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination and the other assumptions described above), the Pubco directors, executive officers, and beneficial owners of 5% or greater of Pubco Common Stock and their respective affiliates will hold [●]% of the voting power in the aggregate.
Dividends. The holders of shares of Pubco Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends, as and if declared by the Pubco Board out of legally available funds. Under the Proposed Pubco Charter, shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock will be treated equally, identically and ratably, on a per share basis, with respect to any dividends or distributions as may be declared and paid from time to time by the Pubco Board out of any assets of Pubco legally available therefor, except that if a dividend is paid in shares of Pubco Common Stock, holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock will receive shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and holders of Pubco Class B Common Stock will receive shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, in each case on an identical per share basis. The Pubco Board may approve a disparate dividend or distribution between the two classes only if such disparate treatment is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent, if permitted) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of each of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class. Pubco does not currently have any plans to pay cash dividends on Pubco Common Stock for the foreseeable future.
Liquidation Rights. Upon the liquidation or dissolution of Pubco, the holders of shares of Pubco Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in those of Pubco’s assets that are legally available for distribution to Pubco Stockholders after payment of liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any holders of Pubco Preferred Stock then outstanding.
Conversion of Pubco Class B Common Stock
Optional Conversion. Each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock may be converted by a holder of Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Holder”) at any time into one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock.
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Automatic Conversion. In the event that, after the Closing, a Class B Holder transfers shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock to any person other than certain Permitted Transferees (as set forth in the Proposed Pubco Charter), such transferred shares will convert automatically into shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock having only one vote per share.
In addition, all outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock on the earliest to occur of the following (the date of such occurrence):
| ● | On the date specified by the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, or in the affirmative written election executed by the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock; |
| ● | the date fixed by the Pubco Board that is no less than 10 days and no more than 30 days following the date that the number of outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock held by the Initial Class B Holders (as defined in the Proposed Pubco Charter) and their Permitted Transferees represents less than one-third of the aggregate number of shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock outstanding immediately following the Closing; or |
| ● | the date that is ten (10) years after the Closing. |
In addition, with respect to any individual Class B Holder, all shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock held by such Class B Holder will automatically convert into shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock (i) at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day immediately following the date on which such Class B Holder ceases to hold at least 50% of the shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock that such Class B Holder held immediately following the Closing (as equitably adjusted for stock splits, dividends, combinations, recapitalizations and similar events), and (ii) upon the death, incapacity or, if applicable, adjudication of incompetency or placement under a guardianship or conservatorship by a court of competent jurisdiction, of such Class B Holder.
There are no other events upon which shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock.
Preferred Stock
The Proposed Pubco Charter provides that shares of Pubco Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series of any number of shares, provided that the aggregate number of shares issued and not retired of any and all such series shall not exceed the total number of shares of Pubco Preferred Stock authorized, and with such powers, including voting powers, if any, and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, all as shall hereafter be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the designation and issue of such shares of Pubco Preferred Stock from time to time adopted by the Pubco Board pursuant to the authority to do so expressly vested in the Pubco Board. The powers, including voting powers, if any, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Pubco Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. The Pubco Board will be able to, without stockholder approval, issue Pubco Preferred Stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of Pubco Common Stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of the Pubco Board to issue Pubco Preferred Stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of Pubco or the removal of existing management.
Each series of shares of Pubco Preferred Stock: (i) may have such voting rights or powers, full or limited, if any; (ii) may be subject to redemption at such time or times and at such prices, if any; (iii) may be entitled to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or noncumulative) at such rate or rates, on such conditions and at such times, and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of stock, if any; (iv) may have such rights upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of, upon any distribution of the assets of, or in the event of any merger, sale or consolidation of, Pubco, if any; (v) may be made convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of Pubco (or any other securities of Pubco) at such price or prices or at such rates of exchange and with such adjustments, if any; (vi) may be entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of shares of such series in such amount or amounts, if any; (vii) may be entitled to the benefit of conditions and restrictions upon the creation of indebtedness of Pubco or any subsidiary, upon the issue of any additional shares (including additional shares of such series or of any other series) and upon the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions on, and
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the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by Pubco or any subsidiary of, any outstanding shares of Pubco, if any; (viii) may be subject to restrictions on transfer or registration of transfer, or on the amount of shares that may be owned by any person or group of persons; and (ix) may have such other relative, participating, optional or other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any; all as shall be stated in said resolution or resolutions of the Pubco board providing for the designation and issue of such shares of Pubco Preferred Stock. Pubco has no Pubco Preferred Stock outstanding as of the date hereof. Although Pubco does not currently intend to issue any shares of Pubco Preferred Stock, it cannot assure you that it will not do so in the future.
Pubco Warrants
Effective upon the consummation of the Business Combination, (i) each whole SPAC Public Warrant outstanding for the purchase of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share will be converted into a Pubco Public Warrant which will be exercisable for one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock, and (ii) each whole SPAC Private Warrant outstanding for the purchase of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share will be converted into a Pubco Private Warrant which will be exercisable for one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock, in each case with all other terms of such warrants remaining unchanged. The following is a description of the Pubco Public Warrants and the Pubco Private Warrants.
Pubco Public Warrants
Each whole Pubco Public Warrant will entitle the registered holder to subscribe for one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing 30 days after the SPAC Merger Effective Time, provided that Pubco has an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pubco Public Warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or Pubco permits holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the Existing Warrant Agreement) and such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities, or blue sky, laws of the state of residence of the holder. In the event that the foregoing conditions are not satisfied with respect to a Pubco Public Warrant, the holder of such Pubco Public Warrant will not be entitled to exercise such Pubco Public Warrant and such Pubco Public Warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will Pubco be required to net cash settle any Pubco Public Warrant. Pursuant to the Existing Warrant Agreement and the Warrant Assumption Agreement, a Pubco Public Warrant holder may exercise its Pubco Public Warrants only for a whole number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock. This means only a whole Pubco Public Warrant may be exercised at a given time by a Pubco Public Warrant holder. The Pubco Public Warrants will expire five years after the SPAC Merger Effective Time, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
Pubco Private Warrants
Effective upon the consummation of the Business Combination, each whole SPAC Private Warrant will be converted into a Pubco Private Warrant exercisable for one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock, with all other terms of such warrants remaining unchanged. The Pubco Private Warrants will remain outstanding following the Business Combination.
The Pubco Private Warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the Pubco Public Warrants, except that, so long as they are held by the Sponsor, the IPO Underwriter or their respective permitted transferees, the Pubco Private Warrants (i) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold until 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination, (ii) may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis, and (iii) will be entitled to registration rights.
Registration
Pubco has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days after the Closing Date, Pubco will use best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering registration under the Securities Act of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pubco Warrants. Pubco will file with the SEC (at Pubco’s sole cost and expense) the Resale Registration Statement, and Pubco will use its reasonable best efforts to have the Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Pubco Warrants in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Assumption Agreement. If a registration statement covering the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pubco Warrants is not effective by the sixtieth (60th) business day after the Closing Date, Pubco Warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when Pubco will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise Pubco Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another
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exemption. Notwithstanding the above, if the Pubco Class A Common Stock at the time of any exercise of a warrant is not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, Pubco may, at its option, require holders of Pubco Public Warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event Pubco so elects, it will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement.
Redemption of Pubco Warrants
Once the Pubco Public Warrants become exercisable, Pubco may call all of the outstanding Pubco Warrants for redemption for cash:
| ● | in whole and not in part; |
| ● | at a price of $0.01 per Pubco Warrant; |
| ● | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each Pubco Warrant holder; and |
| ● | if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) on each of 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three trading days before Pubco sends the notice of redemption to the Pubco Warrant holders. |
Pubco will not redeem the Pubco Warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pubco Warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period.
Pubco does not intend to take any steps to notify holders of Pubco Warrants that such Pubco Warrants have become eligible for redemption unless it actually seeks to redeem the Pubco Warrants. In order to redeem the Pubco Warrants, Pubco must provide 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each Pubco Warrant holder and have a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying such Pubco Warrant. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and Pubco issues a notice of redemption, each Pubco Warrant holder can exercise his, her or its Pubco Warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date in accordance with the above. However, the price of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock may fall below the $18.00 trigger price (as adjusted) as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price (as adjusted) after the redemption notice is issued.
Pubco has established the last of the redemption criteria discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the Pubco Warrant exercise price.
If Pubco calls the Pubco Warrants for redemption as described above, Pubco management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise its warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” Pubco management will consider, among other factors, Pubco’s cash position, the number of Pubco Warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on Pubco’s stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants. If Pubco’s management takes advantage of this option, all holders of warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Pubco Class A Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is received by the holders of warrants. If Pubco’s management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the warrants, including the “fair market value” in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a warrant redemption. Pubco believes this feature is an attractive option if it does not need the cash from the exercise of the warrants after the Business Combination.
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Beneficial Ownership Limitation
A holder of a Pubco Public Warrant may notify Pubco in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such Pubco Public Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
Anti-Dilution Adjustments
If the number of issued shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, or by a split-up of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock) and (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Pubco Class A Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock, in determining the price payable for Pubco Class A Common Stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of Pubco Class A Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if Pubco, at any time while the Pubco Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays a dividend or makes a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock on account of such shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock (or other shares of capital stock into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, or (b) certain ordinary cash dividends (initially defined as up to $0.50 per share in a 365 day period), then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock in respect of such event.
If the number of outstanding shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock.
Whenever the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of Pubco with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which Pubco is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of Pubco as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which Pubco is dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants
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would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance”); provided, however, that (i) if the holders of the Pubco Class A Common Stock were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Pubco Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the Pubco Class A Common Stock in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and (ii) if a tender, exchange or redemption offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of the Pubco Class A Common Stock under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) more than 50% of the outstanding Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock, the holder of a Pubco Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a shareholder if such Pubco Warrant holder had exercised the Pubco Warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the Pubco Class A Common Stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in the Existing Warrant Agreement. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction by Pubco pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the Existing Warrant Agreement and the Warrant Assumption Agreement based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined in the Existing Warrant Agreement) of the warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the warrants pursuant to which the holders of the warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the warrants in order to determine and realize the option value component of the warrant. This formula is to compensate the Pubco Warrant Holder for the loss of the option value portion of the warrant due to the requirement that the Pubco Warrant Holder exercise the warrant within 30 days of the event. The Black-Scholes model is an accepted pricing model for estimating fair market value where no quoted market price for an instrument is available.
The Pubco Warrants will be issued in registered form under the Existing Warrant Agreement and Warrant Assumption Agreement by and among Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the warrant agent (if other than Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company), SPAC and Pubco. The Existing Warrant Agreement and the Warrant Assumption Agreement will provide that the terms of the Pubco Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or to correct any defective provision or mistake, (ii) adjusting the provisions relating to cash dividends on ordinary shares as contemplated by and in accordance with the Existing Warrant Agreement or (iii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Existing Warrant Agreement as the parties to the Existing Warrant Agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem to not adversely affect the rights of the registered holders of the warrants, provided that the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Pubco Public Warrants is required to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of Pubco Public Warrants, and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the Pubco Private Warrants, 50% of the then outstanding Pubco Private Warrants (including the vote or written consent of the IPO Underwriter). You should review copies of the Existing Warrant Agreement and the Warrant Assumption Agreement for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the Pubco Warrants.
Exercise Mechanics
The Pubco Warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate (if applicable) on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to Pubco, for the number of Pubco Warrants being exercised. The Pubco Warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and any voting rights until they exercise their Pubco Warrants and receive shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock. After the issuance of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon exercise of the Pubco Warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by Pubco Stockholders.
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No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Pubco Warrants. If, upon exercise of the Pubco Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, Pubco will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be issued to the Pubco Warrant holder.
Governing Law
Pubco has agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against Pubco arising out of or relating in any way to the Existing Warrant Agreement or the Warrant Assumption Agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and Pubco irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Preemptive or Other Rights
The Proposed Pubco Charter does not provide for any preemptive or other similar rights.
Election of Directors
The number of directors on the Pubco Board will be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Pubco Board. Following the completion of the Business Combination, the Pubco Board is expected to consist of up to seven directors, composed of one director designated by SPAC, who will qualify as an independent director under the rules of the applicable stock exchange, and up to six directors designated by the Company, as discussed in greater detail in “Management of Pubco Following the Business Combination.” The Proposed Pubco Charter does not provide for a classified board; instead, subject to the special rights of holders of any series of Pubco Preferred Stock to elect directors, each director will be elected annually and will hold office until the next annual meeting of Pubco Stockholders and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified.
Under the terms of the Proposed Pubco Charter, in the interim between annual or special meetings of stockholders called for the election or removal of directors, newly created directorships and any vacancies on the Pubco Board, including vacancies resulting from the removal of directors, may be filled only by the vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. Directors may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of Pubco capital stock entitled to vote on the election of such director, voting together as a single class.
Annual Stockholder Meetings
Pubco will provide that annual stockholder meetings will be held at a date, time and place, if any, as exclusively selected by the Pubco Board. To the extent permitted under applicable law, Pubco may conduct meetings by means of remote communication.
Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment
Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, Pubco Stockholders will have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation of Pubco. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Stockholders’ Derivative Actions
Under the DGCL, any of Pubco’s stockholders may bring an action in Pubco’s name to procure a judgment in Pubco’s favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of Pubco’s shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such stockholder’s stock thereafter devolved by operation of law.
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Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
The Proposed Pubco Charter provides that a director or officer of Pubco will not be personally liable to Pubco or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL, as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended. The Proposed Pubco Charter further provides that Pubco will, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, indemnify and advance expenses to any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Pubco or is or was serving at Pubco’s request in a similar capacity for another entity.
The Proposed Pubco Bylaws provide for indemnification of, and advancement of expenses to, Pubco’s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, subject to the terms of the Proposed Pubco Bylaws, and permit Pubco to maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of Pubco against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not Pubco would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Pubco intends to enter into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the DGCL. These indemnification agreements may require Pubco, among other things, to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers and to advance expenses they may incur as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. In connection with the Closing, Pubco will obtain and fully pay the premium for a “tail” insurance policy providing coverage for those serving as Pubco’s and SPAC’s directors and officers prior to the Closing, for a six-year period following the Closing with respect to events occurring prior to the Closing.
These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against Pubco’s directors or officers for breach of their fiduciary duty and may reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit Pubco and its stockholders. A stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent Pubco pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and the Proposed Pubco Charter and Bylaws
The Proposed Pubco Charter and the Proposed Pubco Bylaws will contain, and the DGCL contains, certain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the Pubco Board and that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a future takeover or change in control of Pubco unless such takeover or change in control is approved by the Pubco Board.
The provisions of the Proposed Pubco Charter, the Proposed Pubco Bylaws and of the DGCL summarized below may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that you might consider in your best interest, including an attempt that might result in your receipt of a premium over the market price for your shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock.
These provisions include:
Advance Notice Procedures. The Proposed Pubco Bylaws provide that Pubco Stockholders seeking to bring business before Pubco’s annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at Pubco’s annual meeting of stockholders, must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice will need to be received by Pubco secretary at Pubco’s principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in Pubco’s annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods contained therein. The Proposed Pubco Bylaws also specify certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholders’ meeting. These provisions may preclude Pubco’s stockholders from bringing matters before Pubco’s annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at Pubco’s annual meeting of stockholders.
Authorized but Unissued Shares. Pubco’s authorized but unissued shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Preferred Stock will be available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to rules of the securities exchange on which the Pubco Common Stock is listed. Pubco may not issue additional shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, except (i) in connection with dividends or distributions on outstanding shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock or (ii) with the affirmative vote of the holders of
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two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Pubco capital stock. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of Pubco Common Stock and Pubco Preferred Stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of a majority of Pubco Common Stock by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Special Meetings of Stockholders. The Proposed Pubco Bylaws provide that special meetings of Pubco’s stockholders may be called only by the Chairperson of the Pubco Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Pubco Board.
Business Combinations. Pubco will opt out of Section 203. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in the following prescribed manner:
Generally, for purposes of Section 203, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, owned 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting securities.
Such provisions may encourage companies interested in acquiring Pubco to negotiate in advance with the Pubco Board because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if the Pubco Board approves either the business combination or the transaction that results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. However, such provisions also could discourage attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by stockholders. These provisions also may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Corporate Opportunity Waiver
The Proposed Charter will provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the Big3 Founders, the Non-Employee Directors, or any of their respective affiliates will have any duty to refrain from engaging, directly or indirectly, in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which Pubco or any of its affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or otherwise competing with Pubco or any of its affiliates, and that Pubco will renounce any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity of which any of those persons acquires knowledge and which may also be a corporate opportunity for Pubco or any of its affiliates. The Proposed Charter will not renounce Pubco’s interest in a corporate opportunity expressly offered to a Big3 Founder or Non-Employee Director unless such corporate opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of Pubco and such opportunity is one that Pubco is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for Pubco to pursue. Accordingly, the Big3 Founders, the Non-Employee Directors and their respective affiliates may pursue acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions that, in their judgment, could enhance their investments, even though such transactions might involve risks to public shareholders. These potential conflicts of interest could have a material and adverse effect on Pubco’s business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects if attractive corporate opportunities are allocated by the Big3 Founders, the Non-Employee Directors or their respective affiliates to themselves or to other persons instead of to Pubco. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in Pubco Common Stock will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to these provisions.
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Exclusive Forum
The Proposed Pubco Charter will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in its name, actions against Pubco’s directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and certain other actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) any action arising under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or, in each case, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, for which there is exclusive federal or concurrent federal and state jurisdiction. If an action is brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Although Pubco believes this provision benefits Pubco by providing increased consistency in the application of law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court may determine that this provision is unenforceable, and to the extent it is enforceable, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against Pubco’s directors and officers.
Listing of Pubco Securities
Pubco intends to apply for listing of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Public Warrants on the NYSE, under the symbol “TONT” and “TONT WS,” respectively, as of immediately following the Closing. Accordingly, if Pubco’s securities are listed on NYSE, Pubco will be required to comply with the NYSE listing rules then in effect.
It is a condition to the obligations of each party to consummate the Business Combination that the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination Agreement have been approved for listing on the Stock Exchange upon the Closing, subject only to official notice of issuance. SPAC and the Company believe that Pubco will satisfy the initial listing requirements of the NYSE at the Closing, but there can be no assurance that this listing condition will be met. If this listing condition is not met, the Business Combination may not be consummated unless such condition is waived in writing by SPAC and the Company. The Stock Exchange listing condition may be waived by SPAC and the Company, with respect to the Business Combination, at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. If SPAC and the Company waive such condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of such event. However, you should know that given such timing you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. As a result, you may be asked to vote to approve the Business Combination and the other proposals described in this proxy statement/prospectus without knowing with certainty whether the Pubco Common Stock will be listed on the NYSE at the Closing. It is important for you to consider that, at the time of the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, Pubco may not have received from the NYSE either confirmation of the listing of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Public Warrants or confirmation that approval will be obtained prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, and you will not be notified prior to the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting if Pubco has not yet received such approval or confirmation. As a result, you may be asked to vote to approve the Business Combination and the other proposals described in this proxy statement/prospectus without knowing whether the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Public Warrants will be listed on the NYSE or another securities exchange and, further, it is possible that such listing may never be achieved and the Business Combination could still be consummated if such condition is waived.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
This proxy statement/prospectus registers the issuance by Post-Domestication SPAC of the Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants to the holders of SPAC Warrants in connection with the Domestication pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, as well as the issuance by Post-Domestication SPAC of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock upon the exercise of such Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants. Such registration is an intermediate and transitory step in the business combination transaction.
This proxy statement/prospectus further registers the issuance by Pubco of the Pubco Warrants to the holders of Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants in connection with the SPAC Merger pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, as well as the issuance by Pubco of the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Pubco Public Warrants. Pubco will not receive any proceeds from any such offer or sale by the holders, but will receive proceeds to the extent that the Pubco Public Warrants are exercised for cash.
Once issued, holders of Pubco Warrants may, from time to time, sell, transfer, distribute, or otherwise dispose of any or all of the Pubco Warrants and/or the underlying Pubco Class A Common Stock on any stock exchange, market, or trading facility on which the Pubco Warrants or Pubco Class A Common Stock are traded or in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. Such holders will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner, and size of each sale.
Such holders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of their securities or interests therein:
| ● | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| ● | one or more underwritten offerings; |
| ● | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| ● | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its accounts; |
| ● | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| ● | privately negotiated transactions; |
| ● | distributions to their members, partners, or stockholders; |
| ● | short sales effected after the date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is declared effective by the SEC; |
| ● | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
| ● | in market transactions, including transactions on a national securities exchange or quotations service or over-the-counter market; |
| ● | directly to one or more purchasers; |
| ● | through agents; |
| ● | broker-dealers who may agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per share or warrant; or |
| ● | a combination of any such methods of sale. |
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In addition, a holder of Pubco Warrants or underlying Pubco Class A Common Stock that is an entity may elect to make a pro rata in-kind distribution of securities to its members, partners or stockholders pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part by delivering a prospectus with a plan of distribution. Such members, partners or stockholders would thereby receive freely tradeable securities pursuant to the distribution through a registration statement. To the extent a distributee is an affiliate of ours (or to the extent otherwise required by law), we may file a prospectus supplement in order to permit the distributees to use the prospectus to resell the securities acquired in the distribution.
To the extent required, the Pubco Warrants and/or underlying Pubco Class A Common Stock to be sold, the names of the selling holders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents, dealer or underwriter, any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.
In connection with the sale of Pubco Warrants and/or underlying Pubco Class A Common Stock, the holder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Pubco Warrants and/or underlying Pubco Class A Common Stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The holders may also sell the Pubco Warrants and/or underlying Pubco Class A Common Stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the Pubco Warrants and/or underlying Pubco Class A Common Stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these shares. The holders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
In offering the securities covered by this prospectus, holders of Pubco Warrants and underlying Pubco Class A Common Stock and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who execute sales for them may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of those securities may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. To the extent applicable, we will make copies of this proxy statement/prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to such holders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities must be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
The anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the holders of the Pubco Warrants and underlying Pubco Class A Common Stock and their affiliates. The holders of Pubco Warrants and underlying Pubco Class A Common Stock may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Prior to the Business Combination, there has been no public market for shares of Pubco Common Stock. Future sales of substantial amounts of Pubco Common Stock in the public market after the consummation of the Business Combination, or the perception that such sales might occur, could adversely affect the market price of Pubco Common Stock and could impair Pubco’s ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. Furthermore, because there will be a limited number of shares of Pubco Common Stock available for trading in the public market immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination, in light of the lock-up and other transfer restrictions described below, a limited trading market for Pubco Common Stock may result, which could adversely affect the market price of Pubco Common Stock.
As described further below and elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, certain of the shares of Pubco Common Stock outstanding immediately after the Business Combination, and certain shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Pubco Public Warrants and the Pubco Private Warrants, upon conversion of the Pubco Class B Common Stock, or upon the vesting of the Earnout Shares and the Sponsor Earnout Shares, will be eligible for resale from time to time in the future, subject to the requirements of the Securities Act, applicable lock-up restrictions and any applicable registration rights.
Sale of Restricted Securities
Upon the Closing, and assuming that no public stockholders of SPAC exercise their redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination, we expect that Pubco will have outstanding an aggregate of approximately 20,210,627 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 19,976,476 shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, in each case without giving effect to the exercise of any Pubco Public Warrants or Pubco Private Warrants. Of these shares, the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issued to former SPAC public stockholders in connection with the Business Combination will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares held by persons who become “affiliates” of Pubco, as that term is defined under Rule 144, whose sales would be subject to the volume, manner-of-sale and other limitations of Rule 144 described below.
All remaining shares of Pubco Common Stock outstanding after the Closing, including the shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock and the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issued to the Sellers in connection with the Business Combination, will be “restricted securities” as that term is defined under Rule 144. Restricted securities may be sold in the public market only if they are registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration, including the exemption provided by Rule 144, which is summarized below.
Rule 144
In general, Rule 144 under the Securities Act is not available for the resale of restricted securities initially issued by companies that are, or that were previously, shell companies (such as SPAC) unless the issuer of the securities satisfies certain conditions. Pursuant to Rule 144, restricted securities issued by a company that has been at any time previously a shell company may be resold in reliance on Rule 144 only if the following conditions are satisfied:
| ● | the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company; |
| ● | the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; |
| ● | the issuer of the securities has filed all reports and other materials required to be filed by Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and |
| ● | at least one year has elapsed from the time the issuer filed current “Form 10 information” with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company. |
As a result, restricted securities of Pubco can be resold by the holders thereof, subject to the additional requirements of Rule 144 described below, only after Pubco has filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company and one year has elapsed from the date of such filing. Accordingly, we expect that sales of restricted securities of Pubco in reliance on Rule 144 will not become available until approximately one year following the Closing, subject to the further conditions of Rule 144 summarized below.
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Once the Form 10 information requirement described above has been satisfied, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock or Pubco Class B Common Stock for at least six months would be entitled to sell such securities, provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been an affiliate of Pubco at the time of, or at any time during the 90 days preceding, such sale and (ii) Pubco has been subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days before such sale and has filed all required reports under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months (or such shorter period as Pubco was required to file such reports) preceding such sale.
Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares of Pubco Common Stock for at least six months but who are affiliates of Pubco at the time of, or at any time during the 90 days preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions and would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:
| ● | 1% of the total number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock then outstanding; or |
| ● | the average weekly reported trading volume of Pubco Class A Common Stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such sale, |
in each case provided that Pubco has been subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days prior to such sale. Sales by affiliates of Pubco under Rule 144 are also subject to manner-of-sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about Pubco.
Lock-Up Agreement
Concurrently with the Closing, the BIG3 Founders and other Sellers holding greater than 3% of the outstanding Company Interests, the Sponsor, IPO Underwriter and each director of SPAC will enter into the Lock-Up Agreement, pursuant to which each such person will agree, subject to certain customary exceptions, not to (i) lend, offer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, donate, assign, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Pubco Common Stock received by such person in the Business Combination, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such shares of Pubco Common Stock, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case for a period commencing on the Closing and ending (x) on the date that is six (6) months after the Closing for the Pubco Common Stock, or (y) on the date that is thirty (30) days after the Closing for the Pubco Warrants (including the Pubco Common Stock underlying the Pubco Warrants), subject to certain customary transfer exceptions.
SPAC estimates that approximately 30.8 million shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and 6.0 million Pubco Private Warrants will be subject to lockup pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreement immediately following the Closing, representing approximately 76.7% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock in the No Additional Redemptions Scenario and 34.3% of the total issued and outstanding Pubco Warrants following the Business Combination.
Registration Rights Agreement
Concurrently with the Closing, Pubco, the Sponsor, the IPO Underwriter, SPAC’s officers and directors, and certain Sellers will enter into the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, Pubco will agree that, within 30 days after the Closing Date, Pubco will file with the SEC (at Pubco’s sole cost and expense) the Resale Registration Statement, and Pubco will use its reasonable best efforts to have the Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof. Such holders will also be entitled to customary piggyback registration rights and demand registration rights pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.
In addition, in connection with the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note issued by SPAC to Harraden, SPAC has agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act the shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Promissory Note and the warrants issuable in connection therewith, together with the shares underlying such warrants, which, following the Domestication and the SPAC Merger, are expected to become shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and warrants to purchase Pubco Class A Common Stock, respectively. Under both the Convertible Promissory Note and the August Convertible Promissory Note, in lieu of issuing the Conversion Shares, Issuance Warrants, and/or Transferred Shares, the Sponsor may re-allocate securities among members of the Sponsor and Graf Global Management LLC to satisfy SPAC’s related obligations.
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Pubco Public Warrants and Pubco Private Warrants
Pursuant to the Warrant Assumption Agreement to be entered into at the Closing among SPAC, Pubco and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, SPAC will assign to Pubco, and Pubco will assume, all of SPAC’s rights, obligations and liabilities under the existing warrant agreement governing SPAC’s outstanding warrants. As a result, at the Closing, each SPAC Public Warrant will convert into one Pubco Public Warrant and each SPAC Private Warrant will convert into one Pubco Private Warrant and each Pubco Public Warrant and Pubco Private Warrant will represent the right to acquire one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock, on the same terms as were in effect immediately prior to the Closing.
The SPAC Public Warrants have traded publicly and, following the Closing, the Pubco Public Warrants, and the underlying shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, are expected to remain freely tradable, subject to Pubco’s continued compliance with applicable Exchange Act reporting and prospectus delivery requirements. The Pubco Private Warrants, and the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise thereof, will be “restricted securities” for purposes of Rule 144 unless and until registered for resale, including pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement described above and the resale prospectus included in the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part.
Earnout Shares and Sponsor Earnout Shares
In addition to the shares of Pubco Common Stock issuable to the Sellers as Merger Consideration, the Business Combination Agreement provides for the issuance, at the Closing, of additional Earnout Shares and Sponsor Earnout Shares. The Earnout Shares and the Sponsor Earnout Shares will be issued and outstanding, but unvested and subject to forfeiture, and will vest only upon the satisfaction of certain stock price and/or change-of-control conditions specified in the Business Combination Agreement and the Sponsor Support Agreement, respectively, during the Earnout Period. If the applicable vesting conditions are not satisfied prior to the expiration of the Earnout Period (or, in certain circumstances, upon a sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period at a price below the applicable earnout trigger price payable other than in publicly tradable securities), the Earnout Shares or Sponsor Earnout Shares, as applicable, will be forfeited for no consideration.
For so long as an Earnout Share or Sponsor Earnout Share remains unvested, the holder will not be entitled to exercise the voting rights carried by such share or to receive any dividends or other distributions in respect thereof. Once vested, the Earnout Shares and the Sponsor Earnout Shares will be “restricted securities” for purposes of Rule 144 (unless and until registered for resale, including pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement described above and, with respect to the Sponsor Earnout Shares, the resale prospectus included in the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part) and will otherwise be eligible for resale on the same basis as other outstanding shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, as described above and subject to the Lock-Up Agreement described above.
2026 Equity Incentive Plan
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, Pubco’s adoption of 2026 Equity Incentive Plan, in a form compliant with the requirements of the Business Combination Agreement, is a condition to the Closing. Pubco expects to reserve approximately [●] shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock for future issuance to directors, officers, employees and consultants of Pubco and its subsidiaries under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan. Following the Closing, Pubco intends to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable under the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan. Shares registered under any such Form S-8 registration statement will be available for sale in the open market immediately upon the effectiveness of such registration statement, subject to Rule 144 limitations applicable to affiliates of Pubco and to the terms of the 2026 Equity Incentive Plan (including applicable vesting requirements) and any lock-up restrictions described above.
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MARKET PRICE OF AND DIVIDENDS ON SECURITIES
SPAC
Trading Market of SPAC Securities
The SPAC Public Units, SPAC Public Shares, and SPAC Public Warrants are currently listed and trading on the NYSE American under the symbols “TONT U”, “TONT”, and “TONT WS”, respectively.
The closing prices of the SPAC Public Units, SPAC Public Shares, and SPAC Public Warrants on June 11, 2026, the last trading day before announcement of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, was $11.10, $10.82, and $0.15, respectively. As of October 20, 2026, the closing prices of the SPAC Public Units, SPAC Public Shares, and SPAC Public Warrants was $11.01, $10.93, and $0.25, respectively. Holders of SPAC’s securities should obtain current market quotations for the securities. The market price of SPAC’s securities could vary at any time prior to the Closing. Market price information regarding SPAC’s Class B Ordinary Shares is not provided here because there is no established public trading market for SPAC’s Class B Ordinary Shares.
Holders
As of [●], 2026, the Record Date, there were [●] record holders of SPAC Public Units, [●] record holders of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, 1 record holder of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, [●] record holders of SPAC Public Warrants, and [●] SPAC Private Warrants. The number of holders of record does not include a substantially greater number of “street name” holders or beneficial holders whose securities are held of record by banks, brokers and other financial institutions.
Dividends
SPAC has not paid any cash dividends to its shareholders to date and does not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of the Business Combination.
The Company
Currently, there is no public market for the Company Securities.
Dividend Policy of Pubco Following the Business Combination
The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon Pubco’s revenue and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of the Business Combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to the Business Combination will be within the discretion of the Pubco Board.
331
APPRAISAL RIGHTS AND DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS
Neither SPAC Shareholders nor holders of SPAC Warrants have appraisal or dissenters’ rights in connection with the Business Combination or the Domestication under Cayman Islands law or the DGCL. The transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement do not involve a statutory merger of SPAC under the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands. The Domestication involves a transfer by way of continuation under Part 12 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, which does not give rise to dissenters’ rights under Section 238 of the Companies Act. However, holders of SPAC Public Shares may elect to have their SPAC Public Shares redeemed in connection with the Business Combination as described under “Redemption Rights” above.
332
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS
For any proposal to be considered for inclusion in Pubco’s proxy statement and form of proxy for submission to the stockholders at Pubco’s 2027 annual meeting of stockholders, assuming consummation of the Business Combination, it must be submitted in writing and comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act and the Proposed Pubco Bylaws. Since the 2027 annual meeting would be Pubco’s first annual meeting of stockholders, such proposals must be received by Pubco a reasonable time before it begins to print and mail the 2027 annual meeting proxy materials in order to be considered for inclusion in such proxy materials for the 2027 annual meeting.
In addition, if the Business Combination is consummated, the Proposed Pubco Bylaws provide notice procedures for stockholders to nominate a person as a director and to propose business to be considered by stockholders at an annual meeting. To be timely, for business (including nominations of directors) brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, a stockholder’s notice must be received by the secretary of Pubco at the principal executive offices of Pubco not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided that the annual meeting at which the business is being considered is held on a date within 30 days before or 60 days after the anniversary of the prior annual meeting. Nominations and proposals also must satisfy other requirements set forth in the Proposed Pubco Bylaws. The Pubco Board may refuse to acknowledge the introduction of any stockholder proposal not made in compliance with the foregoing procedures. For more information, please see “Annex E - Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Halfcourt Holdco, Inc.”
333
SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
Shareholders and interested parties may communicate with the SPAC Board, any committee chairperson or the non-management directors as a group by writing to the SPAC Board or committee chairperson in care of Graf Global Corp., 1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400, The Woodlands, Texas 77380. Following the Closing, such communications should be sent to Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc., 429 Lenox Ave, Suite 421, Miami Beach, Florida 33139. Each communication will be forwarded, depending on the subject matter, to the Pubco Board, the appropriate committee chairperson or the Pubco Secretary.
334
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters relating to the validity of the Pubco Common Stock and Pubco Warrants to be issued hereunder will be passed upon for Pubco by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole, LLP, New York, NY. White & Case LLP will pass upon the validity of the securities of Post-Domestication SPAC to be issued in connection with the Domestication and upon certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to SPAC shareholders as a result of the Domestication and the Business Combination.
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the SPAC Board does not know of any matters that will be presented for consideration at the Extraordinary General Meeting other than as described in this proxy statement/prospectus. If any other matters properly come before the Extraordinary General Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and are voted upon, the enclosed proxy will be deemed to confer discretionary authority on the individuals that it names as proxies to vote the shares represented by the proxy as to any of these matters.
335
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Graf Global Corp. as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 and the related statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ deficit and cash flows for the years then ended, have been audited by WithumSmith+Brown, PC, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, which report includes an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of Graf Global Corp. to continue as a going concern, as described in Note 1, appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of BIG3 HoldCo LLC and its subsidiary as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and for each of the years then ended, included in this proxy statement/prospectus, have been audited by TAAD LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report thereon, which report includes an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of BIG3 HoldCo LLC and its subsidiary to continue as a going concern, as described in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements. Such consolidated financial statements are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. as of September 30, 2026, and for the period from June 5, 2026 (inception) through September 30, 2026, included in this proxy statement/prospectus, have been audited by TAAD LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report thereon. Such consolidated financial statements are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
336
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
Pursuant to the rules of the SEC, SPAC and services that it employs to deliver communications to its shareholders are permitted to deliver to two or more shareholders sharing the same address a single copy of each of SPAC’s annual report to shareholders and SPAC’s proxy statement. Upon written or oral request, SPAC will deliver a separate copy of the annual report to shareholders and/or proxy statement to any shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of each document was delivered and who wishes to receive separate copies of such documents. Shareholders receiving multiple copies of such documents may likewise request that SPAC deliver single copies of such documents in the future. Shareholders may notify SPAC of their requests by calling or writing SPAC at its principal executive offices at 1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400, The Woodlands, Texas 77380.
337
HOUSEHOLDING INFORMATION
Unless SPAC has received contrary instructions, SPAC may send a single copy of this proxy statement/prospectus to any household at which two or more shareholders reside if SPAC believes the shareholders are members of the same family. This process, known as “householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate information received at any one household and helps to reduce SPAC’s expenses. However, if shareholders prefer to receive multiple sets of SPAC’s disclosure documents at the same address this year or in future years, the shareholders should follow the instructions described below. Similarly, if an address is shared with another shareholder and together both of the shareholders would like to receive only a single set of SPAC’s disclosure documents, the shareholders should follow these instructions:
| ● | if the shares are registered in the name of the shareholder, the shareholder should contact SPAC at the following address: |
Graf Global Corp.
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
| ● | if a broker, bank or nominee holds the shares, the shareholder should contact the broker, bank or nominee directly. |
338
WHERE CAN YOU FIND MORE INFORMATION
Pubco has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 to register the issuance of securities described elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. This proxy statement/prospectus is a part of that registration statement.
SPAC files reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC as required by the Exchange Act. You may access information on SPAC at the SEC website containing reports, proxy statements and other information at: http://www.sec.gov.
Information and statements contained in this proxy statement/prospectus or any Annex to this proxy statement/prospectus are qualified in all respects by reference to the copy of the relevant contract or other Annex filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, which includes exhibits incorporated by reference from other filings made with the SEC.
All information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus relating to SPAC has been supplied by SPAC, and all such information relating to Pubco and the Company has been supplied by the Company, respectively. Information provided by one another does not constitute any representation, estimate or projection of the other.
| (1) | This document is a (i) prospectus of Pubco with respect to the Pubco Class A Common Stock, Pubco Warrants, and Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Pubco Warrants to be issued to SPAC Shareholders and Company equityholders if the Business Combination described herein is consummated, (ii) a proxy statement of SPAC for the Extraordinary General Meeting, and (iii) a resale prospectus of the Selling Securityholders with respect to the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants to be issued to them in the Business Combination pursuant to this Registration Statement and that may be sold by them from time to time after the closing of the Business Combination. SPAC, the Company and Pubco have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about the Business Combination, SPAC, the Company or Pubco that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this proxy statement/prospectus. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it. The information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus speaks only as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies. |
| (2) | If you would like additional copies of this proxy statement/prospectus, or if you have questions about the Business Combination, you should contact in writing: |
Graf Global Corp.
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
You may also obtain these documents by requesting them in writing or by telephone from SPAC’s proxy solicitation agent at the following address and telephone number:
[●]
If you are a shareholder of SPAC and would like to request documents, please do so no later than 7 Business Days before the Extraordinary General Meeting in order to receive them before the Extraordinary General Meeting. If you request any documents from SPAC, SPAC will mail them to you by first class mail, or another equally prompt means. Information and statements contained in this proxy statement/prospectus or any Annex to this proxy statement/prospectus are qualified in all respects by reference to the copy of the relevant contract or other Annex filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, which includes exhibits incorporated by reference from other documents that are not included with this proxy statement/prospectus.
339
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
SPAC is a Cayman Islands exempted company. If SPAC does not change its jurisdiction of incorporation from the Cayman Islands to Delaware by effecting the Domestication, you may have difficulty serving legal process within the United States upon SPAC. You may also have difficulty enforcing, both in and outside the United States, judgments you may obtain in U.S. courts against SPAC in any action, including actions based upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal or state securities laws. Furthermore, there is doubt that the courts of the Cayman Islands would enter judgments in original actions brought in those courts predicated on U.S. federal or state securities laws. However, SPAC may be served with process in the United States with respect to actions against SPAC arising out of or in connection with violation of U.S. federal securities laws relating to offers and sales of SPAC’s securities by serving SPAC’s U.S. agent irrevocably appointed for that purpose.
340
| Page |
Audited Financial Statements of Graf Global Corp. | |
Report of WithumSmith+Brown, PC, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 100) | F-2 |
F-3 | |
Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 | F-4 |
Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Deficit for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 | F-5 |
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 | F-6 |
F-7 | |
| |
Unaudited Financial Statements of Graf Global Corp. | |
Condensed Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2026 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2025 | F-21 |
F-22 | |
F-23 | |
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 (Unaudited) | F-24 |
F-25 |
Audited Financial Statement for BIG3 HoldCo LLC and Subsidiary | |
Report of TAAD LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 5854) | F-42 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 | F-43 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 | F-44 |
F-45 | |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 | F-46 |
F-47 | |
| |
Unaudited Financial Statement for BIG3 Holdco, LLC and Subsidiary | |
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 (Unaudited) | F-63 |
F-64 | |
F-65 | |
F-66 | |
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) | F-67 |
| |
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Halfcourt Holdco Inc. | |
Report of TAAD LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 5854) | F-82 |
F-83 | |
F-84 | |
F-85 | |
F-86 | |
F-87 |
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Graf Global Corp.:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Graf Global Corp. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 and the related statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ deficit, and cash flow for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flow for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, if the Company is unable to raise additional funds to alleviate liquidity needs and complete a business combination by June 27, 2026, then the Company will cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidating. The liquidity condition, the date of mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.
New York, New York
May 11, 2026
PCAOB ID Number 100
F-2
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
BALANCE SHEETS
| | | | | | |
| | December 31, | | December 31, | ||
Assets | | | | | | |
Current assets |
| | |
| | |
Cash | | $ | | | $ | |
Prepaid expenses | |
| | |
| |
Total current assets | |
| | |
| |
Long-term prepaid insurance | | | — | | | |
Cash held in Trust Account | |
| | |
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Total Assets | | $ | | | $ | |
Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption, and Shareholders’ Deficit | |
| | |
| |
Current liabilities | |
| | |
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Accrued offering costs | | $ | — | | $ | |
Due to related party | | | | | | — |
Accrued expenses | |
| | |
| |
Total current liabilities | |
| | |
| |
Deferred underwriting fee | |
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Total Liabilities | |
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Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) | |
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Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, | |
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Shareholders’ Deficit | |
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Preference shares, $ | |
| — | |
| — |
Class A ordinary shares, $ | |
| — | |
| — |
Class B ordinary shares, $ | |
| | |
| |
Additional paid-in capital | |
| — | |
| — |
Accumulated deficit | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Total Shareholders’ Deficit | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Total Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption, and Shareholders’ Deficit | | $ | | | $ | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-3
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| | | | | | |
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
| | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
General and administrative costs | | $ | | | $ | |
Loss from operations |
| | ( |
| | ( |
Other income: |
| | |
| | |
Interest earned on cash held in Trust Account |
| | |
| | |
Total other income |
| | |
| | |
Net income | | $ | | | $ | |
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class A ordinary shares | |
| | |
| |
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share, Class A ordinary shares | | $ | | | $ | |
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class B ordinary shares | |
| | |
| |
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share, Class B ordinary shares | | $ | | | $ | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2025 AND 2024
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Class A | | Class B | | Additional | | Accumulated | | Total | |||||||||
| | Shares | | Amount | | Shares | | Amount | | Capital | | Deficit | | Deficit | |||||
Balance — December 31, 2023 |
| ― | | $ | ― |
| | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | ( | | $ | ( |
Sale of |
| ― | |
| ― |
| — | |
| — | |
| | |
| — | |
| |
Fair value of Public Warrants at issuance |
| — | |
| — |
| ― | |
| ― | |
| | |
| — | |
| |
Allocated value of transaction costs |
| ― | |
| ― |
| — | |
| — | |
| ( | |
| — | |
| ( |
Accretion for Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount |
| ― | |
| ― |
| — | |
| — | |
| ( | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Net income |
| — | |
| — |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| | |
| |
Balance — December 31, 2024 | | ― | | | ― | | | | | | | | ― | | | ( | | | ( |
Accretion for Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount | | ― | | | ― | | — | | | — | | | — | | | ( | | | ( |
Net income | | — | | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | | |
Balance — December 31, 2025 |
| ― | | $ | ― |
| | | $ | | | $ | ― | | $ | ( | | $ | ( |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| | | | | | |
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
| | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | | | $ | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: | |
| | |
| |
Payment of operation costs through promissory note | |
| — | |
| |
Interest earned on cash held in Trust Account | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |
| | |
| |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | |
| | |
| ( |
Long-term prepaid insurance | | | | | | ( |
Due to related party | | | | | | — |
Accrued expenses | |
| | |
| ( |
Net cash used in operating activities | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | |
| | |
| |
Investment of cash in Trust Account | |
| — | |
| ( |
Net cash used in investing activities | |
| — | |
| ( |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | |
| | |
| |
Proceeds from sale of Units, net of underwriting discounts paid | |
| — | |
| |
Proceeds from sale of Private Placements Warrants | |
| — | |
| |
Advances from related party | |
| — | |
| |
Repayment of advances from related party | |
| — | |
| ( |
Repayment of promissory note - related party | |
| — | |
| ( |
Payment of offering costs | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | | | ( | | | |
Net Change in Cash | |
| ( | |
| |
Cash – Beginning of period | | | | | | — |
Cash – End of period | | $ | | | $ | |
Non-Cash investing and financing activities: | | | | | | |
Offering costs included in accrued offering costs | | $ | — | | $ | |
Deferred underwriting fee payable | | $ | — | | $ | |
Deferred offering costs paid through promissory note – related party | | $ | — | | $ | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2025
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Graf Global Corp. (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on November 17, 2021. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (“Business Combination”). The Company may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any industry or geographic location.
As of December 31, 2025, the Company had not yet commenced operations. All activity for the period from November 17, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2025 relates to the Company’s formation, the initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”), which is described below, and subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on June 25, 2024. On June 27, 2024, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of an aggregate of
Transaction costs amounted to $
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of its Initial Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination (less deferred underwriting commissions).
Pursuant to NYSE American listing rules, the Company must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding any deferred underwriters’ fees and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time the Company signs a definitive agreement to enter into an initial Business Combination.
However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, on June 27, 2024, an amount of $
F-7
Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described below. To mitigate the risk that might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that the Company holds investments in the Trust Account, the Company may, at any time in its own discretion, instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in an interest bearing bank demand deposit account.
The Company will provide its holders of the Public Shares (the “Public Shareholders”) with the opportunity to redeem, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or against, a Business Combination, all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.00 per share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable). The per-share amount to be distributed to Public Shareholders who redeem their Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering (as discussed in Note 6).
All of the Public Shares contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the liquidation, if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the initial Business Combination and in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association”). In accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and its guidance on redeemable equity instruments, which has been codified in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”), paragraph 10-S99, redemption provisions not solely within the control of a company require ordinary shares subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Accordingly, all of the Public Shares were presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of the Company’s balance sheets. Given that the Public Shares were issued with other freestanding instruments (i.e., Public Warrants), the initial carrying value of Class A Ordinary Shares classified as temporary equity were the allocated proceeds determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options.” The resulting discount to the initial carrying value of temporary equity was accreted upon closing the Initial Public Offering such that the carrying value equals the redemption value on such date. The accretion or remeasurement is recognized as a reduction to retained earnings, or in absence of retained earnings, additional paid-in capital. Accretion associated with the redeemable Class A Ordinary Shares is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value. The Public Shares are redeemable and were classified as such on the balance sheets until such date that a redemption event takes place.
Additionally, each Public Shareholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the holders of the Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) prior to Initial Public Offering (the “Initial Shareholders”) have agreed to vote their Founder Shares and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination. In addition, the Initial Shareholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and Public Shares in connection with the completion of a Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that a Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of
The Company’s Sponsor, executive officers and directors will agree not to propose an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide for the redemption of its Public Shares in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem
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If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within
In connection with the redemption of 100% of the Company’s outstanding Public Shares for a portion of the funds held in the Trust Account, each holder will receive a full pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account, plus any pro rata interest earned on the fund held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $
The Initial Shareholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Initial Shareholders should acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Company’s Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $10.00 per share initially held in the Trust Account. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or Business Combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable; provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Liquidity and Going Concern
As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $
The Company initially has until June 27, 2026 to consummate the initial Business Combination (assuming no shareholder-approved extensions to the Combination Period). If the Company does not complete a Business Combination, the Company will trigger an automatic winding up, dissolution and liquidation pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. Notwithstanding management’s belief that the Company would have sufficient funds to execute its business strategy, there is a possibility that Business Combination might not happen within the 24-month period from the date of the Initial Public Offering.
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with ASC 205-40, “Going Concern,” as of December 31, 2025, the Company may need to raise additional capital through loans or additional investments from its Sponsor, shareholders, officers, directors, or third parties. The Company’s officers, directors and Sponsor may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion, to meet the Company’s working capital needs. Accordingly, the Company may not be able to obtain additional financing. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
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Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Business Combination. If a Business Combination is not consummated by the end of the Combination Period, currently June 27, 2026, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution of the Company. Management has determined that the liquidity condition, the date of mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after the Combination Period. The Company intends to complete the initial Business Combination before the end of the Combination Period. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to consummate any Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period.
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the accounting and disclosure rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had $
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Cash Held in Trust Account
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the assets held in the Trust Account were in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank, amounting to $
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. The Company evaluates all of its financial instruments, including issued stock purchase warrants, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity”, and ASC 815-15, “Derivatives and Hedging”. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is re-assessed at the end of each reporting period. In accordance with ASC 825-10, “Financial Instruments”, offering costs attributable to the issuance of the derivative warrant liabilities are allocated based on their relative fair value of total proceeds and are recognized in the statements of operations as incurred.
The Company accounted for the
Offering Costs
The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A, “Expenses of Offering.” Offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees that are related to the Initial Public Offering. FASB ASC 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options,” addresses the allocation of proceeds from the issuance of convertible debt into its equity and debt components. The Company applies this guidance to allocate Initial Public Offering proceeds from the Units between Class A Ordinary Shares and warrants, using the residual method by allocating Initial Public Offering proceeds first to assigned value of the warrants and then to the Class A Ordinary Shares. Offering costs allocated to the Class A Ordinary Shares were charged to temporary equity and offering costs allocated to the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants were charged to shareholders’ deficit as Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants after management’s evaluation were accounted for under equity treatment.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
The Public Shares contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, or if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination. In accordance with ASC 480-10-S99, the Company classifies Public Shares subject to redemption outside of permanent equity as the redemption provisions are not solely within the control of the Company. The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and will adjust the carrying value of redeemable shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Immediately upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company recognized the accretion from initial book value to redemption amount value. The change in the carrying value of redeemable shares will result in charges against additional paid-in capital (to the extent available) and accumulated deficit. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, Class A Ordinary Shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’
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deficit section of the Company’s balance sheets. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Class A Ordinary Shares subject to redemption reflected in the balance sheets are reconciled in the following table:
| | | |
Gross proceeds | | $ | |
Less: |
| | |
Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants |
| | ( |
Class A ordinary shares issuance costs |
| | ( |
Plus: |
| | |
Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value |
| | |
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2024 | | | |
Plus: | | | |
Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value | | | |
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2025 | | $ | |
Income Taxes
The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company’s management determined that the Cayman Islands is the Company’s only major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were
There is currently no taxation imposed on income by the government of the Cayman Islands. In accordance with Cayman Islands federal income tax regulations, income taxes are not levied on the Company. Consequently, income taxes are not reflected in the Company’s financial statements. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.
Net Income per Ordinary Share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share.” The Company has two classes of shares, (i) Class A Ordinary Shares and non-redeemable Class A Ordinary Shares and (ii) Class B ordinary shares, par value of $
The calculation of diluted net income does not consider the effect of the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering (including the consummation of the over-allotment) and the Private Placement Warrants to purchase an aggregate of
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The following table reflects the calculation of basic and diluted net income per Ordinary Share (in dollars, except per share amounts):
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
| | 2025 | | 2024 | ||||||||
| | Class A | | Class B | | Class A | | Class B | ||||
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Numerator: |
| | | | | |
| | |
| | |
Allocation of net income, as adjusted | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | |
Denominator: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Basic weighted average shares outstanding | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Basic net income per ordinary share | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | |
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. Any loss incurred or a lack of access to such funds could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.
Warrant Instruments
The Company accounts for the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering and the private placement in accordance with the guidance contained in FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. Accordingly, the Company evaluated and classified the warrant instruments under equity treatment at their assigned values.
Recent Accounting Standards
In November 2024, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2024-03, “Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses”, requiring public entities to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to the financial statements on an interim and annual basis. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2024-03.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. purchased an aggregate of
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placement. Of those
Each whole Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for
The Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Private Placement Warrants until
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On November 24, 2021, the Sponsor paid $
On June 7, 2024, the Sponsor transferred
With certain limited exceptions, the Founder Shares are not transferable, assignable or salable (except to the Company’s officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with the Sponsor, each of whom will be subject to the same transfer restrictions) until the earlier to occur of (i)
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Administrative Services Agreement
The Company entered into an agreement, commencing on June 25, 2024, through the earlier of consummation of the initial Business Combination and the liquidation, to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor $
In addition, the Sponsor, officers and directors, or their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on the Company’s behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable Business Combinations. The Company’s audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by the Company to the Sponsor, executive officers or directors, or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial Business Combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company incurred $
Due from Sponsor
The Company paid the Sponsor $
On June 28, 2024, the Sponsor paid $
On July 2, 2024, the Company paid the Sponsor an amount of $
On March 31, 2025, the Company paid an expense for the Sponsor an amount of $
Due to Related Party
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer paid certain operating expenses on behalf of the Company. These amounts are payable and have been recorded as due to related party in the accompanying balance sheets. As of December 31, 2025, the outstanding balance related to these payments was $
Related Party Loans
On November 20, 2021, as amended on February 9, 2024, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to $
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor, members of the Company’s founding team or any of their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $
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Placement Warrants. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Risks and Uncertainties
The United States and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the geopolitical instability resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the recent escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and continuing tensions between Israel and the U.S. with Iran. In response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (“NATO”) deployed additional military forces to eastern Europe, and the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other countries have announced various sanctions and restrictive actions against Russia, Belarus and related individuals and entities, including the removal of certain financial institutions from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication payment system. Certain countries, including the United States, have also provided and may continue to provide military aid or other assistance to Ukraine and to Israel, increasing geopolitical tensions among a number of nations. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, continuing tensions between Israel and the U.S. with Iran, and the resulting measures that have been taken, and could be taken in the future, by NATO, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Israel and its neighboring states and other countries have created global security concerns that could have a lasting impact on regional and global economies. Although the length and impact of the ongoing conflicts are highly unpredictable, they could lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, as well as supply chain interruptions and increased cyberattacks against U.S. companies. Additionally, any resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets.
Any of the above mentioned factors, or any other negative impact on the global economy, capital markets or other geopolitical conditions resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, continuing tensions between Israel and the U.S. with Iran, and subsequent sanctions or related actions, could adversely affect the Company’s search for an initial Business Combination and any target business with which the Company may ultimately consummate an initial Business Combination.
Registration and Shareholder Rights
Commencing on June 25, 2024, the holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants, and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares) are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration and shareholder rights agreement requiring the Company to register a sale of any of the Company’s securities held by them prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company registers such securities. In addition, the holders have certain piggyback registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company granted the underwriters a
The underwriters were entitled to an underwriting discount of $
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NOTE 7. SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Preference Shares — The Company is authorized to issue
Class A Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue
Class B Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue
The Class B Ordinary Shares will automatically convert into Class A Ordinary Shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of the initial Business Combination on a
Warrants — As of December 31, 2025, there were
The warrants have an exercise price of $
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determined in good faith by the board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or such affiliates prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than
The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until
Redemption of warrants for cash: Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants for cash:
| ● | In whole and not in part; |
| ● | At a price of $ |
| ● | Upon a minimum of |
| ● | If, and only if, the closing price of Class A Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $ |
The Company will not redeem the warrants for cash unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those Class A Ordinary Shares is available throughout the
If the Company calls the warrants for redemption for cash, as described above, the management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.”
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
NOTE 8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. |
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Level 2: | Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. |
Level 3: | Unobservable inputs based on assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. |
At issuance, the fair value of Public Warrants was determined using Monte Carlo Simulation Model. The Public Warrants have been classified within shareholders’ deficit and will not require remeasurement after issuance. The following table presents the quantitative information regarding market assumptions used in the valuation of the Public Warrants:
| | | | |
| | June 27, 2024 |
| |
Calculated Share Price | | $ | | |
Weighted-Average Expected Life of Warrants in Years | |
| | |
Risk-free rate | |
| | % |
Pre-Business Combination Annual Volatility | |
| | % |
Post-Business Combination Annual Volatility | |
| | % |
Market Pricing Adjustment | |
| | % |
At December 31, 2025 and 2024, assets held in the Trust Account were comprised of $
NOTE 9. SEGMENT INFORMATION
ASC Topic 280, “Segment Reporting,” establishes standards for companies to report in their financial statement information about operating segments, products, services, geographic areas, and major customers. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is regularly evaluated by the Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), or group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.
The Company’s CODM has been identified as the Chief Financial Officer, who reviews the operating results for the Company as a whole to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing financial performance. Accordingly, management has determined that the Company only has
The CODM assesses performance for the single segment and decides how to allocate resources based on net income that also is reported on the statements of operations as net income. The measure of segment assets is reported on the balance sheets as total assets. When evaluating the Company’s performance and making key decisions regarding resource allocation the CODM reviews several key metrics, which include the following:
| | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2025 | | December 31, 2024 | ||
Cash held in Trust Account | | $ | | | $ | |
Cash | | $ | | | $ | |
| | | | | | |
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | ||||
| | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
General and administrative costs | | $ | | | $ | |
Interest earned on cash held in Trust Account | | $ | | | $ | |
The CODM reviews interest earned on the Trust Account to measure and monitor shareholder value and determine the most effective strategy of investment with the Trust Account funds while maintaining compliance with the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated June 25, 2024, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee.
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General and administrative expenses are reviewed and monitored by the CODM to manage and forecast cash to ensure enough capital is available to complete a Business Combination or similar transaction within the Combination Period. The CODM also reviews general and administrative costs to manage, maintain and enforce all contractual agreements to ensure costs are aligned with all agreements and budget. general and administrative expenses, as reported on the statements of operations, are the significant segment expenses provided to the CODM on a regular basis.
All other segment items included in net income are reported on the statements of operations and described within their respective disclosures.
The accounting policies used to measure the profit and loss of the segment are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.
NOTE 10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
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GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
| | | | | | |
| | June 30, | | December 31, | ||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | ||
| | (Unaudited) | ||||
Assets | | | | | | |
Current assets |
| | | | | |
Cash | | $ | | | $ | |
Prepaid expenses | |
| | |
| |
Total current assets | |
| | |
| |
Cash held in Trust Account | |
| | |
| |
Total Assets | | $ | | | $ | |
Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption, and Shareholders’ Deficit | |
| | | | |
Current liabilities | |
| | | | |
Due to related party | | $ | — | | $ | |
Accrued expenses | |
| | |
| |
Promissory note - related party | | | | | | — |
Total current liabilities | |
| | |
| |
Deferred underwriting fee | |
| | |
| |
Total Liabilities | |
| | |
| |
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) | |
| | |
| |
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, | |
| | |
| |
Shareholders’ Deficit | |
| | | | |
Preference shares, $ | |
| — | |
| — |
Class A ordinary shares, $ | |
| | |
| — |
Class B ordinary shares, $ | |
| — | |
| |
Additional paid-in capital | |
| — | |
| — |
Accumulated deficit | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Total Shareholders’ Deficit | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Total Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption, and Shareholders’ Deficit | | $ | | | $ | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
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GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Three Months Ended June 30, | | For the Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2025 | ||||
General and administrative expenses | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | |
Non-redemption agreements expenses | | | | | | — | | | | | | — |
Loss from operations |
| | ( |
| | ( |
| | ( |
| | ( |
Other income: |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Interest earned on cash held in Trust Account |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Total other income |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Net income (loss) | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | |
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class A ordinary shares redeemable shares | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share, Class A ordinary shares redeemable shares | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | |
Weighted average shares outstanding of Class A and Class B ordinary shares non-redeemable shares | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share, Class A and Class B ordinary shares non-redeemable shares | | $ | ( | | $ | | $ | | | $ | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
F-22
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2026
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Class A Ordinary | | Class B Ordinary | | Additional | | | | | Total | ||||||||
| | Shares | | Shares | | Paid-in | | Accumulated | | Shareholders’ | |||||||||
| | Shares | | Amount | | Shares | | Amount | | Capital | | Deficit | | Deficit | |||||
Balance — December 31, 2025 | | — | | $ | — | | | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | ( | | $ | ( |
Accretion for Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount |
| ― | |
| ― |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Net income |
| — | |
| — |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| | |
| |
Balance – March 31, 2026 (unaudited) | | ― | | | ― | | | | | | | | ― | | | ( | | | ( |
Accretion for Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount | | ― | | | ― | | — | | | — | | | ( | | | ( | | | ( |
Conversion of Class B shares to Class A non-redeemable | | | | | | | ( | | | ( | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Capital contribution on non-redemption agreements expense | | — | | | — | | — | | | — | | | | | | — | | | |
Net loss | | — | | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | ( | | | ( |
Balance – June 30, 2026 (unaudited) |
| | | $ | |
| | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | ( | | $ | ( |
FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Class A Ordinary | | Class B Ordinary | | Additional | | | | | Total | ||||||||
| | Shares | | Shares | | Paid-in | | Accumulated | | Shareholders’ | |||||||||
| | Shares | | Amount | | Shares | | Amount | | Capital | | Deficit | | Deficit | |||||
Balance — December 31, 2024 |
| ― | | $ | — |
| | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | ( | | $ | ( |
Accretion for Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount | | — | | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | ( | | | ( |
Net income |
| ― | |
| — |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| | |
| |
Balance —March 31, 2025 (unaudited) | | ― | | | — | | | | | | | | — | | | ( | | | ( |
Accretion for Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount | | — | | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | ( | | | ( |
Net income | | ― | | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | | | | |
Balance – June 30, 2025 (unaudited) |
| — | | $ | — |
| | | $ | | | $ | — | | $ | ( | | $ | ( |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
F-23
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
| | | | | | |
| | For the Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | ||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | | | $ | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: | |
| | |
| |
Interest earned on cash held in Trust Account | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Non-redemption agreements expense | | | | | | — |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |
| | |
| |
Prepaid expenses | |
| | |
| |
Long-term prepaid insurance | | | — | | | |
Due to related party | | | ( | | | — |
Accrued expenses | |
| | |
| |
Net cash used in operating activities | |
| ( | |
| ( |
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | |
| | |
| |
Cash withdrawn from Trust Account in connection with redemption | | | | |
| — |
Net cash provided by investing activities | | | | | | — |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | | | | | | |
Payment of offering costs | | | — | | | ( |
Proceeds from promissory note - related party | | | | | | — |
Redemption of ordinary shares | | | ( | | | — |
Net cash used in financing activities | | | ( | | | ( |
Net Change in Cash | |
| | |
| ( |
Cash – Beginning of period | | | | | | |
Cash – End of period | | $ | | | $ | |
Non-Cash investing and financing activities: | | | | | | |
Conversion of Class B Ordinary Shares to Class A Ordinary Shares | | $ | | | $ | — |
Equity contribution from Non-Redemption Agreements | | $ | | | $ | — |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed financial statements.
F-24
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Graf Global Corp. (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on November 17, 2021. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (“Business Combination”). The Company may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any industry or geographic location.
As of June 30, 2026, the Company had not yet commenced operations. All activity for the period from November 17, 2021 (inception) through June 30, 2026 relates to the Company’s formation, the initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”), which is described below, and subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, the Company’s search for, negotiation of, and efforts to consummate a Business Combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on June 25, 2024. On June 27, 2024, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of an aggregate of
Transaction costs amounted to $
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of its Initial Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination (less deferred underwriting commissions).
Pursuant to NYSE American listing rules, the Company must complete one or more business combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding any deferred underwriters’ fees and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time the Company signs a definitive agreement to enter into an initial Business Combination.
However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering, on June 27, 2024, an amount of $
F-25
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that the Company holds investments in the Trust Account, the Company may, at any time in its own discretion, instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in an interest bearing bank demand deposit account. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the assets held in the Trust Account were in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank.
The Company will provide its holders of the Public Shares (the “Public Shareholders”) with the opportunity to redeem, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or against, a Business Combination, all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.00 per share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable)). The per-share amount to be distributed to Public Shareholders who redeem their Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering (as discussed in Note 6).
All of the Public Shares contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the liquidation, if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the initial Business Combination and in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association”). In accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and its guidance on redeemable equity instruments, which has been codified in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”), paragraph 10-S99, redemption provisions not solely within the control of a company require ordinary shares subject to redemption to be classified outside of permanent equity. Accordingly, all of the Public Shares were presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of the Company’s condensed balance sheets. Given that the Public Shares were issued with other freestanding instruments (i.e., Public Warrants), the initial carrying value of Class A Ordinary Shares classified as temporary equity were the allocated proceeds determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options.” The resulting discount to the initial carrying value of temporary equity was accreted upon closing the Initial Public Offering such that the carrying value equals the redemption value on such date. The accretion or remeasurement is recognized as a reduction to retained earnings, or in absence of retained earnings, additional paid-in capital. Accretion associated with the redeemable Class A Ordinary Shares is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value. The Public Shares are redeemable and were classified as such on the condensed balance sheets until such date that a redemption event takes place.
Additionally, each Public Shareholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the holders of the Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) prior to Initial Public Offering (the “Initial Shareholders”) have agreed to vote their Founder Shares and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination. In addition, the Initial Shareholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and Public Shares in connection with the completion of a Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that a Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of
The Company’s Sponsor, executive officers and directors have agreed not to propose an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide for the redemption of its Public Shares in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem
F-26
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
Pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Company initially had
In connection with the redemption of 100% of the Company’s outstanding Public Shares for a portion of the funds held in the Trust Account, each holder will receive a full pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account, plus any pro rata interest earned on the fund held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $
The Initial Shareholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the Initial Shareholders should acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission (see Note 6) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Company’s Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be only $10.00 per share initially held in the Trust Account. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or Business Combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable; provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
On June 18, 2026, the Sponsor and certain members of the board of directors of the Company, Louis Bélanger-Martin, Kenneth Weinstein and Fred Zeidman (such directors together with the Sponsor, the “Converting Shareholders”), irrevocably exercised their right to convert (the “Conversions”) an aggregate of
Extension
On June 26, 2026, the Company held an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of the Company (the “Meeting”), at which shareholders approved an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (such amendment, the “Extension”) to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate an initial Business Combination from June 27, 2026 to September 27, 2026, and provided that the Company has executed a definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination by September 27, 2026 but has not consummated an initial Business Combination by such date, to permit the Company’s Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, to further extend such date up to three times in one month increments, to up to December 27, 2026.
F-27
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
In connection with the Meeting, shareholders holding an aggregate of
In connection with the Meeting, the Company and the Sponsor entered into Non-Redemption Agreements (See Note 6).
Business Combination Agreement
On June 12, 2026, the Company entered into the business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) with BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“BIG3”), Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“PubCo”), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo (“SPAC Merger Sub”), and Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo (“Company Merger Sub”). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and on the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, among other things, (a) on the day that is one day prior to the date of the SPAC Merger (as defined below), the Company will transfer, by way of continuation, out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to re-domicile as and become a Delaware corporation (the “Domestication”), and (b) at the closing, (i) SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo (the “SPAC Merger”) and (ii) Company Merger Sub will merge with and into Big3, with Big3 continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of PubCo (the “Company Merger”, and the Company Merger together with the SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”).
The Mergers, collectively with the Domestication and all other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, are referred to in this Quarterly Report as the “BIG3 Business Combination”.
Concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the Company entered into the Sponsor Support Agreement (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”) with the Sponsor, each of Graf’s independent directors (together with Sponsor, the “Insiders”), PubCo and BIG3, pursuant to which the Insiders agreed to, among other things, vote in favor of and otherwise support the Business Combination. In addition, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor will, effective as of immediately prior to the Domestication and conditioned upon the closing of the Business Combination, forfeit and surrender to the Company an aggregate of
Liquidity and Going Concern
As of June 30, 2026, the Company had $
The Company has until September 27, 2026 to consummate the initial Business Combination, and, in the event that Company has executed a definitive agreement for an initial Business Combination by September 27, 2026 but has not consummated an initial Business Combination by such date, the Company’s Board of Directors may further extend such date, in its sole discretion, up to three times in one month increments, to up to December 27, 2026 (assuming no further shareholder-approved extensions to the Combination Period). If the Company does not complete a Business Combination, the Company will trigger an automatic winding up, dissolution and liquidation pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. Notwithstanding management’s belief that the Company would have sufficient funds to execute its business strategy, there is a possibility that Business Combination might not happen within the 30-month period from the date of the Initial Public Offering.
F-28
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with ASC 205-40, “Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern,” as of June 30, 2026, the Company may need to raise additional capital through loans or additional investments from its Sponsor, shareholders, officers, directors, or third parties. The Company’s officers, directors and Sponsor may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion, to meet the Company’s working capital needs. Accordingly, the Company may not be able to obtain additional financing. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Business Combination. If a Business Combination is not consummated by the end of the Combination Period, currently up to December 27, 2026, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution. Management has determined that the liquidity condition, the date of mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should be required to liquidate after the Combination Period. The Company intends to complete the initial Business Combination before the end of the Combination Period. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to consummate any Business Combination by the end of the Combination Period.
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X of the SEC. Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented.
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s December 31, 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on May 11, 2026. The interim results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2026 or for any future periods.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The
F-29
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the unaudited condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the unaudited condensed financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had $
Cash Held in Trust Account
As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the assets held in the Trust Account were in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank, amounting to $
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. The Company evaluates all of its financial instruments, including issued stock purchase warrants, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity”, and ASC 815-15, “Derivatives and Hedging”. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is re-assessed at the end of each reporting period. In accordance with ASC 825-10, “Financial Instruments”, offering costs attributable to the issuance of the derivative warrant liabilities are allocated based on their relative fair value of total proceeds and are recognized in the unaudited condensed statements of operations as incurred.
The Company accounted for the
Offering Costs
The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5A, “Expenses of Offering.” Offering costs consist principally of professional and registration fees that are related to the Initial Public Offering. FASB ASC 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options,” addresses the allocation of proceeds from the issuance of convertible
F-30
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
debt into its equity and debt components. The Company applies this guidance to allocate Initial Public Offering proceeds from the Units between Class A Ordinary Shares and Public Warrants, using the residual method by allocating Initial Public Offering proceeds first to assigned value of the Public Warrants and then to the Class A Ordinary Shares. Offering costs allocated to the Public Shares were charged to temporary equity and offering costs allocated to the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants were charged to shareholders’ deficit as Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants after management’s evaluation were accounted for under equity treatment.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
The Public Shares contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such Public Shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, or if there is a shareholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Company’s initial Business Combination. In accordance with ASC 480-10-S99, the Company classifies Public Shares subject to redemption outside of permanent equity as the redemption provisions are not solely within the control of the Company. The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and will adjust the carrying value of redeemable shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Immediately upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company recognized the accretion from initial book value to redemption amount value. The change in the carrying value of redeemable shares will result in charges against additional paid-in capital (to the extent available) and accumulated deficit. Accordingly, as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, Class A Ordinary Shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ deficit section of the Company’s condensed balance sheets. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Class A Ordinary Shares subject to redemption reflected in the condensed balance sheets are reconciled in the following table:
| | | |
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2025 | | | |
Plus: | | | |
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value | | | |
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, March 31, 2026 | | | |
Less: | | | |
Redemptions | | | ( |
Plus: | | | |
Accretion of carrying value to redemption value | | | |
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, June 30, 2026 | | $ | |
Income Taxes
The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company’s management determined that the Cayman Islands is the Company’s only major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were
There is currently no taxation imposed on income by the government of the Cayman Islands. In accordance with Cayman Islands federal income tax regulations, income taxes are not levied on the Company. Consequently, income taxes are not reflected in the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.
Net Income (loss) per Ordinary Share
The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”. The Company has two classes of shares, (i) Class A Ordinary Shares and non-redeemable Class A Ordinary Shares and (ii) Class B
F-31
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
Ordinary Shares. The Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares are collectively referred to as the “Ordinary Shares”. Income and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Net income per Ordinary Share is calculated by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted average shares of Ordinary Shares outstanding for the respective period.
The calculation of diluted net income (loss) does not consider the effect of the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering (including the consummation of the over-allotment) and the Private Placement Warrants to purchase an aggregate of
The following tables reflect the calculation of basic and diluted net income per Ordinary Share (in dollars, except per share amounts):
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | ||||||||
| | | | | Class A and | | | | | | | |
| | Class A | | Class B Non- | | | | | | | ||
| | Redeemable | | Redeemable | | Class A | | Class B | ||||
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Numerator: |
| | | | | |
| | |
| | |
Allocation of net income (loss), as adjusted | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | |
Denominator: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Basic and diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share | | $ | ( | | $ | ( | | $ | | | $ | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | ||||||||
| | | | | Class A and | | | | | | | |
| | Class A | | Class B Non- | | | | | | | ||
| | Redeemable | | Redeemable | | Class A | | Class B | ||||
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Numerator: |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Allocation of net income, as adjusted | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | |
Denominator: | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Basic and diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | |
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. Any loss incurred or a lack of access to such funds could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the condensed balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.
F-32
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
Warrant Instruments
The Company accounts for the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering and the private placement in accordance with the guidance contained in FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. Accordingly, the Company evaluated and classified the warrant instruments under equity treatment at their assigned values.
Recent Accounting Standards
In November 2024, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2024-03, “Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses”, requiring public entities to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to the financial statements on an interim and annual basis. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2024-03.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements.
NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. purchased an aggregate of
Each whole Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for
The Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Private Placement Warrants until
F-33
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On November 24, 2021, the Sponsor paid $
On June 7, 2024, the Sponsor transferred
With certain limited exceptions, the Founder Shares are not transferable, assignable or salable (except to the Company’s officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with the Sponsor, each of whom will be subject to the same transfer restrictions) until the earlier to occur of (i)
On June 18, 2026, the Converting Shareholders irrevocably exercised their right to an aggregate of
Administrative Services Agreement
The Company entered into an agreement, commencing on June 25, 2024, through the earlier of consummation of the initial Business Combination and the liquidation, to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor $
F-34
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
$
In addition, the Sponsor, officers and directors, or their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on the Company’s behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable Business Combinations. The Company’s audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by the Company to the Sponsor, executive officers or directors, or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial Business Combination will be made using funds held outside the Trust Account. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, the Company incurred $
Due to Related Party
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer paid certain operating expenses on behalf of the Company. These amounts are payable and have been recorded as due to related party in the accompanying condensed balance sheets. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the outstanding balance related to these payments was $
Promissory Notes — Related Parties
On June 10, 2026, the Company entered into a convertible promissory note (the “Convertible Promissory Note”) with Harraden Circle Investments LLC (“Harraden”) and James Graf, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $
The Loan may, at Harraden’s discretion, be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares at a conversion price equal to $
The Loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and is due at the earlier of (i) the consummation of the Business Combination or (ii) the liquidation of the Company. If the Company liquidates, the Loan will be repaid only from funds held outside of the Trust Account.
As of June 30, 2026, there was a total amount of $
Related Party Loans
On November 20, 2021, as amended on February 9, 2024, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to $
F-35
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor, members of the Company’s founding team or any of their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Risks and Uncertainties
The United States and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the geopolitical instability resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the recent escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and continuing tensions between Israel and the U.S. with Iran. In response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (“NATO”) deployed additional military forces to eastern Europe, and the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other countries have announced various sanctions and restrictive actions against Russia, Belarus and related individuals and entities, including the removal of certain financial institutions from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication payment system. Certain countries, including the United States, have also provided and may continue to provide military aid or other assistance to Ukraine and to Israel, increasing geopolitical tensions among a number of nations. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, continuing tensions between Israel and the U.S. with Iran, and the resulting measures that have been taken, and could be taken in the future, by NATO, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Israel and its neighboring states and other countries have created global security concerns that could have a lasting impact on regional and global economies. Although the length and impact of the ongoing conflicts are highly unpredictable, they could lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, as well as supply chain interruptions and increased cyberattacks against U.S. companies. Additionally, any resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets.
Any of the above mentioned factors, or any other negative impact on the global economy, capital markets or other geopolitical conditions resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, continuing tensions between Israel and the U.S. with Iran, and subsequent sanctions or related actions, could adversely affect the Company’s search for an initial Business Combination and any target business with which the Company may ultimately consummate an initial Business Combination.
Registration Rights
The holders of Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans), will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement signed upon the consummation of the Initial Public Offering. These holders will be entitled to certain demand and “piggyback” registration rights. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company granted the underwriters a
F-36
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
underwriters elected to fully exercise the over-allotment option to purchase the additional
The underwriters were entitled to an underwriting discount of $
Non-Redemption Agreement
On June 26, 2026, in connection with the Meeting, the Company and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements (collectively, the “Non-Redemption Agreements”) with certain of the Company’s existing shareholders (collectively, the “Non-Redeeming Shareholders”) with respect to an aggregate of
In connection with the proposed BIG3 Business Combination, pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor is permitted to transfer up to
The Company evaluated the Non-Redemption Agreements as freestanding equity-linked instruments under ASC 815-10 and ASC 815-40. Upon approval of the Extension on June 26, 2026, the agreements met the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815-40 because the settlement terms became fixed. Accordingly, the Company recognized the fair value of the Assigned Shares as a non-redemption agreements expense with a corresponding capital contribution from the Sponsor. The expense was measured at fair value on the agreement date.
Upon satisfaction of the requirements for the Non-Redemption Agreements, the Sponsor will transfer
F-37
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 7. SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Preference Shares — The Company is authorized to issue
Class A Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue
Class B Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue
The Class B Ordinary Shares will automatically convert into Class A Ordinary Shares concurrently with or immediately following the consummation of the initial Business Combination on a
Warrants — As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, there were
F-38
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
The warrants have an exercise price of $
The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until
Redemption of warrants for cash: Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants for cash:
| ● | In whole and not in part; |
| ● | At a price of $ |
| ● | Upon a minimum of |
| ● | If, and only if, the closing price of Class A Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $ |
The Company will not redeem the warrants for cash unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those Class A Ordinary Shares is available throughout the
If the Company calls the warrants for redemption for cash, as described above, the management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.”
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
F-39
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. |
Level 2: | Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. |
Level 3: | Unobservable inputs based on assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. |
The Company measured the fair value of the Non-Redemption Agreements at inception (June 26, 2026) at $
The fair value was determined using a market approach, in which the value of each Assigned Share was estimated as the product of the Company’s Class A ordinary share closing price on June 26, 2026 ($
The significant unobservable input was the market-implied value ratio, selected at
NOTE 9. SEGMENT INFORMATION
ASC Topic 280, “Segment Reporting,” establishes standards for companies to report in their financial statements information about operating segments, products, services, geographic areas, and major customers. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is regularly evaluated by the Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), or group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.
The Company’s CODM has been identified as the Chief Financial Officer, who reviews the operating results for the Company as a whole to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing financial performance. Accordingly, management has determined that the Company only has
F-40
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2026
(UNAUDITED)
The CODM assesses performance for the single segment and decides how to allocate resources based on net income that also is reported on the unaudited condensed statements of operations as net income. The measure of segment assets is reported on the condensed balance sheets as total assets. When evaluating the Company’s performance and making key decisions regarding resource allocation the CODM reviews several key metrics, which include the following:
| | | | | | |
| | June 30, | | December 31, | ||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | ||
Cash held in Trust Account | | $ | | | $ | |
Cash | | $ | | | $ | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Three Months Ended June 30, | | For the Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2025 | ||||
General and administrative expenses | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | |
Interest earned on cash held in Trust Account | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | | | $ | |
The CODM reviews interest earned on the Trust Account to measure and monitor shareholder value and determine the most effective strategy of investment with the Trust Account funds while maintaining compliance with the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated June 25, 2024, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee.
General and administrative expenses are reviewed and monitored by the CODM to manage and forecast cash to ensure enough capital is available to complete a Business Combination or similar transaction within the Combination Period. The CODM also reviews general and administrative costs to manage, maintain and enforce all contractual agreements to ensure costs are aligned with all agreements and budget. General and administrative expenses, as reported on the unaudited condensed statements of operations, are the significant segment expenses provided to the CODM on a regular basis.
All other segment items included in net income are reported on the unaudited condensed statements of operations and described within their respective disclosures.
The accounting policies used to measure the profit and loss of the segment are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.
NOTE 10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the condensed balance sheet date up to the date that the unaudited condensed financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, other than described below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the unaudited condensed financial statements.
On July 27, 2026, the trading symbols for the Company’s securities on the NYSE American were changed in connection with the proposed BIG3 Business Combination. The symbol for the Company’s Units changed from “GRAF U” to “TONT U”, its Class A Ordinary Shares changed from “GRAF” to “TONT”, and its warrants changed from “GRAF WS” to “TONT WS,” respectively.
On August 10, 2026, the Company entered into a promissory note with Harraden pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $
F-41
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Members and the Board of Managers of
BIG3 HoldCo LLC and Subsidiary
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of BIG3 HoldCo LLC and Subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ deficit, and cash flows for each of the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Substantial Doubt about the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 12 to the financial statements, the Company has incurred recurring losses from operations, has experienced negative cash flows from operating activities, has a members’ deficit as of December 31, 2025, and is dependent on obtaining additional financing to fund its operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s evaluation of the events and conditions and management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 12. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ TAAD LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2026.
Diamond Bar, California
October 27, 2026
PCAOB ID Number 5854
F-42
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, 2025 and 2024
| | | | | | |
| | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
ASSETS | | | | | | |
CURRENT ASSETS | | | | | | |
Cash | | $ | 1,423,091 | | $ | 2,741,295 |
Accounts receivable | |
| 342,814 | |
| 568,058 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred costs | |
| 172,675 | |
| 233,020 |
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | |
| 1,938,580 | |
| 3,542,373 |
TOTAL ASSETS | | $ | 1,938,580 | | $ | 3,542,373 |
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ DEFICIT | | | | | | |
CURRENT LIABILITIES | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 1,319,578 | | $ | 1,068,046 |
Accounts payable - related party | |
| 55,200 | |
| 55,200 |
Accrued liabilities | |
| 447,864 | |
| 332,900 |
Paycheck protection note payable | |
| 826,049 | |
| — |
Notes payable | |
| 5,500,000 | |
| 5,500,000 |
Related party notes payable | |
| 3,091,782 | |
| 3,091,782 |
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | |
| 11,240,473 | |
| 10,047,928 |
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES | | | | | | |
Accrued interest | |
| 1,903,791 | |
| 1,660,408 |
Paycheck protection note payable | |
| — | |
| 826,049 |
Convertible notes payable | |
| 12,433,054 | |
| 10,801,923 |
Convertible notes payable - related party | |
| 17,773,739 | |
| 15,455,425 |
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES | |
| 32,110,584 | |
| 28,743,805 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES | |
| 43,351,057 | |
| 38,791,733 |
MEMBERS’ DEFICIT | | | | | | |
Members’ deficit | | | (71,871,698) | | | (35,249,360) |
Noncontrolling Interest | | | 30,459,221 | | | — |
TOTAL MEMBERS’ DEFICIT | |
| (41,412,477) | |
| (35,249,360) |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ DEFECIT | | $ | 1,938,580 | | $ | 3,542,373 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-43
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024
| | | | | | |
| | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
REVENUE |
| | |
| | |
Events | | $ | 2,025,844 | | $ | 2,453,332 |
Sponsorships | |
| 3,190,000 | |
| 1,660,209 |
Media | |
| 4,100,677 | |
| 5,382,286 |
Merchandise | |
| 88,846 | |
| 180,588 |
TOTAL NET SALES | |
| 9,405,367 | |
| 9,676,415 |
OPERATING EXPENSES | |
| | |
| |
Broadcast purchase | |
| 6,016,495 | |
| 6,075,410 |
Production | |
| 4,633,833 | |
| 4,937,954 |
Uniform | |
| 354,684 | |
| 490,394 |
Marketing & advertising | |
| 1,979,993 | |
| 2,144,525 |
Professional fees | |
| 1,371,527 | |
| 2,124,355 |
Insurance | |
| 1,010,742 | |
| 1,050,468 |
Salaries | |
| 7,105,216 | |
| 8,046,962 |
Agency commission | |
| 565,910 | |
| 711,469 |
Travel | |
| 3,421,009 | |
| 4,064,101 |
General & administrative | |
| 722,007 | |
| 820,826 |
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES | |
| 27,181,416 | |
| 30,466,464 |
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS | |
| (17,776,049) | |
| (20,790,049) |
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) | |
| | |
| |
Gain on settlement - legal | |
| — | |
| 7,500,000 |
Gain on settlement - notes payable | |
| 42,138 | |
| 1,684,187 |
Miscellaneous expense | |
| (115,000) | |
| — |
Other income | |
| — | |
| 2,316,175 |
Interest expense | |
| (4,314,206) | |
| (3,936,643) |
| |
| (4,387,068) | |
| 7,563,719 |
NET LOSS | | (22,163,117) | | (13,226,330) | ||
LESS: NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST IN NET LOSS | | | (5,540,779) | | | — |
NET LOSS FROM CONTROLLING INTEREST | | $ | (16,622,338) | | $ | (13,226,330) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-44
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ DEFICIT
For the Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Note Receivable | | | | ||||
| | | | | | for Capital | | | | |||
| | Members’ | | Non-Controlling | | Contribution | | | | |||
| | Capital | | Interest | | Relating to NCI | | Total | ||||
MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) - January 1, 2024 | | $ | (61,808,653) | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | (61,808,653) |
Net loss | |
| (13,226,330) | |
| — | |
| — | |
| (13,226,330) |
Contributions | |
| 19,785,623 | |
| 40,000,000 | |
| — | |
| 59,785,623 |
Notes receivable for capital contribution | | | — | | | — | | | (20,000,000) | | | (20,000,000) |
MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) - DECEMBER 31, 2024 | |
| (55,249,360) | |
| 40,000,000 | |
| (20,000,000) | |
| (35,249,360) |
Net loss | |
| (16,622,338) | |
| (5,540,779) | |
| — | |
| (22,163,117) |
Payments on notes receivable for capital contribution | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 16,000,000 | |
| 16,000,000 |
MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) - DECEMBER 31, 2025 | | $ | (71,871,698) | | $ | 34,459,221 | | $ | (4,000,000) | |
| (41,412,477) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-45
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024
| | | | | | |
| | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | | | | | |
Net loss - controlling interest | | $ | (16,622,338) | | $ | (13,226,330) |
Net loss - non-controlling interest | | | (5,540,779) | | | — |
Net loss | | (22,163,117) | | (13,226,330) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | |
| | |
| |
Amortization expense | |
| — | |
| 139,911 |
Gain on settlement - legal | |
| — | |
| (7,500,000) |
Gain on settlement - notes payable | |
| (42,138) | |
| (1,684,187) |
PIK interest on convertible notes | |
| 3,949,672 | |
| 3,655,692 |
Amortization of debt discount | |
| 81,911 | |
| 273,038 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |
| | |
| |
Accounts receivable | |
| 225,244 | |
| 506,741 |
Prepaid expenses | |
| 60,345 | |
| 94,001 |
Accounts payable | |
| 251,532 | |
| (2,301,751) |
Accrued interest | |
| 243,383 | |
| 99,699 |
Other accrued liabilities | |
| 114,964 | |
| (411,753) |
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |
| (17,278,204) | |
| (20,354,939) |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |
| | |
| |
Payments received on capital contribution receivable | |
| 16,000,000 | |
| — |
Capital contributions | |
| — | |
| 20,750,000 |
Borrowings on long-term debt | |
| — | |
| 3,091,782 |
Payments made note payable | |
| (40,000) | |
| (1,279,979) |
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES | |
| 15,960,000 | |
| 22,561,803 |
NET CHANGE IN CASH | |
| (1,318,204) | |
| 2,206,864 |
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | |
| 2,741,295 | |
| 534,431 |
CASH, END OF PERIOD | | $ | 1,423,091 | | $ | 2,741,295 |
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES: | |
| | |
| |
Cash paid for interest | | $ | — | | $ | 280,951 |
Non-Cash Financing Transaction - Contribution Notes Receivable | | $ | — | | $ | 20,000,000 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-46
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2025 and 2024
NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of Operations and Principles of Consolidation
BIG3 HoldCo LLC (the “Company”) and its consolidated subsidiary, BIG3 Basketball, LLC (“BIG3 OpCo”), is a sports and entertainment organization that operates a men’s 3-on-3 basketball league. The league was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and BIG3 OpCo. Third-party ownership interests in BIG3 OpCo are presented as noncontrolling interests in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Effective September 18, 2024, BIG3 HoldCo LLC was established and completed a reorganization in which BIG3 Merger Sub LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was created and merged with and into BIG3 Basketball, LLC (“BIG3 OpCo”), with BIG3 OpCo surviving the merger and becoming a consolidated subsidiary of the Company. As part of the reorganization, all limited liability company interests of BIG3 OpCo were converted into a like number, class, and type of limited liability company interests in the Company, and the prior membership interests of the Company were cancelled in accordance with the Agreement and Plan of Merger.
The transaction represented a reorganization of entities under common control and was accounted for in accordance with ASC 805-50. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of BIG3 OpCo were transferred to the Company at historical carrying amounts, no goodwill was recognized, and the consolidated financial statements are presented as if the reorganization had occurred at the beginning of the earliest period presented. Following the reorganization, the Company serves as the holding company for BIG3 OpCo, which continues to operate the 3-on-3 basketball league.
Prior to 2025, the Company operated under a league-centric model with up to twelve teams, in which teams were centrally owned and operated by the league. The season was conducted with games played in multiple cities as part of a touring format rather than in fixed home markets. During 2024, the Company transitioned to a city-based team model, under which teams represented designated metropolitan markets. This transition marked a shift from the previously centralized league-centric format to a structure that emphasized local market representation and community engagement. The league consisted of eight teams in 2025 and twelve teams in 2024.
In 2025, certain local commercialization and operating rights were granted to team operators pursuant to team operating agreements. These arrangements are further discussed in Note 3, Team Operating Agreements.
The Company generates revenue primarily from ticket sales, sponsorship and advertising arrangements, media and broadcast rights, digital media and content distribution, and merchandise sales. The Company’s activities are primarily concentrated in the United States.
Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling interests represent third-party ownership interests in BIG3 OpCo. The Company presents noncontrolling interests separately from the members’ deficit attributable to BIG3 HoldCo LLC in the consolidated balance sheets and statements of changes in members’ deficit. Net income or loss is attributed between BIG3 HoldCo LLC and the noncontrolling interest based on the applicable economic participation provisions of the BIG3 OpCo operating agreement.
Use of Estimates
In preparing consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates include revenue recognition, collectability of receivables, valuation of debt and equity - linked instruments, assessment of variable interest entities, evaluation of contingencies and litigation matters, and going concern considerations.
F-47
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash consists of deposits held at financial institutions. The Company does not hold cash equivalents as of December 31, 2025 and 2024. The Company maintains its cash balances at financial institutions, which at times, may exceed the federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses
The Company carries its accounts receivable at the amount billed, less an allowance for credit losses. The Company recognizes an allowance for credit losses under the guidance of ASC 326. The allowance for credit losses is presented against trade accounts receivable on the balance sheet. Such allowance is based on the credit losses expected to arise over the life of the contractual life of the outstanding receivable.
In estimating expected credit losses, management considers relevant factors, including historical collection experience, current economic conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, as applicable.
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, management determined that expected credit losses were immaterial and, accordingly, no allowance for credit losses was recognized.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for major improvements and betterments that extend the useful lives of assets are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. The Company provides for depreciation of property and equipment over the estimated useful life of the assets. The cost of assets sold or retired, and the related amounts of accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts in the year of the disposal. Any resulting gain or loss is reflected in current operations.
The Company evaluates property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. No impairment of property and equipment was identified as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Property and equipment amounts to $57,977 and was fully depreciated as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Merchandise Inventory
Merchandise inventory consists primarily of apparel and other branded items held for sale at games and other events. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method. Cost of merchandise sold is recognized when the related merchandise is sold.
Merchandise inventory was immaterial as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Prepaid Expenses and Deferred Costs
Periodically, the Company makes payments to third-party vendors in advance of games or makes upfront contractual payments related to media and licensing rights, content, or other overhead costs. These costs are deferred and recognized when the related game or event occurs or over the applicable contractual period.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of purchased domain names, website, and trademarks and are recorded at cost, net of accumulated amortization. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful life with amortization expense being recognized within operating expenses.
F-48
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
The intangible assets, which had an original cost of $173,962 were fully amortized by December 31, 2024. Amortization expense was $0 and $139,911 for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Leases
The Company leases equipment for each season which typically runs from June through August. These leases are short-term in nature, have initial terms of twelve months or less, and do not contain renewal options that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise.
The Company also maintains a month-to-month storage leases for various supplies and promotion products. The lease is on a monthly basis and may be terminated by either party with appropriate notice. The Company has elected the short-term lease exemption under ASC 842 and, accordingly, does not recognize right-of-use assets or lease liabilities related to these arrangements. Lease expense for short-term leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Note Payable
The note payable is recorded at the carrying amount, net of unamortized discounts and unamortized debt issuance costs, if any. The Company’s notes payable do not contain contractual provisions permitting settlement to be deferred beyond one year from the balance sheet date and are therefore classified as current liabilities.
Related Party Notes Payable
The Company’s related party notes payable consist of non-interest-bearing notes due to two members of the Company. The notes do not have stated maturity dates and, due to the absence of contractual provisions that defer settlement beyond twelve months from the consolidated balance sheet date, are classified as current liabilities. The Company has determined that the carrying amounts approximate fair value. The notes are outside the scope of ASC 835 - 30 - 15 - 3 applicable to certain receivables and payables; accordingly, no interest has been imputed.
Convertible Notes Payable
Between 2019 and 2022, the Company issued multiple rounds of convertible promissory notes (the “Convertible Notes”) which included detachable warrants to purchase Class A Units.
The Company’s Convertible Notes bear interest and may be repaid in cash or converted into equity interests of the Company upon the occurrence of specified events. Upon a qualifying equity financing, the outstanding principal and accrued interest may be converted into the same class or series of equity securities issued to investors in such financing at a discounted conversion price. If a qualifying financing does not occur, holders may elect to convert the outstanding balance into Class A Units. In addition, upon certain change-in-control transactions, holders may elect either repayment of the outstanding balance or conversion into Class A Units. Upon conversion, the notes are exchanged for equity interests of the Company and all obligations under the notes are extinguished.
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, a portion of the outstanding Convertible Notes were held by members of the Company. Related-party balances are disclosed in Note 7.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Revenue is recognized when control of promised goods or services transfers to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received. Revenue recognition policies for the Company’s principal revenue streams are further described in Note 2.
F-49
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
Advertising and Marketing Costs
Advertising and Marketing costs are expensed as incurred and reflected in operating expenses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Income Taxes
The Company is organized as a limited liability company and has elected to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and applicable state income tax purposes. Consequently, the Company is not subject to U.S. federal income taxes at the entity level, and no provision for federal income taxes has been reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Taxable income or loss passes through to the members, who report their respective shares on their individual or corporate tax returns.
The Company evaluates its tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Because the Company is treated as a pass-through entity, uncertain tax positions are generally evaluated at the member level, except for positions related to any entity-level taxes. As of the balance sheet date, management has concluded that there are no uncertain tax positions that meet the recognition threshold under ASC 740.
Although not subject to federal income taxes, the Company may be subject to certain state or local entity-level taxes, including franchise, margin, or gross receipts taxes. Such taxes are recognized as incurred and are included in operating expenses accompanying statements.
The Company’s tax returns remain subject to examination by federal and state taxing authorities for the open statute of limitations periods, which currently include the three most recent tax years. The Company has not recorded any interest or penalties related to income taxes for the periods presented. Any such interest or penalties, if incurred, would be recognized as a component of Other expense.
Variable Interest Entities
The Company evaluates arrangements with team operators and other entities to determine whether such entities are variable interest entities and whether consolidation is required under ASC 810. The Company concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of the team operator entities because it does not possess both the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the entities and the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant. Accordingly, such entities are not consolidated. Additional information is provided in Note 3.
NOTE 2 - REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Revenue is recognized when control of promised goods or services is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services.
The Company’s principal sources of revenue include media rights, sponsorship and advertising arrangements, live event operations, merchandise sales, licensing arrangements, and other basketball-related commercial activities.
F-50
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
The following table presents the Company’s revenue disaggregated by major revenue source for the years ended December 31:
| | | | | | |
| | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
Media rights revenue | | $ | 4,100,677 | | $ | 5,382,286 |
Sponsorship and advertising revenue | |
| 3,190,000 | |
| 1,660,209 |
Event-related revenue | |
| 2,025,844 | |
| 2,453,332 |
Merchandise sales | |
| 88,846 | |
| 180,588 |
Total revenue | | $ | 9,405,367 | | $ | 9,676,415 |
Management believes these categories appropriately depict the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows.
Media Rights Revenue
Media rights revenue is generated through agreements granting broadcasters and digital distribution partners the right to distribute game and related content.
Performance obligations are generally satisfied over the contractual broadcast period as programming and content are made available to the customer. Revenue is recognized over time as the associated rights are delivered.
Sponsorship and Advertising Revenue
Sponsorship revenue is derived from league-wide and event-specific sponsorship agreements that provide customers with advertising, promotional benefits, brand visibility, digital content integration, and other marketing rights.
Revenue is recognized over the sponsorship term as the related benefits are provided and performance obligations are satisfied.
Certain sponsorship agreements contain multiple performance obligations. In such cases, consideration is allocated based on estimated standalone selling prices.
Event Revenue
Event revenue includes ticket sales and other event-related activities.
Revenue is recognized at the time the underlying event occurs because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided.
Amounts received before an event occurs are recorded as deferred revenue.
Merchandise Revenue
Merchandise revenue is recognized at the point in time control of the product transfers to the customer, generally upon shipment or delivery, depending on contractual terms.
Contract Balances
Amounts billed and collected in advance of satisfying performance obligations are recorded as deferred revenue and recognized as revenue when the related performance obligations are fulfilled.
Accounts receivable represent unconditional rights to consideration arising from contracts with customers.
The Company had no material contract assets, contract liabilities, or remaining performance obligations as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
F-51
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
NOTE 3 – TEAM OPERATING AGREEMENTS
During 2024, the Company transitioned from a centrally owned league structure to a city-based team model. In connection with this transition, the Company entered into four team operating arrangements and issued related Class B units to designated team operators for aggregate consideration of $40,000,000, or $10,000,000 per team. The Class B Units issued pursuant to the team operating arrangements represent third - party ownership interests in BIG3 OpCo and are presented as noncontrolling interests in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Under the terms of the agreements, a portion of the purchase price was paid at closing, with the remaining amounts payable upon the occurrence of certain contractual milestones and conditions specified in the agreements. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, unpaid commitments related to the Class B Unit subscriptions totaled $4,000,000 and $20,000,000, respectively. The remaining $4,000,000 commitment outstanding at December 31, 2025 had not yet become due because the applicable contractual conditions had not been satisfied as of that date.
The Class B Units constitute third-party ownership interests in BIG3 OpCo and are presented as noncontrolling interests in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The unpaid subscription commitments represent amounts contractually owed by the team operators for their Class B Unit interests and are presented as a reduction of the related noncontrolling interest balance rather than as assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Management evaluated the collectability of the remaining subscription commitments, including the financial capacity of the team operators and the contractual enforceability of the agreements, and concluded that collection of the outstanding balances is probable. The related noncontrolling interest balance will increase as the remaining subscription commitments are collected.
The Company evaluated the team operator entities under ASC 810, Consolidation, and determined that certain team operator entities constitute variable interest entities (“VIEs”). The Company’s variable interests in the team operator entities arise primarily through BIG3 OpCo’s contractual rights and obligations under the applicable team operating agreements, which provide the Company with economic interests in and exposure to the performance of the team operator entities.
The activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the team operator entities include the sourcing of local sponsorship arrangements, local marketing and promotional activities, hiring and management of team personnel, development of local business relationships, management of team operating budgets, and other market-specific operating decisions.
Under the team operating agreements, these activities are directed primarily by the respective team operators. Although the Company has certain league-wide governance and protective rights, management concluded that the team operators have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs.
The Company also considered its economic interests in the team operator entities, including its commercial rights and other arrangements arising from the team operating agreements. While the Company may receive benefits from these arrangements, it does not possess both (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIEs and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIEs.
Because the Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIEs, the Company is not the primary beneficiary under ASC 810 and therefore does not consolidate the team operator entities.
The Company’s involvement with the unconsolidated VIEs is primarily limited to its rights and obligations under the applicable team operating agreements, including governance, league participation and commercialization arrangements. The Company does not provide guarantees or other forms of financial support to the VIEs beyond its contractual obligations under the applicable agreements. Management applied significant judgment in evaluating the governance provisions, economic arrangements, and decision-making rights associated with the team operating agreements in determining that the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the VIEs.
F-52
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company’s maximum exposure to loss associated with the unconsolidated VIEs was approximately $4.0 million and $20.0 million, respectively, consisting primarily of outstanding receivables due from team operator entities. The Company is not contractually obligated to provide guarantees, liquidity arrangements, debt support, or other forms of financial support to the unconsolidated VIEs beyond its existing contractual commitments. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no material exposure arising from guarantees, debt arrangements, or other financial support provided to the unconsolidated VIEs.
NOTE 4 - CONCENTRATIONS, RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The Company’s operations are subject to various risks and uncertainties common to sports, media, and entertainment businesses, including changes in consumer spending patterns, attendance levels, sponsorship demand, media rights valuations, economic conditions, competition, and changes in the marketplace for live events.
Major Customers
For the year ended December 31, 2025, one sponsor accounted for approximately 10.6% of consolidated revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2024, one sponsor accounted for approximately 15.5% of consolidated revenue.
The loss of a significant customer, media partner, sponsor, or commercial relationship could have an adverse effect on future operating results.
Seasonality
Substantially all of the Company’s live event operations are conducted from June through August. As a result, operating results are seasonal and quarterly results are not necessarily indicative of annual performance.
Liquidity Risk
The Company has historically funded operations through a combination of operating revenues, member contributions, team operator investments, debt financing, and convertible note financing. Continued operating losses and liquidity requirements may necessitate additional financing in future periods. Refer to Note 12.
NOTE 5 – DEBT
Convertible Notes
Convertible Notes amounted to $30,234,097 and $26,366,563 as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The Convertible Notes are presented net of unamortized debt discounts of approximately $27,304 and $109,215, resulting in net carrying amounts of $30,206,793 and $26,257,348 as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 15% per annum. Interest is payable annually or can be paid-in-kind. Since inception, no interest payments have been made and all unpaid interest has been added to the outstanding balance in accordance with the applicable financing agreements. Accrued interest is classified as long-term on the consolidated balance sheets as the Company has the contractual right and intent to satisfy such interest through paid-in-kind additions to the Convertible Notes, which mature on a long-term basis. Pursuant to the terms of the agreements, unpaid interest may be capitalized and added to the outstanding principal balance.
In April 2026, the Company entered into an Omnibus Amendment with holders representing the required majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Convertible Notes, which extended the maturity date to May 24, 2028. Management evaluated the amendment under ASC 470-60 and ASC 470-50 and concluded that the amendment should be accounted for as a debt modification. Accordingly, no gain or loss was recognized as a result of the amendment.
F-53
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
Note Payable
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had two notes payable with an aggregate principal balance of $5,500,000. The notes are outside the scope of ASC 835-30-15-3 applicable to certain receivables and payables; accordingly, no interest has been imputed. The notes bear no stated interest rate and have no stated maturity date. Due to the absence of contractual repayment terms and the resulting ability of the holders to demand repayment, the notes are classified as current liabilities as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Notes Payable – Related Party
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had notes payable to two members of the Company with aggregate principal balances of $3,091,782. The notes bear no stated interest rate and have no stated maturity date. The notes were issued in connection with funding provided by members to support the Company’s operations and liquidity requirements. In September 2024, two members entered into a funding agreement with BIG3 OpCo (the “Funding Agreement”), pursuant to which they provided $2.0 million of funding. Under the Funding Agreement, the lenders may elect to convert the $2.0 million of funding, together with $0.9 million of previously provided funding, into a 29% interest in the total gross sale proceeds and/or gross franchise fees realized by BIG3 OpCo from a future sale of a team franchise. Due to the absence of contractual provisions that defer settlement beyond twelve months from the consolidated balance sheet date, the notes are classified as current liabilities as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Paycheck Protection Program Loan
The Company obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan under the SBA 7(a) program. As the loan did not qualify for forgiveness, the full principal amount remained repayable. The PPP loan bears interest at 1.0% per annum and originally required monthly principal and interest payments through October 2026. The loan has been in collections for several years, and the outstanding principal balance was $826,049 as of December 31, 2025 and 2024. No default interest is being assessed on the outstanding balance. The entire outstanding balance was classified as a current liability as of December 31, 2025 because the obligation was contractually due within one year.
Scheduled maturities of debt as of December 31, 2025 are as follows:
| | | |
2026 | | $ | 9,417,831 |
2027 |
| | — |
2028 |
| | 30,206,793 |
Total | | $ | 39,624,624 |
NOTE 6 – WARRANTS AND EQUITY-LINKED INSTRUMENTS
In connection with certain transactions completed during 2019, 2021 and 2022, the Company issued warrants exercisable into Class A Units or Series A-2 Preferred Units. The warrants issued in 2019 expired during 2024 and were not exercised prior to expiration. Certain warrants issued in connection with the Company’s 2021 and 2022 convertible note financings remain outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 and are exercisable pursuant to the terms of the applicable warrant agreements. The Company has evaluated the terms of these warrants and concluded that equity classification is appropriate because the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own equity and meet the applicable conditions for equity treatment under ASC 815.
2019 Warrants
In connection with the Company’s August 2019 convertible note financing, the Company issued freestanding warrants to purchase up to 2,447,126 Class A Units. The warrants were issued to investors on a pro rata basis and collectively represented a fixed percentage of the Company’s fully diluted capitalization at issuance. The warrants expired on August 23, 2024, and no warrants were exercised prior to expiration.
F-54
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
In connection with the Company’s June 2019 Series A-2 Preferred capital raise, the Company issued freestanding warrants to purchase up to 1,792,852 Series A-2 Preferred Units. The warrants were issued to investors on a pro rata basis and collectively represented a fixed percentage of the Company’s fully diluted capitalization at issuance. The warrants expired on June 25, 2024, and no warrants were exercised prior to expiration.
2021–2022 Warrants
In connection with convertible note financings completed during 2021 and 2022, the Company issued additional detachable warrants to purchase Class A Units. These warrants remain outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
The 2021-2022 warrants are exercisable for an aggregate of up to 5,986,031 Class A Units. The warrants have exercise prices established pursuant to the applicable financing agreements and are subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. Holders may exercise the warrants on either a cash or net-issue basis, depending on the provisions of the related agreements.
The warrants have contractual terms of five years from their respective issuance dates. The warrants expire on July 26, 2026. No warrants were exercised during the years ended December 31, 2025 or 2024.
The Company evaluated the detachable warrants issued in connection with the convertible note financings and determined the fair value of the warrants at the issuance date. A portion of the financing proceeds was allocated to the warrants based on their relative fair value at issuance, with a corresponding debt discount recorded against the related convertible notes payable. The debt discount is amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt using the effective interest method. The warrants are accounted for in accordance with the applicable guidance in ASC 470, Debt, and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The unamortized debt discount amounted to $27,304 and $109,215 at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Below is a summary of the warrant activity for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Oustanding at | | | | | | | | Outstanding at |
| | Exercise | | January 1, | | | | | | | | December 31, | |
Warrant Series | | Price | | 2024 | | Issued | | Exercised | | Expired | | 2024 | |
2019 Class A | | $ | 7.06 |
| 2,447,126 |
| — |
| — |
| (2,447,126) |
| — |
2019 Series A-2 Preferred | | $ | 8.90 |
| 1,792,852 |
| — |
| — |
| (1,792,852) |
| — |
2021/2022 Class A | | $ | 7.06 |
| 3,934,215 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 3,934,215 |
2021/2022 Class A | | $ | 8.90 |
| 2,051,816 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 2,051,816 |
| | | | | 10,226,009 | | — |
| — | | (4,239,978) | | 5,986,031 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Oustanding at | | | | | | | | Outstanding at |
| | Exercise | | January 1, | | | | | | | | December 31, | |
Warrant Series | | Price | | 2025 | | Issued | | Exercised | | Expired | | 2025 | |
2021/2022 Class A | | $ | 7.06 |
| 3,934,215 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 3,934,215 |
2021/2022 Class A | | $ | 8.90 |
| 2,051,816 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 2,051,816 |
| | | | | 5,986,031 | | — | | — | | — | | 5,986,031 |
The equity impact of the warrants is reflected within Members’ Capital in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
NOTE 7 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company engages in transactions with members and other related parties in the ordinary course of business, including financing arrangements and reimbursements of expenses paid on behalf of the Company. Related-party transactions are evaluated in accordance with ASC 850, Related Party Disclosures.
Related-party balances primarily consist of financing arrangements with entities affiliated with the Company’s founders and members.
F-55
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
Related-party balances consisted of the following as of December 31:
| | | | | | |
| | 2025 | | 2024 | ||
Accounts payable to owners | | $ | 55,200 | | $ | 55,200 |
Notes payable to members | |
| 3,091,782 | |
| 3,091,782 |
Convertible notes payable to members | |
| 17,773,739 | |
| 15,455,425 |
Total related-party obligations | | $ | 20,920,721 | | $ | 18,602,407 |
Accounts payable balances relate primarily to operating expenditures paid by owners on behalf of the Company. The amounts are non-interest-bearing and payable on demand.
Refer to Note 5 for the terms of the notes payable and convertible notes.
NOTE 8 – MEMBERS’ EQUITY
The Company has authorized and issued two classes of common membership interests, consisting of Class A Units and Class B Units, and three series of preferred membership interests, consisting of Series A-1 Preferred Units, Series A-2 Preferred Units, and Series B Preferred Units. The rights, preferences and privileges of the membership interests are governed by the Company’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement.
Class A Units
Class A Units represent voting common membership interests of the Company. Holders of Class A Units are entitled to one vote per unit on matters submitted to the members and participate in distributions of available cash and distributions upon liquidation, subject to the preferential rights of the Preferred Units.
Class A Unit holders are entitled to receive a cumulative, non-compounding priority return of 6% per annum on their unreturned capital contributions in accordance with the distribution provisions of the LLC Agreement. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, no cumulative priority returns had been accrued or earned.
Class B Units
Class B Units are non-voting membership interests issued primarily to employees, consultants, advisors and other service providers. The Class B Units are intended to qualify as profits interests for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Class B Units generally participate in distributions only after other equity holders have received distributions equal to the applicable participation threshold established at the time of issuance. Accordingly, the Class B Units have economic rights subordinate to the Company’s Preferred Units and Class A Units with respect to certain liquidation and distribution events.
Preferred Units
The Company has issued Series A-1 Preferred Units, Series A-2 Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units (collectively, the “Preferred Units”). The Preferred Units possess certain rights and preferences that rank senior to the Company’s common equity interests.
Conversion Rights
Each Preferred Unit is convertible into one Class A Unit at the option of the holder, subject to adjustment for unit splits, recapitalizations, combinations, reorganizations, reclassifications and certain dilutive issuances as defined in the LLC Agreement.
F-56
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
The original issue prices of the Preferred Units are as follows:
| | | |
Preferred Unit Series | | Original Issue Price | |
Series A-1 Preferred Units | | $ | 7.23930 |
Series A-2 Preferred Units | | $ | 7.05580 |
Series B Preferred Units | | $ | 0.04288 |
The Preferred Units automatically convert into Class A Units upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the LLC Agreement, including a qualified public offering or upon approval by the requisite holders of the Preferred Units.
Liquidation Preference
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution, winding up or Deemed Liquidation Event, holders of Preferred Units are entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution to holders of common units, an amount equal to 1.25 times the applicable original issue price of each Preferred Unit, plus any amounts otherwise payable under the LLC Agreement.
Following payment of the applicable liquidation preference, any remaining proceeds are distributed to the holders of common equity interests in accordance with the LLC Agreement. Holders of Preferred Units may participate on an as-converted basis whenever such treatment results in a greater return than receipt of the stated liquidation preference.
Voting Rights
Except as otherwise required by law or the LLC Agreement, holders of Preferred Units vote together with holders of Class A Units on an as-converted basis.
Protective Provisions
The Preferred Units possess certain protective rights requiring approval of the holders of a specified percentage of the outstanding Preferred Units before the Company may undertake certain actions, including:
| ● | Authorizing or issuing securities senior to or on parity with the Preferred Units; |
| ● | Creating additional classes or series of preferred equity; |
| ● | Amending the LLC Agreement in a manner that adversely affects the rights of Preferred Unit holders; |
| ● | Effecting certain mergers, consolidations, recapitalizations or liquidation transactions; |
| ● | Incurring certain indebtedness or entering into other significant corporate transactions. |
In addition, holders of Series B Preferred Units possess separate class voting rights with respect to specified actions affecting the rights and preferences of the Series B Preferred Units.
Distributions
Distributions of available cash and capital proceeds are made in accordance with the LLC Agreement. Available cash distributions are generally made:
| 1. | First, to members entitled to accrued but unpaid priority returns. |
| 2. | Thereafter, to the applicable members in accordance with their respective ownership interests. |
F-57
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
Distributions from capital transactions are generally made:
Transfer Restrictions
Transfers of membership interests are subject to various restrictions under the LLC Agreement, including rights of first refusal, co-sale rights, drag-along rights, preemptive rights and other customary transfer limitations.
Below is a summary of the unit activity for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Common Units
| | | | |
| | Class A Units | | Class B Units |
Balance at January 1, 2024 |
| 29,065,279 |
| 3,142,145 |
Units issued |
| — |
| — |
Conversion of preferred units |
| — |
| — |
Units forfeited, repurchased or canceled |
| (454,546) |
| — |
Balance at December 31, 2024 |
| 28,610,733 |
| 3,142,145 |
Units issued |
| — |
| — |
Conversion of preferred units |
| — |
| — |
Units forfeited, repurchased or canceled |
| — |
| — |
Balance at December 31, 2025 |
| 28,610,733 |
| 3,142,145 |
Preferred Units
| | | | | | |
| | Series A-1 | | Series A-2 | | Series B |
Balance at January 1, 2024 |
| 1,381,343 |
| 1,792,852 |
| — |
Units issued |
| — |
| — |
| 47,307,887 |
Conversion of preferred units |
| — |
| — |
| — |
Units forfeited, repurchased or canceled |
| — |
| — |
| — |
Balance at December 31, 2024 |
| 1,381,343 |
| 1,792,852 |
| 47,307,887 |
Units issued |
| — |
| — |
| — |
Conversion of preferred units |
| — |
| — |
| — |
Units forfeited, repurchased or canceled |
| — |
| — |
| — |
Balance at December 31, 2025 |
| 1,381,343 |
| 1,792,852 |
| 47,307,887 |
BIG3 OpCo Units
BIG3 OpCo has issued Class A Units and Class B Units pursuant to its Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement. Class A Units generally represent ownership interests in the operating activities of BIG3 OpCo. Class B Units represent team-specific ownership interests that participate in distributions and allocations attributable to the applicable team interests (see Note 3). The rights of the Class A Units and Class B Units are governed by the operating agreement of BIG3 Basketball, LLC and differ from the rights associated with the membership interests of BIG3 HoldCo LLC.
Holders of Class B Units are third-party owners of team interests in BIG3 OpCo. As a result, the economic interests represented by the outstanding Class B Units are reflected as noncontrolling interests in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Net losses attributable to such Class B Unit holders are presented as net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in the accompanying
F-58
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
consolidated statements of operations, and the related noncontrolling interests are separately presented within members’ deficit on the consolidated balance sheets and statements of changes in members’ equity.
For the year ended December 31, 2025, net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests was approximately $5.5 million.
Members’ Capital includes the effects of equity-classified warrants as described in Note 6.
NOTE 9 – SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
On October 25, 2024, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement with a former investor to fully resolve pending litigation and disputes between the parties. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, all parties mutually released one another from any and all claims—known or unknown, asserted or unasserted—arising from or relating to the disputes described therein. The Settlement Agreement specifies that no monetary consideration is owed by either party, and all prior payment obligations, alleged receivables, or potential liabilities connected to the previously asserted claims have been extinguished and fully satisfied as of October 25, 2024.
In connection with the Settlement Agreement, the Company evaluated its prior recorded obligations and contingencies in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies, and determined that it was legally released from the previously recognized obligations associated with the disputes. As a result, the Company derecognized a net amount of $7,500,000 during the year ended December 31, 2024, which is reflected in gain on settlement - legal in the consolidated statement of operations.
The Settlement Agreement includes customary provisions such as mutual releases, confidentiality, non- disparagement, and a covenant not to pursue future claims relating to the released matters. The Agreement does not constitute an admission of liability by any party.
Management has evaluated the terms of the Settlement Agreement and believes that all obligations arising under the Agreement have been satisfied as of December 31, 2025. Accordingly, no further gain or loss is expected related to the settlement.
NOTE 10 – NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS (“NFT”)
During 2022, the Company offered and sold a series of non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) in multiple tiers, including FIRE Tier NFTs and Gold Tier NFTs, which included various stated utilities and benefits to NFT holders for a specified team. Benefits include purchaser branding on team apparel, tickets, merchandise and entitlement to specified proceeds if the team is subsequently sold. The NFTs were sold to individual purchasers and entities at specified price points at the time of issuance.
Subsequent to the issuance of the NFTs, the Company determined that it would no longer honor certain utilities and benefits associated with the NFTs. As a result, disputes have arisen with certain NFT purchasers. During 2025, the Company entered into settlement agreements with two NFT purchasers. One settlement related to a FIRE Tier NFT resulted in a cash payment by the Company of $50,000, and a second settlement related to a FIRE Tier NFT resulted in a cash payment of $65,000. These settlements fully resolved the related claims with those purchasers.
The Company is a defendant in two pending legal actions brought by NFT purchasers in California alleging damages arising from the Company’s discontinuation of the NFT utilities. The matters are in the early stages of litigation and remain unresolved. The Company is currently unable to predict the outcome of these matters or estimate a reasonably possible range of loss, if any, beyond amounts already paid, due to the early stage of the proceedings and uncertainties associated with litigation. Accordingly, no additional liability has been recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements related to these matters.
The NFT proceeds received in 2022 were recognized as revenue at the time of sale. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had no remaining deferred revenue, liability, or other balance sheet obligation related to the NFTs or the associated utilities. Management evaluated the status of the NFT arrangements and determined that no unfulfilled performance obligations remained as of December 31, 2025 or 2024.
F-59
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
The Company evaluates these matters in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies, and will record a liability when it is both probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Additional losses may be incurred, and the ultimate resolution of these matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
The Company will continue to evaluate these matters each reporting period.
NOTE 11 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company enters into various agreements in the ordinary course of business, including media, sponsorship, production, event services, and team operator arrangements. Many of these agreements contain performance obligations, minimum deliverables, termination rights, indemnification provisions, and other customary contractual terms. The majority of these arrangements are short-term in nature and are recognized in the consolidated financial statements as the related goods and services are received.
The Company has also entered into operating agreements and team operator agreements that establish the rights and obligations of Class B Unit holders and team operators, including provisions related to capital contributions, governance, transfer restrictions, distribution rights, dispute resolution, and other operating matters.
The Company evaluates contingencies in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies. A liability is recorded when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. If a loss is reasonably possible but not probable, or if the amount of loss cannot be reasonably estimated, the nature of the contingency is disclosed when material.
Except as disclosed in Note 9, Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims, and Note 10, Non-Fungible Tokens (“NFTs”), management is not aware of any material claims, assessments, litigation, or other contingencies requiring accrual or additional disclosure as of December 31, 2025 and 2024.
F-60
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
NOTE 12 – GOING CONCERN
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. Since inception, the Company has incurred recurring operating losses and has experienced negative cash flows from operations. For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company incurred net losses of $22,163,117 and $13,226,330, respectively. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had total members’ deficits, including noncontrolling interests, of $41,412,477 and $35,249,360, respectively. Additionally, net cash used in operating activities was $17,278,204 and $20,354,939 during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to generate profitable operations and/or obtain additional financing through debt borrowings, equity contributions, strategic transactions, or other capital-raising activities.
Management has evaluated the significance of these conditions and events in relation to the Company’s ability to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date the consolidated financial statements are issued. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s recurring losses from operations, negative operating cash flows, and dependence on continued external financing raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Management’s plans include pursuing additional equity and debt financing from existing and prospective investors, increasing sponsorship and media rights revenues, pursuing opportunities relating to team sales and other strategic transactions, implementing cost-control measures intended to reduce operating expenditures, and pursuing the Business Combination and prospective SPAC transaction. The Business Combination, prospective SPAC transaction, and other financing activities that require third-party participation are not entirely within management’s control. The Company has historically funded its operations through a combination of debt and equity financings and continues to evaluate additional capital- raising opportunities. Management believes these initiatives, together with potential proceeds from team sales and continued growth in commercial revenues, may provide additional liquidity to support future operations. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining sufficient capital, increasing revenues, completing the Business Combination or prospective SPAC transaction, or achieving profitable operations. Accordingly, management has concluded that these plans do not alleviate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date these consolidated financial statements are issued.
The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE 13 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Convertible Notes
In April 2026, the Company and holders representing the required majority of the outstanding convertible promissory notes entered into an Omnibus Amendment to the Company’s outstanding convertible note agreements. The amendment extended the maturity date of the Convertible Notes from May 24, 2026 to May 24, 2028. Management evaluated the amendment under ASC 470-60 and ASC 470-50 and concluded that the amendment should be accounted for as a debt modification. Accordingly, no gain or loss was recognized as a result of the amendment. The amendment did not change the carrying amount of the Convertible Notes as of December 31, 2025.
Business Combination
The Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2026 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among the Company, Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Graf”), Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pubco”), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), and Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, (i) SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into Graf, with Graf continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco and (ii) Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly- owned subsidiary of Pubco.
F-61
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
December 31, 2025 and 2024
The aggregate consideration to be paid or payable to holders of the equity securities of the Company and securities convertible into equity securities of the Company as of the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “BCA Closing”) will consist of a number of newly issued shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (x) the result of (i) $290,000,000 plus (ii) the Company’s Cash Position at the BCA Closing, divided by (y) $10.83. Also, at the BCA Closing, Pubco shall cause the holders of Company membership interests immediately prior to the BCA Closing to be issued an aggregate of an additional 2,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, which shall be unvested until uncertain earnout conditions are satisfied.
The BCA Closing is subject to a number of conditions customary in transactions involving special purpose acquisition companies.
On October 27, 2026, Pubco and the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC in connection with the Business Combination.
NFT Settlements
Subsequent to December 31, 2025, the Company entered into settlement agreements with certain holders of FIRE Tier NFTs. Pursuant to the settlement agreements, the related NFTs and associated contractual rights were cancelled, terminated, and extinguished in exchange for Class A Units of the Company. The settlements resolved and released potential claims related to the NFT arrangements. No adjustments have been recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements because the settlements occurred subsequent to December 31, 2025.
Capital Raise
During the six months ended June 30, 2026, the Company issued 6,126,255 Class A Units in connection with capital contributions from investors totaling approximately $9.8 million. In addition, the Company issued 176,235 Class A Units pursuant to settlements of NFT-related claims. Subsequent to June 30, 2026, the Company received aggregate cash proceeds of approximately $7.5 million from the issuance of 4,459,851 Class A Units.
Convertible Note Conversion
On September 15, 2026, the Company consummated a Qualified Financing, as defined in certain outstanding convertible promissory notes, consisting of the issuance of Class A Units at a price of $1.6443 per unit. In connection with the Qualified Financing, holders of the outstanding Convertible Notes elected to convert approximately $35.4 million of outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest into 26,946,590 Class A Units at a conversion price of $1.3154 per unit, representing 80% of the price per Class A Unit in the Qualified Financing. Upon conversion, the applicable Convertible Notes were cancelled and the Company’s obligations thereunder were terminated.
F-62
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
| | | | | | |
| | June 30, | | December 31, | ||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | ||
ASSETS |
| | |
| | |
CURRENT ASSETS |
| | |
| | |
Cash | | $ | 5,470,603 | | $ | 1,423,091 |
Accounts receivable | |
| 1,617,725 | |
| 342,814 |
Contributions receivable | |
| 3,250,333 | |
| — |
Prepaid expenses and deferred costs | |
| 79,031 | |
| 172,675 |
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | |
| 10,417,692 | |
| 1,938,580 |
TOTAL ASSETS | | $ | 10,417,692 | | $ | 1,938,580 |
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ DEFICIT |
| | |
| | |
CURRENT LIABILITIES |
| | |
| | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 3,309,782 | | $ | 1,319,578 |
Accounts payable – related party | |
| — | |
| 55,200 |
Accrued liabilities | |
| 233,442 | |
| 447,864 |
Investor advances | |
| 1,250,000 | |
| — |
Deferred revenue | |
| 1,435,000 | |
| — |
Paycheck protection note payable | |
| 826,049 | |
| 826,049 |
Notes payable | |
| 5,500,000 | |
| 5,500,000 |
Related party notes payable | |
| 3,091,782 | |
| 3,091,782 |
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | |
| 15,646,055 | |
| 11,240,473 |
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES | |
| | |
| |
Accrued interest | |
| 3,625,959 | |
| 1,903,791 |
Convertible notes payable | |
| 12,460,358 | |
| 12,433,054 |
Convertible notes payable – related party | |
| 18,230,001 | |
| 17,773,739 |
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES | |
| 34,316,318 | |
| 32,110,584 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES | |
| 49,962,373 | |
| 43,351,057 |
MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) | |
| | |
| |
Members’ deficit | |
| (67,940,642) | |
| (71,871,698) |
Noncontrolling interest | |
| 28,395,961 | |
| 30,459,221 |
TOTAL MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) | |
| (39,544,681) | |
| (41,412,477) |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ DEFECIT | | $ | 10,417,692 | | $ | 1,938,580 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-63
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended June 30, | | Six months ended June 30, | ||||||||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2025 | ||||
REVENUE |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Events | | $ | 155,504 | | $ | 638,338 | | $ | 155,504 | | $ | 638,338 |
Sponsorships | |
| 545,000 | |
| 829,000 | |
| 545,000 | |
| 829,000 |
Media | |
| 655,906 | |
| 891,140 | |
| 657,092 | |
| 891,765 |
Merchandise | |
| 561 | |
| 8,578 | |
| 936 | |
| 11,160 |
Fan experience | |
| 1,143 | |
| — | |
| 1,143 | |
| — |
TOTAL NET SALES | |
| 1,358,114 | |
| 2,367,056 | |
| 1,359,675 | |
| 2,370,263 |
OPERATING EXPENSES | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Broadcast purchase | | | 818,751 | | | 957,600 | | | 818,751 | | | 957,600 |
Production | |
| 1,274,333 | |
| 1,853,214 | |
| 1,305,956 | |
| 1,863,076 |
Uniform | |
| 164,403 | |
| 144,386 | |
| 188,944 | |
| 221,490 |
Marketing & advertising | |
| 391,529 | |
| 719,842 | |
| 462,855 | |
| 836,428 |
Professional fees | |
| 785,700 | |
| 308,348 | |
| 1,007,205 | |
| 567,019 |
Insurance | |
| 100,284 | |
| 333,590 | |
| 279,331 | |
| 564,204 |
Salaries | |
| 1,395,048 | |
| 1,376,207 | |
| 1,803,137 | |
| 1,747,774 |
Agency commission | |
| 55,448 | |
| 116,680 | |
| 55,448 | |
| 116,680 |
Travel | |
| 948,101 | |
| 1,194,249 | |
| 1,023,140 | |
| 1,253,632 |
General & administrative | |
| 79,246 | |
| 143,902 | |
| 327,704 | |
| 373,218 |
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES | |
| 6,012,843 | |
| 7,148,018 | |
| 7,272,471 | |
| 8,501,121 |
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS | |
| (4,654,729) | |
| (4,780,962) | |
| (5,912,796) | |
| (6,130,858) |
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Legal settlement | | | (287,501) | |
| (65,000) | |
| (287,501) | |
| (65,000) |
Gain on settlement – notes payable | |
| — | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 42,138 |
Interest expense | |
| (1,499,176) | |
| (983,193) | |
| (2,052,741) | |
| (1,492,600) |
| |
| (1,786,677) | |
| (1,048,193) | |
| (2,340,242) | |
| (1,515,462) |
NET LOSS | |
| (6,441,406) | |
| (5,829,155) | |
| (8,253,038) | |
| (7,646,320) |
LESS: NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST IN NET LOSS | |
| (1,610,352) | |
| (1,457,289) | |
| (2,063,260) | |
| (1,911,580) |
NET LOSS FROM CONTROLLING INTEREST | |
| (4,831,054) | |
| (4,371,866) | | $ | (6,189,778) | |
| (5,734,740) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-64
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS’ DEFICIT
(Unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Notes Receivable for | | | | |
| | | | | Non-Controlling | | Capital Contribution | | | | ||
| | Members’ Capital | | Interest | | Relating to NCI | | Total | ||||
MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) – January 1, 2026 | | $ | (71,871,698) | | $ | 34,459,221 | | $ | (4,000,000) | | $ | (41,412,477) |
Net loss | |
| (6,189,778) | |
| (2,063,260) | |
| — | |
| (8,253,038) |
Contributions | |
| 10,120,834 | |
| | |
| — | |
| 10,120,834 |
MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) – JUNE 30, 2026 | | $ | (67,940,642) | | $ | 32,395,961 | | $ | (4,000,000) | | $ | (39,544,681) |
MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) – January 1, 2025 | | $ | (55,249,360) | | $ | 40,000,000 | | $ | (20,000,000) | | $ | (35,249,360) |
Net loss | |
| (5,734,740) | |
| (1,911,580) | |
| — | |
| (7,646,320) |
Payments on notes receivable for capital contribution | |
| — | |
| | |
| 12,000,000 | |
| 12,000,000 |
MEMBERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT) – JUNE 30, 2025 | | $ | (60,984,100) | | $ | 38,088,420 | | $ | (8,000,000) | | $ | (30,895,680) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-65
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
| | | | | | |
| | Six months ended June 30, | ||||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | ||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
| | |
| | |
Net loss – controlling interest | | $ | (6,189,778) | | $ | (5,734,740) |
Net loss – non-controlling interest | |
| (2,063,260) | |
| (1,911,580) |
Net loss | |
| (8,253,038) | |
| (7,646,320) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | |
| | | | |
Legal settlement | | | — | |
| 65,000 |
Gain on settlement – notes payable | |
| — | |
| (42,138) |
PIK interest on convertible notes | |
| 483,566 | |
| 443,800 |
Amortization of debt discount | |
| — | |
| 68,259 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable and contribution receivable | |
| (4,525,244) | |
| (2,219,781) |
Prepaid expenses | |
| 93,644 | |
| 199,909 |
Accounts payable | |
| 1,935,004 | |
| 1,445,963 |
Accrued interest | |
| 1,722,168 | |
| 1,492,600 |
Investor advances | |
| 1,250,000 | |
| — |
Other accrued liabilities | |
| (214,422) | |
| (174,801) |
Deferred revenue | |
| 1,435,000 | |
| 714,214 |
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES | |
| (6,073,322) | |
| (5,653,295) |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |
| | |
| |
Payments received on capital contribution receivable | |
| — | |
| 12,000,000 |
Capital contributions | |
| 10,120,834 | |
| — |
Borrowings on debt | |
| — | |
| — |
Payments made note payable | |
| — | |
| (40,000) |
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | | 10,120,834 | |
| 11,960,000 |
NET CHANGE IN CASH | |
| 4,047,512 | |
| 6,306,705 |
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | |
| 1,423,091 | |
| 2,741,295 |
CASH, END OF PERIOD | | $ | 5,470,603 | | $ | 9,048,000 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-66
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of Operations and Principles of Consolidation
BIG3 HoldCo LLC (the “Company”) and its consolidated subsidiary, BIG3 Basketball, LLC (“BIG3 OpCo”), is a sports and entertainment organization that operates a men’s 3-on-3 basketball league. The league was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and BIG3 OpCo. Third-party ownership interests in BIG3 OpCo are presented as noncontrolling interests in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Effective September 18, 2024, BIG3 HoldCo LLC was established and completed a reorganization in which BIG3 Merger Sub LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was created and merged with and into BIG3 Basketball, LLC (“BIG3 OpCo”), with BIG3 OpCo surviving the merger and becoming a consolidated subsidiary of the Company. As part of the reorganization, all limited liability company interests of BIG3 OpCo were converted into a like number, class, and type of limited liability company interests in the Company, and the prior membership interests of the Company were cancelled in accordance with the Agreement and Plan of Merger.
The transaction represented a reorganization of entities under common control and was accounted for in accordance with ASC 805-50. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of BIG3 OpCo were transferred to the Company at historical carrying amounts, no goodwill was recognized, and the condensed consolidated financial statements are presented as if the reorganization had occurred at the beginning of the earliest period presented. Following the reorganization, the Company serves as the holding company for BIG3 OpCo, which continues to operate the 3-on-3 basketball league.
Prior to 2025, the Company operated under a league-centric model with up to twelve teams, in which teams were centrally owned and operated by the league. The season was conducted with games played in multiple cities as part of a touring format rather than in fixed home markets. During 2024, the Company transitioned to a city-based team model, under which teams represented designated metropolitan markets. This transition marked a shift from the previously centralized league-centric format to a structure that emphasized local market representation and community engagement. The league consisted of eight teams in 2026 and 2025.
In 2025, certain local commercialization and operating rights were granted to team operators pursuant to team operating agreements. These arrangements are further discussed in Note 3, Team Operating Agreements.
The Company generates revenue primarily from ticket sales, sponsorship and advertising arrangements, media and broadcast rights, digital media and content distribution, and merchandise sales. The Company’s activities are primarily concentrated in the United States.
Noncontrolling Interests
Noncontrolling interests represent third-party ownership interests in BIG3 OpCo. The Company presents noncontrolling interests separately from the members’ deficit attributable to BIG3 HoldCo LLC in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of changes in members’ deficit. Net income or loss is attributed between BIG3 HoldCo LLC and the noncontrolling interest based on the applicable economic participation provisions of the BIG3 OpCo operating agreement.
Basis of Interim Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.
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BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any future period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes as of and for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Use of Estimates
In preparing condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates include revenue recognition, collectability of receivables, valuation of debt instruments, assessment of variable interest entities, going concern considerations, and evaluation of contingent liabilities.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash consists of deposits held at financial institutions. The Company does not hold cash equivalent as of June 30, 2026 or December 31, 2025. The Company maintains its cash balances at financial institutions, which at times, may exceed the federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses
The Company carries its accounts receivable at the amount billed, less an allowance for credit losses. The Company recognizes an allowance for credit losses under the guidance of ASC 326. The allowance for credit losses is presented against trade accounts receivable on the balance sheet. Such allowance is based on the credit losses expected to arise over the life of the contractual life of the outstanding receivable. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, no allowance for credit loss is necessary.
In estimating expected credit losses, management considers relevant factors, including historical collection experience, current economic conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, as applicable.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for major improvements and betterments that extend the useful lives of assets are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. The Company provides for depreciation of property and equipment over the estimated useful life of the assets. The cost of assets sold or retired, and the related amounts of accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts in the year of the disposal. Any resulting gain or loss is reflected in current operations.
The Company evaluates property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. No impairment of property and equipment was identified as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025.
Property and equipment amounts to $57,977 and was fully depreciated as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025.
Merchandise Inventory
Merchandise inventory consists primarily of apparel and other branded items held for sale at games and other events. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method. Cost of merchandise sold is recognized when the related merchandise is sold.
Merchandise inventory was immaterial as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025.
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BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Prepaid Expenses and Deferred Costs
Periodically, the Company makes payments to third-party vendors in advance of games or makes upfront contractual payments related to media and licensing rights, content, or other overhead costs. These costs are deferred and recognized when the related game or event occurs or over the applicable contractual period.
Leases
The Company leases equipment for each season which typically runs from June through August. These leases are short-term in nature, have initial terms of twelve months or less, and do not contain renewal options that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise.
The Company also maintains a month-to-month storage leases for various supplies and promotion products. The lease is on a monthly basis and may be terminated by either party with appropriate notice. The Company has elected the short-term lease exemption under ASC 842 and, accordingly, does not recognize right-of-use assets or lease liabilities related to these arrangements. Lease expense for short-term leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Note Payable
The note payable is recorded at the carrying amount, net of unamortized discounts and unamortized debt issuance costs, if any. The Company’s notes payable do not contain contractual provisions permitting settlement to be deferred beyond one year from the balance sheet date and are therefore classified as current liabilities.
Related Party Notes Payable
The Company’s related party notes payable consist of non-interest-bearing notes due to two members of the Company. The notes do not have stated maturity dates and, due to the absence of contractual provisions that defer settlement beyond twelve months from the consolidated balance sheet date, are classified as current liabilities. The Company has determined that the carrying amounts approximate fair value. The notes are outside the scope of ASC 835-30-15-3 applicable to certain receivables and payables; accordingly, no interest has been imputed.
Convertible Notes Payable
Between 2019 and 2022, the Company issued multiple rounds of convertible promissory notes (the “Convertible Notes”) which included detachable warrants to purchase Class A Units.
The Company’s Convertible Notes bear interest and may be repaid in cash or converted into equity interests of the Company upon the occurrence of specified events. Upon a qualifying equity financing, the outstanding principal and accrued interest may be converted into the same class or series of equity securities issued to investors in such financing at a discounted conversion price. If a qualifying financing does not occur, holders may elect to convert the outstanding balance into Class A Units. In addition, upon certain change-in-control transactions, holders may elect either repayment of the outstanding balance or conversion into Class A Units. Upon conversion, the notes are exchanged for equity interests of the Company and all obligations under the notes are extinguished.
In 2026, the Company completed an equity financing that did not meet the contractual definition of a qualifying financing under the convertible note agreements. Accordingly, the financing did not trigger automatic conversion of the notes. Subsequent conversion occurred pursuant to the holders’ election under the alternative conversion provisions contained in the agreements.
The Company evaluated the convertible notes under ASC 815-15 to determine whether any embedded features require bifurcation and separate accounting as derivatives.
The notes contain (i) a conversion feature that permits conversion of principal and accrued interest into equity securities issued in a qualifying equity financing at a discounted conversion price, (ii) an optional conversion feature allowing holders to convert the
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BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
outstanding balance into Class A Units if a qualifying financing does not occur, and (iii) provisions that, upon certain change-in-control transactions, permit holders to elect either repayment of the outstanding balance or conversion into Class A Units.
Management evaluated each embedded feature in accordance with ASC 815-15, including whether the economic characteristics and risks of the features are clearly and closely related to the debt host and whether the embedded features meet the definition of a derivative requiring bifurcation. Management concluded that the conversion and settlement provisions are indexed to, and would be settled in, the Company’s own equity interests and do not require separate accounting as derivative instruments. Accordingly, no bifurcation of embedded derivative features was required, and the notes were accounted for as a single debt instrument until conversion or settlement.
Upon conversion of the notes into equity interests, the carrying amount of the notes, including accrued interest, is reclassified to equity and no gain or loss is recognized.
As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, a portion of the outstanding Convertible Notes were held by members of the Company. Related-party balances are disclosed in Note 7.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Revenue is recognized when control of promised goods or services transfers to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received. Revenue recognition policies for the Company’s principal revenue streams are further described in Note 2.
Advertising and Marketing Costs
Advertising and Marketing costs are expensed as incurred and reflected in operating expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Income Taxes
The Company is organized as a limited liability company and has elected to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and applicable state income tax purposes. Consequently, the Company is not subject to U.S. federal income taxes at the entity level, and no provision for federal income taxes has been reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. Taxable income or loss passes through to the members, who report their respective shares on their individual or corporate tax returns.
The Company evaluates its tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Because the Company is treated as a pass-through entity, uncertain tax positions are generally evaluated at the member level, except for positions related to any entity-level taxes. As of the balance sheet date, management has concluded that there are no uncertain tax positions that meet the recognition threshold under ASC 740.
Although not subject to federal income taxes, the Company may be subject to certain state or local entity-level taxes, including franchise, margin, or gross receipts taxes. Such taxes are recognized as incurred and are included in operating expenses in the accompanying statements.
The Company’s tax returns remain subject to examination by federal and state taxing authorities for the open statute of limitations periods, which currently include the three most recent tax years. The Company has not recorded any interest or penalties related to income taxes for the periods presented. Any such interest or penalties, if incurred, would be recognized as a component of Other expense.
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BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Variable Interest Entities
The Company evaluates arrangements with team operators and other entities to determine whether such entities are variable interest entities and whether consolidation is required under ASC 810. The Company concluded it is not the primary beneficiary of the team operator entities because it does not possess both the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the entities and the obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant. Accordingly, such entities are not consolidated. Additional information is provided in Note 3.
Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through October 26, 2026, the date the condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.
NOTE 2 - REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Revenue is recognized when control of promised goods or services is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services.
The Company’s principal sources of revenue include media rights, sponsorship and advertising arrangements, live event operations, merchandise sales, licensing arrangements, and other basketball-related commercial activities.
The following table presents the Company’s revenue disaggregated by major revenue source for the three and six months ended June 30:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended June 30, | | Six months ended June 30, | ||||||||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | | 2026 | | 2025 | ||||
Media rights revenue | | $ | 655,906 | | $ | 891,140 | | $ | 657,092 | | $ | 891,765 |
Sponsorship and advertising revenue | |
| 545,000 | |
| 829,000 | |
| 545,000 | |
| 829,000 |
Event-related revenue | |
| 155,504 | |
| 638,338 | |
| 155,504 | |
| 638,338 |
Merchandise sales | |
| 561 | |
| 8,578 | |
| 936 | |
| 11,160 |
Fan experience | |
| 1,143 | |
| — | |
| 1,143 | |
| — |
Total revenue | | $ | 1,358,114 | | $ | 2,367,056 | | $ | 1,359,675 | | $ | 2,370,263 |
Management believes these categories appropriately depict the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows.
Media Rights Revenue
Media rights revenue is generated through agreements granting broadcasters and digital distribution partners the right to distribute game and related content.
Performance obligations are generally satisfied over the contractual broadcast period as programming and content are made available to the customer. Revenue is recognized over time as the associated rights are delivered.
Sponsorship and Advertising Revenue
Sponsorship revenue is derived from league-wide and event-specific sponsorship agreements that provide customers with advertising, promotional benefits, brand visibility, digital content integration, and other marketing rights.
Revenue is recognized over the sponsorship term as the related benefits are provided and performance obligations are satisfied.
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BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Certain sponsorship agreements contain multiple performance obligations. In such cases, consideration is allocated based on estimated standalone selling prices.
Event Revenue
Event revenue includes ticket sales and other event-related activities.
Revenue is recognized at the time the underlying event occurs because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided.
Amounts received before an event occurs are recorded as deferred revenue.
Merchandise Revenue
Merchandise revenue is recognized at the point in time control of the product transfers to the customer, generally upon shipment or delivery, depending on contractual terms.
Contract Balances
Amounts billed and collected in advance of satisfying performance obligations are recorded as deferred revenue and recognized as revenue when the related performance obligations are fulfilled.
Accounts receivable represent unconditional rights to consideration arising from contracts with customers.
The Company had no material contract assets as of June 30, 2026 or December 31, 2025. Contract liabilities, presented as deferred revenue, were $1,435,000 as of June 30, 2026 and $0 as of December 31, 2025. The increase in deferred revenue during the six months ended June 30, 2026 primarily relates to sponsorship contracts billed in advance of the related performance obligations.
NOTE 3 – TEAM OPERATING AGREEMENTS
During 2024, the Company transitioned from a centrally owned league structure to a city-based team model. In connection with this transition, the Company entered into four team operating arrangements and issued related Class B units to designated team operators for aggregate consideration of $40,000,000, or $10,000,000 per team. The Class B Units issued pursuant to the team operating arrangements represent third-party ownership interests in BIG3 OpCo and are presented as noncontrolling interests in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.
Under the terms of the agreements, a portion of the purchase price was paid at closing, with the remaining amounts payable upon the occurrence of certain contractual milestones and conditions specified in the agreements. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, unpaid commitments related to the Class B Unit subscriptions totaled $4,000,000. The remaining commitment had not yet become due as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 because the applicable contractual conditions had not been satisfied under the terms of the related agreements.
The Class B Units constitute third-party ownership interests in BIG3 OpCo and are presented as noncontrolling interests in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. The unpaid subscription commitments represent amounts contractually owed by the team operators for their Class B Unit interests and are presented as a reduction of the related noncontrolling interest balance rather than as assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Management evaluated the collectability of the remaining subscription commitments, including the financial capacity of the team operators and the contractual enforceability of the agreements, and concluded that collection of the outstanding balances is probable. The related noncontrolling interest balance will increase as the remaining subscription commitments are collected.
F-72
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The Company evaluated the team operator entities under ASC 810, Consolidation, and determined that certain team operator entities constitute variable interest entities (“VIEs”). The Company’s variable interests in the team operator entities arise primarily through BIG3 OpCo’s contractual rights and obligations under the applicable team operating agreements, which provide the Company with economic interests in and exposure to the performance of the team operator entities.
The activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the team operator entities include the sourcing of local sponsorship arrangements, local marketing and promotional activities, hiring and management of team personnel, development of local business relationships, management of team operating budgets, and other market-specific operating decisions.
Under the team operating agreements, these activities are directed primarily by the respective team operators. Although the Company has certain league-wide governance and protective rights, management concluded that the team operators have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs.
The Company also considered its economic interests in the team operator entities, including its commercial rights and other arrangements arising from the team operating agreements. While the Company may receive benefits from these arrangements, it does not possess both (i) the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIEs and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIEs.
Because the Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIEs, the Company is not the primary beneficiary under ASC 810 and therefore does not consolidate the team operator entities.
The Company’s involvement with the unconsolidated VIEs is primarily limited to its rights and obligations under the applicable team operating agreements, including governance, league participation and commercialization arrangements. The Company does not provide guarantees or other forms of financial support to the VIEs beyond its contractual obligations under the applicable agreements. Management applied significant judgment in evaluating the governance provisions, economic arrangements, and decision-making rights associated with the team operating agreements in determining that the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the VIEs.
As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company’s maximum exposure to loss associated with the unconsolidated VIEs was approximately $4.0 million, consisting primarily of outstanding receivables due from team operator entities. The Company is not contractually obligated to provide guarantees, liquidity arrangements, debt support, or other forms of financial support to the unconsolidated VIEs beyond its existing contractual commitments. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company had no material exposure arising from guarantees, debt arrangements, or other financial support provided to the unconsolidated VIEs.
NOTE 4 - CONCENTRATIONS, RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The Company’s operations are subject to various risks and uncertainties common to sports, media, and entertainment businesses, including changes in consumer spending patterns, attendance levels, sponsorship demand, media rights valuations, economic conditions, competition, and changes in the marketplace for live events.
Major Customers
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, three customers accounted for approximately 53% of consolidated revenue. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, two sponsors accounted for approximately 24% of consolidated revenue. As of June 30, 2026, two customers accounted for approximately 59% of total accounts receivable. As of June 30, 2025, one customer accounted for approximately 22% of total accounts receivable.
The loss of a significant customer, media partner, sponsor, or commercial relationship could have an adverse effect on future operating results.
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BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Seasonality
Substantially all of the Company’s live event operations are conducted from June through August. As a result, operating results are seasonal and quarterly results are not necessarily indicative of annual performance.
Liquidity Risk
The Company has historically funded operations through a combination of operating revenues, member contributions, debt financing, and convertible note financing. Continued operating losses and liquidity requirements may necessitate additional financing in future periods. Refer to Note 11.
NOTE 5 – DEBT
Convertible Notes
Convertible Notes amounted to $30,690,359 and $30,234,097 as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. The Convertible Notes are presented net of unamortized debt discounts of approximately $0 and $27,304, resulting in net carrying amounts of $30,690,359 and $30,206,793 as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. The Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 15% per annum. Interest is payable annually or can be paid-in-kind. Since inception, no interest payments have been made and all unpaid interest has been added to the outstanding balance in accordance with the applicable financing agreements. Accrued interest is classified as long-term on the condensed consolidated balance sheets as the Company has the contractual right and intent to satisfy such interest through paid-in-kind additions to the Convertible Notes, which mature on a long-term basis.
In April 2026, the Company entered into an Omnibus Amendment with holders representing the required majority of the outstanding principal amount of the affected Convertible Notes. Pursuant to the governing note agreements, amendments approved by the required majority are binding on all holders, including non-consenting holders. Management evaluated the amendment under ASC 470-60 and ASC 470-50 and concluded that the amendment should be accounted for as a debt modification. Accordingly, no gain or loss was recognized as a result of the amendment.
Note Payable
As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company had two notes payable with an aggregate principal balance of $5,500,000. The notes bear no stated interest rate and have no stated maturity date. The notes are outside the scope of ASC 835-30-15-3 applicable to certain receivables and payables; accordingly, no interest has been imputed. Due to the absence of contractual repayment terms and the resulting ability of the holders to demand repayment, the notes are classified as current liabilities as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025.
Notes Payable – Related Party
Notes payable to members had aggregate principal balances of $3,091,782 as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025. The notes bear no stated interest rate and have no stated maturity date. The notes were issued in connection with funding provided by members to support the Company’s operations and liquidity requirements. In September 2024, two members entered into a funding agreement with BIG3 OpCo (the “Funding Agreement”), pursuant to which they provided $2.0 million of funding. Under the Funding Agreement, the lenders may elect to convert the $2.0 million of funding, together with $0.9 million of previously provided funding, into a 29% interest in the total gross sale proceeds and/or gross franchise fees realized by BIG3 OpCo from a future sale of a team franchise. Due to the absence of contractual provisions that defer settlement beyond twelve months from the condensed consolidated balance sheet date, the notes are classified as current liabilities.
Paycheck Protection Program Loan
The Company obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan under the SBA 7(a) program. As the loan did not qualify for forgiveness, the full principal amount remained repayable. The PPP loan bears interest at 1.0% per annum and originally
F-74
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
required monthly principal and interest payments through October 2026. The loan has been in collections for several years, and the outstanding principal balance was $826,049 as of December 31, 2025 and 2024. No default interest is being assessed on the outstanding balance. The entire outstanding balance was classified as a current liability as of June 30, 2026 because the obligation was contractually due within one year.
Scheduled maturities of debt as of June 30, 2026 are as follows:
| | | |
Remaining 2026 | | $ | 9,417,831 |
2027 | |
| — |
2028 | |
| 30,690,359 |
Total | | $ | 40,108,190 |
NOTE 6 – WARRANTS AND EQUITY-LINKED INSTRUMENTS
In connection with certain transactions completed during 2021 and 2022, the Company issued warrants exercisable into Class A Units. Certain warrants issued in connection with the Company’s 2021 and 2022 convertible note financings remain outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025 and are exercisable pursuant to the terms of the applicable warrant agreements. The Company has evaluated the terms of these warrants and concluded that equity classification is appropriate because the warrants are indexed to the Company’s own equity and meet the applicable conditions for equity treatment under ASC 815.
2021–2022 Warrants
In connection with convertible note financings completed during 2021 and 2022, the Company issued additional detachable warrants to purchase Class A Units. These warrants remained outstanding as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025.
The 2021-2022 warrants are exercisable for an aggregate of up to 5,986,031 Class A Units. The warrants have exercise prices established pursuant to the applicable financing agreements and are subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. Holders may exercise the warrants on either a cash or net-issue basis, depending on the provisions of the related agreements.
The warrants have contractual terms of five years from their respective issuance dates. The warrants expire on July 26, 2026. No warrants were exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2026.
The Company evaluated the detachable warrants issued in connection with the convertible note financings and determined the fair value of the warrants at the issuance date. A portion of the financing proceeds was allocated to the warrants based on their relative fair value at issuance, with a corresponding debt discount recorded against the related convertible notes payable. The debt discount is amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt using the effective interest method. The warrants are accounted for in accordance with ASC 470, Debt, and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The unamortized debt discount amounted to $0 and $27,304 as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.
Below is a summary of warrant activity for the six months ended June 30, 2026:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Outstanding at | | | | | | | | Outstanding at |
| | Exercise | | January 1, | | | | | | | | June 30, | |
Warrant Series | | Price | | 2026 | | Issued | | Exercised | | Expired | | 2026 | |
2021/2022 Class A | | $ | 7.06 |
| 3,934,215 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 3,934,215 |
2021/2022 Class A | | $ | 8.90 |
| 2,051,816 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 2,051,816 |
| | | |
| 5,986,031 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 5,986,031 |
F-75
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
NOTE 7 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company engages in transactions with members and other related parties in the ordinary course of business, including financing arrangements and reimbursements of expenses paid on behalf of the Company. Related-party transactions are evaluated in accordance with ASC 850, Related Party Disclosures.
Related-party balances primarily consist of financing arrangements with entities affiliated with the Company’s founders and members.
Related-party balances consisted of the following as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025:
| | | | | | |
| | June 30, | | December 31, | ||
| | 2026 | | 2025 | ||
Accounts payable to owners | | $ | — | | $ | 55,200 |
Notes payable to members | |
| 3,091,782 | |
| 3,091,782 |
Convertible notes payable to members | |
| 18,230,001 | |
| 17,773,739 |
Total related-party obligations | | $ | 21,321,783 | | $ | 20,920,721 |
Accounts payable balances relate primarily to operating expenditures paid by owners on behalf of the Company. The amounts are non-interest-bearing and payable on demand.
Refer to Note 5 for the terms the notes payable and convertible notes.
NOTE 8 – MEMBERS’ EQUITY
The Company has authorized and issued two classes of common membership interests, consisting of Class A Units and Class B Units, and three series of preferred membership interests, consisting of Series A-1 Preferred Units, Series A-2 Preferred Units, and Series B Preferred Units. The rights, preferences and privileges of the membership interests are governed by the Company’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement.
2026 Class A Unit Issuance
During the six months ended June 30, 2026, the Company issued 6,126,255 Class A Units in connection with capital contributions from investors totaling approximately $9.8 million. In addition, the Company issued 176,235 Class A Units pursuant to settlements of NFT-related claims as described in Note 9. Total Class A Units issued during the six months ended June 30, 2026 were 6,302,490.
Class A Units
Class A Units represent voting common membership interests of the Company. Holders of Class A Units are entitled to one vote per unit on matters submitted to the members and participate in distributions of available cash and distributions upon liquidation, subject to the preferential rights of the Preferred Units.
Class A Unit holders are entitled to receive a cumulative, non-compounding priority return of 6% per annum on their unreturned capital contributions in accordance with the distribution provisions of the LLC Agreement. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, no cumulative priority returns had been accrued or earned.
Class B Units
Class B Units are non-voting membership interests issued primarily to employees, consultants, advisors and other service providers. The Class B Units are intended to qualify as profits interests for U.S. federal income tax purposes. No Class B Units were granted during the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025.
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BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Class B Units generally participate in distributions only after other equity holders have received distributions equal to the applicable participation threshold established at the time of issuance. Accordingly, the Class B Units have economic rights subordinate to the Company’s Preferred Units and Class A Units with respect to certain liquidation and distribution events.
Preferred Units
The Company has issued Series A-1 Preferred Units, Series A-2 Preferred Units and Series B Preferred Units (collectively, the “Preferred Units”). The Preferred Units possess certain rights and preferences that rank senior to the Company’s common equity interests.
Conversion Rights
Each Preferred Unit is convertible into one Class A Unit at the option of the holder, subject to adjustment for unit splits, recapitalizations, combinations, reorganizations, reclassifications and certain dilutive issuances as defined in the LLC Agreement.
The original issue prices of the Preferred Units are as follows:
| | | |
Preferred Unit Series | | Original Issue Price | |
Series A-1 Preferred Units | | $ | 7.23930 |
Series A-2 Preferred Units | | $ | 7.05580 |
Series B Preferred Units | | $ | 0.04288 |
The Preferred Units automatically convert into Class A Units upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the LLC Agreement, including a qualified public offering or upon approval by the requisite holders of the Preferred Units.
Liquidation Preference
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution, winding up or Deemed Liquidation Event, holders of Preferred Units are entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution to holders of common units, an amount equal to 1.25 times the applicable original issue price of each Preferred Unit, plus any amounts otherwise payable under the LLC Agreement.
Following payment of the applicable liquidation preference, any remaining proceeds are distributed to the holders of common equity interests in accordance with the LLC Agreement. Holders of Preferred Units may participate on an as-converted basis whenever such treatment results in a greater return than receipt of the stated liquidation preference.
Voting Rights
Except as otherwise required by law or the LLC Agreement, holders of Preferred Units vote together with holders of Class A Units on an as-converted basis.
Protective Provisions
The Preferred Units possess certain protective rights requiring approval of the holders of a specified percentage of the outstanding Preferred Units before the Company may undertake certain actions, including:
| ● | Authorizing or issuing securities senior to or on parity with the Preferred Units; |
| ● | Creating additional classes or series of preferred equity; |
| ● | Amending the LLC Agreement in a manner that adversely affects the rights of Preferred Unit holders; |
| ● | Effecting certain mergers, consolidations, recapitalizations or liquidation transactions; |
F-77
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
| ● | Incurring certain indebtedness or entering into other significant corporate transactions. |
In addition, holders of Series B Preferred Units possess separate class voting rights with respect to specified actions affecting the rights and preferences of the Series B Preferred Units.
Distributions
Distributions of available cash and capital proceeds are made in accordance with the LLC Agreement. Available cash distributions are generally made:
| 1. | First, to members entitled to accrued but unpaid priority returns. |
| 2. | Thereafter, to the applicable members in accordance with their respective ownership interests. |
Distributions from capital transactions are generally made:
| 1. | First, to holders of Preferred Units until satisfaction of the applicable liquidation preference. |
| 2. | Second, to holders entitled to unpaid priority returns. |
| 3. | Third, to return unreturned capital contributions. |
| 4. | Finally, to members in accordance with their respective ownership interests. |
Transfer Restrictions
Transfers of membership interests are subject to various restrictions under the LLC Agreement, including rights of first refusal, co-sale rights, drag-along rights, preemptive rights and other customary transfer limitations.
Below is a summary of unit activity for the six months ended June 30, 2026.
Common Units
| | | | |
| | Class A Units | | Class B Units |
Balance at January 1, 2026 |
| 28,610,733 |
| 3,142,145 |
Units issued |
| 6,302,490 |
| — |
Conversion of preferred units |
| — |
| — |
Units forfeited, repurchased or canceled |
| — |
| — |
Balance at June 30, 2026 |
| 34,913,223 |
| 3,142,145 |
Preferred Units
| | | | | | |
| | Series A-1 | | Series A-2 | | Series B |
Balance at January 1, 2026 |
| 1,381,343 |
| 1,792,852 |
| 47,307,887 |
Units issued |
| — |
| — |
| — |
Conversion of preferred units |
| — |
| — |
| — |
Units forfeited, repurchased or canceled |
| — |
| — |
| — |
Balance at June 30, 2026 |
| 1,381,343 |
| 1,792,852 |
| 47,307,887 |
F-78
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
BIG3 OpCo Units
BIG3 OpCo has issued Class A Units and Class B Units pursuant to its Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement. Class A Units generally represent ownership interests in the operating activities of BIG3 OpCo. Class B Units represent team-specific ownership interests that participate in distributions and allocations attributable to the applicable team interests (see Note 3). The rights of the Class A Units and Class B Units are governed by the operating agreement of BIG3 Basketball, LLC and differ from the rights associated with the membership interests of BIG3 HoldCo LLC.
Holders of Class B Units are third-party owners of team interests in BIG3 OpCo. As a result, the economic interests represented by the outstanding Class B Units are reflected as noncontrolling interests in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. Net losses attributable to such Class B Unit holders are presented as net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations, and the related noncontrolling interests are separately presented within members’ deficit on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of changes in members’ equity.
As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests $2.1 million and $5.5 million, respectively.
Members’ Capital includes the effects of equity-classified warrants as described in Note 6.
NOTE 9 – NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS (“NFT”)
During 2022, the Company offered and sold a series of non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) in multiple tiers, including FIRE Tier NFTs and Gold Tier NFTs, which included various stated utilities and benefits to NFT holders for a specified team. Benefits include purchaser branding on team apparel, tickets, merchandise and entitlement to specified proceeds if the team is subsequently sold. The NFTs were sold to individual purchasers and entities at specified price points at the time of issuance.
Subsequent to the issuance of the NFTs, the Company determined that it would no longer honor certain utilities and benefits associated with the NFTs. As a result, disputes arose with certain NFT purchasers.
During 2025, the Company entered into settlement agreements with two NFT purchasers. One settlement related to a FIRE Tier NFT resulted in a cash payment of $50,000 and a second settlement related to a FIRE Tier NFT resulted in a cash payment of $65,000. These settlements fully resolved the related claims with those purchasers.
During the six months ended June 30, 2026, the Company entered into settlement agreements with two NFT purchasers. Pursuant to the settlement agreements, the related NFTs and associated contractual rights were canceled, terminated, and extinguished. In exchange, the Company issued an aggregate of 176,235 Class A Units to the holders, including 152,042 Class A Units issued in connection with one settlement with an aggregate fair value of approximately $250,000, based on a fair value of $1.6443 per Class A Unit, and 24,193 Class A Units issued in connection with a second settlement. The Company recognized approximately $287,501 of legal settlement expense related to these settlements during the six months ended June 30, 2026. The issuance of the Class A Units was recorded within members’ equity.
The Company evaluates these matters in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies, and will record a liability when it is both probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Additional losses may be incurred, and the ultimate resolution of these matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
NOTE 10 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company enters into various agreements in the ordinary course of business, including media, sponsorship, production, event services, and team operator arrangements. Many of these agreements contain performance obligations, minimum deliverables, termination rights, indemnification provisions, and other customary contractual terms. The majority of these arrangements are short-term in nature and are recognized in the condensed consolidated financial statements as the related goods and services are received.
F-79
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The Company has also entered into operating agreements and team operator agreements that establish the rights and obligations of Class B Unit holders and team operators, including provisions related to capital contributions, governance, transfer restrictions, distribution rights, dispute resolution, and other operating matters.
The Company evaluates contingencies in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies. A liability is recorded when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. If a loss is reasonably possible but not probable, or if the amount of loss cannot be reasonably estimated, the nature of the contingency is disclosed when material.
Except as disclosed in Note 9,Non-Fungible Tokens (“NFTs”), management is not aware of any material claims, assessments, litigation, or other contingencies requiring accrual or additional disclosure as of June 30, 2026.
NOTE 11 – GOING CONCERN
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. Since inception, the Company has incurred recurring operating losses and has experienced negative cash flows from operations. For the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, the Company incurred net losses of $8,253,038 and $7,646,320, respectively. As of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the Company had total members’ deficits, including noncontrolling interests, of $39,544,681 and $41,412,477, respectively. Additionally, net cash used in operating activities was $6,073,322 and $17,278,204 for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and the year ended December 31, 2025, respectively. As of June 30, 2026, the Company had cash of $5,470,603 and current and demand debt obligations of approximately $9.4 million, consisting primarily of notes payable, related-party notes payable, and a Paycheck Protection Program loan that matures in October 2026. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to generate profitable operations and/or obtain additional financing through debt borrowings, equity contributions, strategic transactions, or other capital-raising activities.
Management has evaluated the significance of these conditions and events in relation to the Company’s ability to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date the condensed consolidated financial statements are issued. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s recurring losses from operations, negative operating cash flows, and dependence on continued external financing raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Management’s plans include pursuing additional equity and debt financing from existing and prospective investors, increasing sponsorship and media rights revenues, pursuing opportunities relating to team sales and other strategic transactions, implementing cost-control measures intended to reduce operating expenditures, and pursuing the Business Combination and prospective SPAC transaction. The Business Combination, prospective SPAC transaction, and other financing activities that require third-party participation are not entirely within management’s control. The Company has historically funded its operations through a combination of debt and equity financings and continues to evaluate additional capital-raising opportunities. Management believes these initiatives, together with potential proceeds from team sales and continued growth in commercial revenues, may provide additional liquidity to support future operations. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining sufficient capital, increasing revenues, completing the Business Combination or prospective SPAC transaction, or achieving profitable operations. Accordingly, management has concluded that these plans do not alleviate substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date these condensed consolidated financial statements are issued.
The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE 12 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Business Combination
The Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2026 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among the Company, Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Graf”), Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pubco”), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco
F-80
BIG3 HOLDCO LLC AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(“SPAC Merger Sub”), and Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, (i) SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into Graf, with Graf continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco and (ii) Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco.
The aggregate consideration to be paid or payable to holders of the equity securities of the Company and securities convertible into equity securities of the Company as of the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “BCA Closing”) will consist of a number of newly issued shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (x) the result of (i) $290,000,000 plus (ii) the Company’s Cash Position at the BCA Closing, divided by (y) $10.83. Also, at the BCA Closing, Pubco shall cause the holders of Company membership interests immediately prior to the BCA Closing to be issued an aggregate of an additional 2,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, which shall be unvested until uncertain earnout conditions are satisfied.
The BCA Closing is subject to a number of conditions customary in transactions involving special purpose acquisition companies.
On October 27, 2026, Pubco and the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC in connection with the Business Combination.
Capital Raise
Subsequent to June 30, 2026, the Company received aggregate cash proceeds of approximately $7.5 million from the issuance of 4,459,851 Class A Units.
Convertible Note Conversion
On September 15, 2026, the Company consummated a Qualified Financing, as defined in certain outstanding convertible promissory notes, consisting of the issuance of Class A Units at a price of $1.6443 per unit. In connection with the Qualified Financing, holders of the outstanding convertible promissory notes elected to convert approximately $35.4 million of outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest into 26,946,590 Class A Units at a conversion price of $1.3154 per unit, representing 80% of the price per Class A Unit in the Qualified Financing. Upon conversion, the applicable notes were canceled and the Company’s obligations thereunder were terminated.
F-81
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Sole Stockholder of Halfcourt Holdco, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2026, the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholder’s deficit, and cash flows for the period from June 5, 2026 (inception) through September 30, 2026, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2026, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from June 5, 2026 (inception) through September 30, 2026, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ TAAD LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2026.
Diamond Bar, California
October 27, 2026
PCAOB ID Number 5854
F-82
HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
| | | |
| | September 30, 2026 | |
ASSETS |
| | |
Current assets: |
| | |
Cash | | $ | — |
Total assets | | $ | — |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY | |
| |
Current liabilities: | |
| |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | | $ | 864 |
Total liabilities | |
| 864 |
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6) | |
| |
Stockholders’ deficit: | |
| |
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 1,000 shares authorized, 1,000 shares issued and outstanding | |
| 1 |
Additional paid-in capital | |
| 99 |
Accumulated deficit | |
| (864) |
Stock subscription receivable | |
| (100) |
Total stockholders’ deficit | |
| (864) |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit | | $ | — |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-83
HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Period from June 5, 2026 (Inception) through September 30, 2026
| | | |
Operating expenses: | | | |
Incorporation and filing fees | | $ | 864 |
Total operating expenses | |
| 864 |
Net loss | | $ | (864) |
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted | |
| 1,000 |
Net loss per share, basic and diluted | | $ | (0.86) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-84
HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
For the Period from June 5, 2026 (Inception) through September 30, 2026
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Stock | | | | |
| | Common | | Common | | Additional | | | | | Subscription | | | | |||
| | Stock | | Stock | | Paid-in | | Accumulated | | Receivable | | Total | |||||
| | Shares | | Amount ($) | | Capital ($) | | Deficit ($) | | ($) | | Deficit ($) | |||||
Balances, June 5, 2026 (Inception) |
| — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
Issuance of common stock to CEO |
| 1,000 |
| | 1 |
| | 99 |
| | — |
| | (100) |
| | — |
Net loss |
| — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (864) |
| | — |
| | (864) |
Balances, September 30, 2026 |
| 1,000 | | $ | 1 | | $ | 99 | | $ | (864) | | $ | (100) | | $ | (864) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-85
HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Period from June 5, 2026 (Inception) through September 30, 2026
| | | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (864) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: | |
| |
Expenses paid directly by related party | |
| 864 |
Net cash provided by operating activities | |
| — |
Cash flows from investing activities: | |
| |
None | |
| — |
Net cash used in investing activities | |
| — |
Cash flows from financing activities: | |
| |
None | |
| — |
Net cash provided by financing activities | |
| — |
Net change in cash | | $ | — |
Cash at beginning of period | |
| — |
Cash at end of period | | $ | — |
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing and operating activities: | |
| |
Incorporation and filing fees paid directly by related party | | $ | 864 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-86
HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Organization and Business Purpose
Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. (“Pubco” or the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on June 5, 2026. It was formed solely to effect the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement dated June 12, 2026 (as it may be amended, the “BCA”). The parties to the BCA are the Company; Big3 HoldCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Big3 HoldCo”); Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”); Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“SPAC Merger Sub”); and Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Company Merger Sub”).
Under the BCA, Company Merger Sub will merge with and into Big3 HoldCo, and Big3 HoldCo will survive as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. In exchange for their units, holders of Big3 HoldCo units will receive the merger consideration set out in the BCA. In addition, SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into SPAC, and SPAC will survive as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (together, the “Business Combination”). On completion of the Business Combination, the Company will become a publicly traded holding company.
As of September 30, 2026, the Company had not commenced any material operations. It had no assets and incurred de minimis liabilities consisting of incorporation and filing fees paid on its behalf. These activities were incidental to its formation and to the Business Combination. All the Company’s outstanding shares are held by Jeffrey Kwatinetz, its sole director and Chief Executive Officer (see Note 4).
Note 2 — Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of presentation. The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Merger subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2026, Company Merger Sub and SPAC Merger Sub had no assets, liabilities, or operations and therefore consolidation has no effect.
Fiscal year. The Company’s fiscal year ends on December 31.
Use of estimates. Preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Emerging growth company. The Company is an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. It has elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This election may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with certain other public companies difficult if those companies use the standard effective date for new or revised accounting standards.
Income taxes. The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740. Because it has had no operations other than organizational expenses, there are no current or deferred income taxes and no uncertain tax positions as of September 30, 2026.
Net loss per share. Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share since the company has no dilutive instruments outstanding.
Going concern evaluation. Management has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued pursuant to ASC 205-40.
F-87
Recent Accounting Pronouncement. The Company is a public business entity (“PBE”) as defined in the ASC Master Glossary because its financial statements are included in a filing with the SEC. As disclosed above, the Company is also an emerging growth company (“EGC”) and has elected to use the extended transition period provided under Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This election allows the Company to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for PBEs and non-PBEs until those standards apply to non-PBEs. The EGC election permits non-PBE effective dates for new or revised standards; it does not exempt the Company from PBE disclosure rules or other standard requirements applicable to PBEs.
Management evaluated recently issued Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), including:
| ● | ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures: This standard expands income tax disclosure requirements, including rate reconciliation categories and cash taxes paid. For PBEs, the guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. |
| ● | ASU 2024-03, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income — Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): This standard requires disaggregated disclosure of specified expense categories in the notes to the financial statements. For PBEs, the guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026. |
Because the Company is a newly formed entity with no commercial operations, revenue, or material income tax provisions through September 30, 2026, management does not believe that these or any other recently issued but not yet effective accounting standards would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures upon adoption.
Note 3 — Related Party Transactions and Parent Advances
From June 5th, 2026, through September 30, 2026, certain incorporation and legal filing fees totaling $864 on behalf of the Company were paid directly by an affiliate. This amount is reflected as an accrued expense/liability due to the affiliate company on the balance sheet, with a corresponding operating expense in the statement of operations, and treated as a capital contribution (or non-cash financing activity) for presentation purposes.
Note 4 — Stockholders’ Deficit
The Company is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. Each share has one vote. On June 5, 2026, the Company’s Board of Directors accepted a subscription agreement with Jeffrey Kwatinetz, the Company’s sole director and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). Under that agreement, the CEO subscribed for 1,000 shares of common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $100. As of September 30, 2026, the $100 had not been received. Consistent with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 4.E, the receivable is presented as a deduction from stockholders’ equity. As of September 30, 2026, the company had issued and outstanding 1,000 shares of common stock.
Note 5 — Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. For the period from June 5, 2026 (inception) through September 30, 2026, the Company had no potential dilutive common shares or other share-based financial instruments outstanding; accordingly, basic and diluted net loss per share are identical.
The following table reconciles the numerator and denominator used in the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the period from June 5, 2026 (inception) through September 30, 2026:
| | | |
Numerator: Net loss | | $ | (864) |
Denominator: Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted | |
| 1,000 |
Net loss per share – basic and diluted | | $ | (0.86) |
F-88
Note 6 — Commitments and Contingencies
The Company evaluates contingencies in accordance with ASC 450, Contingencies. A liability is recorded when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. If a loss is reasonably possible but not probable, or if the amount of loss cannot be reasonably estimated, the nature of the contingency is disclosed when material. Management is not aware of any material claims, assessments, litigation, or other contingencies requiring accrual or additional disclosure as of September 30, 2026.
Note 7 — Subsequent Events
Business Combination
The Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2026 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among the Company, Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Graf”), Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pubco”), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), and Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, (i) SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into Graf, with Graf continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco and (ii) Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly- owned subsidiary of Pubco.
The aggregate consideration to be paid or payable to holders of the equity securities of the Company and securities convertible into equity securities of the Company as of the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “BCA Closing”) will consist of a number of newly issued shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (x) the result of (i) $290,000,000 plus (ii) the Company's Cash Position at the BCA Closing, divided by (y) $10.83. Also, at the BCA Closing, Pubco shall cause the holders of Company membership interests immediately prior to the BCA Closing to be issued an aggregate of an additional 2,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, which shall be unvested until uncertain earnout conditions are satisfied.
The BCA Closing is subject to a number of conditions customary in transactions involving special purpose acquisition companies.
On October 27, 2026, Pubco and the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC in connection with the Business Combination.
F-89
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|---|
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A-3 | ||
A-3 | ||
A-3 | ||
A-3 | ||
A-3 | ||
A-4 | ||
A-4 | ||
A-4 | ||
Directors, Officers and Managers of the Surviving Subsidiaries | A-4 | |
A-5 | ||
A-5 | ||
Effect of SPAC Merger on Issued and Outstanding Securities of SPAC and SPAC Merger Sub | A-6 | |
Effect of Company Merger on Issued Securities of the Company and Company Merger Sub | A-7 | |
Effect of Mergers on Issued and Outstanding Securities of Pubco | A-7 | |
A-7 | ||
A-8 | ||
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ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY, PUBCO AND THE MERGER SUBS | A-14 | |
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INDEX OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit | Description |
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BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
This Business Combination Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of June 12, 2026 by and among (i) Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (together with its successors, including after the Conversion (as defined below), “SPAC”), (ii) Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pubco”), (iii) Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), (iv) Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Company Merger Sub” and together with SPAC Merger Sub, the “Merger Subs”, and the Merger Subs collectively with Pubco and the Company (as defined below), the “Company Parties”), and (v) BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with its successors, the “Company”). SPAC, Pubco, SPAC Merger Sub, Company Merger Sub and the Company are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and, collectively, as the “Parties”.
RECITALS:
A.Pubco is a newly incorporated Delaware corporation that is owned entirely by one or more managers or officers of the Company, and Pubco owns all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of SPAC Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub, each of which is a newly organized entity formed for the sole purpose of effecting the Mergers (as defined below);
B.Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Parties desire and intend to effect a business combination transaction pursuant to which (i) SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into SPAC, with SPAC continuing as the surviving entity (the “SPAC Merger”) and as a result of which each issued and outstanding security of SPAC immediately prior to the effective time of the SPAC Merger shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled in exchange for which the security holders of SPAC shall receive substantially equivalent securities of Pubco, (ii) Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity (the “Company Merger”, and together with the SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”), and as a result of which each issued and outstanding security of the Company immediately prior to the effective time of the Company Merger shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled in exchange for which the security holders of the Company shall receive shares of common stock of Pubco and each Earnout Participant (as defined below) shall receive the Earnout Shares (as defined below), and (iii) as a result of which Mergers, SPAC and the Company will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco and Pubco will become a publicly traded company;
C.Prior to the consummation of the Mergers, SPAC shall transfer by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to re-domicile as and become a Delaware corporation pursuant to Part 12 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Act”) and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (as amended, the “DGCL”);
D.The board of directors of SPAC has (i) determined that the Conversion, the respective Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby are fair, advisable and in the best interests of the SPAC and all of its shareholders, (ii) approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Conversion and the SPAC Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, (iii) determined that the fair market value of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries was equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account as of the date of this Agreement (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) and (iv) determined to recommend to the SPAC’s shareholders the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Conversion and the SPAC Merger (the “SPAC Board Recommendation”);
E.The boards of directors of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub have each (i) determined that the respective Mergers to which they are a party are fair, advisable and in the best interests of their respective companies and stockholders or shareholders (as relevant), (ii) approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the respective Mergers to which they are a party, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, and (iii) determined to recommend to their respective stockholders, shareholders or class or stockholders or shareholders (as relevant) the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the respective Mergers to which they are a party;
F.The board of managers or manager, as applicable, of the Company and Company Merger Sub have each (i) determined that the Company Merger is fair, advisable and in the best interests of its respective company and members, (ii) approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Company Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
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forth herein and (iii) determined to recommend to its respective members the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Company Merger;
G.Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Sponsor and each of the SPAC’s independent directors has executed and delivered to the Company the Sponsor Support Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, (a) the Sponsor and such independent directors have (i) agreed not to transfer or redeem any SPAC Ordinary Shares held by such person, (ii) to vote in favor of this Agreement and the Conversion, the SPAC Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby at the SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting, and (iii) irrevocably and unconditionally elected to convert, on a one-for-one basis, each SPAC Class B Ordinary Share held by it into one (1) share of SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (the “Class B Share Conversion”) and to waive any adjustment to the conversion ratio set forth in the SPAC Organizational Documents or any other anti-dilution or similar protection, in each case, with respect to the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares owned by them in connection with the Conversion and SPAC Merger, (b) Sponsor has agreed to surrender certain shares of SPAC described therein (the “Sponsor Forfeited Shares”) and to subject to earnout certain shares of SPAC described therein, and (c) Sponsor has agreed to invest, or cause its affiliate or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing if the Closing SPAC Cash is less than $100,000,000, in each case upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
H.Contemporaneously with the Closing, the Sponsor, SPAC’s independent directors, IPO Underwriter, Sellers and the directors and officers of the Company will each enter into a Lock-Up Agreement with Pubco, the Company, and the SPAC, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (each, a “Lock-Up Agreement”);
I.Contemporaneously with the Closing, SPAC, Pubco, the Sponsor, the SPAC’s independent directors, the IPO Underwriter, and certain of the Sellers will execute and deliver a Registration Rights Agreement, the form of which is attached as Exhibit C hereto (the “Registration Rights Agreement”);
J.Contemporaneously with the Closing, SPAC and Pubco will execute and deliver a warrant assumption agreement, which will provide for the assumption of the SPAC Warrants by Pubco and reflect that the Pubco Warrants will be exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock in lieu of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares following the Closing, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Warrant Assumption Agreement”);
K.Contemporaneously with the Closing, Pubco, the Company, and the Sponsor will enter into an indemnification agreement whereby Pubco and the Company will agree to indemnify the Sponsor and its Affiliates, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “Sponsor Indemnification Agreement”);
L.Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, a written consent in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (the “Seller Written Consent”), has been duly executed and by such Sellers with respect to the Company Securities held by them sufficient to approve the adoption of this Agreement and approve the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, (i) Jeff Kwatinetz and O’Shea Jackson Sr., (ii) holders of Company Securities representing at least the Class A Majority Interest (as defined in the Company Operating Agreement), (iii) holders of Company Securities representing the Preferred Majority Interest (as defined in the Company Operating Agreement) and (iv) holders of Company Securities representing the Series B Preferred Majority Interest (as defined in the Company Operating Agreement)) and delivered to SPAC;
M.Following the date hereof, Pubco intends to enter into employment agreements with each of Jeffrey Kwatinetz, O’Shea Jackson Sr. and Sean Bannon (collectively, the “Employment Agreements”), in each case to be effective as of Closing;
N.The Parties hereby agree and acknowledge that for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, (i) the Class B Share Conversion is intended to constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Code, (ii) the Conversion is intended to constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code, (iii) the Mergers are intended to qualify as an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code and (iv) if the 368 Requirement is satisfied, the SPAC Merger is intended to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that each is responsible for paying its own Taxes, including any adverse Tax consequences that may result if any of the transactions contemplated hereby do not so qualify; and
O.Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Article XI hereof.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, which are incorporated in this Agreement as if fully set forth below, and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
Article I
MERGER
1.1Pre-Conversion Actions. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, subject to receipt of the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval, immediately prior to the Conversion (i) the Redemption shall occur, (ii) to the extent any SPAC Public Units remain outstanding and unseparated, the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants comprising each such issued and outstanding SPAC Public Unit shall be automatically separated (the “Unit Separation”) and the holder of each SPAC Public Unit shall be deemed to hold one (1) SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one-half (1/2) of one SPAC Public Warrant, and immediately following the Unit Separation, all SPAC Public Units shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and the holders of SPAC Public Units immediately prior to the Unit Separation shall cease to have any rights with respect to such SPAC Public Units except as provided herein, and (iii) pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement and SPAC Organizational Documents (as applicable), (x) Sponsor shall surrender the Sponsor Forfeited Shares, and (y) the Class B Share Conversion shall occur.
1.2Conversion of SPAC.
(a)One day prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time, and subject to (i) obtaining the approval of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares by way of special resolution (being an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of at least two-thirds of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares entitled to vote, who attend and vote thereupon, in accordance with the SPAC Organizational Documents, or, alternatively, a unanimous written resolution of all holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares) in accordance with the SPAC Organizational Documents and (ii) SPAC duly filing (1) the Cayman Conversion Documents with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies (the “Cayman Registrar”) and (2) the Delaware Conversion Documents with the State of Delaware, SPAC shall adopt Organizational Documents for Delaware corporations in a form satisfactory to SPAC (the “Conversion Organizational Documents”), SPAC shall transfer by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to deregister as an exempted company in the Cayman Islands pursuant to Part 12 of the Act and to convert into and become a Delaware corporation pursuant to the Act and the applicable provisions of the DGCL (the “Conversion”).
(b)At the effective time of the Conversion, by virtue of the Conversion, and without any action on the part of any holder of SPAC Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants, (i) each then issued and outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (for the avoidance of doubt, after effecting the Redemption, Unit Separation, and Class B Share Conversion) shall convert automatically into one share of SPAC Common Stock and (ii) each then issued and outstanding whole SPAC Warrant shall become exercisable for one share of SPAC Common Stock in lieu of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share, pursuant to the Warrant Agreement. No fractional share of SPAC Common Stock and no fractional warrants, or certificates or scrip, will be issued upon the conversion of the SPAC Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants pursuant to the Conversion, and any such fractional shares or interests therein will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a stockholder or warrantholder of SPAC following the Conversion. Any fractional share of SPAC Common Stock and fractional warrants will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of or warrants, respectively.
1.3The SPAC Merger. At the SPAC Merger Effective Time and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and following the Conversion (as described in Section 1.2), and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL, SPAC Merger Sub and SPAC shall consummate the SPAC Merger, pursuant to which SPAC Merger Sub shall be merged with and into SPAC, following which the separate corporate existence of SPAC Merger Sub shall cease and SPAC shall continue as the surviving corporation in the SPAC Merger. The SPAC as the surviving corporation after the SPAC Merger is hereinafter sometimes referred to as “SPAC Surviving Subsidiary” (provided, that references to SPAC for periods after the SPAC Merger Effective Time shall include SPAC Surviving Subsidiary).
1.4The Company Merger. At the Company Merger Effective Time and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (“DLLCA”), following the SPAC Merger, Company Merger Sub and the Company shall consummate the Company Merger, pursuant to which Company Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company, following which the separate limited liability company existence of Company Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving limited liability company in the Company Merger.
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The Company as the surviving limited liability company after the Company Merger is hereinafter sometimes referred to as “Company Surviving Subsidiary” (provided, that references to the Company for periods after the Company Merger Effective Time shall include Company Surviving Subsidiary), and together with SPAC Surviving Subsidiary, the “Surviving Subsidiaries”.
1.5Pre-Effective Time Conversions; Effective Time.
(a)Immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time,, each Company Convertible Security (other than a Company Warrant) that is outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (if any), including all principal and interest thereunder, to the extent applicable, shall convert in full into Company Interests in accordance with the terms thereof, such that immediately thereafter, all of the Company Convertible Securities (other than the Company Warrants) shall no longer be outstanding and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a Company Convertible Security (other than a Company Warrant) shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect thereto; and
(b)Subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Parties shall (i) cause the SPAC Merger to be consummated by filing a certificate of merger in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company and SPAC (the “SPAC Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL, and (ii) cause the Company Merger to be consummated by filing a certificate of merger in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company and SPAC (the “Company Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DLLCA, with the SPAC Merger to occur first (the time of the SPAC Merger, the “SPAC Merger Effective Time”), followed by the Company Merger (the time of the Company Merger, the “Company Merger Effective Time”, and together with the SPAC Merger Effective Time, each, an “Effective Time”), on the Closing Date or at such other date and/or time as may be agreed in writing by the Company and SPAC and specified in each of SPAC Certificate of Merger and the Company Certificate of Merger.
1.6Effect of the Mergers. At the applicable Effective Time, the effect of the Mergers shall be as provided in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL, DLLCA and other applicable Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the SPAC Merger Effective Time and the Company Merger Effective Time, respectively, all the property, rights, agreements, privileges, powers and franchises of SPAC Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub, respectively, shall vest in SPAC Surviving Subsidiary and Company Surviving Subsidiary, respectively, and all debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of SPAC Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub, respectively, shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of SPAC Surviving Subsidiary and Company Surviving Subsidiary, respectively, including in each case the rights and obligations of each such Party under this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents from and after the SPAC Merger Effective Time and the Company Merger Effective Time, respectively.
1.7Governing Documents. At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, (i) each of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of SPAC Merger Sub shall become the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of SPAC Surviving Subsidiary, respectively, (ii) the name of the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary shall be such name as reasonably determined by Pubco. At the Company Merger Effective Time, each of the certificate of formation and operating agreement of Company Merger Sub shall become the certificate of formation and operating agreement of Company Surviving Subsidiary, respectively, except that the name of Company Surviving Subsidiary in such certificate of formation and operating agreement shall be such name as reasonably determined by Pubco.
1.8Directors, Officers and Managers of the Surviving Subsidiaries.
(a)The parties hereto will take all requisite action such that (i) each of the independent directors of SPAC as of immediately prior to the Conversion will cease to be a director of SPAC as of the Conversion (including by causing each such director to tender an irrevocable resignation as a director, effective as of the effective time of the Conversion), and immediately following the Conversion, James Graf will be the sole director of SPAC, to hold office in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL and the Conversion Organizational Documents, until the SPAC Merger Effective Time, (ii) the officers of SPAC as of immediately prior to the Conversion will continue as the officers of SPAC immediately after the effective time of the Conversion, each to hold office in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL and the Conversion Organizational Documents, until the SPAC Merger Effective Time, and (iii) each director and officer of SPAC in office following the Conversion and immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time, shall cease to be a director or officer, as applicable, immediately following the SPAC Merger Effective Time (including by causing each such director and officer to tender an irrevocable resignation as a director or officer (as applicable), effective as of the SPAC Merger Effective Time).
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(b)At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, the board of directors and executive officers of SPAC Surviving Subsidiary shall be the board of directors and executive officers of Pubco, after giving effect to Section 6.17, each to hold office in accordance with the organizational documents of SPAC Surviving Subsidiary until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or their earlier death, resignation, or removal.
(c)At the Company Merger Effective Time, the board of managers and executive officers of Company Surviving Subsidiary shall be designated by the Company, each to hold office in accordance with the organizational documents of the Company Surviving Subsidiary until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or their earlier death, resignation, or removal.
1.9Merger Consideration. The aggregate consideration to be paid or payable to holders of the Company Securities as of the Company Merger Effective Time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Company Interests issued upon the conversions and exercises described in Section 1.5(a)) pursuant to the Company Merger shall consist of a number of newly issued shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (x) the result of (i) Two-Hundred and Ninety Million U.S. Dollars ($290,000,000) plus (ii) the Company’s Cash Position at the Company Merger Effective Time, divided by (y) the Per Share Price (the “Merger Consideration”). At the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company Interests issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Company Interests issued upon the conversions and exercises described in Section 1.5(a)) shall be cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right for the respective Sellers to receive:
(i)to the Sellers (other than the High Vote Sellers) holding the Class A Units, Class B Units and Preferred Units, their respective Percentage Merger Consideration in the form of Pubco Class A Common Stock; and
(ii)to the High Vote Sellers holding the Class A Units, Class B Units and Preferred Units, their respective Percentage Merger Consideration in the form of Pubco Class B Common Stock.
1.10Earnout.
(a)At the Closing, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Pubco shall cause the holders of Company Interests immediately prior to the Closing (collectively, the “Earnout Participants”) to be issued an aggregate of an additional Two Million (2,000,000) shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock (the “Earnout Shares”), which shall be unvested and subject to forfeiture, as described in this Section 1.10. The Earnout Shares shall vest upon the first to be satisfied of any of the following conditions:
(i)if, at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing (the “Earnout Period”), the closing price of the Pubco Class A Common Stock as reported on the Stock Exchange is greater than or equal to $15.00 (the “Earnout Price”) for a period of at least 20 days (which need not be consecutive) out of 30 consecutive trading days, all of the Earnout Shares shall immediately vest; and
(ii)in the event that there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater than or equal to the Earnout Price, all of the Earnout Shares shall immediately vest.
(b)The number of Earnout Shares to be issued to each Earnout Participant shall be equal to the product of Two Million (2,000,000) and the percentage set forth opposite such Earnout Participant’s name on Schedule 1.9, rounded down to the nearest whole number.
(c)In the event that there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and immediately prior to (but subject to) the consummation of the Sale, the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is less than the Earnout Price, (i) if such Sale Price is payable in cash or in the form of privately held securities or other consideration other than publicly tradable securities, then all of the Earnout Shares shall be deemed forfeited and cancelled for no consideration or (ii) if such price is payable in the form of publicly tradable securities, then Pubco shall cause the acquiror in such Sale to provide for the conversion of all of the Earnout Shares into the kind and amount of such publicly tradable securities receivable upon such Sale of Pubco that the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive in such Sale and shall provide that the Earnout Shares, as so converted, shall remain subject to vesting as set forth in this Section 1.10, with an appropriate adjustment to the Earnout Price to provide to the Earnout Participants the same economic effect as contemplated by this Section 1.10 prior to such event.
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(d)In the event Pubco shall at any time during the Earnout Period pay any dividend on Pubco Common Stock by the issuance of additional shares of Pubco Common Stock, or effect a subdivision, recapitalization, split, or combination, exchange or consolidation of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Pubco Common Stock, then in each such case, in respect of the Earnout Shares (i) the number of Earnout Shares shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Pubco Common Stock (including any other shares so reclassified as Pubco Common Stock) outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Pubco Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event, and (ii) the Earnout Price set forth in this Section 1.10 shall be appropriately adjusted to provide to the Earnout Participants the same economic effect as contemplated by this Section 1.10 prior to such event.
(e)Further, for so long as any Earnout Shares remain subject to the vesting conditions specified in this Section 1.10, (i) the holder thereof will not be entitled to exercise the voting rights carried by such Earnout Shares and (ii) the holder thereof will not be entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions in respect of such Earnout Shares; provided, that any dividends or distributions paid or made in respect of such Earnout Shares will be retained by Pubco and invested as and to the extent determined by Pubco, and such dividends or distributions (together with any earnings thereon) will be paid or made to the holder of such Earnout Shares only when and to the extent that such Earnout Shares vest in accordance with this Section 1.10.
(f)If, upon the expiration of the Earnout Period, the vesting of the Earnout Shares has not occurred in accordance with this Section 1.10, then the Earnout Shares will be forfeited to Pubco for no consideration, and no Person (other than Pubco) will have any further right with respect thereto.
(g)For U.S. federal (and applicable state, local and non-U.S.) income Tax purposes, the Parties intend that (i) the Earnout Shares shall be treated as contingent stock consideration delivered by Pubco in connection with the Mergers (and, for the avoidance of doubt, as part of the Intended Tax Treatment, including the transaction described in Section 351 of the Code), with the issuance and any subsequent vesting thereof reported consistent with such treatment, and (ii) the Earnout Shares are not (and shall not be treated as) compensation for services within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code. Any withholding required in respect of the Earnout Shares (including any amount treated as interest under Section 483 of the Code, if any) shall be effected in accordance with Section 1.15.
1.11 Effect of SPAC Merger on Issued and Outstanding Securities of SPAC and SPAC Merger Sub. At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the SPAC Merger and following the Redemption, Unit Separation, Class B Share Conversion and Conversion, and without any action on the part of any Party or the holders of securities of the SPAC or any Company Party:
(a)SPAC Common Stock. At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, each issued and outstanding share of SPAC Common Stock (other than those described in Section 1.11(c)) shall be converted automatically into and thereafter represent the right to receive one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock, following which, all shares of SPAC Common Stock shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist.
(b)SPAC Warrants. At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, each issued and outstanding SPAC Public Warrant shall be converted into one Pubco Public Warrant and each issued and outstanding SPAC Private Warrant shall be converted into one Pubco Private Warrant. At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, SPAC Warrants shall cease to be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist. Each of the Pubco Public Warrants shall have, and be subject to, substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in SPAC Public Warrants, and each of the Pubco Private Warrants shall have, and be subject to, substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in SPAC Private Warrants, except that in each case they shall represent the right to acquire shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock in lieu of shares of SPAC Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Assumption Agreement. At or prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time, Pubco shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for future issuance, and shall maintain such reservation for so long as any of the Pubco Warrants remain outstanding, a sufficient number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock for delivery upon the exercise of such Pubco Warrants.
(c)Treasury Stock. At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, if there are any shares of capital stock of SPAC that are owned by SPAC as treasury shares or by any direct or indirect Subsidiary of SPAC, such shares shall be cancelled and extinguished without any conversion thereof or payment therefor.
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(d)SPAC Merger Sub Stock. At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, each share of common stock of SPAC Merger Sub outstanding immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time shall be converted into an equal number of shares of common stock of SPAC Surviving Subsidiary, with the same rights, powers and privileges as the shares so converted and shall constitute the only outstanding shares of capital stock of SPAC Surviving Subsidiary.
1.12 Effect of Company Merger on Issued Securities of the Company and Company Merger Sub. At the Company Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Company Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or the holders of securities of the SPAC or any Company Party:
(a)Company Interests. At the Company Merger Effective Time, each Company Interest issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, each Company Interest issued upon the conversions and exercises described in Section 1.5(a)) will be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive the Merger Consideration as described in Section 1.9. As of the Company Merger Effective Time, each holder of Company Interests shall cease to have any other rights with respect to the Company Interests, except as otherwise required under applicable Law.
(b)Company Warrants. Each Company Warrant that is outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, whether exercisable or not exercisable at such time, shall be converted into and become a warrant exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock, and Pubco shall assume each Company Warrant, in accordance with the terms of the Company Warrant, except that from and after the Company Merger Effective Time, (a) each Company Warrant assumed by Pubco may be exercised solely for shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock constituting Merger Consideration, and (b) the number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock constituting Merger Consideration subject to such converted Company Warrant and the per share exercise price under each such converted Company Warrant shall be as set forth in Schedule 1.9. Each of Company and Pubco shall adopt any and all resolutions and take any and all necessary steps to effectuate the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.5(c), including using its reasonable best efforts to obtain from each holder of a Company Warrant any consent or Contract required to be provided or entered into by such holder under the Company Warrants in order to effect the transactions contemplated by this Section 1.12.
(c)Company Convertible Securities. Any outstanding Company Convertible Security (excluding Company Warrants that are converted into warrants exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock pursuant to Section 1.12(b)) and Preferred Unit (other than Preferred Units that are converted into Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 1.9), if not exercised or converted prior to the Company Merger Effective Time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to Section 1.5), shall be cancelled, retired and terminated and cease to represent a right to acquire, be exchanged for or convert into Company Interests or any other securities.
(d)Company Merger Sub Interests. At the Company Merger Effective Time, each membership interest of Company Merger Sub outstanding immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall be converted into an equal number of membership interests of Company Surviving Subsidiary, with the same rights, powers and privileges as the membership interests so converted and shall constitute the only equity interests in Company Surviving Subsidiary.
1.13 Effect of Mergers on Issued and Outstanding Securities of Pubco. At the SPAC Merger Effective Time, by virtue of the Mergers and without any action on the part of any Party or the holders of securities of the SPAC or any Company Party, all of the shares of Pubco issued and outstanding immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time shall be cancelled and extinguished without any conversion thereof or payment therefor.
1.14 Tax Consequences. It is intended by the Parties that (i) the Class B Share Conversion shall constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Code, (ii) the Conversion shall constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code, (iii) the Mergers shall, collectively, constitute a transaction described in Section 351 of the Code, and (iv) if the 368 Requirement is satisfied, the SPAC Merger shall constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Intended Tax Treatment”), and this Agreement is intended to be, and is hereby adopted as, a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Sections 354, 361 and 368 of the Code and within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a). Each Party shall, and shall cause its respective Affiliates to, file all Tax Returns and otherwise report the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in a manner consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment, and no Party shall take any position on any Tax Return or in any Tax proceeding, audit or
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otherwise that is inconsistent with the Intended Tax Treatment unless otherwise required by a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law). For purposes of this Agreement, the “368 Requirement” shall be satisfied if the amount of cash in the Trust Account immediately following the deduction of amounts required to satisfy the Redemption Amount is not less than fifty percent (50%) of the cash in the Trust Account immediately prior to such deduction.
1.15 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after any Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest SPAC Surviving Subsidiary or Company Surviving Subsidiary with full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, agreements, privileges, powers and franchises of SPAC Merger Sub and Company Merger Sub, respectively, the then current officers and directors of SPAC Surviving Subsidiary and Pubco, and the then officers and board of managers of Company Surviving Subsidiary shall take all such lawful and necessary action, so long as such action is not inconsistent with this Agreement.
1.16 Withholding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each of Pubco, SPAC, the Company, the Surviving Subsidiaries and their respective agents shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement (including any Earnout Shares (or amounts paid or deemed paid in respect thereof)) such amounts as are required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the Code (including Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446 and 1446(f) thereof), or any provision of applicable state, local or non-U.S. Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld and timely remitted to the applicable Governmental Authority, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made. The applicable withholding agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide advance written notice to the applicable payee of any anticipated withholding (other than any withholding required with respect to compensatory payments) and shall cooperate in good faith with such payee to reduce or eliminate any such withholding, including by taking into account any certificates or forms provided by such payee (including the FIRPTA Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 6.10). With respect to any Earnout Shares (or any amounts deemed paid in respect thereof, including any amount treated as interest under Section 483 of the Code), any withholding obligation arising in connection with the issuance, vesting or delivery thereof may, at the election of Pubco, be satisfied (i) by withholding and offsetting such withholding obligation against any other amounts then or thereafter payable to the applicable Earnout Participant or (ii) by withholding and selling, or causing to be sold, on behalf of the applicable Earnout Participant a portion of the Earnout Shares otherwise deliverable to such Earnout Participant having a fair market value (as reasonably determined by Pubco in good faith) sufficient to satisfy in full any such withholding obligation, with the net proceeds remitted to the applicable Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any compensatory withholding obligations arising in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfied through the applicable Target Company payroll. With respect to any Class B Units that are determined to give rise to withholding obligations in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any such withholding obligations may be satisfied (i) by withholding and offsetting such withholding obligation against any other amounts then or thereafter payable to the applicable holder of Class B Units, (ii) by withholding and selling, or causing to be sold, on behalf of the applicable holder of Class B Units a portion of the consideration otherwise deliverable to such holder of Class B Units having a fair market value (as reasonably determined by Pubco in good faith) sufficient to satisfy in full any such withholding obligation, with the net proceeds remitted to the applicable Governmental Authority, or (iii) or in any other manner reasonably satisfactory to SPAC and the Company, in each case, that ensures timely payment, reporting and compliance with any applicable withholding and employment tax requirements.
Article II
CLOSING
2.1Closing. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place by electronic exchange of documents and signatures on a date and at a time to be agreed upon by SPAC and the Company, which date shall be no later than the second (2nd) Business Day after all the Closing conditions to this Agreement have been satisfied or waived, or at such other date, time or place (including remotely) as SPAC and the Company may agree (the date at which the Closing is actually held being the “Closing Date”).
Article III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SPAC
Except as set forth in (i) the disclosure schedules delivered by SPAC to the Company on the date hereof (the “SPAC Disclosure Schedules”), the Section numbers of which are numbered to correspond to the Section numbers of this Agreement to
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which they refer, or (ii) the SEC Reports that are available on the SEC’s website through EDGAR, SPAC represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
3.1Organization and Standing. SPAC is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands. SPAC has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. SPAC is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or in good standing can be cured without material cost or expense. SPAC has heretofore made available to the Company accurate and complete copies of its Organizational Documents, as currently in effect. SPAC is not in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents in any material respect.
3.2Authorization; Binding Agreement. SPAC has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to perform SPAC’s obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, subject to obtaining the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (a) have been duly and validly authorized by the board of directors of SPAC and (b) other than the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval, no other corporate proceedings, other than as set forth elsewhere in the Agreement, on the part of SPAC are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which SPAC is a party shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by SPAC and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and such Ancillary Documents by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the valid and binding obligation of SPAC, enforceable against SPAC in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and moratorium laws and other laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by any applicable statute of limitation or by any valid defense of set-off or counterclaim, and the fact that equitable remedies or relief (including the remedy of specific performance) are subject to the discretion of the court from which such relief may be sought (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).
3.3Governmental Approvals. Except as otherwise described on Schedule 3.3, no Consent of or with any Governmental Authority, on the part of SPAC is required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by SPAC of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or the consummation by SPAC of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, other than (a) pursuant to Antitrust Laws, (b) such filings as contemplated by this Agreement, (c) any filings required with the Stock Exchange or the SEC with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (d) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, (e) the filing of the Cayman Conversion Documents with the Cayman Registrar and the Delaware Conversion Documents and Conversion Organizational Documents with the Delaware Secretary of State pursuant to the DGCL and (f) where the failure to obtain or make such Consents or to make such filings or notifications, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC.
3.4Non-Contravention. Except as otherwise described on Schedule 3.4, the execution and delivery by SPAC of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, the consummation by SPAC of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance by SPAC with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not (a) conflict with or violate any provision of SPAC’s Organizational Documents, (b) contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provisions of Law or Order binding upon or applicable to SPAC, (c) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 3.3 hereof, and the waiting periods referred to therein having expired, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law, Order or Consent applicable to SPAC or any of its properties or assets, or (d) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by SPAC under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of SPAC under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions
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of, any SPAC Material Contract, except for any deviations from any of the foregoing clauses (c) or (d) that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC.
3.5Capitalization.
(a)SPAC’s authorized share capital is US$48,100, comprised of: (i) 480,000,000 SPAC Ordinary Shares, consisting of 400,000,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 23,000,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and 80,000,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 5,750,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (ii) 1,000,000 SPAC Preference Shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. All issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the Act (prior to the Conversion), SPAC’s Organizational Documents or any Contract to which SPAC is a party. None of the outstanding SPAC Ordinary Shares has been issued in violation of any applicable securities Laws.
(b)Other than warrants that may be issued in connection with items described in Schedule 3.5(a)-(c) and the borrowing described in the proviso to Section 6.3(b)(iv), there are outstanding: (i) 11,500,000 SPAC Public Warrants; (ii) 4,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants held by Sponsor; and (iii) 2,000,000 SPAC Private Warrants held by the IPO Underwriter. All outstanding SPAC Warrants are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the Act, the SPAC Organizational Documents or any Contract to which SPAC is a party. None of the outstanding SPAC Warrants have been issued in violation of any applicable securities Laws.
(c)Except as set forth on Schedules 3.5(a)-(c) there are no (i) outstanding options, warrants, puts, calls, convertible securities, preemptive or similar rights, (ii) bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having general voting rights or that are convertible or exchangeable into securities having such rights or (iii) subscriptions or other rights, agreements, arrangements, Contracts or commitments of any character (other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents), (A) relating to the issued or unissued shares of SPAC or (B) obligating SPAC to issue, transfer, deliver or sell or cause to be issued, transferred, delivered, sold or repurchased any options or shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares, or (C) obligating SPAC to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, subscription or other right, agreement, arrangement or commitment for such capital shares. Other than the Redemption or as expressly set forth in this Agreement, there are no outstanding obligations of SPAC to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of SPAC or to provide funds to make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any Person. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5(c), there are no shareholders agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which SPAC is a party with respect to the voting of any shares of SPAC.
(d)All Indebtedness of SPAC as of the date of this Agreement is disclosed on Schedule 3.5(d). No Indebtedness of SPAC contains any restriction upon (i) the prepayment of any of such Indebtedness, (ii) the incurrence of Indebtedness by SPAC or (iii) the ability of SPAC to grant any Lien on its properties or assets.
(e)Since the date of formation of SPAC, and except as contemplated by this Agreement, SPAC has not declared or paid any distribution or dividend in respect of its shares and has not repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any of its shares, and SPAC’s board of directors has not authorized any of the foregoing.
3.6SEC Filings and SPAC Financials.
(a)SPAC, since the IPO, has filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements, registration statements, prospectuses and other documents required to be filed or furnished by SPAC with the SEC under the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act, together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto, and will file all such forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement (collectively, as they have been amended, restated, or supplemented since the time of their filing, the “SEC Reports”) and SPAC has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of SOX regarding this Section 3.6(a). All of the SEC Reports and all certifications and statements required by (A) Rules 13a-14 or 15d-14 under the Exchange Act, and (B) 18 U.S.C. §1350 (Section 906 of SOX) with respect to any SEC Report (collectively, the “Public Certifications”) are available on the SEC’s Electronic Data-Gathering,
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Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) in full without redaction. As of their respective dates, or, if amended, restated, or superseded by a subsequent filing prior to the date hereof, as of the date of the last such amendment, restatement, or superseding filing (and, in the case of registration statements and proxy statements, on the dates of effectiveness and the dates of the relevant meetings, respectively), the SEC Reports (x) were prepared in all material respects in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations thereunder and (y) did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b)As of the date of this Agreement, (A) SPAC Public Units, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, and SPAC Public Warrants are listed on the NYSE American, (B) SPAC has not received any written deficiency notice from the NYSE American relating to the continued listing requirements of such SPAC Securities, (C) there are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, threatened against SPAC by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority with respect to any intention by such entity to suspend, prohibit or terminate the quoting of such SPAC Securities on the NYSE American and (D) SPAC is in compliance with all of the applicable corporate governance rules of the NYSE American.
(c)SPAC maintains disclosure controls and procedures required by Rules 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act; such controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that all material information concerning SPAC and other material information required to be disclosed by SPAC in the reports and other documents that it files or furnishes under the Exchange Act is made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of SPAC’s SEC filings and other public disclosure documents.
(d)The financial statements and notes of SPAC contained or incorporated by reference in the SEC Reports (the “SPAC Financials”), fairly presented in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows of SPAC at the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in the SPAC Financials, all in accordance with (i) GAAP methodologies applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved and (ii) Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable (except in each case as may be indicated in the notes thereto and for the omission of notes and audit adjustments in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements to the extent permitted by Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable).
(e)Except to the extent reflected or reserved against in SPAC Financials, SPAC has not incurred any Liabilities or obligations of the type required to be reflected on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP that are not adequately reflected or reserved on or provided for in SPAC Financials, other than Liabilities of the type required to be reflected on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP that have been incurred since SPAC’s formation in the ordinary course of business. The SPAC has no off-balance sheet arrangements.
(f)There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by SPAC to any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or director of SPAC.
3.7Absence of Certain Changes. As of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule 3.7, SPAC has, (a) since its formation, conducted no business other than its formation, the public offering of its securities (and the related private offerings), public reporting and its search for an initial Business Combination as described in the IPO Prospectus (including the investigation of the Target Companies and the negotiation and execution of this Agreement) and related activities and (b) since December 31, 2025 through the date of this Agreement, not been subject to a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC.
3.8Compliance with Laws. SPAC is, and has since its formation been, in compliance with all Laws applicable to it and the conduct of its business except for such noncompliance which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC, and SPAC has not received written notice alleging any violation of applicable Law in any material respect by SPAC.
3.9Actions; Orders; Permits. There is no pending or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, threatened material Action to which SPAC is subject which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC. There is no material Action that SPAC has pending against any other Person. SPAC is not subject to any material Orders of any Governmental Authority, nor are any such Orders pending. SPAC holds all material Permits necessary to lawfully conduct its business as presently conducted, and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties, all of which are in full force and effect, except where the failure to hold such Consent or for such Consent to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC.
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3.10 Taxes and Returns.
(a)SPAC has timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it, which Tax Returns are accurate and complete in all material respects, and has paid, collected or withheld, or caused to be paid, collected or withheld, all material Taxes required to be paid, collected or withheld, other than such Taxes for which adequate reserves in SPAC Financials have been established in accordance with GAAP. Schedule 3.10(a) sets forth each jurisdiction where SPAC files or is required to file a Tax Return. There are no audits, examinations, investigations or other proceedings pending against SPAC in respect of any Tax, and SPAC has not been notified in writing of any proposed Tax claims or assessments against SPAC (other than, in each case, claims or assessments for which adequate reserves in SPAC Financials have been established in accordance with GAAP or are immaterial in amount). There are no Liens with respect to any Taxes upon any of SPAC’s assets, other than Permitted Liens. SPAC has no outstanding waivers or extensions of any applicable statute of limitations to assess any material amount of Taxes. There are no outstanding requests by SPAC for any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return or within which to pay any Taxes shown to be due on any Tax Return.
(b)Since the date of its incorporation, SPAC has not (i) changed any Tax accounting methods, policies or procedures except as required by a change in Law, (ii) made, revoked or amended any material Tax election, (iii) filed any amended Tax Returns or claim for refund or (iv) entered into any closing agreement affecting or otherwise settled or compromised any material Tax Liability or refund.
(c)To the Knowledge of SPAC, there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to prevent the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.
3.11 Employees and Employee Benefit Plans. SPAC does not (a) now have, nor at any time previously has had, any paid employees, or (b) have any obligation to maintain, sponsor, contribute to after the Closing or otherwise have any Liability that will survive the Closing under, any Benefit Plans. The consummation of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement will not: (i) entitle any individual to severance pay, unemployment compensation or other benefits or compensation, (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of any compensation due, or in respect of, any individual, or (iii) result in or satisfy a condition to the payment of compensation that would, in combination with any other payment, result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Code Section 280G.
3.12 Properties. SPAC does not own, license or otherwise have any right, title or interest in any material Intellectual Property. The SPAC does not own or lease any material real property or material Personal Property.
3.13 Material Contracts.
(a)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13(a), other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, there are no Contracts to which SPAC is a party or by which any of its properties or assets may be bound, subject or affected, which creates or imposes a Liability greater than $250,000 (each, a “SPAC Material Contract”). All SPAC Material Contracts have been made available to the Company other than those that are exhibits to the SEC Reports.
(b)With respect to each SPAC Material Contract: (i) the SPAC Material Contract was entered into at arm’s length and in the ordinary course of business, (ii) the SPAC Material Contract is legal, valid, binding and enforceable in all material respects against SPAC and, to the Knowledge of SPAC, the other parties thereto, and is in full force and effect (except, in each case, as such enforcement may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions), (iii) SPAC is not in breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute such a breach or default in any material respect by SPAC, or permit termination or acceleration by the other party, under such SPAC Material Contract, and (iv) to the Knowledge of SPAC, no other party to any SPAC Material Contract is in breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute such a breach or default by such other party, or permit termination or acceleration by SPAC under any SPAC Material Contract.
3.14 Transactions with Affiliates. Schedule 3.14 sets forth a true, correct and complete list of the Contracts and arrangements that are in existence as of the date of this Agreement under which there are any existing or future Liabilities or obligations between SPAC and any (a) present or former director, officer or employee or Affiliate of SPAC, or any immediate family
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member of any of the foregoing, or (b) record or beneficial owner of more than ten percent (10%) of SPAC’s outstanding capital stock as of the date hereof.
3.15 Investment Company Act. SPAC is not an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, or required to register as an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
3.16 Finders and Brokers. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission from SPAC, the Target Companies or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of SPAC.
3.17 Certain Business Practices.
(a)Neither SPAC, nor, to the Knowledge of SPAC, any of its Representatives acting on its behalf, has (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees, to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or any other local or foreign anti-corruption or bribery Law, (iii) made any other unlawful payment or (iv) since the formation of SPAC, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any unlawful gift or similar benefit in any material amount to any customer, supplier, governmental employee or other Person who is or may be in a position to help or hinder SPAC or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction.
(b)The operations of SPAC are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with money laundering statutes in all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority, and no Action involving SPAC with respect to any of the foregoing is pending or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, threatened.
(c)None of SPAC or any of its directors or officers, or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, any other Representative acting on behalf of SPAC is currently (i) identified on the specially designated nationals or other blocked person list or otherwise currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”), the U.S. Department of State, or other applicable Governmental Authority; (ii) organized, resident, or located in, or a national of a comprehensively sanctioned country; or (iii) in the aggregate, fifty percent (50%) or greater owned, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controlled, by a person identified in (i) or (ii); and SPAC has not, directly or indirectly, used any funds, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available such funds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, in connection with any sales or operations in any other country sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to, or otherwise in violation of, any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State in the last five (5) fiscal years.
3.18 SPAC Trust Account. As of June 10, 2026, the Trust Account had a balance of approximately $249,176,551.72. Such monies are invested solely in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act or money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act, and held in trust by the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement, or are deposited in an interest bearing or non-interest bearing bank demand deposit account at a U.S. chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more. The Trust Agreement is valid and in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to the Enforceability Exceptions) and has not been amended or modified. SPAC has complied in all material respects with the terms of the Trust Agreement and is not in material breach thereof or material default thereunder and there does not exist under the Trust Agreement any event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a material breach or material default by SPAC or, to the Knowledge of SPAC, by the Trustee. There are no separate contracts, agreements, side letters or other agreements or understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied) between SPAC and the Trustee that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the SEC Reports to be inaccurate in any material respect and/or that would entitle any Person (other than the IPO Underwriter, Public Shareholders who shall have elected to redeem their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to SPAC Organizational Documents (or in connection with an extension of SPAC’s deadline to consummate a Business Combination) or Governmental Authorities for Taxes) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released except as described in the Trust Agreement and the IPO Prospectus. There are no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of SPAC, threatened with respect to the Trust Account.
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3.19 Exclusivity of Representations.
(a)None of the SPAC nor its respective Representatives have made any representation or warranty as to the SPAC, or this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the SPAC Disclosure Schedules) or in any certificate delivered by SPAC pursuant hereto, or with respect to the information provided by or on behalf of the SPAC for the Registration Statement.
(b)SPAC specifically disclaims that it is relying upon or has relied upon any other representations and warranties that may have been made by any Person and acknowledges and agrees that the Company, Pubco and the Merger Subs have specifically disclaimed any such other representations and warranties.
3.20 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by SPAC expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference: (a) in any current report on Form 8-K, and any exhibits thereto (including the Signing Filing, Signing Press Release, Closing Filing, and Closing Press Release) or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority or stock exchange with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents; (b) in the Registration Statement; or (c) in the mailings or other distributions to SPAC’s shareholders and/or prospective investors with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or in any amendment to any of documents identified in (a) through (c), will, when filed, made available, mailed or distributed, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading (provided, if such information is revised by any subsequently filed amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement prior to the time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, this Section 3.20 shall solely refer to the time of such subsequent revision or supplement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, SPAC makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of a Company Party, a Target Company or any of their respective Affiliates.
Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
COMPANY, PUBCO AND THE MERGER SUBS
Each of the Company, Pubco and the Merger Subs, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to SPAC as follows:
4.1Organization and Standing. Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub are each corporations duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and Company Merger Sub is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of Delaware. Each of Pubco and the Merger Subs has all requisite corporate or limited liability power, as applicable, and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each of Pubco and the Merger Subs is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a material impact on the ability of Pubco or any Merger Sub on a timely basis to consummate the Transactions. Pubco has heretofore made available to SPAC and the Company accurate and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of Pubco and the Merger Subs, each as currently in effect. Neither Pubco nor any Merger Sub is in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents in any material respect.
4.2Authorization; Binding Agreement. Subject to the adoption of the Amended Pubco Charter, each of Pubco and the Merger Subs has all requisite corporate or limited liability power, as applicable, and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The sole stockholder of Pubco, Pubco in its capacity as sole stock stockholder of SPAC Merger Sub and Pubco in its capacity as sole member and manager of Company Merger Sub has authorized the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly authorized by the board of directors of Pubco and SPAC Merger Sub and no other corporate proceedings, other than as expressly set forth elsewhere in this Agreement (including the adoption of the Amended Pubco Charter and the approval by the equity holders of Pubco and each Merger Sub), on the part of Pubco or Merger Subs are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and
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each Ancillary Document to which Pubco or the Merger Subs is a party has been or shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by such Party and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and such Ancillary Documents by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the valid and binding obligation of such Party, enforceable against such Party in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
4.3Governmental Approvals. Except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 4.3, no Consent of or with any Governmental Authority, on the part of Pubco or the Merger Subs is required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Party of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or the consummation by such Party of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, other than (a) pursuant to Antitrust Laws, (b) such filings as contemplated by this Agreement, (c) any filings required with the Stock Exchange or the SEC with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (d) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and (e) where the failure to obtain or make such Consents or to make such filings or notifications, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material impact on the ability of Pubco on a timely basis to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4.4Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery by Pubco and the Merger Subs of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, the consummation by such Party of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance by such Party with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not (a) subject to the adoption of the Amended Pubco Charter, conflict with or violate any provision of such Party’s Organizational Documents, (b) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 4.3 hereof, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law, Order or Consent applicable to such Party or any of its properties or assets, or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by such Party under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of such Party under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, any material Contract of such Party, except for any deviations from any of the foregoing clauses (a), (b) or (c) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material impact on the ability of Pubco on a timely basis to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4.5Capitalization. All of the outstanding equity interests of Pubco are owned by Jeffrey Kwatinetz, free and clear of all Liens. There are no equity interests of Pubco other than the Pubco Securities. All of the outstanding equity interests of the Merger Subs are owned by Pubco, free and clear of all Liens. Prior to giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than the Merger Subs, Pubco does not have any Subsidiaries or own any equity interests in any other Person.
4.6Ownership of Pubco Common Stock. (i) All shares of Pubco Common Stock to be issued and delivered in accordance with Article I to the Sellers and the SPAC shareholders shall be, upon issuance and delivery of such shares, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and free and clear of all Liens, and (ii) upon issuance and delivery of such shares to the Sellers and SPAC shareholders, each such Person shall have good and valid title to its portion of such shares, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), other than restrictions arising from applicable securities Laws, the Ancillary Documents, the Amended Pubco Charter and the provisions of this Agreement, and (iii) the issuance and sale of such shares pursuant hereto will not be subject to or give rise to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal.
4.7Pubco and Merger Sub Activities. Since their formation, Pubco and the Merger Subs have not engaged in any business activities other than as contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party, do not own directly or indirectly any ownership, equity, profits or voting interest in any Person (other than Pubco’s one hundred percent (100%) ownership of the Merger Subs) and have no assets or Liabilities except those incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and, other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which they are a party, Pubco and the Merger Subs are not party to or bound by any Contract.
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Article V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the disclosure schedules delivered by the Company to SPAC on the date hereof (the “Company Disclosure Schedules”), the Section numbers of which are numbered to correspond to the Section numbers of this Agreement to which they refer, the Company hereby represents and warrants to SPAC as follows:
5.1Organization and Standing. The Company is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite limited liability power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each Subsidiary of the Company is a corporation or other entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority, as applicable, to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each Target Company is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing in the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or registered and in each other jurisdiction where it does business or operates to the extent that the character of the property owned, or leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary. Schedule 5.1 lists all jurisdictions in which any Target Company is qualified to conduct business and all names other than its legal name under which any Target Company does business. The Company has provided to SPAC accurate and complete copies of its Organizational Documents and the Organizational Documents of each of its Subsidiaries, each as amended to date and as currently in effect. No Target Company is in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents.
5.2Authorization; Binding Agreement. The Company has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is or is required to be a party, to perform the Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which the Company is or is required to be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (a) have been duly and validly authorized by the Company’s board of managers in accordance with the Company Operating Agreement, any other applicable Law or any Contract to which the Company or any of its equity holders is a party or by which it or its securities are bound and (b) other than the Seller Written Consent, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which the Company is or is required to be a party has been or shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and any such Ancillary Document by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The Company’s board of managers, by resolutions duly adopted at a meeting duly called and held (i) determined that this Agreement and the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its members, (ii) approved this Agreement and the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with the DLLCA, (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the Company’s members for adoption and (iv) resolved to recommend that the Company’s members adopt this Agreement. The Seller Written Consent is executed by (i) Jeff Kwatinetz and O’Shea Jackson Sr., (ii) holders of Company Securities representing at least the Class A Majority Interest (as defined in the Company Operating Agreement), (iii) holders of Company Securities representing the Preferred Majority Interest (as defined in the Company Operating Agreement) and (iv) holders of Company Securities representing the Series B Preferred Majority Interest (as defined in the Company Operating Agreement), and such Seller Written Consent shall be in full force and effect from and after the time of its delivery. The Seller Written Consent has been obtained and executed in compliance with, and is valid and effective under, the applicable provisions of the DLLCA and any other applicable Laws and the Target Companies’ Organizational Documents.
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5.3Capitalization.
(a)All of the issued and outstanding Company Securities are set forth on Schedule 5.3(a), along with the beneficial and record owners thereof, all of which Company Securities and other equity interests are owned free and clear of any Liens other than those imposed under the Company Operating Agreement. The issued and outstanding Company Securities constitute all of the outstanding equity interests of the Company. All of the outstanding Company Securities and other equity interests of the Company have been duly authorized, are fully paid and non-assessable and not in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the DLLCA, any other applicable Law, the Company Operating Agreement or any Contract to which the Company is a party or by which it or its securities are bound. The Company does not directly or indirectly hold any Company Securities or other equity interests of the Company in its treasury. All of the Company’s securities have been granted, offered, sold and issued in compliance with all applicable securities Laws. The rights, privileges and preferences of the Company Securities are as stated in the Company Operating Agreement and as provided by the DLLCA. The Company Interests consist solely of Class A Units, Class B Units and Preferred Units. The Preferred Units consist solely of the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units. There are no equity securities of the Company that are owned by the Company in treasury or any equity securities of the Company owned by any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company.
(b)There are no Company Convertible Securities (other than the Company Convertible Securities set forth on Schedule 5.3(b)), or preemptive rights or rights of first refusal or first offer, nor are there any Contracts, commitments, arrangements or restrictions to which the Company or any of its equity holders is a party or bound relating to any equity securities of the Company, whether or not outstanding. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.3(b), there are no issued, reserved for issuance, outstanding or authorized option, restricted unit award, restricted interest award, profits interest, profit participation, equity appreciation, phantom equity, or equity-based award or similar rights with respect to the Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.3(b), there are no voting trusts, proxies, shareholder agreements or any other agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of the Company’s equity interests. Except as set forth in the Company Operating Agreement, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity interests or securities of the Company, nor has the Company granted any registration rights to any Person with respect to the Company’s equity securities. All of the Company’s securities have been granted, offered, sold and issued in compliance with all applicable securities Laws. As a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no equity interests of the Company are issuable and no rights in connection with any interests, warrants, rights, options or other securities of the Company accelerate or otherwise become triggered (whether as to vesting, exercisability, convertibility or otherwise).
(c)Since January 1, 2025, the Company has not declared or paid any distribution or dividend in respect of its equity interests and has not repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any equity interests of the Company, and the members of the Company have not authorized any of the foregoing.
5.4Subsidiaries. Schedule 5.4 sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Company, and with respect to each Subsidiary (a) its jurisdiction of organization, (b) its authorized shares or other equity interests (if applicable), (c) the number of issued and outstanding shares or other equity interests and the record holders and beneficial owners thereof and (d) its Tax election to be treated as a corporate or a disregarded entity under the Code and any state or applicable non-U.S. Tax laws, if any. All of the outstanding equity securities of each Subsidiary of the Company are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (if applicable), and were offered, sold and delivered in compliance with all applicable securities Laws, and other than as set forth in Schedule 5.4, are owned by one or more of the Target Companies, and are owned by such Target Companies free and clear of all Liens (other than those, if any, imposed by such Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents). There are no Contracts to which the Company or any of its Affiliates is a party or bound with respect to the voting (including voting trusts or proxies) of the equity interests of any Subsidiary of the Company other than the Organizational Documents of any such Subsidiary. Other than as set forth in Schedule 5.4, there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, rights, agreements, subscriptions, convertible securities or commitments to which any Subsidiary of the Company is a party or which are binding upon any Subsidiary of the Company providing for the issuance or redemption of any equity interests of any Subsidiary of the Company. Other than as set forth in Schedule 5.4, there are no issued, reserved for issuance, outstanding or authorized option, restricted unit award, restricted interest award, profits interest, equity appreciation, phantom equity, profit participation, or equity-based award or similar rights granted by any Subsidiary of the Company. Other than as set forth in Schedule 5.4, no Target Company has any limitation, whether by Contract, Order or applicable Law, on its ability to make any distributions or dividends to its equity holders or repay any debt owed to another Target Company. Except for the equity interests of the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.4(a), the Company does not own or have any rights to acquire,
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directly or indirectly, any equity interests of, or otherwise Control, any Person. None of the Company or its Subsidiaries is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of a Target Company to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person.
5.5Governmental Approvals. Except as otherwise described on Schedule 5.5, no Consent of or with any Governmental Authority on the part of any Target Company is required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than (a) such filings as are expressly contemplated by this Agreement or (b) pursuant to Antitrust Laws.
5.6Non-Contravention. Except as otherwise described on Schedule 5.6, the execution and delivery by the Company (or any other Target Company, as applicable) of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which any Target Company is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound, and the consummation by any Target Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and compliance by any Target Company with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not (a) conflict with or violate any provision of any Target Company’s Organizational Documents, (b) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 5.5 hereof, the waiting periods referred to therein having expired, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law, Order or Consent applicable to any Target Company or any of its material properties or assets, or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by any Target Company under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of any Target Company under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Company Material Contract.
5.7Financial Statements.
(a)Schedule 5.7(a) contains true and correct copies of the Unaudited Financial Statements. The Unaudited Financial Statements (A) were prepared from the books and records of the Target Companies as of the times and for the periods referred to therein, (B) were prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied throughout and among the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto), and (C) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Target Companies as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of the operations of the Target Companies for the periods indicated.
(b)The Target Companies do not have any Indebtedness other than the Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 5.7(b), which schedule sets forth the amounts (including principal and any accrued but unpaid interest or other obligations) and applicable Target Company with respect to such Indebtedness. Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.7(b), no Indebtedness of any Target Company contains any restriction upon (i) the prepayment of any of such Indebtedness, (ii) the incurrence of Indebtedness by any Target Company, or (iii) the ability of the Target Companies to grant any Lien on their respective properties or assets.
(c)Each Target Company maintains accurate books and records reflecting its assets and Liabilities and maintains proper and adequate internal accounting controls that provide reasonable assurance that (i) such Target Company does not maintain any off-the-book accounts and that such Target Company’s assets are used only in accordance with such Target Company’s management directives, (ii) transactions are executed with management’s authorization, (iii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the financial statements of such Target Company and to maintain accountability for such Target Company’s assets, (iv) access to such Target Company’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization, (v) the reporting of such Target Company’s assets is compared with existing assets at regular intervals and verified for actual amounts, and (vi) accounts, notes and other receivables and inventory are recorded accurately, and proper and adequate procedures are implemented to effect the collection of accounts, notes and other receivables on a current and timely basis. All of the financial books and records of the Target Companies are complete and accurate in all material respects and have been maintained in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and in accordance with applicable Laws. No Target Company has been subject to or involved in any material fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls over financial reporting of any Target Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Target Company employee has engaged in any fraud with respect to the business activities or
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operations of any Target Company. In the past five (5) years, no Target Company or its Representatives has received any written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of any Target Company or its internal accounting controls, including any material written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that any Target Company has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices.
(d)Except as set forth on Schedule 5.7(d), no Target Company is subject to any Liabilities or obligations required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for those that are either (i) adequately reflected or reserved on or provided for in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2025 and contained in the Company Financials or (ii) not material and that were incurred after December 31, 2025 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (other than Liabilities for breach of any Contract or violation of any Law).
(e)All accounts, notes and other receivables, whether or not accrued, and whether or not billed, of the Target Companies arose from sales actually made or services actually performed in the ordinary course of business and represent valid obligations to a Target Company arising from its business.
5.8Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.8, since December 31, 2025, each Target Company has (a) conducted its business only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (b) not been subject to a Material Adverse Effect and (c) has not taken any action or committed or agreed to take any action that would be prohibited by Section 6.2(b) (without giving effect to Schedule 6.2) if such action were taken on or after the date hereof without the consent of SPAC.
5.9Compliance with Laws. Since January 1, 2024, no Target Company is or has been in material conflict or material non-compliance with, or in material default or violation of, nor has any Target Company received, since January 1, 2024, any written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of any material conflict or non-compliance with, or material default or violation of, any applicable Laws by which it or any of its properties, assets, employees, business or operations are or were bound or affected.
5.10 Company Permits. Each Target Company (and its employees who are legally required to be licensed by a Governmental Authority in order to perform his or her duties with respect to his or her employment with any Target Company), holds all Permits necessary to lawfully conduct in all material respects its business as presently conducted, and as currently contemplated to be conducted, and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties (collectively, the “Company Permits”). The Company has made available to SPAC true, correct and complete copies of all material Company Permits, all of which material Company Permits are listed on Schedule 5.10. All of the Company Permits are in full force and effect, and no suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened. No Target Company is in violation in any material respect of the terms of any Company Permit, and no Target Company has received any written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of any Actions relating to the revocation or modification, of any Company Permit.
5.11 Litigation. Except as described on Schedule 5.11, there is no (a) Action of any nature currently pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened, and no such Action has been brought or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened in the past three (3) years; or (b) Order now pending or outstanding or that was rendered by a Governmental Authority in the past three (3) years, in either case of (a) or (b) by or against any Target Company, its current or former directors, managers, officers or equity holders (provided, that any litigation involving the directors, officers or equity holders of a Target Company must be related to the Target Company’s business, equity securities or assets), its business, equity securities or assets. Schedule 5.11 sets forth a true and correct amount in controversy of any such Action or Order that is pending or outstanding. The items listed on Schedule 5.11, if finally determined adversely to the Target Companies, will not have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect upon any Target Company. None of the current officers, senior management, managers or directors of any Target Company have been charged with, indicted for, arrested for, or convicted of any felony or any crime involving fraud. No Target Company has made any claim against an insurance policy as to which the insurer is denying coverage.
5.12 Material Contracts.
(a)Schedule 5.12(a) sets forth a true, correct and complete list of, and the Company has made available to SPAC (including written summaries of oral Contracts) true, correct and complete copies of, each Contract to which any Target Company is a party or by which any Target Company, or any of its properties or assets are bound or affected (each Contract required to be set forth on Schedule 5.12(a), a “Company Material Contract”) that:
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(i)contains covenants that limit the ability of any Target Company (A) to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or to sell, or provide any service or product or solicit any Person, including any non-competition covenants, employee and customer non-solicit covenants, exclusivity restrictions, rights of first refusal or most-favored pricing clauses or (B) to purchase or acquire an interest in any other Person;
(ii)involves any joint venture, profit-sharing, partnership, limited liability company or other similar agreement or arrangement relating to the formation, creation, operation, management or control of any partnership or joint venture (other than the Company Operating Agreement);
(iii)involves any exchange traded, over the counter or other swap, cap, floor, collar, futures contract, forward contract, option or other derivative financial instrument or Contract, based on any commodity, security, instrument, asset, rate or index of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether tangible or intangible, including currencies, interest rates, foreign currency and indices;
(iv)evidences Indebtedness (whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset) of any Target Company having an outstanding principal amount in excess of $300,000;
(v)involves the acquisition or disposition, directly or indirectly (by merger or otherwise), of assets with an aggregate value in excess of $300,000 (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or shares or other equity interests of any Target Company or another Person;
(vi)relates to any merger, consolidation or other business combination with any other Person or the acquisition or disposition of any other entity or its business or material assets or the sale of any Target Company, its business or material assets;
(vii) by its terms, individually or with all related Contracts, resulted, during the twelve (12)-month period prior to the date hereof, in aggregate payments or receipts to or by the Target Companies under such Contract or Contracts of at least $300,000;
(viii)is with any Top Customer or Top Supplier;
(ix)obligates the Target Companies to provide continuing indemnification or a guarantee of obligations of a third party after the date hereof in excess of $300,000;
(x)is between any Target Company and any directors, officers or employees of a Target Company (other than at-will employment arrangements with employees entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), including all non-competition, severance and indemnification agreements, or any Related Person;
(xi)obligates the Target Companies to make any capital commitment or expenditure in excess of $300,000 (including pursuant to any joint venture);
(xii)relates to a material settlement entered into within three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement or under which any Target Company has outstanding obligations (other than customary confidentiality obligations);
(xiii)provides another Person (other than another Target Company or any manager, director or officer of any Target Company) with a power of attorney;
(xiv)is a Company IP License or Outbound IP License or relates to the development, ownership, licensing or use of any Intellectual Property by, to or from any Target Company, other than Off-the-Shelf Software;
(xv)that will be required to be filed with the Registration Statement under applicable SEC requirements or would otherwise be required to be filed by the Company as an exhibit for a Form S-1 pursuant to Items 601(b)(1), (2), (4), (9) or (10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act as if the Company was the registrant;
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(xvi)each Collective Bargaining Agreement by which a Target Company is bound or to which a Target Company is a party; or
(xvii)is otherwise material to any Target Company and not described in clauses (i) through (xiv) above.
(b)Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.12(b), with respect to each Company Material Contract: (i) such Company Material Contract is valid and binding and enforceable in all respects against the Target Company party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect (except, in each case, as such enforcement may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions), (ii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any Company Material Contract, (iii) no Target Company is in breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute a material breach or default by any Target Company, or permit termination or acceleration by the other party thereto, under such Company Material Contract; (iv) to the Knowledge of the Company, no other party to such Company Material Contract is in breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute such a material breach or default by such other party, or permit termination or acceleration by any Target Company, under such Company Material Contract; (v) no Target Company has received written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of an intention by any party to any such Company Material Contract that provides for a continuing obligation by any party thereto to terminate such Company Material Contract or amend the terms thereof, other than modifications in the ordinary course of business that do not adversely affect any Target Company; and (vi) no Target Company has waived any material rights under any such Company Material Contract.
5.13 Intellectual Property.
(a)Schedule 5.13(a)(i) sets forth a true and complete list of: (i) all U.S. and foreign registered Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Internet Assets and applications owned or licensed by a Target Company or otherwise used or held for use by a Target Company in which a Target Company is the owner, applicant or assignee (“Company Registered IP”), specifying as to each item, as applicable: (A) the nature of the item, including the title, (B) the owner of the item, (C) the jurisdictions in which the item is issued or registered or in which an application for issuance or registration has been filed and (D) the issuance, registration or application numbers and dates and (ii) all material unregistered Intellectual Property owned or licensed or purported to be owned or licensed by a Target Company. Schedule 5.13(a)(ii) sets forth a true and complete list of all Intellectual Property licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions (“Company IP Licenses”) (other than Contracts for “shrink wrap,” “click wrap” and “off the shelf” Software or other uncustomized Software commercially available on standard terms to the public generally with license, maintenance, support and other fees of less than $10,000 per year (collectively, “Off-the-Shelf Software”), which are not required to be listed, although such licenses are “Company IP Licenses” as that term is used herein), under which a Target Company is a licensee or otherwise is authorized to use or practice any Intellectual Property, and describes (A) the applicable Intellectual Property licensed, sublicensed or used and (B) any royalties, license fees or other compensation due from a Target Company, if any. Each Target Company solely and exclusively owns, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), all right, title, and interest in and to all Intellectual Property owned (or purported to be owned), in whole or in part, by such Target Company and has valid and enforceable rights in, and has the unrestricted right to use, sell, license, transfer or assign, all other Intellectual Property currently used, licensed or held for use by such Target Company, and previously used or licensed by such target Company, except for the Intellectual Property that is the subject of the Company IP Licenses or subject to a Permitted Lien. No item of Company Registered IP that consists of a pending Patent application fails to identify all pertinent inventors, and for each Patent and Patent application in the Company Registered IP, the Target Companies have obtained valid assignments of inventions from each inventor. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.13(a)(iii), all Company Registered IP is owned exclusively by the applicable Target Company without obligation to pay royalties, licensing fees or other fees, or otherwise account to any third party with respect to such Company Registered IP, and such Target Company is the owner of record or has otherwise recorded assignments of all Company Registered IP with any applicable Intellectual Property offices or Governmental Authorities.
(b)Each Target Company has a valid and enforceable license to use all Intellectual Property that is the subject of the Company IP Licenses applicable to such Target Company. The Company IP Licenses include all of the licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions necessary to operate the Target Companies as presently conducted. Each Target Company has performed all obligations imposed on it in any Company IP Licenses, has made all payments required to date, and such Target Company is not, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, is any other party thereto, in breach or default thereunder, nor has any event occurred that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default thereunder. The
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continued use by the Target Companies of any Intellectual Property that is the subject of any Company IP Licenses in the same manner that it is currently being used is not restricted by any applicable license of any Target Company. All registrations for Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Internet Assets that are owned by or exclusively licensed to any Target Company are, valid, in force and in good standing with all required fees and maintenance and/or renewal fees having been paid with no Actions pending, and all applications to register any Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks are pending and in good standing, all without challenge of any kind other than office actions that may be issued by the applicable Intellectual Property office or governmental agency in the ordinary course of filing and prosecuting such applications. No Target Company is party to any Contract that requires a Target Company to assign to any Person all of its rights in any Intellectual Property developed by a Target Company under such Contract.
(c)Schedule 5.13(a) sets forth a true and complete list of any and all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions under which a Target Company is the licensor (each, an “Outbound IP License”), and for each such Outbound IP License, describes (i) the applicable Intellectual Property licensed, (ii) the licensee under such Outbound IP License, and (iii) any royalties, license fees or other compensation due to a Target Company, if any. Each Target Company has performed all obligations imposed on it in any Outbound IP Licenses, and such Target Company is not, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, is any other party thereto, in breach or default thereunder, nor has any event occurred that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default thereunder.
(d)No Action is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against a Target Company that challenges the validity, enforceability, ownership or right to use, sell, license or sublicense, or that otherwise relates to, any Intellectual Property currently owned, licensed, used or held for use by the Target Companies, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, is there any reasonable basis for any such Action. No Target Company has received any written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice or claim (including offers to license, audit demands or cease and desist letters) asserting or suggesting that any infringement, misappropriation, violation, dilution or unauthorized use of the Intellectual Property of any other Person is or may be occurring or has or may have occurred, by any Target Company or as a consequence of the business activities of any Target Company, nor to the Knowledge of the Company is there a reasonable basis therefor. There are no Orders to which any Target Company is a party or is otherwise bound that (i) restrict the rights of a Target Company to use, transfer, license or enforce any Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company, (ii) restrict the conduct of the business of a Target Company in order to accommodate a third Person’s Intellectual Property, or (iii) other than the Outbound IP Licenses, grant any third Person any right with respect to any Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company. No Target Company nor the conduct of its business (including its products and services) is currently infringing, or has, in the past, infringed, misappropriated or violated any Intellectual Property of any other Person. To the Company’s Knowledge, no third party is currently, or has been, infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property owned, licensed by, licensed to, or otherwise used or held for use by any Target Company (“Company IP”) in any material respect.
(e)All Persons (including all past and current officers, directors, employees and independent contractors of a Target Company (and each of their respective Affiliates) who have contributed to the creation or development of any Intellectual Property for any Target Company have presently and validly assigned to the Target Companies all such Persons’ rights, title, and interests in and to all Intellectual Property arising from the services performed for a Target Company by such Persons (or all such rights, title, and interests have vested or will vest in the Target Companies by operation of Law) and, where applicable, all such assignments of Company Registered IP have been recorded. No such Person (including any current or former officers, employees or independent contractors of a Target Company) have claimed any ownership interest in any Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company.
(f)To the Knowledge of the Company, there has been no unauthorized use or disclosure of any material Trade Secrets and no violation of a Target Company’s policies or practices related to protection of Company IP or any confidentiality or nondisclosure Contract relating to the Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company. The Company has made available to SPAC true and complete copies of all written Contracts referenced in subsections under which employees and independent contractors assigned their Intellectual Property to a Target Company. To the Company’s Knowledge, none of the employees of any Target Company is obligated under any Contract, or subject to any Order, that would materially interfere with the use of such employee’s best efforts to promote the interests of the Target Companies, or that would materially conflict with the business of any Target Company as presently conducted or contemplated to be conducted. Each Target Company has taken reasonable security measures in order to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all material Trade Secrets and other confidential or proprietary material Company IP.
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(g)No Governmental Authority or any university, college, other educational institution or research center owns, purports to own, has any other rights in or to, or has any option to obtain any rights in or to, any Company IP.
(h)Each Target Company takes and has taken commercially reasonable measures designed to maintain and protect the performance of the Company IT Systems (and all Software, information and data stored thereon). The Company IT Systems are adequate and sufficient for the operation of the businesses of the Target Companies as currently conducted. There have been no (i) material failures, breakdowns or other impairments of any Company IT Systems that have not been remedied or are in the process of being remedied in full as of the date of this Agreement or (ii) material security breaches or unauthorized use, access or intrusions of any Company IT Systems.
(i)No Person has obtained unauthorized access to third party information and data (including personally identifiable information) in the possession of a Target Company, nor has there been any other material compromise of the security, confidentiality or integrity of such information or data, and no written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral complaint relating to an improper use or disclosure of, or a breach in the security of, any such information or data has been received by a Target Company. Each Target Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws and Contract requirements relating to data privacy, personal data protection, cybersecurity and the collection, processing and use of Personal Information and its own privacy policies and guidelines. The operation of the business of the Target Companies has not and does not violate any right to privacy or publicity of any third person, or constitute unfair competition or trade practices under applicable Law.
(j)The consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the material breach, material modification, cancellation, termination, suspension of or acceleration of any payments with respect to, or release of source code because of (i) any Contract providing for the license or other use of Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company, or (ii) any Company IP License. Following the Closing, the Company shall be permitted to exercise, directly or indirectly through its Subsidiaries, all of the Target Companies’ rights under such Contracts or Company IP Licenses to the same extent that the Target Companies would have been able to exercise had the transactions contemplated by this Agreement not occurred, without the payment of any additional amounts or consideration other than ongoing fees, royalties or payments which the Target Companies would otherwise be required to pay in the absence of such transactions.
5.14 Taxes and Returns.
(a)Each Target Company has or will have timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it (taking into account all available extensions), which Tax Returns are true, accurate, correct and complete in all material respects, and has paid, collected or withheld, or caused to be paid, collected or withheld, all material Taxes required to be paid, collected or withheld, other than such Taxes for which adequate reserves in the Company Financials have been established. Each Target Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to Tax.
(b)There is no Action currently pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against a Target Company by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the Target Company does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
(c)No Target Company is being audited by any Tax authority or has been notified in writing that any such audit is contemplated or pending. There are no claims, assessments, audits, examinations, investigations or other Actions pending against a Target Company in respect of any Tax, and no Target Company has been notified in writing of any proposed Tax claims or assessments against it (other than, in each case, claims or assessments for which adequate reserves in the Company Financials have been established).
(d)There are no Liens with respect to any Taxes upon any Target Company’s assets, other than Permitted Liens.
(e)No Target Company has any outstanding waivers or extensions of any applicable statute of limitations to assess any amount of material Taxes. There are no outstanding requests by a Target Company for any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return or within which to pay any Taxes shown to be due on any Tax Return.
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(f)No Target Company has made any change in accounting method (except as required by a change in Law) or entered into any closing agreement with any taxing authority affecting or otherwise settled or compromised any material Tax Liability or refund.
(g)No Target Company has participated in, or sold, distributed or otherwise promoted, any “reportable transaction,” as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulation section 1.6011-4.
(h)No Target Company has any Liability or potential Liability for the Taxes of another Person (other than another Target Company) that is not adequately reflected in the Company Financials (i) under any applicable Tax Law, (ii) as a transferee or successor, or (iii) by Contract, indemnity or otherwise (excluding commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not the sharing of Taxes). No Target Company is a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity agreement, Tax sharing agreement or Tax allocation agreement or similar agreement, arrangement or practice (excluding commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose which is not the sharing of Taxes) with respect to Taxes (including advance pricing agreement, closing agreement or other agreement relating to Taxes with any Governmental Authority) that will be binding on any Target Company with respect to any period following the Closing Date.
(i)No Target Company has requested, nor is it the subject of or bound by, any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, closing agreement or similar ruling, memorandum or agreement with any Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes, nor is any such request outstanding.
(j)At all times since each Target Company’s date of formation, each such Target Company has been classified as either a disregarded entity or a partnership (in each case, for U.S. federal income Tax purposes or, where applicable, state and/or local income Tax purposes). No such Target Company has made an election to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income Tax purposes or, where applicable, state and/or local income Tax purposes.
(k)To the Knowledge of the Company, there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.
5.15 Real Property. Schedule 5.15 contains a complete and accurate list of (i) all real property currently leased or subleased or otherwise used or occupied by a Target Company or any affiliate thereof for the operation of the business of a Target Company, and (ii) of all current leases, lease guarantees, agreements and documents related thereto, including all amendments, terminations and modifications thereof or waivers thereto (collectively, the “Company Real Property Leases”), as well as the current annual rent and term under each Company Real Property Lease. The Company has provided to SPAC a true, correct and complete copy of each of the Company Real Property Leases, and in the case of any oral Company Real Property Lease, a written summary of the material terms of such Company Real Property Lease. The Company Real Property Leases are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms and are in full force and effect, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. No event has occurred which (whether with or without notice, lapse of time or both or the happening or occurrence of any other event) would constitute a default on the part of a Target Company or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party under any of the Company Real Property Leases, and no Target Company has received notice of any such condition. No Target Company owns or has ever owned any real property or any interest in real property (other than the leasehold interests in any Company Real Property Lease).
5.16 Personal Property. Each item of Personal Property which is currently owned, used or leased by a Target Company with a book value or fair market value of greater than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) is set forth on Schedule 5.16, along with, to the extent applicable, a list of lease agreements, lease guarantees, security agreements and other agreements related thereto, including all amendments, terminations and modifications thereof or waivers thereto (“Company Personal Property Leases”). Except as set forth on Schedule 5.16, all such items of Personal Property are in good operating condition and repair (reasonable wear and tear excepted consistent with the age of such items), and are suitable for their intended use in the business of the Target Companies. The operation of each Target Company’s business as it is now conducted or presently proposed to be conducted is not dependent upon the right to use the Personal Property of Persons other than a Target Company, except for such Personal Property that is owned, leased or licensed by or otherwise contracted to a Target Company. The Company has provided to SPAC a true and complete copy of each of the Company Personal Property Leases, and in the case of any oral Company Personal Property Lease, a written summary of the material terms of such Company Personal Property Lease. The Company Personal Property Leases are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms and are in full force and effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred which (whether with or without notice, lapse of time or both or the happening or occurrence of any other event) would constitute a default on
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the part of a Target Company or any other party under any of the Company Personal Property Leases, and no Target Company has received notice of any such condition.
5.17 Title to and Sufficiency of Assets. Each Target Company has good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in or right to use, all of its assets, free and clear of all Liens other than (a) Permitted Liens, (b) the rights of lessors under leasehold interests, (c) Liens specifically identified on the most recent balance sheet included in the Company Financials and (d) Liens set forth on Schedule 5.17. The assets (including Intellectual Property rights and contractual rights) of the Target Companies constitute all of the assets, rights and properties that are used in the operation of the businesses of the Target Companies as it is now conducted or that are used or held by the Target Companies for use in the operation of the businesses of the Target Companies, and taken together, are adequate and sufficient for the operation of the businesses of the Target Companies as currently conducted.
5.18 Employee Matters
(a)Except as set forth on Schedule 5.18(a), no Target Company is a party to any Collective Bargaining Agreement or other Contract covering any group of employees, labor organization or other representative of any of the employees of any Target Company, and the Company has no Knowledge of any activities or proceedings of any labor union or other party to organize or represent such employees. There has not occurred or, to the Knowledge of the Company, been threatened any strike, slow-down, picketing, work-stoppage, or other similar labor activity with respect to any such employees. Schedule 5.18(a) sets forth all unresolved labor controversies (including unresolved employee, consultant or independent contractor claims, grievances and/or disputes, whether raised internally with the Company or through a representative, including any harassment, age or other discrimination, or retaliation claims, wage and hour claims, and any other claims arising under local, state or federal labor and employment laws), if any, that are pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened between any Target Company and Persons employed by or providing services as independent contractors to a Target Company. No current officer or employee of a Target Company has provided any Target Company written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of his or her plan to terminate his or her employment with any Target Company.
(b)Except as set forth on Schedule 5.18(b), each Target Company (i) is and for the last six (6) years has been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, legally-required trainings and notices, health and safety and wages and hours, and other Laws relating to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, disability, labor relations, hours of work, payment of wages and overtime wages, pay equity, immigration, workers compensation, working conditions, employee scheduling, occupational safety and health, family and medical leave, and employee terminations, and has not received written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice that there is any pending Action involving unfair labor practices against a Target Company, (ii) is not liable for any material past due arrears of wages or any material penalty for failure to comply with any of the foregoing, and (iii) is not liable for any material payment to any Governmental Authority with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for employees, independent contractors or consultants (other than routine payments to be made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice). There are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against a Target Company brought by or on behalf of any applicant for employment, any current or former employee, any Person alleging to be a current or former employee, or any Governmental Authority, relating to any such Law or regulation, or alleging breach of any express or implied contract of employment, wrongful termination of employment, or alleging any other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with the employment relationship.
(c)Schedule 5.18(c) hereto sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date hereof of all employees of the Target Companies showing for each as of such date (i) the employee’s name, job title or description, employer, location, salary level (including any bonus, commission, deferred compensation or other remuneration payable (other than any such arrangements under which payments are at the discretion of the Target Companies)), (ii) any bonus, commission or other remuneration other than salary paid during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, and (iii) any wages, salary, bonus, commission or other compensation due and owing to each employee during or for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.18(c), (A) no employee is a party to a written employment Contract with a Target Company and each is employed “at will”, and (B) the Target Companies have paid in full to all their employees all wages, salaries, commission, bonuses and other compensation due to their employees, including overtime compensation, and no Target Company has any obligation or Liability (whether or not contingent) with respect to severance payments to any such employees under the terms of any written or, to the Company’s Knowledge, oral agreement, or commitment or any applicable Law, custom, trade, policy or practice. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.18(c), each Target Company employee
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has entered into the Company’s standard form of employee non-disclosure, inventions and restrictive covenants agreement with a Target Company (whether pursuant to a separate agreement or incorporated as part of such employee’s overall employment agreement), a copy of which has been made available to SPAC by the Company.
(d)Schedule 5.18(d) contains a list of all independent contractors (including consultants) currently engaged by any Target Company, along with the position, the entity engaging such Person, date of retention and rate of remuneration, most recent increase (or decrease) in remuneration and amount thereof, for each such Person. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.18(d), all of such independent contractors are a party to a written Contract with a Target Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.18(d), each such independent contractor has entered into customary covenants regarding confidentiality, non-competition and assignment of inventions and copyrights in such Person’s agreement with a Target Company, a copy of which has been provided to SPAC by the Company. For the purposes of applicable Law, including the Code, all independent contractors who are currently, or within the last six (6) years have been, engaged by a Target Company are bona fide independent contractors and not employees of a Target Company. Each independent contractor is terminable on fewer than thirty (30) days’ notice, without any obligation of any Target Company to pay severance or a termination fee.
(e)To the Knowledge of the Company, since January 1, 2023, the Target Companies has investigated all workplace harassment (including sexual harassment), discrimination, retaliation, and workplace violence written claims, if any, relating to current and/or former employees of any Target Company or third parties who interacted with current and/or former employees of the Company. With respect to each such written claim with potential merit, the Company has taken corrective action. Further, to the Knowledge of the Company, since January 1, 2023 no allegations of sexual harassment have been made to any Target Company against any individual in his or her capacity as director or an executive officer of any Target Company.
5.19 Benefit Plans.
(a)Set forth on Schedule 5.19(a) is a true and complete list of each material Benefit Plan of a Target Company (each, a “Company Benefit Plan”). With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, there are no funded benefit obligations for which contributions have not been made or properly accrued and there are no unfunded benefit obligations that have not been accounted for by reserves, or otherwise properly footnoted in accordance with GAAP on the Company Financials. No Target Company has any Liability with respect to any collectively-bargained for plans, whether or not subject to the provisions of ERISA. No statement, either written or oral, has been made by any Target Company to any Person with regard to any Company Benefit Plan that was not in accordance with the Company Benefit Plan in any material respect.
(b)Except as set forth on Schedule 5.19(b), each Company Benefit Plan is and has been operated at all times in compliance with all applicable Laws in all material respects, including ERISA and the Code. Each Company Benefit Plan which is intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (i) has been determined by the IRS to be so qualified (or is based on a prototype plan which has received a favorable opinion letter) during the period from its adoption to the date of this Agreement and (ii) its related trust has been determined to be exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code or the Target Companies have requested an initial favorable IRS determination of qualification and/or exemption within the period permitted by applicable Law. To the Company’s Knowledge, no fact exists which could adversely affect the qualified status of such Company Benefit Plans or the exempt status of such trusts.
(c)With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, the Company has provided to SPAC accurate and complete copies, if applicable, of: (i) all Company Benefit Plan texts and agreements and related trust agreements, insurance policy, administrative service agreements, or annuity Contracts (including any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto) or an accurate written summary of any Company Benefit Plan which is unwritten, (ii) all summary plan descriptions and material modifications thereto, (iii) the three (3) most recent Forms 5500, if applicable, and annual report, including all schedules thereto, (iv) the most recent annual and periodic accounting of plan assets, (v) the three (3) most recent nondiscrimination testing reports, (vi) the most recent determination letter received from the IRS, if any, (vii) the most recent actuarial valuation, and (viii) all material communications with any Governmental Authority.
(d)Except as set forth on Schedule 5.19(d), with respect to each Company Benefit Plan: (i) such Company Benefit Plan has been established, operated, funded, administered and enforced in all material respects in accordance with its terms and all applicable Laws, including the Code and ERISA, (ii) no breach of fiduciary duty that could reasonably be expected to result in Liability to any Target Company has occurred, (iii) no Action is pending, or to the Company’s Knowledge,
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threatened (other than routine claims for benefits arising in the ordinary course of administration), (iv) no “prohibited transaction”, as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred that could reasonably be likely to result in Liability to any Target Company, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (v) no filing has been made with respect to any Company Benefit Plan under any voluntary correction program; (vi) there has been no amendment to, written interpretation or announcement (whether or not written) by any Target Company relating to, any change in participation or coverage under, any Company Benefit Plan that would materially increase the expense of maintaining such Company Benefit Plan above the level of expense incurred with respect to such Company Benefit Plan for the most recent full fiscal year included in the Company Financials; and (vii) all contributions and premiums due through the Closing Date have been made in all material respects as required under all applicable Laws, including the Code and ERISA or have been fully accrued in all material respects on the Company Financials.
(e)Except as set forth on Schedule 5.19(e), during the six (6) year period preceding the Company Merger Effective Time, no Target Company or any of their ERISA Affiliates has maintained, contributed to, sponsored, had an obligation to contribute to or any Liability, whether absolute or contingent, with respect to (i) a “defined benefit plan” (as defined in Section 414(j) of the Code), (ii) a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) or (iii) a “multiple employer plan” (as described in Section 413(c) of the Code). No Company Benefit Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, and neither the Target Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any Liability or otherwise could have any Liability, contingent or otherwise, under Title IV of ERISA and no condition presently exists that is expected to cause such Liability to be incurred. No Target Company currently maintains, sponsors or has ever maintained or sponsored, or is required currently or has ever been required to contribute to or otherwise participate in, a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” or “voluntary employees’ beneficiary association” as defined in Section 501(c)(9) of the Code.
(f)There is no arrangement under any Company Benefit Plan with respect to any employee that would result in the payment of any amount that by operation of Sections 280G or 162(m) of the Code would not be deductible by the Target Companies and no arrangement exists pursuant to which a Target Company will be required to “gross up” or otherwise compensate any person because of the imposition of any excise tax on a payment to such person.
(g)With respect to each Company Benefit Plan which is a “welfare plan” (as described in Section 3(1) of ERISA): (i) except to the extent required by Section 4980B of the Code or similar state Law, no such plan provides health, medical, other welfare benefits, or death benefits with respect to current or former employees, directors, officers, or individual service providers of a Target Company beyond their termination of employment (other than coverage mandated by Law, which is paid solely by such employees); and (ii) there are no reserves, assets, surplus or prepaid premiums under any such plan. Each Target Company has complied with the provisions of Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B, 4980D, 4980H, 6721 and 6722 of the Code and no circumstances exist that are reasonably expected to result in the imposition of any material Liability.
(h)Except as set forth on Schedule 5.19(h), the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents will not (either alone or in combination with another event (including any termination of employment on or following the Closing)): (i) entitle any individual to severance pay, unemployment compensation or any other benefits or compensation (or any increase in severance pay), (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of any compensation or benefits due, or in respect of, any individual, (iii) directly or indirectly cause any Target Company to transfer or set aside any assets to fund any material benefits under any Company Benefit Plan, (iv) result in any breach or violation of or default under or limit the right of any Target Company to amend, modify or terminate any Company Benefit Plan, or (v) result in or satisfy a condition to the payment of compensation that would, individually or in combination with any other payment, result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code. No Target Company has incurred any material Liability for any Tax imposed under Chapter 43 of the Code or civil liability under Section 502(i) or (l) of ERISA.
(i)All Company Benefit Plans can be terminated at any time as of or after the Closing Date without resulting in any material Liability to the Surviving Subsidiaries or Pubco, or their respective Affiliates for any additional contributions, penalties, premiums, fees, fines, excise taxes or any other charges or liabilities.
(j)Each Company Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code (each, a “Section 409A Plan”) as of the Closing Date is indicated as such on Schedule 5.19(j). No equity-based awards have been issued or granted by the Company that are, or are subject to, a Section 409A Plan. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.19(j), (i) each Section 409A Plan has been
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operated and administered in compliance, and is in documentary compliance, with the applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code, the regulations thereunder and other official guidance issued thereunder, (ii) no Target Company has any obligation to any current or former employee, director, officer, or other service provider with respect to any Section 409A Plan that may be subject to any Tax under Section 409A of the Code, and (iii) no payment to be made under any Section 409A Plan is, or to the Knowledge of the Company will be, subject to the penalties of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code. There is no Contract or plan to which any Target Company is a party or by which it is bound to compensate, reimburse, “gross-up” or indemnify any employee, consultant or director for any Taxes or interest imposed pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.
(k)Each Foreign Pension Plan, in form and operation, materially complies with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable Laws and has been materially maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities. All contributions required to be made with respect to a Foreign Pension Plan have been timely made, and no Foreign Pension Plan has any Liability which is not properly accrued on the Company Financials. No Target Company has incurred any obligation in connection with the termination of, or withdrawal from, any Foreign Pension Plan. The present value of the accrued benefit Liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Foreign Pension Plan, determined as of the end of the Target Company’s most recently ended fiscal year on the basis of actuarial assumptions, each of which is reasonable, did not exceed the current value of the assets of such Foreign Pension Plan allocable to such benefit Liabilities.
5.20 Environmental Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.20:
(a)Each Target Company is and has been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws, including obtaining, maintaining in good standing, and complying in all material respects with all Permits required for its business and operations by Environmental Laws (“Environmental Permits”), no Action is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened to revoke, modify, or terminate any such Environmental Permit, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no facts, circumstances, or conditions currently exist that could adversely affect such continued compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits or require capital expenditures to achieve or maintain such continued compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits.
(b)No Target Company is the subject of any outstanding Order or Contract with any Governmental Authority or other Person in respect of any (i) Environmental Laws, (ii) Remedial Action, or (iii) Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Material. No Target Company has assumed, contractually or by operation of Law, any Liabilities or obligations under any Environmental Laws.
(c)No Action has been made or is pending, or to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against any Target Company or any assets of a Target Company alleging either or both that a Target Company may be in material violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit or may have any material Liability under any Environmental Law.
(d)No Target Company has manufactured, treated, stored, disposed of, arranged for or permitted the disposal of, generated, handled or Released any Hazardous Material, or owned or operated any property or facility, in a manner that has given or would reasonably be expected to give rise to any material Liability or obligation under applicable Environmental Laws. No fact, circumstance, or condition exists in respect of any Target Company or any property currently or formerly owned, operated, or leased by any Target Company or any property to which a Target Company arranged for the disposal or treatment of Hazardous Materials that could reasonably be expected to result in a Target Company incurring any material Environmental Liabilities.
(e)There is no investigation of the business, operations, or currently owned, operated, or leased property of a Target Company or, to the Company’s Knowledge, previously owned, operated, or leased property of a Target Company pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened that could lead to the imposition of any Liens under any Environmental Law or material Environmental Liabilities.
(f)To the Knowledge of the Company, there is not located at any of the properties of a Target Company any (i) underground storage tanks, (ii) asbestos-containing material, or (iii) equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls.
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(g)The Company has provided to SPAC all environmentally related site assessments, audits, studies, reports, analysis and results of investigations that have been performed in respect of the currently or previously owned, leased, or operated properties of any Target Company.
5.21 Transactions with Related Persons. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.21, no Target Company nor any of its Affiliates, nor any officer, director, manager, employee, trustee or beneficiary of a Target Company or any of its Affiliates, nor any immediate family member of any of the foregoing (whether directly or indirectly through an Affiliate of such Person) (each of the foregoing, a “Related Person”) is presently, or in the past three (3) years, has been, a party to any transaction with a Target Company, including any Contract or other arrangement (a) providing for the furnishing of services by (other than as officers, directors or employees of the Target Company), (b) providing for the rental of real property or Personal Property from or (c) otherwise requiring payments to (other than for services or expenses as directors, officers or employees of the Target Company in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) any Related Person or any Person in which any Related Person has an interest as an owner, officer, manager, director, trustee or partner or in which any Related Person has any direct or indirect interest (other than the ownership of securities representing no more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding voting power or economic interest of a publicly traded company). Except as set forth on Schedule 5.21, no Target Company has outstanding any Contract or other arrangement or commitment with any Related Person, and no Related Person owns any real property or Personal Property, or right, tangible or intangible (including Intellectual Property) which is used in the business of any Target Company. The assets of the Target Companies do not include any receivable or other obligation from a Related Person, and the liabilities of the Target Companies do not include any payable or other obligation or commitment to any Related Person.
5.22 Insurance. Schedule 5.22 lists all insurance policies (by policy number, insurer, coverage period, coverage amount, annual premium and type of policy) held by a Target Company relating to a Target Company or its business, properties, assets, directors, officers and employees, copies of which have been provided to SPAC. All premiums due and payable under all such insurance policies have been timely paid and the Target Companies are otherwise in material compliance with the terms of such insurance policies. Each such insurance policy (i) is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect and (ii) will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect on identical terms following the Closing. No Target Company has any self-insurance or co-insurance programs. In the past three (3) years, no Target Company has received any notice from, or on behalf of, any insurance carrier relating to or involving any adverse change or any change other than in the ordinary course of business, in the conditions of insurance, any refusal to issue an insurance policy or non-renewal of a policy.
5.23 Books and Records. All of the financial books and records of the Target Companies are complete and accurate in all material respects and have been maintained in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and in accordance with applicable Laws.
5.24 Top Customers and Suppliers. Schedule 5.24 lists, by dollar volume received or paid, as applicable, for each of (a) the twelve (12) months ended on December 31, 2025 and (b) the period from January 1, 2026 through the most recent balance sheet date, the ten (10) largest customers of the Target Companies (the “Top Customers”) and the ten (10) largest suppliers of goods or services to the Target Companies (the “Top Suppliers”), along with the amounts of such dollar volumes. The relationships of each Target Company with such suppliers and customers are good commercial working relationships and (i) no Top Supplier or Top Customer within the last twelve (12) months has cancelled or otherwise terminated, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, intends to cancel or otherwise terminate, any material relationships of such Person with a Target Company, (ii) no Top Supplier or Top Customer has during the last twelve (12) months decreased materially or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened to stop, decrease or limit materially, or intends to modify materially its material relationships with a Target Company or intends to stop, decrease or limit materially its products or services to any Target Company or its usage or purchase of the products or services of any Target Company, (iii) to the Company’s Knowledge, no Top Supplier or Top Customer intends to refuse to pay any amount due to any Target Company or seek to exercise any remedy against any Target Company, (iv) no Target Company has within the past two (2) years been engaged in any material dispute with any Top Supplier or Top Customer, and (v) to the Company’s Knowledge, the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents will not adversely affect the relationship of any Target Company with any Top Supplier or Top Customer.
5.25 Certain Business Practices.
(a)No Target Company, nor any of the respective officers, managers or directors or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other Representatives acting on their behalf, has (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government
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officials or employees, to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or (iii) made any other unlawful payment. Since January 1, 2024, no Target Company, nor any of the respective officers, managers or directors or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other Representatives acting on their behalf, has directly or knowingly indirectly, given or agreed to give any unlawful gift or similar benefit in any material amount to any customer, supplier, governmental employee or other Person who is or may be in a position to help or hinder any Target Company or assist any Target Company in connection with any actual or proposed transaction.
(b)The operations of each Target Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with money laundering statutes in all applicable jurisdictions that govern the operations of the Target Company, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority that have jurisdiction over the Target Companies, and no Action involving a Target Company with respect to any of the foregoing is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(c)No Target Company or any of their respective directors, managers or officers, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other Representative acting on behalf of a Target Company is currently (i) identified on the specially designated nationals or other blocked person list or otherwise currently subject to any U.S. economic, financial, or trade sanctions administered by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, or other applicable Governmental Authority (“Sanctions”); (ii) organized, resident, or located in, or a national of a comprehensively sanctioned country; or (iii) in the aggregate, fifty percent (50%) or greater owned, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controlled, by a person identified in (i) or (ii); and no Target Company has, directly or, knowingly, indirectly, used any funds, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available such funds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, in connection with any sales or operations in any country comprehensively sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to, or otherwise in violation of, any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State since April 24, 2019. Since April 24, 2019, the Target Companies have been in compliance with applicable Sanctions. Since April 24, 2019, not Target Company has received any notice, request, claim, complaint, correspondence, or other communication in writing from any Governmental Authority or other Person, and there has not been any audit, investigation, enforcement action (including any fines or other sanctions), or other Action, or any disclosure made to a Government Authority relating to any actual or alleged violation of Sanctions.
5.26 Privacy and Data Security.
(a)The Target Companies, and, to Knowledge of the Company, all vendors, processors, or other third parties acting for or on behalf of a Target Company in connection with the Processing of Personal Information or that otherwise have been authorized to have access to Personal Information in the possession or control of the Target Companies or the Target Companies’ information technology systems or software applications, comply and at all times have complied, in all material respects with all of the following: (i) Privacy Laws; (ii) the Company Privacy and Data Security Policies; and (iii) any Contract requirements or terms of use concerning the Processing of Personal Information or the security of information technology systems or software applications to which a Target Company is a party or otherwise bound as of the date hereof (“Privacy Agreements”). The operation of the business of the Target Companies has not and does not violate any right to privacy or publicity of any third person under applicable Law.
(b)The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not: (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any Privacy Laws, Company Privacy and Data Security Policies; or (ii) require the consent of or notice to any Person concerning such Person’s Personal Information.
(c)The Company has delivered or made available to SPAC true, complete, and correct copies of all Company Privacy and Data Security Policies.
(d)No Person has obtained unauthorized access to Personal Information in the possession of a Target Company, nor has there been any other material compromise of the security, confidentiality, availability or integrity of any Target Company information technology system or software application or the information or data thereon, and no written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral complaint relating to an improper use or disclosure of, or a breach in the security of, any such Target Company information technology system or software application, or the information or data thereon, has been received by a Target Company (a “Security Incident”). The Target Companies have not notified and there have been no facts
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or circumstances that would require a Target Company to notify, any Governmental Authority or other Person of any Security Incident.
(e)The Target Companies have not received any notice, request, claim, complaint, correspondence, or other communication in writing from any Governmental Authority or other Person, and there has not been any audit, investigation, enforcement action (including any fines or other sanctions), or other Action, (i) relating to any actual, alleged, or suspected Security Incident or violation of any Privacy Agreements, or any Person’s individual privacy rights involving Personal Information in the possession or control of the Target Companies, or held or Processed by any vendor, processor, or other third party for or on behalf of the Target Companies; (ii) prohibiting or threatening to prohibit the transfer of Personal Information to any place; or (iii) permitting or mandating any Governmental Authority to investigate, requisition information from, or enter the premises of, the Target Companies, and there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any of the foregoing.
(f)Each Target Company has implemented and maintained, and required all vendors, processors, or other third parties that Process any Personal Information for or on behalf of the Target Companies to implement and maintain, commercially reasonable security (a) regarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Personal Information and Confidential Information, in its possession, custody or control, or held or processed on its behalf, and (b) regarding the integrity and availability of the information technology systems and software applications the Target Companies own, operate or outsource. The Target Companies’ information technology systems and software applications, do not contain any “time bombs”, “trojan horses,” “back doors,” “trap doors,” worms, viruses, spyware, keylogger software or other vulnerability, faults or malicious code or damaging devices designed or reasonably expected to adversely impact the functionality of or permit unauthorized access or to disable or otherwise harm any information technology systems or software applications.
(g)The Target Companies maintain a cyber insurance policy that is adequate and suitable for the nature and volume of Personal Information Processed by or on behalf of the Target Companies and is sufficient for compliance with all applicable Laws and Contracts to which any of the Target Companies is a party or by which it is bound. The Company has delivered or made available to SPAC a true, complete, and correct copy of such cyber insurance policy.
5.27 Investment Company Act. No Target Company is an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, or required to register as an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.
5.28 Finders and Brokers. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.28, no Target Company has incurred or will incur any Liability for any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or by any Transaction Financing.
5.29 Exclusivity of Representations.
(a)Neither the Company nor any of its Representatives have made any representation or warranty as to the Company or this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules) or in any certificate delivered to SPAC pursuant hereto.
(b)The Company specifically disclaims that it is relying upon or has relied upon any other representations and warranties that may have been made by any Person and acknowledges and agrees that SPAC, Pubco and the Merger Subs have specifically disclaimed any such other representations and warranties.
5.30 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference: (a) in any current report on Form 8-K, and any exhibits thereto (including the Signing Filing, Signing Press Release, Closing Filing, and Closing Press Release) or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority or stock exchange with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents; (b) in the Registration Statement; or (c) in the mailings or other distributions to SPAC’s shareholders and/or prospective investors with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or in any amendment to any of documents identified in (a) through (c), will, when filed, made available, mailed or distributed, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of SPAC or its Affiliates.
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Article VI
COVENANTS
6.1Access and Information.
(a)During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.1 or the Closing (the “Interim Period”), subject to Section 6.15, the Company shall give, and shall cause its Representatives to give, SPAC and its Representatives, at reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable intervals and notice, reasonable access to all offices and other facilities and to all employees, properties, Contracts, agreements, commitments, books and records, information technology systems, financial and operating data and other information (including Tax Returns, internal working papers, client files, client Contracts and director service agreements), of or pertaining to the Target Companies, as SPAC or its Representatives may reasonably request regarding the Target Companies and their respective businesses, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects, operations, management, employees and other aspects (including unaudited quarterly financial statements, including a consolidated quarterly balance sheet and income statement, a copy of each material report, schedule and other document filed with or received by a Governmental Authority pursuant to the requirements of applicable securities Laws, and independent public accountants’ work papers (subject to the consent or any other conditions required by such accountants, if any)) and cause each of the Company’s Representatives to reasonably cooperate with SPAC and its Representatives in their investigation; provided, however, that SPAC and its Representatives shall conduct any such activities in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of the Target Companies.
(b)During the Interim Period, subject to Section 6.15, SPAC shall give, and shall cause its Representatives to give, the Company and its Representatives, at reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable intervals and notice, reasonable access to all offices and other facilities and to all employees, properties, Contracts, agreements, commitments, books and records, financial and operating data and other information (including Tax Returns, internal working papers, client files, client Contracts and director service agreements), of or pertaining to SPAC or its Subsidiaries, as the Company or its Representatives may reasonably request regarding SPAC, its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects, operations, management, employees and other aspects (including unaudited quarterly financial statements, including a consolidated quarterly balance sheet and income statement, a copy of each material report, schedule and other document filed with or received by a Governmental Authority pursuant to the requirements of applicable securities Laws, and independent public accountants’ work papers (subject to the consent or any other conditions required by such accountants, if any)) and cause each of SPAC’s Representatives to reasonably cooperate with the Company and its Representatives in their investigation; provided, however, that the Company and its Representatives shall conduct any such activities in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of SPAC or any of its Subsidiaries.
6.2Conduct of Business of the Company.
(a)Unless SPAC shall otherwise consent in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the Interim Period, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents or as set forth on Schedule 6.2, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (i) conduct their respective businesses, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) comply with all Laws applicable to the Target Companies and their respective businesses, assets and employees, and (iii) take all commercially reasonable measures necessary or appropriate to preserve intact, in all material respects, their respective business organizations, to keep available the services of their respective managers, directors, officers, employees and consultants, and to preserve the possession, control and condition of their respective material assets, all as consistent with past practice.
(b)Without limiting the generality of Section 6.2(a) and except as contemplated by the terms of this Agreement (including, a Transaction Financing) or the Ancillary Documents or as required by applicable Law, during the Interim Period, without the prior written consent of SPAC (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to not:
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(i) amend, waive or otherwise change, in any respect, its Organizational Documents, except as required by applicable Law;
(ii) authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any of its equity securities or any options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any of its equity securities, or other securities, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its shares or other equity securities or securities of any class and any other equity-based awards, or engage in any hedging transaction with a third Person with respect to such securities; provided, that the foregoing shall not apply to (x) equity or equity-linked financings entered into by the Company providing operating capital in an aggregate amount up to $20,000,000 pursuant to which any such equity issued or issuable would convert into Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 1.9(a) (“Bridge Financing”) or (y) amendments solely to extend the exercise period of outstanding Company Warrants by a period not exceeding five (5) years after the period of their original exercise period;
(iii) split, reverse split, combine, subdivide, exchange, recapitalize or reclassify any of its shares or other equity interests or issue any other securities in respect thereof or pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, equity or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its equity interests, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any of its securities;
(iv) incur, create, assume, prepay or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise) in excess of $300,000 individually or in the aggregate, make a loan or advance to or investment in any third party (other than advancement of expenses to employees in the ordinary course of business), or guarantee or endorse any Indebtedness, Liability or obligation of any Person in excess of $300,000 individually or in the aggregate;
(v) (a) increase the wages, salaries, compensation, or benefits of its employees other than in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, and in any event not in the aggregate by more than five percent (5%), (b) fund or commit to fund any Company Benefit Plan, or make or commit to make any bonus, retention, transaction, severance, or other payment (whether in cash, property or securities) to any employee or other service provider, (c) increase compensation or other benefits of employees generally, or grant, announce (or promise to grant or announce), accelerate (or promise to accelerate) the vesting, funding, lapsing of restrictions or payment or in any way amend, modify, terminate or supplement the terms of any equity or equity-based or phantom equity award, or Company Benefit Plan, (d) forgive any loans or issue any loans to any employee, director, officer, or individual service provider (other than in connection with a qualified retirement plan, as applicable), (e) hire any new employee or engage any new independent contractor (who is a natural person) with annual cash compensation in excess of $250,000, (f) enter into, establish, materially amend or terminate any Company Benefit Plan (except for the Post-Closing Equity Plan) with, for or in respect of any current or former consultant, officer, manager director or employee, or (g) implement any layoffs of any employees of any Target Company in a manner that would trigger the WARN Act, in each case other than as required by applicable Law, pursuant to the terms of any Company Benefit Plans or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(vi) enter into, or make any commitment to enter into, adopt, or engage in any negotiations regarding, or terminate any Collective Bargaining Agreement with respect to any of the Target Companies’ employees, except as required under the terms of any Collective Bargaining Agreement in effect on the date hereof;
(vii) make or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, settle any claim, action, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or controversy relating to Taxes, file any amended Tax Return or claim for refund, or make any material change in its accounting or Tax policies or procedures, in each case except as required by applicable Law or in compliance with GAAP;
(viii) transfer or license to any Person or otherwise extend, materially amend or modify, permit to lapse or fail to preserve any material Company Registered IP, Company IP Licenses or other Company IP (excluding non-exclusive licenses of Company IP to Target Company customers in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), or disclose to any Person who has not entered into a confidentiality agreement any Trade Secrets;
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(ix) terminate, or waive or assign any material right under, any Company Material Contract or enter into any Contract that would be a Company Material Contract, in any case outside of the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(x) fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(xi) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain or renew any Permits necessary for the conduct of the businesses of the Target Companies as currently conducted;
(xii) establish any Subsidiary or enter into any new line of business;
(xiii) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep in force insurance policies or replacement or revised policies providing insurance coverage with respect to its assets, operations and activities in such amount and scope of coverage as are currently in effect;
(xiv) revalue any of its material assets or make any change in accounting methods, principles or practices, except to the extent required to comply with GAAP and after consulting with the Company’s outside auditors;
(xv) other than as set forth in Schedule 6.2(b)(xv), waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim, action or proceeding (including any suit, action, claim, proceeding or investigation relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that involve only the payment of monetary damages (and not the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, a Target Company or its Affiliates) not in excess of $100,000 (individually or in the aggregate), or otherwise pay, discharge or satisfy any Actions, Liabilities or obligations, unless such amount has been reserved in the Company Financials;
(xvi) close or materially reduce its activities, or effect any layoff or other personnel reduction or change, at any of its facilities;
(xvii) acquire, including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other form of business combination, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, other business organization or any division thereof, or any material amount of assets outside the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(xviii) make capital expenditures in excess of $500,000 (individually for any project (or set of related projects) or $1,000,000 in the aggregate), except for those expenditures set forth on Schedule 6.2(b)(xvii);
(xix) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization;
(xx) voluntarily incur any Liability or obligation (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) in excess of $250,000 individually or $1,000,000 in the aggregate other than pursuant to the terms of a Company Material Contract or Company Benefit Plan;
(xxi) sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber (including securitizations), or otherwise dispose of any material portion of its properties, assets or rights;
(xxii) enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to the voting of equity securities of any Target Company;
(xxiii) take any action that would reasonably be expected to significantly delay or impair the obtaining of any Consents of any Governmental Authority to be obtained in connection with this Agreement;
(xxiv) accelerate the collection of any trade receivables or delay the payment of trade payables or any other liabilities other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
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(xxv) enter into, amend, waive or terminate (other than terminations in accordance with their terms) any transaction with any Related Person (other than compensation and benefits and advancement of expenses, in each case, provided in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice); or
(xxvi) authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing actions.
6.3Conduct of Business of SPAC.
(a)Unless the Company shall otherwise consent in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the Interim Period, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents or as set forth on Schedule 6.3, SPAC shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (i) conduct their respective businesses, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) comply with all Laws applicable to SPAC and its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, assets and employees, and (iii) take all commercially reasonable measures necessary or appropriate to preserve intact, in all material respects, their respective business organizations, to keep available the services of their respective managers, directors, officers, employees and consultants, and to preserve the possession, control and condition of their respective material assets, all as consistent with past practice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.3, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict SPAC from: (i) extending, in accordance with SPAC’s Organizational Documents and the IPO Prospectus, the deadline by which it must complete its Business Combination (an “Extension”); (ii) incurring costs and expenses in connection with the Extension; (iii) approving any other matters required in connection with the Extension and (iv) redeeming the SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares held by its Public Shareholders as those Public Shareholders request in connection with the Extension pursuant to SPAC Organizational Documents; and no consent of any other Party shall be required in connection therewith. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.3, SPAC shall not effect any Extension without the prior written consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), which consent shall be provided with respect to the form, substance and manner of such Extension, including with respect to any amounts deposited into the Trust Account in connection therewith; provided, however, that no consent of the Company will be required for the borrowing described in the proviso to Section 6.3(b)(iv).
(b)Without limiting the generality of Section 6.3(a) and except as contemplated by the terms of this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents (including the Conversion or any Extension) or as set forth on Schedule 6.3, during the Interim Period, without the prior written consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), SPAC shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to not:
(i)amend, waive or otherwise change, in any respect, its Organizational Documents except as required by applicable Law;
(ii)authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any of its equity securities or any options, warrants, restricted stock units, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any of its equity securities, or other securities, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its equity securities or other security interests of any class and any other equity-based awards, or engage in any hedging transaction with a third Person with respect to such securities; provided that nothing herein shall prevent SPAC from entering into any Transaction Financing pursuant to Section 6.20 or from converting any SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares to SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares;
(iii)split, reverse split, combine, subdivide, exchange, recapitalize or reclassify any of its shares or other equity interests or issue any other securities in respect thereof or pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, equity or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its shares or other equity interests, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any of its securities;
(iv)incur, create, assume, prepay or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise) in excess of $500,000 in the aggregate, make a loan or advance to or investment in any third party, or guarantee or endorse any Indebtedness, Liability or obligation of any Person (provided, that this Section 6.3(b)(iv) shall not prevent SPAC from borrowing up to $1,000,000 to finance its ordinary course administrative costs and expenses and Expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the Conversion, Mergers and the other transactions
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contemplated by this Agreement (including any Transaction Financing) and the costs and expenses necessary for an Extension);
(v)make or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, settle any claim, action, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or controversy relating to Taxes, file any amended Tax Return or claim for refund, or make any material change in its accounting or Tax policies or procedures, in each case except as required by applicable Law or in compliance with GAAP;
(vi) amend, waive or otherwise change the Trust Agreement in any manner adverse to SPAC;
(vii) terminate, waive or assign any material right under any SPAC Material Contract;
(viii) fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(ix) establish any Subsidiary or enter into any new line of business;
(x) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep in force insurance policies or replacement or revised policies providing insurance coverage with respect to its assets, operations and activities in such amount and scope of coverage substantially similar to that which is currently in effect;
(xi) revalue any of its material assets or make any material change in accounting methods, principles or practices, except to the extent required to comply with GAAP and after consulting SPAC’s outside auditors;
(xii) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim, action or proceeding (including any Action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that involve only the payment of monetary damages (and not the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, SPAC or its Subsidiary) not in excess of $100,000 (individually or in the aggregate), or otherwise pay, discharge or satisfy any Actions, Liabilities or obligations, unless such amount has been reserved in SPAC Financials;
(xiii) acquire, including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other form of business combination, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, other business organization or any division thereof, or any material amount of assets outside the ordinary course of business;
(xiv) make capital expenditures in excess of $100,000 individually for any project (or set of related projects) or $250,000 in the aggregate (excluding for the avoidance of doubt, incurring any Expenses);
(xv) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization (other than with respect to the Conversion and the Mergers);
(xvi) sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber (including securitizations), or otherwise dispose of any material portion of its properties, assets or rights;
(xvii) enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to the voting of SPAC Securities;
(xviii) take any action that would reasonably be expected to significantly delay or impair the obtaining of any Consents of any Governmental Authority to be obtained in connection with this Agreement; or
(xix) authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing actions.
6.4Additional Financial Information.
(a)The Company shall deliver the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for each of the twelve (12) months ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025, consisting of the audited consolidated balance sheet
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of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025, and the related audited consolidated income statement, changes in members’ equity and statement of cash flows for the twelve (12) months then ended, and the related notes thereto, audited by a PCAOB qualified auditor in accordance with PCAOB auditing standards (the “Audited Financials” and together with the Unaudited Financial Statements, the “Company Financials”) to SPAC as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement but no later than sixty (60) days from the date of this Agreement (the “Audit Delivery Date”). The Audited Financials (i) shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods reflected therein, (ii) shall fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations, members’ deficit and cash flows of the Company as of the dates thereof and for the periods reflected therein, (iii) shall have been derived from, and accurately reflect in all material respects, the books and records of the Target Companies, (iv) shall be (A) certified as audited in accordance with GAAP and the standards of the PCAOB by a PCAOB qualified auditor upon the filing of the initial Registration Statement, (B) shall contain an unqualified report of the Company’s auditors, and (C) shall be substantially similar in all material respects to the Unaudited Financial Statements from the same period, and (v) shall comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act in effect as of the respective dates of delivery (including Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable).
(b)As promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, and in any event no later than sixty (60) days following the date hereof, Pubco shall deliver to the SPAC the audited financial statements of Pubco and its Subsidiaries as of a date to be determined in Pubco’s reasonable discretion, consisting of the audited consolidated balance sheet as of such date, together with the auditor’s report thereon, audited by a PCAOB qualified auditor in accordance with PCAOB auditing standards (the “Pubco Financials”). The Pubco Financials (i) shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods reflected therein, (ii) shall fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations, shareholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows of Pubco as of the dates thereof and for the periods reflected therein, (iii) shall have been derived from, and accurately reflect in all material respects, the books and records of Pubco, (iv) shall be (A) certified as audited in accordance with GAAP and the standards of the PCAOB by a PCAOB qualified auditor upon the filing of the initial Registration Statement and (B) shall contain an unqualified report of Pubco’s auditors, and (v) shall comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act in effect as of the respective dates of delivery (including Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable).
(c)During the Interim Period, within thirty (30) calendar days following the end of each calendar month, each three-month quarterly period and each fiscal year, (i) the Company shall deliver to SPAC an unaudited condensed consolidated income statement and an unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Target Companies for the period from December 31, 2025 through the end of such calendar month, quarterly period or fiscal year and the applicable comparative period in the preceding fiscal year, in each case accompanied by a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to the effect that all such financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Target Companies as of the date or for the periods indicated, in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and excluding footnotes and (ii) Pubco shall deliver to SPAC an unaudited condensed consolidated income statement and an unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of Pubco and each of its Subsidiaries for the period from December 31, 2025 through the end of such quarterly period or fiscal year and the applicable comparative period in the preceding fiscal year, in each case accompanied by a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of Pubco to the effect that all such financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial position and results of operations of Pubco and its Subsidiaries as of the date or for the periods indicated, in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and excluding footnotes (collectively, the “Interim Financial Information”). From the date hereof through the Closing Date, the Company will also promptly deliver to SPAC copies of any audited consolidated financial statements of the Target Companies and Pubco that the Target Companies’ or Pubco’s certified public accountants may issue.
6.5SPAC Public Filings. During the Interim Period, SPAC will keep current and timely file all of its public filings with the SEC and otherwise comply in all material respects with applicable securities Laws and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts prior to the Closing to maintain the listing of SPAC Public Units, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, and SPAC Public Warrants on the NYSE American; provided, that the Parties acknowledge and agree that from and after the Closing, the Parties intend to list on the Stock Exchange only the Pubco Class A Common Stock and the Pubco Public Warrants.
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6.6No Solicitation; Change in Recommendation.
(a)For purposes of this Agreement:
(i)an “Acquisition Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer, or any indication of interest in making an offer or proposal, from any Person or group at any time relating to an Alternative Transaction;
(ii)an “Alternative Transaction” means (A) with respect to the Company and its Affiliates, a transaction (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) concerning the sale or acquisition by a Person (or group of Persons) of (x) all or any material part of the business or assets of any of the Target Companies or (y) any of the shares or other equity interests or profits of any of the Target Companies, in any case, whether such transaction takes the form of a sale of shares or other equity interests, assets, merger, consolidation, issuance of debt securities, management Contract, joint venture or partnership, or otherwise and (B) with respect to SPAC and its Affiliates, a transaction (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) concerning a Business Combination involving SPAC; and
(iii)an “Intervening Event” means, with respect to the Company, a material event, fact, development, circumstance or occurrence (but specifically excluding any Acquisition Proposal or Alternative Transaction) that was not known by, and was not reasonably foreseeable to, the board of directors of SPAC as of the date of this Agreement (or the consequences or magnitude of which were not known by, or reasonably foreseeable to, such board of directors as of the date of this Agreement), and that becomes known to such board of directors after the date of this Agreement and prior to the time the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval is obtained, and excludes, (A) the transactions contemplated hereby or this Agreement (or any actions taken pursuant to this Agreement) including clearance of the transactions by any Governmental Authority or under any other applicable Laws and any action in connection therewith taken pursuant to or required to be taken pursuant to Section 6.9, (B) any change in the price or trading volume of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and (C) any change described in subsections (i) through (iv) of the definition of “Material Adverse Effect.”
(b)During the Interim Period, in order to induce the other Parties to continue to commit to expend management time and financial resources in furtherance of the transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall not, and shall cause its Representatives to not, without the prior written consent of the Company and SPAC, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, assist, initiate or facilitate the making, submission or announcement of, or intentionally encourage, any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) furnish any non-public information regarding such Party or its Affiliates or their respective businesses, operations, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects or employees to any Person or group (other than a Party to this Agreement or their respective Representatives) in connection with or in response to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) engage or participate in discussions or negotiations with any Person or group with respect to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, (iv) approve, endorse or recommend, or publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, or otherwise change, withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, or publicly propose to change, withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, SPAC Board Recommendation (in the case of SPAC) (a “Change in Recommendation”) or the Seller Written Consent or the Company’s recommendation therefor (in the case of the Company), (v) negotiate or enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement related to any Acquisition Proposal, (vi) release any third Person from, or waive any provision of, any confidentiality agreement to which such Party is a party or (vii) agree or resolve to do any of the foregoing.
(c)Each Party shall notify the others as promptly as practicable (and in any event within 48 hours) in writing of the receipt by such Party or any of its Representatives of (i) any bona fide inquiries, proposals or offers, requests for information or requests for discussions or negotiations regarding or constituting any Acquisition Proposal or any bona fide inquiries, proposals or offers, requests for information or requests for discussions or negotiations that would reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, and (ii) any request for non-public information relating to such Party or its Affiliates in connection with any Acquisition Proposal, specifying in each case, the material terms and conditions thereof (including a copy thereof if in writing or a written summary thereof if oral), as applicable, and the identity of the party making such inquiry, proposal, offer or request for information. Each Party shall keep the others promptly informed of the status of any such inquiries, proposals, offers or requests for information. During the Interim Period, each Party shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any solicitations, discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal and shall, and shall direct its Representatives to, cease and terminate any such solicitations, discussions or negotiations.
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(d)Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.6 or otherwise in this Agreement to the contrary, if, at any time prior to (but not after) obtaining the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval, the board of directors of SPAC (the “SPAC Board”), or any committee thereof, determines in good faith, in response to an Intervening Event, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to make a Change in Recommendation would be a breach of or inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law, SPAC’s board of directors may make a Change in Recommendation; provided that SPAC will not be entitled to make, or agree or resolve to make, a Change in Recommendation unless (i) SPAC delivers to the Company a written notice (a “Change in Recommendation Notice”) advising the Company that its board of directors proposes to take such action and containing the material facts underlying its board of directors’ determination that an Intervening Event has occurred, and (ii) at or after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth (5th) Business Day immediately following the day on which the Change in Recommendation Notice is delivered (such period from the time the Change in Recommendation Notice is delivered until 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the fifth (5th) Business Day immediately following the day on which the Change in Recommendation Notice is delivered (it being understood that any material development with respect to an Intervening Event shall require a new notice but with an additional three (3) Business Day period from the date of such notice), the “Change in Recommendation Notice Period”), the board of directors of SPAC reaffirms in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and taking into account any adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement offered by the Company as described in the following sentence) that the failure to make a Change in Recommendation would be a breach of its fiduciary duties under applicable Law. If requested by the Company, SPAC will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Representatives to, during the Change in Recommendation Notice Period, engage in good faith negotiations with the Company and its Representatives to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement so as to obviate the need for a Change in Recommendation.
(e)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, following a Change in Recommendation, the obligations of SPAC and/or SPAC Board to give notice for or to convene a meeting, to make a recommendation, or, except as required by applicable Law, to make filings with the SEC with respect to the proposals contemplated herein shall be tolled to the extent reasonably necessary until such time as SPAC has filed an update to the Registration Statement with the SEC (which SPAC shall file as promptly as practicable after the Change in Recommendation), and in the event a filing and/or notice for a meeting was made prior to the Change in Recommendation, SPAC shall be permitted to adjourn such meeting and to amend such filing as necessary in order to provide sufficient time for the shareholders to consider any revised recommendation. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, SPAC’s obligations to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting shall not be affected by any Change in Recommendation by SPAC Board.
(f)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing in this Section 6.6 shall limit SPAC’s and its Representatives’ ability to (A) have discussions with third parties and provide such third parties confidential information in connection with a Transaction Financing or (B) negotiate or enter into a letter of intent, agreement in principle, term sheet or definitive agreement relating to any Transaction Financing.
6.7No Trading. The Company acknowledges and agrees that it is aware, and that the Company’s Affiliates are aware (and each of their respective Representatives is aware or, upon receipt of any material nonpublic information of SPAC, will be advised) of the restrictions imposed by U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC and the NYSE American promulgated thereunder or otherwise (the “Federal Securities Laws”) and other applicable foreign and domestic Laws on a Person possessing material nonpublic information about a publicly traded company. The Company hereby agrees that, while it is in possession of such material nonpublic information, it shall not purchase or sell any securities of SPAC (other than to engage in the Mergers in accordance with Article I), communicate such information to any third party, take any other action with respect to SPAC in violation of such Federal Securities Laws, or cause or encourage any third party to do any of the foregoing.
6.8Notification of Certain Matters. During the Interim Period, each Party shall give prompt notice to the other Parties if such Party or its Affiliates: (a) fails to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it or its Affiliates hereunder in any material respect; (b) receives any notice or other communication in writing from any third party (including any Governmental Authority) alleging (i) that the Consent of such third party is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) any non-compliance with any Law by such Party or its Affiliates; (c) receives any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (d) discovers any fact or circumstance that, or becomes aware of the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-occurrence of which, would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article VII not being satisfied or the satisfaction of those conditions being materially delayed; or (e) becomes aware of the
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commencement or threat, in writing, of any Action against such Party or any of its Affiliates, or any of their respective properties or assets, or, to the Knowledge of such Party, any officer, director, partner, member or manager, in his, her or its capacity as such, of such Party or of its Affiliates with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No such notice shall constitute an acknowledgement or admission by the Party providing the notice regarding whether or not any of the conditions to the Closing have been satisfied or in determining whether or not any of the representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement have been breached.
6.9Efforts.
(a)Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, and shall cooperate fully with the other Parties, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws and regulations to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the receipt of all applicable Consents of Governmental Authorities) and to comply as promptly as practicable with all requirements of Governmental Authorities applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b)In furtherance and not in limitation of Section 6.9(a), to the extent required under any Laws that are designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade (“Antitrust Laws”), each Party hereto agrees to make any required filing or application under Antitrust Laws, as applicable, at such Party’s sole cost and expense, with respect to the Transactions as promptly as practicable, to supply as promptly as reasonably practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be reasonably requested pursuant to Antitrust Laws and to take all other actions reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under Antitrust Laws as soon as practicable, including by requesting early termination of the waiting period provided for under the Antitrust Laws. Each Party shall, in connection with its efforts to obtain all requisite approvals and authorizations for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any Antitrust Law, use its commercially reasonable efforts to: (i) cooperate in all respects with each other Party or its Affiliates in connection with any filing or submission and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including any proceeding initiated by a private Person, (ii) keep the other Parties reasonably informed of any communication received by such Party or its Representatives from, or given by such Party or its Representatives to, any Governmental Authority and of any communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, in each case regarding any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) permit a Representative of the other Parties and their respective outside counsel to review any communication given by it to, and consult with each other in advance of any meeting or conference with, any Governmental Authority or, in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, with any other Person, and to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority or other Person, give a Representative or Representatives of the other Parties the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences, (iv) in the event a Party’s Representative is prohibited from participating in or attending any meetings or conferences, the other Parties shall keep such Party promptly and reasonably apprised with respect thereto, and (v) use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate in the filing of any memoranda, white papers, filings, correspondence or other written communications explaining or defending the transactions contemplated hereby, articulating any regulatory or competitive argument, and/or responding to requests or objections made by any Governmental Authority.
(c)As soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Parties shall reasonably cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to use) their respective commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with Governmental Authorities requests for approval that are required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to have such Governmental Authorities approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as may be required. Each Party shall give prompt written notice to the other Parties if such Party or any of its Representatives receives any notice from such Governmental Authorities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall promptly furnish the other Parties with a copy of such Governmental Authority notice. If any Governmental Authority requires that a hearing or meeting be held in connection with its approval of the transactions contemplated hereby, whether prior to the Closing or after the Closing, each Party shall arrange for Representatives of such Party to be present for such hearing or meeting. If any objections are asserted with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any applicable Law or if any Action is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by any applicable Governmental Authority or any private Person challenging any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document as violative of any applicable Law or which would otherwise prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to resolve any such objections or Actions so as to timely
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permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, including in order to resolve such objections or Actions which, in any case if not resolved, could reasonably be expected to prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. In the event any Action is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by a Governmental Authority or private Person challenging the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any Ancillary Document, the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, reasonably cooperate with each other and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to contest and resist any such Action and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any Order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents.
(d)Prior to the Closing, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any Consents of Governmental Authorities or other third Persons as may be necessary for the consummation by such Party or its Affiliates of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or required as a result of the execution or performance of, or consummation of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement by such Party or its Affiliates, and the other Parties shall provide reasonable cooperation in connection with such efforts.
(e)At the request of SPAC, the Company shall make the members of its management reasonably available to participate in management presentations, “road shows,” rating agency presentations, meetings with financing sources and similar events in connection with obtaining the approval of SPAC shareholders, any “share recycling” efforts by SPAC and/or the obtaining of any debt or equity financing (including Transaction Financing) or the obtaining of ratings or Governmental Authority and other third party approvals.
6.10 Tax Matters.
(a)Each of the Parties shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment. None of the Parties shall (and each of the Parties shall cause their respective Subsidiaries not to) take any action, or fail to take any action, that could reasonably be expected to cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to fail to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment.
(b)Any and all transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other similar Taxes, and all conveyance fees, recording charges and other fees and charges (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will be paid by Pubco when due, and Pubco will, at its own expense, file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such Taxes, fees and charges.
(c)Company Merger Sub will take such steps as are required to ensure that it is treated as an entity disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3 with effect since the date of its formation. SPAC Merger Sub will take such steps as are required to ensure that it is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-2 at all times from the date of its formation through and including the SPAC Merger Effective Time.
(d)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in the event any tax opinion, comfort letter or other opinion is required to be provided in connection with the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement, nothing in this Agreement shall require SPAC’s counsel or tax advisors to provide an opinion that the Mergers qualify as an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code, and nothing in this Agreement shall require the Company’s counsel or tax advisors to provide any opinion that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement qualify as a reorganization described in Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code; provided, however, that in connection with any such required tax opinion, comfort letter or other opinion, each of SPAC and the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to cooperate, and to cause its respective counsel and tax advisors to cooperate, in good faith with the other Party and its counsel and tax advisors in connection with providing such required tax opinion, comfort letter or other opinion, including by providing customary tax representation letters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such counsel or tax advisors to support any such required tax opinion, comfort letter or other opinion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the delivery of any tax opinion, comfort letter or other opinion relating to the tax treatment of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not be a condition precedent to the obligations of any Party to consummate the Closing or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
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(e)At or prior to the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Pubco (1) a certification dated as of the Closing Date and signed by an authorized officer of the Company under penalties of perjury, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to SPAC, that, as of the Closing Date, (i) fifty percent (50%) or more of the value of the gross assets of the Company does not consist of “United States real property interests” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(1) of the Code and (ii) ninety percent (90%) or more of the value of the gross assets of the Company does not consist of “United States real property interests” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(1) of the Code plus cash or cash equivalents (the “FIRPTA Certificate”) and (2) a certification from each Seller, dated as of the Closing Date and signed under penalties of perjury, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to SPAC, certifying that the transfer of such Seller’s interest in the Company pursuant to this Agreement qualifies for nonrecognition treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is therefore exempt from withholding under Section 1446(f) of the Code, in each case in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.1446(f)-2(b)(6) (collectively, the “Section 1446(f) Certifications”).
(f)Prior to or as of the Closing, all Tax sharing, Tax indemnity, Tax allocation or similar agreements or arrangements (whether or not written) between or among any Target Company, on the one hand, and any Seller or any of their respective Affiliates (other than any Target Company), on the other hand (collectively, “Tax Sharing Agreements”), shall be terminated, and from and after the Closing, no Target Company, Pubco or any of their respective Affiliates shall have any further rights or obligations under any such Tax Sharing Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, any right of any Seller or any of their respective Affiliates to receive any tax distribution, estimated tax distribution or similar distribution from any Target Company under any Tax Sharing Agreement, the Company Operating Agreement or otherwise, with respect to any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or after the Closing Date, shall terminate as of the Closing, and no Target Company, Pubco or any of their respective Affiliates shall have any obligation to make any such distribution from and after the Closing.
(g)If the 368 Requirement is satisfied, the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary shall not be liquidated, and shall not adopt any plan or take any action that could reasonably be expected to result in the liquidation of the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary, for a period of twenty-four (24) months following the Closing Date, and the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary shall retain sufficient assets during such twenty-four (24) month period such that the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary is not deemed to be liquidated for U.S. federal income tax purposes (which assets shall not be less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the cash in the Trust Account immediately following the deduction of amounts required to satisfy the Redemption). For purposes of this Section 6.10, the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary may make loans to other Persons and the obligations owing to the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary as a result of such loans shall be taken into account in determining the assets of the SPAC Surviving Subsidiary.
(h)With respect to each Target Company (and any entity treated as a successor or continuation thereof) that is or has been classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes (each, a “Partnership Entity”), the following shall apply from and after the Closing: (i) in the event that any Partnership Entity receives notice of a final partnership adjustment (as defined in Section 6231 of the Code) or any imputed underpayment (as defined in Section 6232 of the Code) with respect to any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date (a “Pre-Closing BBA Adjustment”), Pubco shall cause such Partnership Entity (or its successor, including the applicable Surviving Subsidiary) to make a timely and valid election under Section 6226 of the Code (and any analogous election under applicable state or local Tax Law) (a “Push-Out Election”) with respect to such Pre-Closing BBA Adjustment, so as to cause the former partners or members of such Partnership Entity for the reviewed year (within the meaning of Section 6225(d)(1) of the Code) to take into account their respective shares of any such adjustment, (ii) Pubco shall have the right to designate or cause to be designated the “partnership representative” (within the meaning of Section 6223 of the Code) of each Partnership Entity for each taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date for which the statute of limitations remains open as of the Closing Date, and the Company shall, and shall cause each Partnership Entity to, cooperate in effectuating any such designation prior to the Closing, and from and after the Closing, Pubco shall have the sole authority to control any audit, examination, or other proceeding with respect to any Partnership Entity under Sections 6221 through 6241 of the Code (the “BBA Audit Regime”) relating to any Pre-Closing BBA Adjustment, and (iii) each of the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, reasonably cooperate with each other in connection with any Push-Out Election, any audit, examination, or proceeding under the BBA Audit Regime, and any related Tax matters, including by providing access to relevant books, records, and other information, executing any forms, certificates, or statements required in connection with a Push-Out Election, and taking such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to effectuate the purposes of this provision.
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(i)Prior to the Closing, the Parties shall reasonably cooperate with each other (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to reasonably cooperate) to determine the extent to which the Class B Units were issued in connection with the performance of services and any other details related to the Class B Units that may be necessary to properly determine relevant tax considerations relevant to the Class B Units in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6.11 Further Assurances. The Parties hereto shall further cooperate with each other and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, necessary, proper or advisable on their part under this Agreement and applicable Laws to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable, including preparing and filing as soon as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings.
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6.12 The Registration Statement.
(a)As promptly as practicable after the date hereof, SPAC, Pubco and the Company shall prepare, and Pubco and the Company shall file with the SEC, a registration statement on Form S-4 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, and including the Proxy Statement contained therein, the “Registration Statement”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of (x) the Pubco Common Stock to be issued under this Agreement to the SPAC shareholders and to the Sellers pursuant to the Mergers and (y) the Pubco Warrants, which Registration Statement will also contain a proxy statement (as amended, the “Proxy Statement”) for the purpose of soliciting proxies from SPAC shareholders for the matters to be acted upon at SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting and providing the Public Shareholders an opportunity in accordance with SPAC’s Organizational Documents to have their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares redeemed (the “Redemption”). The Proxy Statement shall include proxy materials for the purpose of soliciting proxies from SPAC shareholders to vote, at an extraordinary general meeting of SPAC shareholders to be called and held for such purpose (the “SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting”), in favor of resolutions approving (i) the adoption and approval of this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby or referred to herein, including the Mergers (and, to the extent required, the issuance of any shares in connection with Transaction Financing, if any), by the holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares by ordinary resolution (being an affirmative vote of the holders of a simple majority of the SPAC Ordinary Shares entitled to vote, who attend and vote thereupon, in accordance with the SPAC Organizational Documents) in accordance with SPAC’s Organizational Documents, the Act, the DGCL and the rules and regulations of the SEC and the NYSE American, (ii) the adoption and approval of the Amended Pubco Charter, (iii) the adoption and approval of the Post-Closing Equity Plan (as defined below), (iv) the approval of the Conversion by the holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares by special resolution (being an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of at least two-thirds of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares entitled to vote, who attend and vote thereupon, in accordance with the SPAC Organizational Documents, or, alternatively, a unanimous written resolution of all holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares), (v) non-binding advisory approval of the material differences between the Amended Pubco Charter and the SPAC Organizational Documents (the “Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals”), (vi) such other matters (or, to the extent applicable, excluding such approval matters) as the Company and SPAC shall hereafter mutually determine to be necessary or appropriate in order to effect the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the approvals described in foregoing clauses (i) through (vi), collectively, the “SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters”), and (vii) the adjournment of SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or desirable in the reasonable determination of SPAC. If on the date for which SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting is scheduled, SPAC has not received proxies representing a sufficient number of shares to obtain the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval, whether or not a quorum is present, SPAC may make one or more successive postponements or adjournments of SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting. The Company shall promptly provide SPAC with such information concerning the Target Companies, Pubco and their respective members, stockholders, officers, directors, employees, assets, Liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), business and operations that may be required or appropriate for inclusion in the Registration Statement, or in any amendments or supplements thereto, including the Company Financials, Pubco Financials, and Interim Financial Information, which information provided by the Company shall be true and correct and not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.
(b)SPAC, Pubco and the Company shall take any and all reasonable and necessary actions required to satisfy the requirements of the SPAC Organizational Documents, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable Laws in connection with the Registration Statement, SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting and the Redemption. Each of SPAC, Pubco and the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, make their respective directors, officers and employees, upon reasonable advance notice, available to the Company, SPAC, Pubco and their respective Representatives in connection with the drafting of the public filings with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Registration Statement, and responding in a timely manner to comments from the SEC. Each Party shall promptly correct any information provided by it for use in the Registration Statement (and other related materials) if and to the extent that such information is determined to have become false or misleading in any material respect or as otherwise required by applicable Laws. SPAC, Pubco and the Company shall amend or supplement the Registration Statement and cause the Registration Statement, as so amended or supplemented, to be filed with the SEC and to be disseminated to SPAC shareholders, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable Laws and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and SPAC’s Organizational Documents.
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(c)Each of Pubco, SPAC and the Company shall promptly respond to any SEC comments on the Registration Statement and shall otherwise use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to “clear” comments from the SEC and become effective.
(d)As soon as practicable following the Registration Statement “clearing” comments from the SEC and being declared effective by the SEC (the “SEC Approval Date”), SPAC shall distribute the Registration Statement to SPAC’s Shareholders, and, pursuant thereto, shall call SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with SPAC’s Organizational Documents and the Act for a date no later than thirty (30) days following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or as otherwise agreed upon by SPAC and the Company.
(e)SPAC, the Company and Pubco shall comply with all applicable Laws, any applicable rules and regulations of the NYSE American, SPAC’s Organizational Documents and this Agreement in the preparation, filing and distribution of the Registration Statement, any solicitation of proxies thereunder, the calling and holding of SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting and the Redemption.
6.13 Investment Company Act. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts so that immediately after the Closing and after giving effect to the Transactions and the application of the proceeds therefrom pursuant to Section 6.19 of this Agreement, neither Pubco nor any of its Subsidiaries (including the Target Companies) will be a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, or required to register as an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.
6.14 Public Announcements.
(a)The Parties agree that during the Interim Period no public release, statement, filing, announcement or other public communication concerning this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including the existence or status thereof, shall be issued by any Party or any of its Affiliates without the prior written consent of SPAC and the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except as such release or announcement may be required by applicable Law or the rules or regulations of any securities exchange, in which case the applicable Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to allow SPAC, Pubco and the Company reasonable time to comment on, and arrange for any required filing with respect to, such release or announcement in advance of such issuance.
(b)SPAC and the Company shall mutually agree upon and, as promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement (but in any event no later than one (1) Business Day thereafter), issue a press release announcing the execution of this Agreement (the “Signing Press Release”). Promptly after the issuance of the Signing Press Release, SPAC shall file a current report on Form 8-K (the “Signing Filing”) with the Signing Press Release and a description of this Agreement as required by Federal Securities Laws, which the Company shall review, comment upon and approve (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) prior to filing. The Parties shall mutually agree upon and, as promptly as practicable after the Closing, issue on the Closing Date a press release announcing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing Press Release”). Promptly after the issuance of the Closing Press Release, Pubco shall file a current report on Form 8-K (the “Closing Filing”) with the Closing Press Release and a description of the Closing as required by Federal Securities Laws. In connection with the preparation of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Press Release, the Closing Filing, or any other report, statement, filing notice or application made by or on behalf of a Party to any Governmental Authority or other third party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall, upon request by any other Party, furnish the Parties with all information concerning themselves, their respective directors, officers and equity holders, and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, or any other report, statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of a Party to any third party and/or any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
6.15 Confidential Information.
(a)The Company hereby agrees that during the Interim Period and, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, it shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and Representatives to: (i) treat and hold in strict confidence any SPAC Confidential Information, and will not use for any
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purpose (except in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, performing their obligations hereunder or thereunder, enforcing their rights hereunder or thereunder, or in furtherance of their authorized duties on behalf of SPAC or its Subsidiaries), nor directly or indirectly disclose, distribute, publish, disseminate or otherwise make available to any third party any of SPAC Confidential Information without SPAC’s prior written consent; and (ii) in the event that the Company or any of its Affiliates or Representatives, during the Interim Period or, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, becomes legally compelled to disclose any SPAC Confidential Information, (A) provide SPAC to the extent legally permitted with prompt written notice of such requirement so that SPAC or an Affiliate thereof may seek, at SPAC’s cost, a protective Order or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 6.15(a), and (B) in the event that such protective Order or other remedy is not obtained, or SPAC waives compliance with this Section 6.15(a), furnish only that portion of such SPAC Confidential Information which is legally required to be provided as advised in writing by outside counsel and to exercise its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded such SPAC Confidential Information. In the event that this Agreement is terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, the Company shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and Representatives to, promptly deliver to SPAC or destroy (at SPAC’s election) any and all copies (in whatever form or medium) of SPAC Confidential Information and destroy all notes, memoranda, summaries, analyses, compilations and other writings related thereto or based thereon; provided, however, that the Company and its Affiliates and Representatives shall be entitled to keep any records required by applicable Law or bona fide record retention policies; and provided, further, that any SPAC Confidential Information that is not returned or destroyed shall remain subject to the confidentiality obligations set forth in this Agreement.
(b)The SPAC hereby agrees that during the Interim Period and, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, it shall, and shall cause its Representatives to: (i) treat and hold in strict confidence any Company Confidential Information, and will not use for any purpose (except in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, performing its obligations hereunder or thereunder or enforcing its rights hereunder or thereunder), nor directly or indirectly disclose, distribute, publish, disseminate or otherwise make available to any third party any of the Company Confidential Information without the Company’s prior written consent; and (ii) in the event that SPAC or any of its Representatives, during the Interim Period or, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, becomes legally compelled to disclose any Company Confidential Information, (A) provide the Company to the extent legally permitted with prompt written notice of such requirement so that the Company may seek, at the Company’s sole expense, a protective Order or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 6.15(b) and (B) in the event that such protective Order or other remedy is not obtained, or the Company waives compliance with this Section 6.15(b), furnish only that portion of such Company Confidential Information which is legally required to be provided as advised in writing by outside counsel and to exercise its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded such Company Confidential Information. In the event that this Agreement is terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, SPAC shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, promptly deliver to the Company or destroy (at SPAC’s election) any and all copies (in whatever form or medium) of Company Confidential Information and destroy all notes, memoranda, summaries, analyses, compilations and other writings related thereto or based thereon; provided, however, that SPAC and its Representatives shall be entitled to keep any records required by applicable Law or bona fide record retention policies; and provided, further, that any Company Confidential Information that is not returned or destroyed shall remain subject to the confidentiality obligations set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SPAC and its Representatives shall be permitted to disclose any and all Company Confidential Information to the extent required by the Federal Securities Laws.
6.16 Documents and Information. After the Closing Date, Pubco shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries (including the Company) to, until the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Closing Date, retain all books, records and other documents pertaining to the business of SPAC and the Company in existence on the Closing Date.
6.17 Post-Closing Board of Directors and Executive Officers.
(a)The Parties shall take all necessary action, including causing the directors of the Pubco to resign, so that effective as of the Closing, Pubco’s board of directors (the “Post-Closing Pubco Board”) will consist of up to seven (7) individuals. Immediately after the Closing, the Parties shall take all necessary action to designate and appoint to the Post-Closing Pubco Board (i) one (1) person designated by SPAC prior to the Closing (the “SPAC Director”), whom shall be required to qualify as an independent director under Stock Exchange rules, and (ii) up to six (6) persons that are designated
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by the Company prior to the Closing after consultation with SPAC (the “Company Directors”), with at least such number of whom shall be required to qualify as an independent director under Stock Exchange rules. At or prior to the Closing, Pubco will provide each member of the Post-Closing Pubco Board with a customary director indemnification agreement.
(b)The Parties shall take all action necessary, including causing the executive officers of Pubco to resign, so that the individuals serving as the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, respectively, of Pubco immediately after the Closing will be the same individuals (in the same office) as that of the Company immediately prior to the Closing (unless, at its sole discretion, the Company desires to appoint another qualified person to either such role, in which case, such other person(s) identified by the Company shall serve in such role or roles).
6.18 Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Tail Insurance.
(a)The Parties agree that all rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses existing in favor of the current or former directors, managers and officers of each Target Company, SPAC and each Person who served as a director, officer, manager, member, trustee or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan or enterprise at the request of SPAC or the Company (the “D&O Indemnified Persons”) as provided in their respective Organizational Documents or under any indemnification, employment or other similar agreements between any D&O Indemnified Person and SPAC, Pubco, any Merger Sub or the Company, in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement, shall survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms to the extent permitted by applicable Law. For a period of six (6) years after the Closing, Pubco shall cause the Organizational Documents of Pubco and the Surviving Subsidiaries to contain provisions no less favorable with respect to exculpation and indemnification of and advancement of expenses to D&O Indemnified Persons than are set forth as of the date of this Agreement in the Organizational Documents of SPAC to the extent permitted by applicable Law. The provisions of this Section 6.18 shall survive the Closing and are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the D&O Indemnified Persons and their respective heirs and representatives.
(b)For the benefit of each of SPAC’s directors and officers, the Pubco shall, prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time, obtain and fully pay the premium for a “tail” insurance policy that provides coverage for (i) each Person that is covered by the SPAC’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies as in effect on the date of this Agreement and (ii) the Sponsor, for up to a six-year period from and after the Closing for events occurring prior to the Closing (the “SPAC D&O Tail Insurance”) that is substantially equivalent to and in any event not less favorable in the aggregate than SPAC’s existing policy or, if substantially equivalent insurance coverage is unavailable, the best available coverage. Pubco shall, and shall cause the Surviving Subsidiaries to, maintain the SPAC D&O Tail Insurance in full force and effect for its full term and cause all obligations thereunder to be honored by Pubco and the Surviving Subsidiaries, as applicable.
(c)For the benefit of each the Company’s managers and officers, the Company shall, prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, obtain and fully pay the premium for a “tail” insurance policy that provides coverage for up to a six-year period from and after the Closing for events occurring prior to the Closing (the “Company D&O Tail Insurance”, and collectively with the SPAC D&O Tail Insurance, the “D&O Tail Insurance”) that is substantially equivalent to and in any event not less favorable in the aggregate than the Company’s existing policy or, if substantially equivalent insurance coverage is unavailable, the best available coverage.
(d)Pubco and the Surviving Subsidiaries shall maintain SPAC D&O Tail Insurance and the Company D&O Tail Insurance, in full force and effect, and continue to honor the obligations thereunder, and Pubco and the Surviving Subsidiaries shall timely pay or caused to be paid all premiums with respect to SPAC D&O Tail Insurance and the Company D&O Tail Insurance.
6.19 Use of Transaction Proceeds. The Parties agree that after the Closing, the funds in the Trust Account, after taking into account payments for the Redemption, and any proceeds from any Transaction Financing, shall first be used to pay (a) SPAC’s accrued and unpaid Expenses, (b) SPAC’s deferred Expenses (including cash amounts payable to the IPO Underwriter and any legal fees) of the IPO, (c) any loans owed by SPAC to the Sponsor for any Expenses (including deferred Expenses) or other administrative costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of SPAC or Extension Expenses, and (d) any other unpaid Expenses of the Company as of the Closing. Such Expenses will be paid at the Closing. Any remaining cash will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes of Pubco and the Surviving Subsidiaries.
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6.20 Transaction Financing. During the Interim Period, the SPAC shall use reasonable best efforts to enter into financing agreements (“Financing Agreements”) with accredited investors (the “Investors”) for one or more Transaction Financings by Pubco on such terms and structuring, and using such strategy, placement agents and approach as SPAC and the Company shall reasonably agree. Each of Pubco, the SPAC, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts (a) to take, or to cause to be taken, all actions required, necessary or that it otherwise deems to be proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Financing Agreements on or prior to the Closing on the terms described therein, and (b) to satisfy on a timely basis all conditions and covenants applicable to Pubco, the SPAC, and the Company, respectively, in the Financing Agreements and otherwise comply with its obligations thereunder and to enforce the rights of Pubco, the SPAC, and the Company under the Financing Agreements to cause the Investors to pay to (or as directed by) Pubco the applicable purchase price under each Investor’s applicable Financing Agreement in accordance with its terms. As promptly as practicable after a Party acquires knowledge thereof, such Party shall give the other Parties written notice: (i) of any breach or default (or any event or circumstance that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, could give rise to any breach or default) by any party to any Financing Agreement; (ii) of the receipt of any written notice or other written communication from any party to any Financing Agreements with respect to any actual, potential or claimed expiration, lapse, withdrawal, breach, default, termination or repudiation by any party to any Financing Agreements or any provisions of any Financing Agreements; or (iii) if such Party does not expect to receive all or any portion of the Transaction Financing on the terms, in the manner or from the sources contemplated by the Financing Agreements.
6.21 Underwriting Agreement. From and after the Closing, Pubco shall be assigned and assume all of SPAC’s obligations under the Underwriting Agreement that survive the Closing pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement. The IPO Underwriter may rely on the representations and warranties contained herein as if it were a party hereto. The Company shall deliver to the IPO Underwriter a certificate, signed by an executive officer of the Company in such capacity, certifying to such officer’s knowledge as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Section 7.3(a). Each Company Party that is a Registrant (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries that are Registrants to, comply in all material respects with the obligations and covenants of SPAC which relate to the period following the Closing set forth in Sections 3 and 5 of the Underwriting Agreement.
6.22 Post-Closing Equity Plan. Prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, Pubco shall adopt a new equity incentive plan in a form to be reasonably agreed upon by the SPAC and the Company (the “Post-Closing Equity Plan”). The Post-Closing Equity Plan shall have such number of shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock available for issuance equal to ten percent (10%) of the sum of (x) the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock to be issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing and (y) the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion, exercise, or exchange of convertible, exercisable, or exchangeable securities outstanding immediately after the Closing, and shall include an “evergreen” provision that will provide for an automatic increase on the first day of each fiscal year of five percent (5%) of the sum of (x) the outstanding Pubco Class A Common Stock and outstanding Class B Common Stock plus (y) the Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion, exercise, or exchange of (A) in-the-money options of Pubco and (B) in-the-money warrants of Pubco, in each case, at the beginning of each such fiscal year.
6.23 Sponsor Indemnification Agreement. On the Closing Date, Pubco and the Company shall enter into the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement with the Sponsor.
6.24 Estimated Cash Position. No later than five (5) days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to SPAC an estimate of the Cash Position of the Company as of the Company Merger Effective Time and its components (the “Estimated Statement of Cash Position”). The Estimated Statement of Cash Position will be prepared by the Company’s management using assumptions and estimates made by Target Companies’ management in good faith.
6.25 Noteholder Consent. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain the written consent or approval of each holder of a Note for the conversion of the Notes into Company Interests prior to Closing, pursuant to the terms of such Notes.
6.26 Repayment of Indebtedness. On the Closing Date, Pubco shall pay the outstanding amount of the Closing Indebtedness to the holders of the Closing Indebtedness in order to repay all such Closing Indebtedness, with the result that immediately following the Closing there will be no further monetary obligations of any Target Company with respect to any Closing Indebtedness. To the extent that any Indebtedness of the Target Companies will be repaid in connection with the Closing, the Company shall deliver evidence that all such Indebtedness has been fully repaid.
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Article VII
CLOSING CONDITIONS
7.1Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations. The obligations of each Party to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions described herein shall be subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (where permissible) by the Company and SPAC of the following conditions:
(a)Required SPAC Shareholder Approval. The SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters (other than the approval of the Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals as set forth in section (ii) of the definition thereof) that are submitted to the vote of the shareholders of SPAC at SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the shareholders of SPAC at SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with SPAC’s Organizational Documents and applicable Law (the “Required SPAC Shareholder Approval”).
(b)Antitrust Laws. Any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of this Agreement under any Antitrust Laws shall have expired or been terminated.
(c)Requisite Regulatory Approvals. All Consents required to be obtained from or made with any Governmental Authority in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained or made.
(d)Requisite Consents. The Consents required to be obtained from or made with any third Person (other than a Governmental Authority) in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement that are set forth on Schedule 7.1(d) shall have each been obtained or made.
(e)No Adverse Law or Order. No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) or Order that is then in effect and which has the effect of making the transactions or agreements contemplated by this Agreement illegal or which otherwise prevents or prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(f)Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC and shall remain effective as of the Closing, and no stop order or similar order shall be in effect with respect to the Registration Statement.
(g)SPAC Conversion. The Conversion shall have been consummated in accordance with Section 1.2.
(h)Stock Exchange Listing. The shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock shall have been approved for listing on the Stock Exchange upon the Closing, subject only to official notice of issuance.
7.2Conditions to Obligations of the Company Parties. In addition to the conditions specified in Section 7.1, the obligations of the Company Parties to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (by the Company) of the following conditions:
(a)Representations and Warranties. (i) SPAC Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in the first sentence of Section 3.5(a) shall be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) on and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of such earlier date), (iii) the other representations and warranties of SPAC in Article III (other than SPAC Fundamental Representations and the representations and warranties set forth in the first sentence of Section 3.5(a) shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitations as to “materiality” or any similar limitation set forth herein) in all respects on and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct, individually and in the aggregate has not had a Material Adverse Effect on SPAC.
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(b)Agreements and Covenants. The SPAC shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations and complied in all material respects with all of its agreements and covenants under this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c)Sponsor Support Agreement. The Sponsor Support Agreement shall be in full force and effect as of the Closing.
(d)Closing Deliveries.
(i)Officer Certificate. The SPAC shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of SPAC in such capacity, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 7.2(a) and 7.2(b).
(ii)Secretary Certificate. The SPAC shall have delivered to the Company a certificate from its secretary or other executive officer certifying as to, and attaching, (A) copies of SPAC’s Organizational Documents as in effect as of the Closing Date prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time (after giving effect to the Conversion), (B) the resolutions of the board of directors of SPAC authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party or by which it is bound, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (C) evidence that the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval has been obtained.
(iii)Good Standing. The SPAC shall have delivered to the Company a good standing certificate (or similar documents applicable for such jurisdiction) for SPAC certified as of a date no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date from the proper Governmental Authority in the Cayman Islands, in each case to the extent that good standing certificates or similar documents are generally available in such jurisdiction.
(iv)Other Documents. The SPAC shall have delivered to the Company counterparts to the Lock-Up Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Sponsor, each of SPAC’s independent directors, and the IPO Underwriter.
(e)Minimum Cash. Closing SPAC Cash shall be at least $50,000,000.
7.3Conditions to Obligations of SPAC. In addition to the conditions specified in Section 7.1, the obligations of SPAC to consummate the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (by SPAC) of the following conditions:
(a)Representations and Warranties. (i) the Target Company Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” set forth therein) in all material respects on and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in the first sentence of Section 5.3(a) shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except for changes pursuant to a Bridge Financing or as a result of any conversion or exercise of Company Convertible Securities that is expressly required by Section 1.5(a) of this Agreement), and (iii) the representations and warranties set forth in Article V (other than the Target Company Fundamental Representations and the representations and warranties set forth in the first sentence of Section 5.3(a) and the representations and warranties of the Company Parties (other than the representations and warranties of the Company) shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth herein) in all respects on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct, individually and in the aggregate has not had a Material Adverse Effect on any Target Company.
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(b)Agreements and Covenants. The Company Parties shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations and complied in all material respects with all of its agreements and covenants under this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c)No Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Target Companies since the date of this Agreement.
(d)Seller Written Consent. The Target Companies and the Sellers shall have complied in all material respects with the respective covenants required to be performed or complied with by them pursuant to the Seller Written Consent.
(e)The Company shall have obtained the written consent or approval of each holder of a Note (whether or not disclosed as of the date of this Agreement) for the conversion of the Notes into Company Interests prior to Closing (that are converted into Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 1.9) pursuant to the terms of such Notes.
(f)Closing Deliveries.
(i) Officer Certificate. The SPAC shall have received a certificate from the Company, dated as the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of the Company in such capacity, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 7.3(a), 7.3(b) and 7.3(c).
(ii) Secretary Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to SPAC a certificate from its secretary or other executive officer certifying as to, and attaching, (A) copies of each Company Party’s Organizational Documents as in effect as of the Closing Date prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, (B) the requisite resolutions of each of the Company, Pubco, Company Merger Sub and SPAC Merger Sub and the Sellers authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which the Company Parties are or are required to be a party or bound, and the consummation of the Mergers and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the adoption of the Company Surviving Subsidiary Organizational Documents and SPAC Surviving Subsidiary Organizational Documents, and recommending the approval and adoption of the same by the holders of Company Securities at a duly called meeting of members, (C) evidence that the Required Company Member Approval has been obtained and (D) the incumbency of officers authorized to execute this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which a Company Party is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound.
(iii) Good Standing. The Company shall have delivered to SPAC good standing certificates (or similar documents applicable for such jurisdictions) for each Target Company and Pubco certified as of a date no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date from the proper Governmental Authority of the Target Company’s or Pubco’s jurisdiction of organization.
(iv) Resignations. Subject to the requirements of Section 6.18, SPAC shall have received written resignations, effective as of the Closing, of the directors, managers and board governors of the Target Companies as set forth on Schedule 7.3(f)(iv).
(v) Employment Agreement. The SPAC and Pubco shall have received employment agreements, in each case effective as of the Closing, in form and substance acceptable to SPAC, between each of Jeffrey Kwatinetz, O’Shea Jackson Sr. and Sean Bannon and Pubco or a Target Company, and each such employment agreement duly executed by the parties thereto.
(vi) Sponsor Indemnification Agreement. Pubco and the Company shall have duly executed and delivered to SPAC a copy of the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement.
(vii) Other Documents. The Company shall have delivered to the SPAC counterparts to the Lock-Up Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the applicable Sellers.
(viii) The Company shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to SPAC the FIRPTA Certificate and the Section 1446(f) Certifications, in each case dated as of the Closing Date, in accordance with Section 6.10.
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(ix) The Company shall have delivered to SPAC documentation evidencing to the reasonable satisfaction of SPAC the release of all Liens set forth on Schedule 5.17, other than any Liens pursuant to the Funding Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2024, by and among Big3 Basketball LLC, Jeffrey Kwatinetz and O’Shea Jackson Sr. (the “Funding Agreement”).
(g)D&O Tail. The D&O Tail Insurance shall have been obtained and will be fully paid for by immediately after Closing.
(h)Appointment to the Board. The members of the Post-Closing Pubco Board shall have been elected or appointed as of the Closing consistent with the requirements of Section 6.17.
(i)Pubco Organizational Document Amendments. Prior to the Closing, Pubco shall have amended and restated its certificate of incorporation in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G (the “Amended Pubco Charter”) and its bylaws in a form mutually agreed upon by SPAC and the Company (the “Amended Pubco Bylaws”).
(j)Incentive Plan. Pubco shall have adopted, on or prior to Closing, the Post-Closing Equity Plan.
(k)Repaid Indebtedness. The Company shall have delivered to SPAC evidence that all Closing Indebtedness has been fully repaid or converted into Company Interests that are converted into Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 1.9.
7.4Frustration of Conditions. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no Party may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article VII to be satisfied if such failure was caused by the failure of such Party or its Affiliates (or with respect to the Company, any Target Company or Seller) failure to comply with or perform any of its covenants or obligations set forth in this Agreement.
Article VIII
TERMINATION AND EXPENSES
8.1Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing as follows:
(a)by mutual written consent of SPAC and the Company;
(b)by written notice by SPAC or the Company if any of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article VII have not been satisfied or waived by the earlier of (i) December 27, 2026 and (ii) the last date for SPAC to complete a business combination pursuant to its Organizational Documents (such earlier date, the “Outside Date”); provided, however, the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b) shall not be available to a Party if the breach or violation by such Party or its Affiliates of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement was the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before the Outside Date;
(c)by written notice by either SPAC or the Company to the other if a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Order or other action has become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(c) shall not be available to a Party if the failure by such Party or its Affiliates to comply with any provision of this Agreement has been a substantial cause of, or substantially resulted in, such action by such Governmental Authority;
(d)by written notice by the Company to SPAC, if there has been a material breach by SPAC of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement or if any representation or warranty of SPAC shall have become materially untrue or materially inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of this Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the material breach or material inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such material breach or material inaccuracy is provided to SPAC or (B) the Outside Date; provided, that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(d) if at such time the Company is in material uncured breach of this Agreement;
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(e)by written notice by SPAC to the Company, if (i) there has been a material breach by the Company of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of such Parties shall have become untrue or inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of this Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the breach or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such breach or inaccuracy is provided by SPAC or (B) the Outside Date; provided, that SPAC shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(e) if at such time SPAC is in material uncured breach of this Agreement;
(f)by written notice by SPAC to the Company, if there shall have been a Material Adverse Effect on the Target Companies following the date of this Agreement which is uncured and continuing;
(g)by written notice by either SPAC or the Company to the other, if SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting is held (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) and has concluded, SPAC’s shareholders have duly voted, and the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval was not obtained; or
(h)by written notice by SPAC to the Company, if the Company has not delivered the Audited Financials to SPAC on or before the Audit Delivery Date.
8.2Effect of Termination. This Agreement may only be terminated in the circumstances described in Section 8.1 and pursuant to a written notice delivered by the applicable Party to the other applicable Parties, which sets forth the basis for such termination, including the provision of Section 8.1 under which such termination is made. In the event of the valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void, and there shall be no Liability on the part of any Party or any of their respective Representatives, and all rights and obligations of each Party shall cease, except: (i) Sections 6.14, 6.15, 8.3, 9.1, Article X and this Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) nothing herein shall relieve any Party from Liability for any willful breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement or any Fraud Claim against such Party, in either case, prior to termination of this Agreement (in each case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, subject to Section 9.1). Without limiting the foregoing, and except as provided in Sections 8.3 and this Section 8.2 (but subject to Section 9.1) and subject to the right to seek injunctions, specific performance or other equitable relief in accordance with Section 10.6, the Parties’ sole right prior to the Closing with respect to any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement by another Party or with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be the right, if applicable, to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1.
8.3Fees and Expenses. Subject to Section 9.1, all Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such expenses, subject to Section 6.19; provided that (i) if the Closing occurs, all Expenses incurred by SPAC will be paid or reimbursed by Pubco from the Trust Account, the Transaction Financing, or other cash sources available to Pubco or its Subsidiaries at the Closing, (ii) all fees, costs and expenses (including filing fees) paid or payable by any Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of or in connection with or arising under any applicable Antitrust Laws, including fees and expenses relating to any pre-merger notification required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended shall be shared equally between the Parties, (iii) all fees, costs and expenses (including filing fees and printer costs) paid or payable by any Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of or in connection with or arising from filing the Registration Statement with the SEC and mailing the Proxy Statement to the SPAC shareholders (including printing and mailing fees and SEC registration filing fees) shall be shared equally between the Parties, and (iv) all fees, costs and expenses (including filing fees) paid or payable by any Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of or in connection with or arising from submitting to the Stock Exchange a listing application for the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants (including any filing fees arising therefrom) shall be shared equally between the Parties.
8.4Survival. The representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Parties or their respective Representatives pursuant to this Agreement shall not survive the Closing, and from and after the Closing, the Parties and their respective Representatives shall not have any further obligations, nor shall any claim be asserted or action be brought against the Parties or their respective Representatives with respect thereto. The covenants and agreements made by the Parties and their respective Representatives in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such covenants or agreements, shall not survive the Closing, except for those covenants and agreements contained herein and therein that by their terms apply or are to be performed in
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whole or in part after the Closing (which such covenants shall survive the Closing and continue until fully performed in accordance with their terms).
Article IX
WAIVERS AND RELEASES
9.1Waiver of Claims Against Trust. Reference is made to the IPO Prospectus. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it has read the IPO Prospectus and understands that SPAC has established the Trust Account containing the proceeds of the IPO and from certain private placements occurring simultaneously with the IPO (including interest accrued from time to time thereon) for the benefit of SPAC’s public shareholders (the “Public Shareholders”) and that, except as otherwise described in the IPO Prospectus, SPAC may disburse monies from the Trust Account only: (a) to the Public Shareholders in the event they elect to redeem their SPAC shares in connection with the consummation of SPAC’s initial business combination (as such term is used in the IPO Prospectus) (the “Business Combination”) or in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (A) to modify the substance or timing of the SPAC’s obligation to redeem 100% of its public shares if the SPAC does not complete its initial Business Combination within the required time period or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, (b) to the Public Shareholders if SPAC fails to consummate a Business Combination within twenty-four (24) months after the closing of the IPO, subject to extension by an amendment to SPAC’s organizational documents (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), (c) with respect to any interest earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account, amounts necessary to pay for any franchise or income taxes or (d) to SPAC after or concurrently with the consummation of a Business Combination. For and in consideration of SPAC entering into this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company hereby agrees on behalf of itself and its Affiliates that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, none of the Company nor any of its Affiliates do now or shall at any time hereafter have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account or distributions therefrom, or make any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom), regardless of whether such claim arises as a result of, in connection with or relating in any way to, this Agreement or any proposed or actual business relationship between SPAC or any of its Representatives, on the one hand, and the Company or any of its Affiliates or Representatives, on the other hand, or any other matter, and regardless of whether such claim arises based on contract, tort, equity or any other theory of legal liability (any and all such claims are collectively referred to herein as, the “Released Claims”). The Company, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, hereby irrevocably waives any Released Claims that any such Party or any of its Affiliates may have against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) now or in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with SPAC or its Representatives and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) for any reason whatsoever (including for an alleged breach of this Agreement or any other agreement with SPAC or its Affiliates). The Company agrees and acknowledges that such irrevocable waiver is material to this Agreement and specifically relied upon by SPAC and its Affiliates to induce SPAC to enter into this Agreement, and the Company further intends and understands such waiver to be valid, binding and enforceable against such Party and each of its Affiliates under applicable Law. To the extent that the Company or any of its respective Affiliates commences any Action based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to SPAC or its Representatives, which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, monetary relief against SPAC or its Representatives, the Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that its and its Affiliates’ sole remedy shall be against funds held outside of the Trust Account and that such claim shall not permit such Party or any of its Affiliates (or any Person claiming on any of their behalf or in lieu of them) to have any claim against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or any amounts contained therein. In the event that the Company or any of its respective Affiliates commences Action based upon, in connection with, relating to or arising out of any matter relating to SPAC or its Representatives which proceeding seeks, in whole or in part, relief against the Trust Account (including any distributions therefrom) or the Public Shareholders, whether in the form of money damages or injunctive relief, SPAC and its Representatives, as applicable, shall be entitled to recover from the Company and its Affiliates, as applicable, the associated legal fees and costs in connection with any such Action, in the event SPAC or its Representatives, as applicable, prevails in such Action. This Section 9.1 shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason and continue indefinitely.
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Article X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered (i) in person, (ii) by electronic means (including email), with affirmative confirmation of receipt, (iii) one Business Day after being sent, if sent by reputable, nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) three (3) Business Days after being mailed, if sent by registered or certified mail, pre-paid and return receipt requested, in each case to the applicable Party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):
| ||
If to SPAC at or prior to the Closing, to: | | with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to: |
| | |
Graf Global Corp. | | White & Case LLP |
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400 | | 1221 Avenue of the Americas |
The Woodlands, TX 77380 | | New York, New York 10020 |
Attn: James Graf | | Attn: Matthew Kautz |
Email: | | Email: |
| ||
If to the Company or the Company Surviving Subsidiary, to: | | with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to: |
| | |
BIG3 HoldCo LLC | | Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP |
13351 Riverside Drive | | 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor |
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 | | New York, New York 10105 |
Attn: Jeffrey Kwatinetz | | Attn: David Landau, Esq., Meredith Laitner, Esq. |
Email: | | Email: |
| ||
If to Pubco after the Closing, to: | | with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to: |
| | |
Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. | | Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP |
13351 Riverside Drive | | 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor |
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 | | New York, New York 10105 |
Attn: Jeffrey Kwatinetz | | Attn: David Landau, Esq., Meredith Laitner, Esq. |
Email: | | Email: |
10.2 Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of SPAC, Pubco and the Company, and any assignment without such consent shall be null and void; provided that no such assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of its obligations hereunder.
10.3 Third Parties. Except for the rights of the D&O Indemnified Persons set forth in Section 6.18, which the Parties acknowledge and agree are express third party beneficiaries of this Agreement, nothing contained in this Agreement or in any instrument or document executed by any party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall create any rights in, or be deemed to have been executed for the benefit of, any Person that is not a Party hereto or thereto or a successor or permitted assign of such a Party.
10.4 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. All Actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any state or federal court located in New York, New York (or in any appellate court thereof) (the “Specified Courts”). Each Party hereto hereby (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any Specified Courts for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any Party hereto and (b) irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert by way of motion, defense or otherwise, in any such Action, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the Action is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the Action is improper, or that this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may not be enforced in or by any Specified Courts. Each Party agrees that a final judgment in any Action shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each Party irrevocably consents to the service of the summons and complaint and any other process in any other Action relating to the transactions
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contemplated by this Agreement, on behalf of itself, or its property, by personal delivery of copies of such process to such Party at the applicable address set forth in Section 10.1. Nothing in this Section 10.4 shall affect the right of any Party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law.
10.5 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THAT FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.5.
10.6 Specific Performance. Each Party acknowledges that the rights of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are unique, recognizes and affirms that in the event of a breach of this Agreement by any Party, money damages may be inadequate and the non-breaching Parties may not have adequate remedy at law, and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by an applicable Party in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each Party shall be entitled to seek an injunction or restraining order to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to seek to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the requirement to post any bond or other security or to prove that money damages would be inadequate, this being in addition to any other right or remedy to which such Party may be entitled under this Agreement, at law or in equity.
10.7 Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in a jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified or deleted, as to the jurisdiction involved, only to the extent necessary to render the same valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby nor shall the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision be affected thereby in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties will substitute for any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid, legal and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.
10.8 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or modified only by execution of a written instrument signed by SPAC, the Company and Pubco.
10.9 Waiver. The SPAC on behalf of itself and its Affiliates and the Company on behalf of itself and its Affiliates may in its sole discretion (i) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any other non-Affiliated Party hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties by such other non-Affiliated Party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance by such other non-Affiliated Party with any covenant or condition contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party or Parties to be bound thereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by a Party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder.
10.10Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents or instruments referred to herein, including any exhibits and schedules attached hereto, which exhibits and schedules are incorporated herein by reference, together with the Ancillary Documents, embody the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein or the documents or instruments referred to herein, which collectively supersede all prior agreements and the understandings among the Parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein.
10.11Interpretation. The table of contents and the Article and Section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the Parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and words in the singular, including any defined terms, include the plural and vice versa; (b) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity; (c) any accounting term used and not otherwise defined in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document has the meaning assigned to such term
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in accordance with GAAP; (d) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding or succeeding such term and shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (e) the words “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import in this Agreement shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision of this Agreement; (f) the word “if” and other words of similar import when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the phrase “and only if”; (g) the term “or” means “and/or”; (h) any reference to the term “ordinary course” or “ordinary course of business” shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “consistent with past practice”; (i) any agreement, instrument, insurance policy, Law or Order defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument, insurance policy, Law or Order as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes, regulations, rules or orders) by succession of comparable successor statutes, regulations, rules or orders and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein; (j) except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to the words “Section,” “Article”, “Schedule” and “Exhibit” are intended to refer to Sections, Articles, Schedules and Exhibits to this Agreement; and (k) the term “Dollars” or “$” means United States dollars. Any reference in this Agreement to a Person’s directors shall include any member of such Person’s governing body and any reference in this Agreement to a Person’s officers shall include any Person filling a substantially similar position for such Person. Any reference in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to a Person’s shareholders or stockholders shall include any applicable owners of the equity interests of such Person, in whatever form, including with respect to SPAC its shareholders or stockholders under the Act, DGCL, as then applicable, or its Organizational Documents. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. To the extent that any Contract, document, certificate or instrument is represented and warranted to by the Company to be given, delivered, provided or made available by the Company, in order for such Contract, document, certificate or instrument to have been deemed to have been given, delivered, provided and made available to SPAC or its Representatives, such Contract, document, certificate or instrument shall have been posted to the electronic data site maintained on behalf of the Company for the benefit of SPAC and its Representatives and SPAC and its Representatives have been given access to the electronic folders containing such information.
10.12Counterparts. This Agreement and each Ancillary Document may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different Parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
10.13Legal Representation.
(a)The Parties agree that, notwithstanding the fact that White & Case LLP (“W&C”) may have, prior to Closing, jointly represented SPAC and/or the Sponsor in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and has also represented SPAC and/or its Affiliates in connection with matters other than the transaction that is the subject of this Agreement, W&C will be permitted in the future, after Closing, to represent one or more of the Sponsor or its respective Affiliates in connection with matters in which such Persons are adverse to Pubco, SPAC or any of their respective Affiliates, including any disputes arising out of, or related to, this Agreement. The Company, who is or has the right to be represented by independent counsel in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, hereby agree, in advance, to waive (and to cause their Affiliates to waive) any actual or potential conflict of interest that may hereafter arise in connection with W&C’s future representation of one or more of the Sponsor or its Affiliates in which the interests of such Person are adverse to the interests of Pubco, SPAC, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates, including any matters that arise out of this Agreement or that are substantially related to this Agreement or to any prior representation by W&C of SPAC or any of its Affiliates. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, for the purposes of the attorney-client privilege, the Sponsor shall be deemed a client of W&C with respect to the negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. All such communications shall remain privileged after the Closing and the privilege and the expectation of client confidence relating thereto shall belong solely to the Sponsor, shall be controlled by the Sponsor and shall not pass to or be claimed by Pubco or the Surviving Subsidiaries; provided, further, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by SPAC or any of its Affiliates (including, after the Closing, Pubco, the Surviving Subsidiaries, and their respective Affiliates) of any applicable privileges or protections that can or may be asserted to prevent disclosure of any such communications to any third party.
(b)The Parties agree that, notwithstanding the fact that Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP (“EGS”) may have, prior to Closing, represented the Company in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the Transactions, and
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has also represented the Company and/or its Affiliates in connection with matters other than the transaction that is the subject of this Agreement, EGS will be permitted in the future, after Closing, to represent the Sellers or any of their Affiliates in connection with matters in which such persons are adverse to the Company or any of its Affiliates, including any disputes arising out of, or related to, this Agreement. The Company, who is or has the right to be represented by independent counsel in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, hereby agrees, in advance, to waive (and to cause its Affiliates to waive) any actual or potential conflict of interest that may hereafter arise in connection with EGS’s future representation of one or more of the Sellers or any of their Affiliates in which the interests of such persons are adverse to the interests of the Company, including any matters that arise out of this Agreement or that are substantially related to this Agreement or to any prior representation by EGS of the the Company or its Affiliates. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, for the purposes of the attorney-client privilege, the Sellers shall be deemed the client of EGS with respect to the negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents. All such communications shall remain privileged after the Closing and the privilege and the expectation of client confidence relating thereto shall belong solely to the Sellers, shall be controlled by the Sellers and shall not pass to or be claimed by Pubco or the Surviving Subsidiaries; provided, further, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by SPAC or any of its Affiliates (including, after the Closing, Pubco, the Surviving Subsidiaries, and their respective Affiliates) of any applicable privileges or protections that can or may be asserted to prevent disclosure of any such communications to any third party.
Article XI
DEFINITIONS
11.1 Certain Definitions. For purpose of this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:
“Action” means any notice of noncompliance or violation, or any claim, demand, charge, action, suit, litigation, audit, settlement, complaint, stipulation, assessment or arbitration, or any request (including any request for information), inquiry, hearing, proceeding or investigation, by or before any Governmental Authority.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with such Person. For the avoidance of doubt, Sponsor shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of SPAC prior to the Closing.
“Ancillary Documents” means each agreement, instrument or document attached hereto as an Exhibit, and the other agreements, certificates and instruments to be executed or delivered by any of the Parties hereto in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement.
“Benefit Plans” of any Person means any and all deferred compensation, executive compensation, incentive compensation, phantom equity, option, stock appreciation right, restricted stock, restricted stock unit, equity purchase or other equity-based compensation plan, employment or consulting, severance, change in control, retention or termination pay, employee or consultant loan program, vacation, sick, or other bonus, deferred compensation plan or practice, hospitalization or other medical, life, death, disability or other insurance, fringe benefit, Section 125 cafeteria plan, welfare, supplemental unemployment benefits, profit sharing, pension, or retirement plan, program, agreement, commitment or arrangement, Foreign Pension Plan, and each other employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, including each “employee benefit plan” as such term is defined under Section 3(3) of ERISA (including any similar plan subject to laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States), maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed to by a Person for the benefit of any employee or former employee of such Person, or with respect to which such Person has any Liability, whether direct or indirect, actual or contingent, whether formal or informal, and whether legally binding or not.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, a legal holiday on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized to close for business (excluding as a result of “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems, including for wire transfers, of commercially banking institutions in New York, New York are generally open for use by customers on such day) or, for so long as SPAC remains domiciled in Cayman Islands, a day on which Governmental Authorities in the Cayman Islands are authorized or required by Law to close.
“Cash Position” means (x) the amount of cash held by the Company minus (y) the Target Companies’ aggregate Indebtedness amount pursuant to that certain loan and/or secured promissory note with Yeezy, LLC or an affiliate thereof having a
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principal amount of $5.0 million (including principal and any accrued but unpaid interest or other obligations), in each case, as of a particular time. For the avoidance of doubt, “Cash Position” may be a negative number.
“Cayman Conversion Documents” means the documents required to be filed with the Cayman Registrar in order to give effect to the Conversion pursuant to the SPAC Organizational Documents and the Act.
“Class A Units” means the issued and outstanding Class A Units of the Company pursuant to the Company Operating Agreement.
“Class B Units” means the issued and outstanding Class B Units of the Company pursuant to the Company Operating Agreement.
“Closing Indebtedness” means the aggregate Indebtedness (including principal and any accrued but unpaid interest or other obligations) of the Target Companies as of immediately prior to the Closing (including the PPP Loan, if applicable), other than (x) the Funding Agreement, (y) that certain Secured Promissory Note, dated as of August 10, 2021, payable by Big3 Basketball, LLC to Yeezy, LLC in the amount of $5,000,000) and (z) the Notes.
“Closing SPAC Cash” means, without duplication, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate cash proceeds available for release to SPAC or Pubco from the Trust Account in connection with the Transactions after giving effect to the Redemption, plus (b) the aggregate cash proceeds received by SPAC or Pubco in respect of any Transaction Financing, minus (c) unpaid Expenses of SPAC and the Company.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code shall include such section and any valid treasury regulation promulgated thereunder.
“Collective Bargaining Agreement” means any collective bargaining agreement, works council or other similar agreement or arrangement or other Contract with a labor union, works council, employee representative group, labor organization or similar organization covering any employee of the Company or any of its affiliates or by which any such employee is bound.
“Company Confidential Information” means all confidential or proprietary documents and information concerning the Target Companies or any of their respective Representatives, furnished in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that Company Confidential Information shall not include any information which, (i) at the time of disclosure by SPAC or its Representatives, is generally available publicly and was not disclosed in breach of this Agreement or (ii) at the time of the disclosure by a Company Party or its Representatives to SPAC or its Representatives was previously known by such receiving party without violation of Law or any confidentiality obligation by the Person receiving such Company Confidential Information.
“Company Convertible Securities” means, collectively, any options, warrants or rights (other than any Company Interests) to subscribe for or purchase any equity securities of the Company or securities or notes convertible into or exchangeable for, or that otherwise confer on the holder any right to acquire any equity securities of any Target Company (including, without limitation, any convertible promissory notes).
“Company Interests” means, collectively, the issued and outstanding membership interests of the Company.
“Company IT Systems” means all computer systems, hardware, Software, servers, networks, data communication lines, and other information technology and telecommunications equipment and tangible assets, including outsourced or cloud computing arrangements, and associated documentation, in each case, owned or used or by or for the Target Company or in connection with the business of the Target Companies.
“Company Operating Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of BIG3 HoldCo LLC, dated as of September 19, 2024.
“Company Privacy and Data Security Policies” means all of the Target Companies’ past or present, internal or public-facing policies, notices, and statements concerning data privacy, cybersecurity, or the Processing of Personal Information, including written information security policies.
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“Company Securities” means all equity securities of the Company and securities convertible into equity securities of the Company, including, without limitation, Company Interests, Company Convertible Securities, Preferred Units and Company Warrants.
“Company Warrants” means all warrants to purchase any equity interests of the Company.
“Consent” means any consent, approval, waiver, authorization or Permit of, or notice to or declaration or filing with any Governmental Authority or any other Person.
“Contracts” means all contracts, agreements, binding arrangements, bonds, notes, indentures, mortgages, debt instruments, purchase order, licenses (and all other contracts, agreements or binding arrangements concerning Intellectual Property), franchises, leases and other instruments or obligations of any kind, written or oral (including any amendments and other modifications thereto).
“Control” of a Person means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise. “Controlled”, “Controlling” and “under common Control with” have correlative meanings. Without limiting the foregoing a Person (the “Controlled Person”) shall be deemed Controlled by (a) any other Person (i) owning beneficially, as meant in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, securities entitling such Person to cast ten percent (10%) or more of the votes for election of directors or equivalent governing authority of the Controlled Person or (ii) entitled to be allocated or receive ten percent (10%) or more of the profits, losses, or distributions of the Controlled Person; (b) an officer, director, general partner, partner (other than a limited partner), manager, or member (other than a member having no management authority that is not a Person described in clause (a) above) of the Controlled Person; or (c) a spouse, parent, lineal descendant, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, or brother-in-law of an Affiliate of the Controlled Person or a trust for the benefit of an Affiliate of the Controlled Person or of which an Affiliate of the Controlled Person is a trustee.
“Copyrights” means any works of authorship, including but not limited to mask works, textual works, visual, pictorial, or graphical works, or compilations of data or other information and all copyrights therein, literary works, rights in Software, design rights, masked works, pictorial and graphic works, reversions and moral rights, including all renewals and extensions, copyright registrations and applications for registration and renewal, and non-registered copyrights.
“Delaware Conversion Documents” means the documents required to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State to give effect to the Conversion pursuant to the DGCL.
“Environmental Law” means any Law in any way relating to (a) the protection of human health and safety, (b) the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment and natural resources (including air, water vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), or (c) the exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal of Hazardous Materials, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 USC. Section 9601 et. seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 USC. Section 6901 et. seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 USC. Section 2601 et. seq., the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 USC. Section 1151 et seq., the Clean Air Act, 42 USC. Section 7401 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 USC. Section 111 et. seq., Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 USC. Section 651 et. seq. (to the extent it relates to exposure to Hazardous Materials), the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, 15 USC. Section 2601 et. seq., the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 USC. Section 300f et. seq., the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and analogous state acts.
“Environmental Liabilities” means, in respect of any Person, all Liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, Remedial Actions, Losses, damages, costs, and expenses (including all reasonable fees, disbursements, and expenses of counsel, experts, and consultants and costs of investigation and feasibility studies), fines, penalties, sanctions, and interest incurred as a result of any claim or demand by any other Person or in response to any violation of Environmental Law, whether known or unknown, accrued or contingent, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, to the extent based upon, related to, or arising under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit, Order, or Contract with any Governmental Authority or other Person, that relates to any environmental, health or safety condition, violation of Environmental Law, or a Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials.
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“ERISA” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” means each person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) which together with any Target Company or any of its Subsidiaries would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Expenses” shall mean all fees, costs and expenses, including all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by a Party or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document related hereto and all other matters related to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including (i) all such fees, costs and expenses with respect to counsel, accountants, investment bankers, financial advisors, financing sources, experts and consultants to a Party hereto or any of its Affiliates, exchange listings, SEC filings, compliance with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and obtaining the D&O Tail Insurance, (ii) any change in control bonus, transaction bonus, retention bonus, termination or severance payment or payment relating to terminated options, warrants or other equity appreciation, phantom equity, profit participation or similar rights, in any case, to be made to any current or former employee, independent contractor, director or officer of any Target Company at or after the Closing pursuant to any agreement to which any Target Company is a party prior to the Closing which become payable (including if subject to continued employment) as a result of the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including all employment, payroll, and other applicable Taxes on such payments and (iii) any sales, use, real property transfer, stamp, stock transfer or other similar transfer Taxes imposed on SPAC or any Target Company in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, with respect to SPAC, “Expenses” shall also include (i) any and all deferred expenses (including fees or commissions payable to the IPO Underwriter and any legal fees) of the IPO upon consummation of a Business Combination and any costs and expenses necessary for an Extension (such expenses, “Extension Expenses”) as well as (ii) any fees, costs and expenses incurred or subject to reimbursement by SPAC or its Subsidiaries, whether accrued for or not, since the formation of SPAC.
“Foreign Pension Plan” means any plan, fund (including, without limitation, any superannuation fund) or other similar program (other than social security or social insurance) established or maintained outside of the United States by any Target Company or any one or more of its Affiliates primarily for the benefit of employees of a Target Company or one or more of its Affiliates residing outside the United States, which plan, fund or other program provides, or results in, retirement income, a deferral of income in contemplation of retirement or payments to be made upon termination of employment, and which is not subject to ERISA or the Code.
“Fraud Claim” means any claim based in whole or in part upon fraud.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local, foreign or other governmental, quasi-governmental or administrative body, instrumentality, department or agency or any court, tribunal, administrative hearing body, arbitration panel, commission, or other similar dispute-resolving panel or body.
“Hazardous Material” means any waste, gas, liquid or other substance or material that is defined, listed or designated as a “hazardous substance”, “pollutant”, “contaminant”, “hazardous waste”, “regulated substance”, “hazardous chemical”, or “toxic chemical” (or by any similar term) under any Environmental Law, or any other material regulated, or that could result in the imposition of Liability or responsibility, under any Environmental Law, including petroleum and its by-products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon, mold, and urea formaldehyde insulation.
“High Vote Sellers” means Jeffrey Kwatinetz and O’Shea Jackson Sr. (or any of their Affiliates) and BigFourH Holdings LLC, in each case, insofar as such Person is a Seller as of immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time.
“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money (including the outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest), (b) all obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (c) any other indebtedness of such Person that is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture, credit agreement or similar instrument, (d) all obligations of such Person under leases that should be classified as capital leases in accordance with GAAP, (e) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any line or letter
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of credit, banker’s acceptance, guarantee or similar credit transaction, in each case, that has been drawn or claimed against, (f) all obligations of such Person in respect of acceptances issued or created, (g) all interest rate and currency swaps, caps, collars and similar agreements or hedging devices under which payments are obligated to be made by such Person, whether periodically or upon the happening of a contingency, (h) all obligations secured by a Lien on any property of such Person, (i) any premiums, prepayment fees or other penalties, fees, costs or expenses associated with payment of any Indebtedness of such Person and (j) all obligations described in clauses (a) through (i) above of any other Person which is directly or indirectly guaranteed by such Person or which such Person has agreed (contingently or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire or in respect of which it has otherwise assured a creditor against loss.
“Intellectual Property” means any and all intellectual property and all rights, title, and interest therein and thereto in any jurisdiction throughout the world, including: (a) Patents, (b) Trademarks, (c) Copyrights, (d) Trade Secrets, (e) Internet Assets, (f) Software, (g) other intellectual property, and (h) all legal rights in, to, or arising from any of the foregoing including all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions related to the preceding property.
“Internet Assets” means any and all domain name registrations, social media accounts, web sites and web addresses and related rights, items and documentation related thereto, and applications for registration therefor.
“IPO” means the initial public offering of SPAC Public Units (and any successor equity thereto) pursuant to the IPO Prospectus.
“IPO Prospectus” means the final prospectus of SPAC, dated as of June 25, 2024, and filed with the SEC on June 27, 2024 (File No. 333-279889).
“IPO Underwriter” means Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
“IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (or any successor Governmental Authority).
“Knowledge” means, with respect to (i) the Company, the actual knowledge of the executive officers of any Target Company, after reasonable inquiry consistent with their respective job duties and functions or (ii) any other Party, (A) if an entity, the actual knowledge of its executive officers, after reasonable inquiry consistent with their respective job duties and functions, or (B) if a natural person, the actual knowledge of such Party after reasonable inquiry consistent with their respective job duties and functions.
“Law” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, legislation, principle of common law, ordinance, code, edict, decree, proclamation, treaty, convention, rule, regulation, directive, requirement, writ, injunction, settlement, Order or Consent that is or has been issued, enacted, adopted, passed, approved, promulgated, made, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.
“Liabilities” means any and all liabilities, Indebtedness, Actions or obligations of any nature (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, whether known or unknown, whether direct or indirect, whether matured or unmatured, whether due or to become due and whether or not required to be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet under GAAP or other applicable accounting standards), including Tax liabilities due or to become due.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, attachment, right of first refusal, option, proxy, voting trust, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof), restriction (whether on voting, sale, transfer, disposition or otherwise), license, any subordination arrangement in favor of another Person, or any filing or agreement to file a financing statement as debtor under the Uniform Commercial Code or any similar Law.
“Loss” means any and all losses, obligations, penalties, amounts paid in settlement, damages (including consequential damages), costs and expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation, court costs and attorneys’ fees and expenses), diminution in value, Taxes, Liens and interest, in each case arising out of or related to any Action, Order or other Liability.
“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any specified Person, any fact, event, occurrence, change or effect that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect upon (a) the business, assets, Liabilities, results of operations, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
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or (b) the ability of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries on a timely basis to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party or bound or to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder; provided, however, that for purposes of clause (a) above, any changes or effects directly or indirectly attributable to, resulting from, relating to or arising out of the following (by themselves or when aggregated with any other, changes or effects) shall not be deemed to be, constitute, or be taken into account when determining whether there has or may, would or could have occurred a Material Adverse Effect: (i) general changes in the financial or securities markets or general economic or political conditions in the country or region in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries do business; (ii) changes, conditions or effects that generally affect the industries in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries principally operate; (iii) changes in GAAP or other applicable accounting principles or mandatory changes in the regulatory accounting requirements applicable to any industry in which such Person and its Subsidiaries principally operate; (iv) conditions caused by acts of God, terrorism, war (whether or not declared), earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wild fires, weather conditions, natural or man-made disasters, emergencies, calamities, epidemics, pandemics, disease outbreaks, other acts of God or other force majeure events in the United States or other political conditions or natural disasters; (v) any failure in and of itself by such Person and its Subsidiaries to meet any internal or published budgets, projections, forecasts or predictions of financial performance for any period (provided that the underlying cause of any such failure may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent not excluded by another exception herein) and (vi), with respect to SPAC, the consummation and effects of the Redemption (or any redemption in connection with the Extension); provided further, however, that any event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change referred to in clauses (i) - (iv) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur to the extent that such event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change has a disproportionate effect on such Person or any of its Subsidiaries compared to other participants in the industries in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries primarily conducts its businesses.
“Notes” means the convertible promissory notes issued or assumed by any Target Company, including the convertible promissory notes issued in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 having an aggregate principal amount of approximately $24,139,000 as of December 31, 2025.
“NYSE American” means the NYSE American LLC.
“Order” means any order, decree, ruling, judgment, injunction, writ, determination, binding decision, verdict, judicial award or other action that is or has been made, entered, rendered, or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.
“Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person that is an entity, its certificate of incorporation or formation, bylaws, operating agreement, memorandum and articles of association or similar organizational documents, in each case, as amended.
“Patents” means any patents, patent applications and the inventions, designs and improvements described and claimed therein, patentable inventions, and other patent rights (including any divisionals, provisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, substitutions, reexamined patents or reissues thereof, whether or not patents are issued on any such applications and whether or not any such applications are amended, modified, divided, continued, abandoned, withdrawn, or refiled).
“Per Share Price” means $10.83.
“Percentage Merger Consideration” means a number of shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (a) the aggregate number of shares of Pubco Common Stock in the Merger Consideration, multiplied by (b) the percentage set forth opposite such Seller’s name on Schedule 1.9.
“Permits” means all federal, state, local or foreign or other third-party permits, grants, easements, filings, accreditations, consents, approvals, authorizations, exemptions, licenses, franchises, concessions, ratifications, permissions, clearances, confirmations, endorsements, waivers, certifications, designations, ratings, registrations, qualifications or orders of any Governmental Authority or any other Person.
“Permitted Liens” means (a) Liens for Taxes or assessments and similar governmental charges or levies, which either are (i) not delinquent or (ii) being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, and adequate reserves have been established with respect thereto, (b) other Liens imposed by operation of Law arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not due and payable and as would not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of, or materially adversely interfere with the
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use of, the property subject thereto, (c) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with social security, (d) Liens on goods in transit incurred pursuant to documentary letters of credit or operational expenses, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business, or (e) Liens arising under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership (including a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), limited liability company, exempted company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government, domestic or foreign, or political subdivision thereof, or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Personal Information” means any information that either directly or indirectly identifies or, alone or in combination with any other information, could reasonably be used to identify, locate, or contact a natural Person, or that relates or links to, or is reasonably linkable to an identified or identifiable individual, including name, street address, telephone number, email address, identification number issued by a Governmental Authority, credit card number, bank information, customer or account number, online identifier, device identifier, IP address, browsing history, search history, or other website, application, or online activity or usage data, location data, biometric data, medical or health information, or any other information that is considered “personally identifiable information,” “personal information,” or “personal data” under applicable Law, and all data associated with any of the foregoing that are or could reasonably be used to develop a profile or record of the activities of a natural Person across multiple websites or online services, to predict or infer the preferences, interests, or other characteristics of a natural Person, or to target advertisements or other content or products or services to a natural Person.
“Personal Property” means any machinery, equipment, tools, vehicles, furniture, leasehold improvements, office equipment, plant, parts and other tangible personal property.
“PPP Loan” means the Paycheck Protection Program loan to Big3 Basketball LLC under the SBA 7(a) program, being that certain Note, issued to Big3 Basketball LLC, regarding SBA Loan #66533972-07, dated as of April 30, 2020, as amended by that certain Amended and Restated Note, dated March 1, 2022, regarding SBA Loan #66533972-07.
“Preferred Units” means, collectively, the preferred membership interests and preferred units of the Company.
“Privacy Laws” means all applicable Laws, Orders, and binding guidance issued by any Governmental Authority concerning data privacy, cybersecurity, or Processing of Personal Information (including Laws of jurisdictions where Personal Information was collected), including, as applicable, data breach notification Laws, consumer protection Laws, Laws concerning requirements for website and mobile application privacy policies and practices, Social Security number protection Laws, data and cyber security Laws, and Laws concerning email, text message, behavioral advertising, marketing or telephone communications, Laws concerning personal data transfers, or artificial intelligence Laws and binding guidance. Without limiting the foregoing, Privacy Laws include: the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, U.S. state-level comprehensive privacy laws (such as the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, and all other applicable state privacy laws), biometric privacy laws (such as the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act), the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended and supplemented by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the GDPR, and all other similar international, federal, state, provincial, and local Laws.
“Processing” means any operation performed on Personal Information or that relevant Privacy Laws include in the definition of processing, processes, or process, including the collection, creation, receipt, access, use, handling, recording, compilation, analysis, organizing, monitoring, maintenance, retention, storage, holding, transmission, transfer, protection, disclosure, amendment, distribution, erasure, destruction, or disposal of Personal Information.
“Pubco Class A Common Stock” means the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, entitling the holders thereof to one (1) vote per share on all matters on which the holders of Pubco Common Stock are entitled to vote.
“Pubco Class B Common Stock” means the shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, which shall (i) have ten (10) votes per share for so long as the High Vote Seller holding such share owns a percentage of Pubco Common Stock to be specified in the Amended Pubco Charter, (ii) not be transferrable except for certain permitted transfers as set forth in the Amended Pubco Charter and (iii) have such other obligations and other terms as set forth in the Amended Pubco Charter.
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“Pubco Common Stock” means Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock, along with any equity securities paid as dividends or distributions after the Closing with respect to such shares or into which such shares are exchanged or converted after the Closing.
“Pubco Private Warrants” means one whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) share of Pubco Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, which will continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms as the SPAC Private Warrants (other than the fact that it will be exercisable for one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock in lieu of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share) and shall be governed by the Warrant Agreement, as assigned to and assumed by Pubco pursuant to the Warrant Assumption Agreement.
“Pubco Public Warrants” means one whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) share of Pubco Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, which will continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms as the SPAC Public Warrants (other than the fact that it will be exercisable for one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock in lieu of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share) and shall be governed by the Warrant Agreement, as assigned to and assumed by Pubco pursuant to the Warrant Assumption Agreement.
“Pubco Securities” means the Pubco Common Stock and the Pubco Warrants, collectively.
“Pubco Warrants” means Pubco Private Warrants and Pubco Public Warrants, collectively.
“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, or leaching into the indoor or outdoor environment, or into or out of any property.
“Remedial Action” means all actions to (i) clean up, remove, treat, or in any other way address any Hazardous Material, (ii) prevent the Release of any Hazardous Material so it does not endanger or threaten to endanger public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment, (iii) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations or post-remedial monitoring and care, or (iv) correct a condition of noncompliance with Environmental Laws.
“Representatives” means, as to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective managers, directors, officers, employees, independent contractors, consultants, advisors (including financial advisors, counsel and accountants), agents and other legal representatives of such Person or its Affiliates.
“Requisite Holders” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Notes.
“Sale” means (a) any transaction or series of related transactions (whether by merger, consolidation, tender offer, exchange offer, stock transfer or otherwise) that (A) results in any Person acquiring beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of equity securities of Pubco that represent more than 50% of (i) the issued and outstanding Pubco Common Stock or the equity interests of the Company Surviving Subsidiary or (B) in which holders of equity securities of Pubco own less than 50% of the surviving entities’ (or direct or indirect parent of surviving entities’) equity securities immediately after the transaction, or (ii) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting equity securities of Pubco, or (b) any sale, transfer or other disposition to a Person of all or substantially all of the assets (by book value), of Pubco and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis based on the most recent annual audited financial statements of Pubco (other than licensing, partnering or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business).
“Sale Price” means the price per share of Pubco Common Stock paid or payable to the holders of outstanding Pubco Common Stock in a Sale, inclusive of the net present value of any contingent deferred purchase price or earnouts; provided that, if and to the extent such price is payable in whole or in part in the form of consideration other than cash, the price for such non-cash consideration shall be with respect to any securities, (i) pursuant to the methodology of valuation of securities in the definitive agreement for the Sale, (ii) if such methodology is not available, the volume weighted average of the closing prices of the sales of such securities on all securities exchanges on which such securities are then listed over a period of at least 20 days (which days need not be consecutive) out of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date of determination, or (iii) in the absence of (i) and if the information contemplated by the preceding clause (ii) is not practically available, then the fair value of such securities as of the date of valuation as determined by an independent, nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the board of directors of Pubco, on the basis of an orderly sale to a willing, unaffiliated buyer in an arm’s-length transaction, taking
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into account all factors determinative of value as the investment banking firm determines relevant (and giving effect to any transfer Taxes payable in connection with such sale).
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor Governmental Authority).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Sellers” means, collectively, holders of Company Securities.
“Series A Preferred Units” means, collectively, the Series A-1 Preferred Units and the Series A-2 Preferred Units.
“Series A-1 Preferred Units” means the issued and outstanding Series A-1 Preferred Units of the Company pursuant to the Company Operating Agreement.
“Series A-2 Preferred Units” means the issued and outstanding Series A-2 Preferred Units of the Company pursuant to the Company Operating Agreement.
“Series B Preferred Units” means the issued and outstanding Series B Preferred Units of the Company pursuant to the Company Operating Agreement.
“Software” means any computer software, applications, and programs, including all source code, object code, and documentation related thereto and all software algorithms (including artificial intelligence or machine learning technologies), models, modules, libraries, repositories, tools and data, data collections, and databases.
“SOX” means the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.
“SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares” means the Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC prior to consummation of the Conversion.
“SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares” means the Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC prior to consummation of the Conversion.
“SPAC Common Stock” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC following the consummation of the Conversion.
“SPAC Confidential Information” means all confidential or proprietary documents and information concerning SPAC or any of its Representatives; provided, however, that SPAC Confidential Information shall not include any information which, (i) at the time of disclosure by a Company Party or any of its Representatives, is generally available publicly and was not disclosed in breach of this Agreement or (ii) at the time of the disclosure by SPAC or its Representatives to a Company Party or any of its Representatives, was previously known by such receiving party without violation of Law or any confidentiality obligation by the Person receiving such SPAC Confidential Information. For the avoidance of doubt, from and after the Closing, SPAC Confidential Information will include the confidential or proprietary information of the Target Companies.
“SPAC Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties specified in Section 3.1 (Organization and Standing), Section 3.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement); Section 3.4 (Non-Contravention); Section 3.5(a) (other than the first sentence of Section 3.5(a)) (Capitalization); Section 3.5(c) (Capitalization); and Section 3.16 (Finders and Brokers).
“SPAC Ordinary Shares” means SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, collectively.
“SPAC Organizational Documents” means, the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of SPAC, as in force and effective under the Act.
“SPAC Preference Shares” means preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC prior to the Conversion.
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“SPAC Private Warrants” means the warrants that were issued to the Sponsor and the IPO Underwriter in a private placement that closed simultaneously with the IPO, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) SPAC Class A Ordinary Share at a purchase price of $11.50 per share.
“SPAC Public Units” means the units issued in the IPO consisting of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share and one-half (1/2) of one SPAC Public Warrant.
“SPAC Public Warrants” means the warrants that were included as part of each SPAC Public Unit, each whole SPAC Public Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) SPAC Class A Ordinary Share at a purchase price of $11.50 per share.
“SPAC Securities” means SPAC Public Units, SPAC Ordinary Shares, SPAC Preference Shares and SPAC Warrants, collectively.
“SPAC Warrants” means SPAC Private Warrants and SPAC Public Warrants, collectively.
“Sponsor” means Graf Global Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Stock Exchange” means the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange, NYSE American or another national securities exchange as mutually determined by SPAC and the Company prior to the Closing.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons will be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons will be allocated a majority of partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or will be or control the managing director, managing member, general partner or other managing Person of such partnership, association or other business entity. A Subsidiary of a Person will also include any variable interest entity which is consolidated with such Person under applicable accounting rules. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, BIG3 Basketball, LLC and its Subsidiaries will be deemed to be Subsidiaries of the Company for all purposes hereof.
“Target Company” means each of the Company and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries.
“Target Company Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties specified in Section 5.1 (Organization and Standing), Section 5.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement); Section 5.3(a) (other than the first sentence of Section 5.3(a)) (Capitalization); Section 5.3(b)(Capitalization); Section 5.4 (Subsidiaries); Section 5.6 (Non-Contravention); and Section 5.28 (Finders and Brokers).
“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or other documents (including any related or supporting schedules, statements or information) filed or required to be filed in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Taxes or the administration of any Laws or administrative requirements relating to any Taxes.
“Taxes” means (a) all direct or indirect federal, state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, value-added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, tax collected at source, equalization levy, payroll, employment, social security and related contributions due in relation to the payment of compensation to employees, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, alternative minimum, estimated, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto, (b) any Liability for payment of amounts described in clause (a) whether as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group for any period or otherwise through operation of law and (c) any Liability for the payment of amounts described in clauses (a) or (b) as a result of any tax sharing, tax group, tax indemnity or tax allocation agreement with, or any other express or implied agreement to indemnify, any other Person.
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“Trade Secrets” means any trade secrets, confidential business information, concepts, ideas, designs, research or development information, processes, procedures, techniques, technical information, specifications, operating and maintenance manuals, engineering drawings, methods, know-how, data, mask works, discoveries, inventions, modifications, extensions, improvements, and other proprietary rights (whether or not patentable or subject to copyright, trademark, or trade secret protection).
“Trademarks” means any trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, brand names, internet domain names, slogans, designs, logos, certification marks, corporate names, or other indicia of source or origin, in each case, whether registered or unregistered, and all registrations and applications for registration and renewal thereof together with all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby.
“Transactions” means the transactions contemplated hereby.
“Transaction Financing” means a capital raising transaction in connection with the Transactions structured as one or a combination of common equity, preferred equity, convertible equity or debt, non-redemption or backstop arrangements with respect to the Trust Account, in each case, whether such investment is into SPAC, the Company or Pubco.
“Trust Account” means the trust account established by SPAC with the net proceeds from the IPO and related private placement pursuant to the Trust Agreement in accordance with the IPO Prospectus.
“Trust Agreement” means that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2024, as it may be amended, by and between SPAC and the Trustee, as well as any other agreements entered into related to or governing the Trust Account.
“Trustee” means Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, in its capacity as trustee under the Trust Agreement.
“Unaudited Financial Statements” means the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Target Companies, consisting of the consolidated balance sheets of the Target Companies and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in members’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2025.
“Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement, by and between SPAC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
“Warrant Agreement” means that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2024, by and between SPAC and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation.
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11.2 Section References. The following capitalized terms, as used in this Agreement, have the respective meanings given to them in the Section as set forth below adjacent to such terms:
Term | | Section |
|---|---|---|
| | |
Acquisition Proposal | | 6.6(a) |
Act | | Recitals C |
Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals | | 6.12(a) |
Agreement | | Preamble |
Alternative Transaction | | 6.6(a) |
Amended Pubco Bylaws | | 7.3(h) |
Amended Pubco Charter | | 7.1(g) |
Antitrust Laws | | 6.9(b) |
Audit Delivery Date | | 6.4(a) |
Audited Financials | | 6.4(a) |
BBA Audit Regime | | §6.10 |
Bridge Financing | | 6.2(b) |
Business Combination | | 9.1 |
Cayman Registrar | | 1.2(a) |
Change in Recommendation | | 6.6(b) |
Change in Recommendation Notice | | 6.6(d) |
Class B Share Conversion | | Recitals G |
Closing | | 2.1 |
Closing Date | | 2.1 |
Closing Filing | | 6.14(b) |
Closing Press Release | | 6.14(b) |
Company | | Preamble |
Company Benefit Plan | | 5.19(a) |
Company Certificate of Merger | | 1.5(b) |
Company D&O Tail Insurance | | 6.18(c) |
Company Directors | | 6.17(a) |
Company Disclosure Schedules | | Article V |
Company Financials | | 6.4(a) |
Company IP | | 5.13(d) |
Company IP Licenses | | 5.13(a) |
Company Material Contracts | | 5.12(a) |
Company Merger | | Recitals B |
Company Merger Effective Time | | 1.5(b) |
Company Merger Sub | | Preamble |
Company Parties | | Preamble |
Company Permits | | 5.10 |
Company Personal Property Leases | | 5.16 |
Company Real Property Leases | | 5.15 |
Company Registered IP | | 5.13(a) |
Company Surviving Subsidiary | | 1.4 |
Conversion | | 1.2(a) |
Conversion Organizational Documents | | 1.2(a) |
D&O Indemnified Persons | | 6.18(a) |
D&O Tail Insurance | | 6.18(b) |
DGCL | | Recitals C |
DLLCA | | 1.4 |
Earnout Participants | | 1.10 |
Earnout Period | | 1.10 |
Earnout Price | | 1.10 |
Earnout Shares | | 1.10 |
Effective Time | | 1.5(b) |
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Term | | Section |
|---|---|---|
| | |
EGS | | 10.13 |
Employment Agreements | | Recitals M |
Enforceability Exceptions | | 3.2 |
Environmental Permits | | 5.20(a) |
Estimated Statement of Cash Position | | §6.24 |
Extension | | 6.3(a) |
Federal Securities Laws | | 6.7 |
Financing Agreements | | 6.20 |
FIRPTA Certificate | | 7.2 |
Funding Agreement | | 7.3(f)(ix) |
Intended Tax Treatment | | 1.14 |
Interim Financial Information | | 6.4(c) |
Interim Period | | 6.1(a) |
Intervening Event | | 6.6(a)(iii) |
Investment Company Act | | 3.15 |
Investors | | 6.20 |
Lock-Up Agreement | | Recitals H |
Merger Consideration | | 1.9 |
Merger Subs | | Preamble |
Mergers | | Recitals B |
OFAC | | 3.17(c) |
Off-the-Shelf Software | | 5.13(a) |
Outbound IP License | | 5.13(a) |
Outside Date | | 8.1(b) |
Partnership Entity | | 6.10 |
Party(ies) | | Preamble |
Post-Closing Equity Plan | | 6.22 |
Post-Closing Pubco Board | | 6.17(a) |
Pre-Closing BBA Adjustment | | 6.10 |
Privacy Agreements | | 5.26(a) |
Proxy Statement | | 6.12(a) |
Pubco | | Preamble |
Pubco Financials | | 6.4(b) |
Public Certifications | | 3.6(a) |
Public Shareholders | | 9.1 |
Push-Out Election | | 6.10 |
Redemption | | 6.12(a) |
Registration Rights Agreement | | Recitals I |
Registration Statement | | 6.12(a) |
Related Person | | 5.21 |
Released Claims | | 9.1 |
Required SPAC Shareholder Approval | | 7.1(a) |
Sanctions | | 5.25 |
SEC Approval Date | | 6.12(d) |
SEC Reports | | 3.6(a) |
Section 1446(f) Certifications | | 7.2 |
Section 409A Plan | | 5.19(j) |
Security Incident | | 5.26(c) |
Seller Written Consent | | Recitals L |
Signing Filing | | 6.14(b) |
Signing Press Release | | 6.14(b) |
SPAC | | Preamble |
SPAC Board | | 6.6(d) |
SPAC Board Recommendation | | Recitals D |
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Term | | Section |
|---|---|---|
| | |
SPAC Certificate of Merger | | 1.5(b) |
SPAC D&O Tail Insurance | | 6.18(b) |
SPAC Director | | 6.17(a) |
SPAC Disclosure Schedules | | Article III |
SPAC Extraordinary General Meeting | | 6.12(a) |
SPAC Financials | | 3.6(d) |
SPAC Material Contract | | 3.13(a) |
SPAC Merger | | Recitals B |
SPAC Merger Effective Time | | 1.5(b) |
SPAC Merger Sub | | Preamble |
SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters | | 6.12(a) |
SPAC Surviving Subsidiary | | 1.3 |
Specified Courts | | 10.4 |
Sponsor Forfeited Shares | | Recitals G |
Sponsor Indemnification Agreement | | Recitals K |
Sponsor Support Agreement | | Recitals G |
Surviving Subsidiaries | | 1.4 |
Tax Sharing Agreements | | 6.10 |
Top Customers | | 5.24 |
Top Suppliers | | 5.24 |
Unit Separation | | 1.1 |
W&C | | 10.13 |
Warrant Assumption Agreement | | Recitals J |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Party hereto has caused this Business Combination Agreement to be signed and delivered as of the date first written above.
| SPAC: | |
|
| |
| GRAF GLOBAL CORP. | |
|
| |
| By: | /s/ James A. Graf |
|
| Name: James A. Graf |
|
| Title: Chief Executive Officer & Director |
|
| |
| Pubco: | |
|
| |
| HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC. | |
|
| |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Name: Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Title: Chief Executive Officer |
|
| |
| SPAC Merger Sub: | |
|
| |
| HALFCOURT MERGER SUB INC. | |
|
| |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Name: Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Title: President and Secretary |
|
| |
| Company Merger Sub: | |
|
| |
| HALFCOURT MERGER SUB LLC | |
|
| |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Name: Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Title: President and Secretary |
|
| |
| The Company: | |
|
| |
| BIG3 HOLDCO LLC | |
|
| |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Name: Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Title: Chairman |
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Exhibit F
Seller Written Consent
BIG 3 HOLDCO LLC
ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
OF CERTAIN EQUITYHOLDERS
June 12, 2026
The undersigned (collectively, the “Consenting Sellers”), constituting (i) Jeff Kwatinetz, (ii) O’Shea Jackson Sr., (iii) holders of securities of BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), representing at least the Class A Majority Interest (as defined in the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, dated as of September 19, 2024 (as amended, the “LLCA”)), (iv) holders of securities of the Company representing at least the Preferred Majority Interest (as defined in the LLCA), (v) holders of securities of the Company representing at least the Series B Preferred Majority Interest (as defined in the LLCA) and (vi) holders of a majority of the Units (as defined in the LLCA), hereby take the following actions and adopt the following resolutions pursuant to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “Act”) and the LLCA, in each case in lieu of a special or other meeting, effective as of the date first set forth above:
Approval of the Business Combination Agreement and Other Transaction Agreements
WHEREAS, it is proposed that the Company, Graf Global Corp., a Delaware corporation (“SPAC”), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation (“SPAC Merger Sub”), Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Company Merger Sub”) and Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pubco”), enter into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A;
WHEREAS, capitalized terms used but not defined in this Action by Written Consent shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Business Combination Agreement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, among other things, Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Company Merger”), with the Company being the surviving limited liability company of the Company Merger;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, among other things, in connection with the Company Merger, at the Company Merger Effective Time, the Company Interests issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Company Merger Effective Time shall be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive the Merger Consideration as described in the Business Combination Agreement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.2(a) of the LLCA, neither the board of managers of the Company (the “Board”) nor the Company shall take any action or incur any obligation which would be or result in a “Series B Preferred Major Decision” (as defined in the LLCA) without the prior written consent of the Series B Preferred Majority Interest, so long as at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Series B Preferred Units (as defined in the LLCA) are outstanding (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any Unit dividend, split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to such Units);
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.2(b) of the LLCA, neither the Board nor the Company shall take any action or incur any obligation which would be or result in a “Preferred Major Decision” (as defined in the LLCA) without the prior written consent of the Preferred Majority Interest, so long as at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Preferred Units (as defined in the LLCA) are outstanding (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any Unit dividend, split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to such Units);
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WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.2(c) of the LLCA, neither the Board nor the Company shall take any action or incur any obligation which would be or result in a “Founder Major Decision” (as defined in the LLCA) without the prior written consent of Jeff Kwatinetz (so long as Jeff Kwatinetz, individually or through BEK, LLC, his spouse or his children continue to own in the aggregate at least 1,140,625 Class A Units (as defined in the LLCA)) and O’Shea Jackson Sr. (so long as O’Shea Jackson Sr., his spouse, or his children continue to own at least 1,140,625 Class A Units);
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.2(d) of the LLCA, neither the Board nor the Company shall take any action or incur any obligation which would be or result in a “Class A Major Decision” (as defined in the LLCA) without the consent of a Class A Majority Interest;
WHEREAS, the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby constitute a Series B Preferred Major Decision, a Preferred Major Decision, a Class A Major Decision and a Founder Major Decision;
WHEREAS, each of the undersigned has reviewed and discussed the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, including all exhibits, schedules and ancillary documents attached thereto, and the transactions contemplated thereby, and has considered such other factors deemed to be relevant; and
WHEREAS, simultaneously with this Action by Written Consent, the Board (i) has determined that the Business Combination Agreement, the Company Merger, and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement are advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of the Company and its members, (ii) has approved the Business Combination Agreement, the Company Merger, and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, and (iii) has recommended the approval and adoption of the Business Combination Agreement, the Company Merger, and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement by the members of the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT:
RESOLVED, that the Business Combination Agreement, including all exhibits, schedules, and ancillary documents attached thereto (collectively with the Business Combination Agreement, the “Transaction Agreements”), and the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements (the “Transactions”), be, and hereby are, consented to, approved and adopted by the Consenting Sellers (including but not limited to in their respective capacities as holders of Class A Units, Preferred Units and/or Series B Preferred Units, as applicable) in all respects; provided that any amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification to the Transaction Agreement that adversely affects John Angelos and/or BigFourH Holdings LLC (each, a “Consenting Holder”) shall require the consent of such Consenting Holder for such Consenting Holder’s aforementioned consent, approval and adoption to remain effective;
RESOLVED, that this Written Consent constitutes the Seller Written Consent referenced in the Business Combination Agreement and is valid and effective under the Act and the LLCA, subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, and shall remain in full force and effect through the earlier of (i) the Closing (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and (ii) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; and
RESOLVED, that with respect to the Transaction Agreements, and the transactions contemplated thereby, including without limitation the Company Merger, any and all rights of pre-emption, purchase option rights, rights of first refusal, notice of any alternative proposal be, and they hereby are, waived.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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This Action by Written Consent may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of this Action by Written Consent may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction is a complete reproduction of the entire original writing. This Action by Written Consent shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the members of the Company.
| CONSENTING SELLERS: | |
|
| |
| /s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz | |
| Jeffrey Kwatinetz | |
|
| |
| /s/ O’Shea Jackson Sr. | |
| O’Shea Jackson Sr. | |
|
| |
| /s/ John Angelos | |
| John Angelos | |
| BEK, LLC | |
|
| |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Name: Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Title: Manager |
|
| |
| Cube Vision Film Productions, LLC | |
|
| |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Name: Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
|
| Title: Manager |
|
| |
| BigFourH Holdings LLC | |
|
| |
| By: | /s/ John Angelos |
|
| Name: John Angelos |
|
| Title: Manager |
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Exhibit A
Business Combination Agreement
[See attached.]
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Annex D
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC.
Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law
Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), by its Chief Executive Officer, hereby certifies as follows:
1. The name of the Corporation is “Halfcourt Holdco, Inc.”
2. The Corporation’s original Certificate of Incorporation was filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 5, 2026.
3. This Amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Certificate”) restates, integrates and amends the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation.
4. This Certificate was duly adopted by the directors and stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 141(f), 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”).
5. The text of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated to read in full as follows:
FIRST: The name of the corporation is “Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.” (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Corporation”).
SECOND: The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is to be located at Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington (New Castle County), Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.
THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation shall be to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL. In addition to the powers and privileges conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation. The Corporation is to have a perpetual existence.
FOURTH: The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is [ ] of which (i) [ ] shares shall be Common Stock of the par value of $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), representing (a) [ ] shares of Class A Common Stock (“Class A Common Stock”) and (b) [ ] shares of Class B Common Stock (“Class B Common Stock”), and (ii) [ ] shares shall be Preferred Stock of the par value of $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Stock”).
A. Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is expressly granted authority to issue shares of the Preferred Stock, in one or more series, and to fix for each such series such voting powers, full or limited, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue of such series (a “Preferred Stock Designation”) and as may be permitted by the DGCL. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL or any successor provision thereof,
D-1
without a separate vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to any Preferred Stock Designation.
B. Rights of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.
(1) Voting. Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall (a) at all times vote together as a single class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote or for the consent (if action by written consent of the stockholders is permitted at such time under this Certificate) of the stockholders of the corporation, (b) be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the Bylaws of the corporation and (c) be entitled to vote upon such matters and in such manner as may be provided by the DGCL. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or required by the DGCL, each holder of Class B Common Stock shall have the right to ten (10) votes per share of Class B Common Stock held of record by such holder and each holder of Class A Common Stock shall have the right to one (1) vote per share of Class A Common Stock held of record by such holder.
(2) Dividend and Distribution Rights. Shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be treated equally, identically and ratably, on a per share basis, with respect to any dividends or distributions as may be declared and paid from time to time by the Board of Directors out of any assets of the corporation legally available therefor; provided, however, that in the event a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares), then holders of Class A Common Stock shall receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be) and holders of Class B Common Stock shall receive shares of Class B Common Stock (or rights to acquire such shares, as the case may be), with holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock receiving, on a per share basis, an identical number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may pay or make a disparate dividend or distribution per share of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (whether in the amount of such dividend or distribution payable per share, the form in which such dividend or distribution is payable, the timing of the payment, or otherwise) if such disparate dividend or distribution is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Certificate) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the date on which any share of Class B Common Stock is converted into Class A Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of Section C of this Article Fourth occurs after the record date for the determination of the holders of Class B Common Stock entitled to receive any dividend or distribution to be paid on the shares of Class B Common Stock, the holder of such shares of Class B Common Stock as of such record date will be entitled to receive such dividend or distribution on such payment date; provided, that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate, to the extent that any such dividend or distribution is payable in shares of Class B Common Stock, such dividend or distribution shall be deemed to have been declared, and shall be payable in, shares of Class A Common Stock and no shares of Class B Common Stock shall be issued in payment thereof.
(3) Subdivisions, Combinations or Reclassifications. Shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock may not be subdivided, combined or reclassified unless the shares of the other class are concurrently therewith proportionately subdivided, combined or reclassified in a manner that maintains the same proportionate equity ownership between the holders of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that shares of one such class may be subdivided, combined or reclassified in a different or disproportionate manner if such subdivision, combination or reclassification is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this Certificate) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.
(4) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to the preferential or other rights of any holders of Preferred Stock then outstanding, upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be entitled to receive ratably all assets of the corporation available for distribution to its stockholders unless disparate or different treatment of the shares of each such class with respect to distributions upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is approved in advance by the affirmative vote (or written consent if action by written consent of stockholders is permitted at such time under this
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Certificate) of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.
(5) Merger or Consolidation. In the case of any distribution or payment in respect of the shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, or any consideration into which such shares are converted, upon the consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other entity, such distribution, payment or consideration that the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, shall be made ratably on a per share basis among the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as a single class; provided, however, that shares of such classes may receive, or have the right to elect to receive, different or disproportionate distribution, payment or consideration in connection with such consolidation, merger or other transaction in order to reflect the special rights, powers and privileges of holders of shares of Class B Common Stock under this Certificate (which may include, without limitation, securities distributable to the holders of, or issuable upon the conversion of, each share of Class B Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction having up to ten (10) times the voting power of any securities distributable to the holders of, or issuable upon the conversion of, each share of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction) or such other rights, powers, privileges or other terms that are no more favorable, in the aggregate, to the holders of the Class B Common Stock relative to the holders of the Class A Common Stock than those contained in this Certificate.
(6) Third Party Tender or Exchange Offers. The Corporation may not enter into any agreement pursuant to which a third party may by tender or exchange offer acquire any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock unless the holders of (a) the Class A Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration and the same amount of consideration on a per share basis as the holders of the Class B Common Stock would receive, or have the right to elect to receive, and (b) the Class B Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration and the same amount of consideration on a per share basis as the holders of the Class A Common Stock would receive, or have the right to elect to receive; provided, however, that shares of such classes may receive, or have the right to elect to receive, different or disproportionate consideration in connection with such tender or exchange offer in order to reflect the special rights, powers and privileges of the holders of shares of the Class B Common Stock under this Certificate (which may include, without limitation, securities exchangeable for each share of Class B Common Stock having up to ten (10) times the voting power of any securities exchangeable for each share of Class A Common Stock) or such other rights, powers, privileges or other terms that are no more favorable, in the aggregate, to the holders of the Class B Common Stock relative to the holders of the Class A Common Stock than those contained in this Certificate.
(7) Increases and Decreases of Authorized Common Stock. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL or any successor provision thereof, and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the number of authorized shares of any particular class may not be decreased below the number of shares of such class then outstanding, plus, in the case of Class A Common Stock, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable in connection with (a) the exchange of all outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and (b) the exercise of outstanding options, warrants, exchange rights, conversion rights or similar rights for shares of Class A Common Stock.
C. Conversion of Class B Common Stock.
(1) Each share of Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock on the Final Conversion Date.
(2) Each share of Class B Common Stock held by any applicable Class B Holder will automatically be converted into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock as follows:
(A) with respect to any Class B Holder, 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day immediately following such date on which such Class B Holder is no longer holding at least 50% of the shares of Class B Stock that such Class B Holder held immediately following the consummation of the Business Combination (as such number of
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shares is equitably adjusted in respect of any reclassification, stock dividend, subdivision, combination or recapitalization of the Class B Common Stock);
(B) upon any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, hypothecation or other transfer or disposition of such share or any legal or beneficial interest in such share, whether or not for value and whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, including, without limitation, a transfer of a share of Class B Common Stock to a broker or other nominee (regardless of whether there is a corresponding change in beneficial ownership), or the transfer of, or entering into a binding agreement with respect to voting control over such share by proxy or otherwise (each a “Transfer”), other than a Permitted Transfer (as defined below), of such share of Class B Common Stock; and
(C) upon the death, incapacity, or, if applicable, adjudication of incompetency or placement under a guardianship or conservatorship by a court of competent jurisdiction of a Class B Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 4(C)(2)(C), “incapacity” means a determination by a licensed physician that such Class B Holder has suffered a physical or mental impairment that renders such holder unable to perform the material duties customarily incident to the ownership and exercise of the rights of such shares of Class B Common Stock on a sustained basis for a period of at least ninety (90) consecutive days or one hundred twenty (120) days in any one hundred eighty (180) day period, or such other standard as the Board may reasonably and in good faith apply consistent with market practice.
Each of the conversions set forth in subsections (1) and (2) above shall occur automatically without the need for any further action by the holders of such shares and whether or not the certificates representing such shares (if any) are surrendered to the Corporation or its transfer agent. Immediately upon the effectiveness of such automatic conversion, holders of such converted shares of Class B Common Stock shall be treated for all purposes as holders of such shares of Class A Common Stock into which such shares of Class B Common Stock were converted.
(3) Each share of Class B Common Stock shall be convertible at any time at the option of the holder into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock upon written notice to the Corporation; provided, that the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such conversion unless the certificates evidencing such shares of Class B Common Stock are either delivered to the Corporation or its transfer agent, or the holder notifies the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and executes an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates.
Permitted Transfers. The following shall not be considered a Transfer:
(i)the granting of a revocable proxy to officers or directors of the Corporation at the request of the Board of Directors in connection with actions to be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders;
(ii)entering into a voting trust, agreement or arrangement (with or without granting a proxy) solely with stockholders who are holders of shares of Class B Common Stock that (A) is disclosed either in a Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (B) either has a term not exceeding one year or is terminable by the holder of the shares subject thereto at any time and (C) does not involve any payment of cash, securities, property or other consideration to the holder of the shares subject thereto other than the mutual promise to vote shares in a designated manner;
(iii)the pledge of shares of Class B Common Stock by a stockholder that creates a mere security interest in such shares pursuant to a bona fide loan or indebtedness transaction for so long as such stockholder continues to exercise exclusive voting control over such pledged shares; provided, however, that a foreclosure on such shares or other similar action by the pledgee shall constitute a Transfer unless such foreclosure or similar action qualifies as a Permitted Transfer;
(iv)entering into, or reaching an agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding, a support or similar voting or tender agreement (with or without granting a proxy) in connection with a liquidation of the Corporation, business combination, or acquisition that has been approved by the Board of Directors;
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(v)any transfer by a holder of Class B Common Stock to (A) another Class B Holder, (B) any Permitted Trust or (C) any Permitted Entity (each, a “Permitted Transferee”);
(vi)any transfer to the Corporation; or
(vii)any transfer pursuant to a court order or by operation of law (including pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or in connection with a divorce settlement), in each case so long as such transfer is for bona fide estate planning, tax planning, or succession planning purposes and does not involve a disposition for value (other than for nominal consideration or in connection with the settlement of the estate or similar arrangement).
(4) For purposes of this Article Fourth, the following definitions shall apply:
“Base Class B Shares” means the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding immediately following the Business Combination:
“Business Combination” means the transactions contemplated by that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2026, by and among (i) the Corporation, (ii) Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company, (iii) BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (iv) Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and (v) Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Class B Holder” means a holder of shares of Class B Common Stock.
“Final Conversion Date” means:
(A) the date specified by the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, or in the affirmative written election executed by the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock;
(B) the date fixed by the Board that is no less than 10 days and no more than 30 days following the date that the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Initial Class B Holders and their Permitted Transferees represents less than one-third of the Base Class B Shares; or
(C) the date that is ten (10) years from the closing of the Business Combination.
“Initial Class B Holder” means each of (i) BEK, LLC, (ii) O’Shea Jackson Sr. and (iii) BigFourH Holdings LLC.
“Permitted Entity” means:
(A) a corporation in which a Class B Holder directly, or indirectly through one or more Permitted Entities, owns shares with sufficient voting control in the corporation, or otherwise has legally enforceable rights, such that such Class B Holder retains sole and exclusive voting control with respect to the Class B Shares held by such corporation;
(B) a partnership in which a Class B Holder directly, or indirectly through one or more Permitted Entities, owns partnership interests with sufficient voting control in the partnership, or otherwise has legally enforceable rights, such that such Class B Holder retains sole and exclusive voting control with respect to the Class B Shares held by such partnership; or
(C) a limited liability company in which a Class B Holder directly, or indirectly through one or more Permitted Entities, owns membership or limited liability company interests with sufficient voting control in the limited liability company, or otherwise has legally enforceable rights, such that such Class B Holder retains sole and exclusive voting control with respect to the Class B Shares held by such limited liability company.
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“Permitted Trust” means (i) a trust for the benefit of a Class B Holder and for the benefit of no other person, or (ii) a trust for the benefit of a Class B Holder and/or persons other than the Class B Holder so long as such Class B Holder has sole and exclusive voting control with respect to the Class B Shares held by such trust.
D.Further Issuances of Class B Common Stock. No additional shares of Class B Common Stock shall be issued at any time after the completion of the Business Combination without the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66- 2/3% of the voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, except for the issuance of shares of Class B Common Stock in connection with a stock dividend, stock split, reclassification or similar transaction that affects proportionately all outstanding shares of Common Stock and is in accordance with the provisions of this Certificate.
FIFTH:
A. The number of members of the entire Board shall be fixed, from time to time, exclusively by the Board, in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation (as amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof, the “Bylaws”), subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, if any.
B. The Board shall consist of directors whose number shall be fixed exclusively by the Board.
C. Except as the DGCL may otherwise require, and subject to any special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, in the interim between annual meetings of stockholders or special meetings of stockholders called for the election of directors and/or the removal of one or more directors and the filling of any vacancy in that connection, newly created directorships and any vacancies in the Board, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of directors, may be filled only by the vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum (as defined in the Bylaws), or by the sole remaining director. All directors shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. A director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a director shall serve for the remainder of the term and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.
D. Directors may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, only by the affirmative vote of holders of 66-2/3% of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote on the election of such director, voting together as a single class.
SIXTH: The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation, and for further definition, limitation and regulation of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and stockholders:
A. Election of directors need not be by ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.
B. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board is expressly authorized to make, alter and repeal the Bylaws without the consent of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Certificate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Certificate or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, the stockholders may adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws only with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66-2/3% of the voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
C. Until the Final Conversion Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be effected by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Following the Final Conversion Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and may not be taken by consent of the stockholders in lieu of a meeting.
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D. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of any series of Preferred Stock permitting the holders of such series of Preferred Stock to call a special meeting of the holders of such series, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer of the Corporation or the Board, and the ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting of the stockholders is hereby specifically denied.
E. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
F. The directors in their discretion may submit any contract or act for approval or ratification at any annual meeting of the stockholders or at any special meeting of the stockholders called for the purpose of considering any such act or contract, and any contract or act that shall be approved or be ratified by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation which is represented in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat (provided that a lawful quorum of stockholders be there represented in person or by proxy), unless a higher vote is required by applicable law, shall be as valid and binding upon the Corporation and upon all the stockholders as though it had been approved or ratified by every stockholder of the Corporation, whether or not the contract or act would otherwise be open to legal attack because of directors’ interests, or for any other reason.
G. In addition to the powers and authorities hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation; subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the statutes of the State of Delaware and of this Certificate.
SEVENTH:
A. A director or officer of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL, as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended from time to time. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended, automatically and without further action, upon the date of such amendment. Neither the repeal or modification of this paragraph A nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law shall adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation with respect to events occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
B. The Corporation, to the full extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, as amended from time to time, shall indemnify and advance expenses to all persons made or threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, and such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to serve in such role and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by such person in defending any civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which such person may be entitled to indemnification hereunder shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized hereby.
C. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred in this Article Seventh of this Certificate shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted under this Certificate, the Bylaws, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
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D. Neither the repeal or modification of this Article Seventh, nor the adoption by amendment of this Certificate of any provision inconsistent with this Article Seventh, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article Seventh in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising (or that, but for this Article Seventh, would accrue or arise) prior to such amendment or repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.
EIGHTH: Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of this Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under Section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under Section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing three fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this Corporation as a consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may be, and also on this Corporation.
NINTH:
A. Unless a majority of the Board, acting on behalf of the Corporation, consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee, agent or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its current or former directors, officers or employees, agents or stockholders arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Certificate or the Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its current or former directors, officers or employees, agents or stockholders governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall not be the sole and exclusive forum for any of the following actions: (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) any action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, in each case, rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, for which there is exclusive federal or concurrent federal and state jurisdiction.
B. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of paragraph A immediately above is filed in a court other than the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, to the fullest extent permitted by law, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce paragraph A immediately above (an “Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
C. If any provision or provisions of this Article Ninth shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article Ninth (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article Ninth containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in
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any way be affected or impaired thereby. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article Ninth.
TENTH: The doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation, the Initial Class B Holders, or any of the Corporation’s non-employee directors in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Certificate or in the future, and the Corporation renounces any expectancy that the Initial Class B Holders or any of the non-employee directors of the Corporation will offer any such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to the Corporation. In addition to the foregoing, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall not apply to any other corporate opportunity with respect to the Initial Class B Holders or any of the non-employee directors of the Corporation unless such corporate opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article Tenth.
ELEVENTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Certificate and the DGCL, and all rights, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons named herein by and pursuant to this Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article Eleventh. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any other vote that may be required by law, applicable stock exchange rule or the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, the stockholders may amend, alter, or repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with, any provision of Article Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, or Twelfth of this Certificate only with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66-2/3% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
TWELFTH: The Corporation will not be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this day of , 2026.
| HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC. | |
| | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
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Annex E
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
BIG3 HOLDCO, INC.
(the “Corporation”)
A DELAWARE CORPORATION
Adopted [ ], 2026
ARTICLE I — REGISTERED AGENT AND REGISTERED OFFICE
Section 1. Registered Office; Registered Agent: The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall initially be 1209 Orange Street in Wilmington, Delaware. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may determine to change such registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware in its discretion. The registered agent initially in charge thereof shall be the Corporation Trust Company until such agent resigns or is removed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Other Offices: The Corporation may also have offices in such other States or jurisdictions as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
ARTICLE II — SEAL
Section 1. Corporate Seal: The Corporation’s corporate seal (if one shall be utilized) shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware” or “Seal Delaware”. The Board of Directors may define any additional features of the Seal or amend any features not required for such a Seal under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), in its discretion. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise, as may be prescribed by law or custom or by the Board of Directors. For the avoidance of doubt, it shall not be required that the Corporation maintain or utilize a corporate seal.
ARTICLE III — STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS
Section 1. Place of Meetings: Meetings of stockholders may be held at any place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be selected from time to time by the Board of Directors. In the discretion of the Board of Directors, meetings may also be held by means of telephonic, video, or other remote communication in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the DGCL whereby each party can hear and be heard by the other parties as may be designated from time to time by a resolution of the Board of Directors and as set forth in the notice for the relevant meeting.
Section 2. Annual Meetings: The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of members of the Board of Directors (each a “Director”) and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. Subject to any limitations contained in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation (as amended and restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”), if no date for the annual meeting is established or said meeting is not held on the date established as provided above, a special meeting in lieu thereof may be held or, if stockholder action by written consent is not prohibited by the Certificate of Incorporation, there may be action by written consent of the stockholders on matters to be voted on at the annual meeting, and such special meeting or written consent shall have for the purposes of these Bylaws or otherwise all the force and effect of an annual meeting.
Section 3. Special Meetings: Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by such persons and only in such manner as set forth in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation. No business may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders other than the business specified in the notice of such meeting.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings: Notice of the place, if any, date, hour, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting or the specific details for accessing a meeting held through any remote means of communication, if any, of every meeting of stockholders shall be given by the Corporation not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting
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(unless a different time is specified by law) to every stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date set forth for such purpose. Notices of special meetings shall also specify the purpose or purposes for which the meeting has been called. Notices of meetings to stockholders may be given by mailing the same, addressed to the stockholder entitled thereto, at such stockholder’s mailing address as it appears on the records of the Corporation and such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid. Without limiting the manner by which notices of meetings otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any such notice may also be effectively provided by means of electronic transmission (as such term is used in Section 232 of the DGCL, an “Electronic Transmission”). Notice of any meeting need not be given to any stockholder who shall, either before or after the meeting, submit a waiver of notice or who shall attend such meeting, except when the stockholder attends for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Any stockholder so waiving notice of the meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of the meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.
Section 5. Adjournment: Any meeting of the stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time by either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) a vote of the majority of the shares present to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If, after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of the adjourned meeting and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of the adjourned meeting.
Section 6. Quorum: The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote constitutes a quorum for a meeting of the stockholders. If a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting as set forth above in Section 5 at any time without further notice.
Section 7. Voting; Proxies: Unless otherwise required by law or provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation in Section B of Article IV, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder. Unless otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the election of Directors shall be decided by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of the stockholders by the holders of stock entitled to vote in the election. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, any matter, other than the election of Directors, brought before any meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting (if action by written consent is not prohibited by the Certificate of Incorporation) may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy or by a transmission permitted by Section 212(c) of the DGCL, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot. The Corporation shall not directly or indirectly vote any share of its own stock; provided, however, that the Corporation may vote shares which it holds in a fiduciary capacity to the extent permitted by law.
Section 8. Consent In Lieu of Meetings: Until the Final Conversion Date (as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), and subject to the limitations contained in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of a Corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing (including one provided through Electronic Transmission), setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.
Section 9. Setting the Record Date: In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not
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precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business the day before the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business the day before the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote therewith at the adjourned meeting. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting: (a) when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery (by hand, or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded and (b) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
Section 10. List of Stockholders: The Corporation shall prepare a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class of capital stock of the Corporation registered in the name of each stockholder at least ten (10) days before any meeting of the stockholders. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, on a reasonably accessible electronic network if the information required to gain access to such list was provided with the notice of the meeting or during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation for a period of at least ten (10) ending on the day before the meeting date. Except as provided by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger and the list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 11. Conduct of Meetings: The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of the stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. The chairman of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chief Executive Officer or if the Chief Executive Officer is not a director, the President (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, a Vice President (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Vice President or if the Vice President is not a director, such other person as shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of the stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations, and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations, or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (c) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (d) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (e) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (f) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.
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Section 12. Advance Notice for Business:
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Section 13. Inspectors of Election: The Board of Directors may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more persons as inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation or otherwise serve the Corporation in other capacities, to act at such meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspectors of election or alternates are appointed by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of outstanding shares and the voting power of each; determine the number of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots; count all votes and ballots and report the results; determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors.
ARTICLE IV — DIRECTORS
Section 1. Board Management; Vacancies; Resignation: The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board of Directors. The total number of directors constituting the Board of Directors (the “Whole Board”) shall consist of such number of persons as the Board of Directors shall determine from time to time, in its discretion. The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than one (1) director. Directors must be natural persons who are eighteen (18) years of age or older, but need not be stockholders of the Corporation or residents of the State of Delaware. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors shall be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors and no decrease in the authorized number of directors constituting the Whole Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the special rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, each Director shall be elected annually and shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such Director’s successor is elected and qualified. Any Director may resign at any time by notice given in writing (including through Electronic Transmission) to the Corporation at its principal office. Such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice by the Corporation or at such later time as is therein specified. The acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Verbal resignation shall not be deemed effective until confirmed by the Director in writing (including through Electronic Transmission) to the Corporation. Subject to the special rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect Directors, Directors may be removed only as provided by the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. All vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 2. Regular Meetings: Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such times and at such places as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or its chairman.
Section 3. Special Meetings: Special meetings of the Board of Directors (a) may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Vice Chairman (if any), the Chief Executive Officer or the President and (b) shall be called on the written request of at
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least a majority of directors then in office, or the sole director, as the case may be, and shall be held at such time, date and place (within or without the State of Delaware) as may be determined by the person calling the meeting or, if called upon the request of directors or the sole director, as specified in such written request. Notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given, as provided in Article X, Section 4, to each director (i) at least 24 hours before the meeting if such notice is oral notice given personally or by telephone or written notice given by hand delivery or by means of a form of electronic transmission and delivery; (ii) at least two days before the meeting if such notice is sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service; and (iii) at least five days before the meeting if such notice is sent through the United States mail. If the Secretary shall fail or refuse to give such notice, then the notice may be given by the officer who called the meeting or the directors who requested the meeting. Any and all business that may be transacted at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors may be transacted at a special meeting. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. A special meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Article X, Section 5.
Section 4. Telephonic or Other Remote Meetings: Board of Director’s meetings or committee meetings, regular or special, may be held by means of telephone conference or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and be heard, as may be determined by the Board of Directors. Attendance by a Director in a meeting through the relevant media pursuant to this Section 4 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 5. Quorum: A majority of the total number of Directors shall constitute a quorum of any regular or special meetings of the Directors for the transaction of business.
Section 6. Voting: Except as otherwise expressly required by these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or by applicable law, the vote of a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 7. Consent In Lieu of Meeting: Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all Directors or members of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing (including through Electronic Transmission), and the consents are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee in accordance with the DGCL.
Section 8. Board Committees: The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. If a member of a committee shall be absent from any meeting, or disqualified from voting thereat, the remaining member or members present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by the DGCL, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it to the extent so authorized by the Board of Directors. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise, at all meetings of such committee, a majority of the then authorized members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the members of the committee present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the committee. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter, and repeal rules and procedures for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules and procedures each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to this Article IV.
Section 9. Compensation: Directors may receive equity compensation or such fees as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time. In addition, a fixed sum per Board of Directors or committee meeting and any expenses of attendance may be allowed for attendance at each regular or special meeting. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation as an officer or employee and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 10. Advance Notice for Nomination of Directors:
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Section 11. Annual Meetings: The Board of Directors shall meet as soon as practicable after the adjournment of each annual stockholders meeting at the place of the annual stockholders meeting unless the Board of Directors shall fix another time and place and give notice thereof in the manner required herein for special meetings of the Board of Directors. No notice to the directors shall be necessary to legally convene this meeting, except as provided in this Section 11.
ARTICLE V — OFFICERS
Section 1. Executive Officers: The executive officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors. The officers of the Corporation elected by the Board of Directors shall include a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may choose one or more Vice Presidents and such other officers as the Board of Directors shall deem necessary and may delegate the selection of lesser officers to one or more executive officers of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may also choose a Chairman from among its own members. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, including a Director.
Section 2. Term of Office: Subject to the terms of any employment agreement between the Corporation and the officers, the officers of the Corporation shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and shall hold office until their successors are chosen and have qualified. Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever, in its judgment, the best interest of the Corporation will be served thereby.
Section 3. Chief Executive Officer; President: The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction, and control over the business of the Corporation and over its officers. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform all duties customarily incident to the offices of the Chief Executive Officer, and any other duties as may be from time to time assigned to the Chief Executive Officer by the Board of Directors, in each case subject to the control of the Board of Directors. If the offices of Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer are not held by the same person, and the Chief Executive Officer is also a director, then, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside. The Board of Directors may also elect a person to serve in the office of President of the Corporation. If the office of Chief Executive Officer is not filled, a President shall be appointed and shall perform the duties of Chief Executive Officer as detailed herein. If the office of Chief Executive Officer is filled, the President shall be subordinate to the Chief Executive Officer and shall perform all duties as may be from time to time assigned to the President by the Board of Directors, in each case subject to the control of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 4. Secretary: The Secretary shall attend all sessions of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and act as clerk thereof, and record all votes of the Corporation and the minutes of all its transactions in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for all the committees of the Board of Directors when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors, and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or President, under whose supervision he or she shall be. He or she shall keep in safe custody the Seal of the Corporation, and when authorized by the Board of Directors, affix the same to any instrument requiring it.
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Section 5. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall keep the moneys of the Corporation in a separate account to the credit of the Corporation. He or she shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the President and Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors or whenever they may require it, an account of all his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
Section 6. Delegation; Customary Powers: In case any officer is absent, or for any other reason that the Board of Directors may deem sufficient, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors may delegate for the time being the powers or duties of such officer to any other officer or to any Director. Each officer of the Corporation shall have in addition to the duties and powers specifically set forth herein such duties and powers as are customarily incident to such officer’s office, and such duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 7. Vacancies: Any vacancy occurring in any elected office of the Corporation may be filled by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office appointed by the Chief Executive Officer or President may be filled by the Chief Executive Officer, or President, as the case may be, unless the Board of Directors then determines that such office shall thereupon be elected by the Board of Directors, in which case the Board of Directors shall elect such officer.
ARTICLE VI — CORPORATE RECORDS
Section 1. Maintenance of Records: Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be maintained on any information storage device, method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases); provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time, and, with respect to the stock ledger, the records so kept comply with Section 224 of the DGCL. The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to applicable law.
Section 2. Inspection Rights: In addition to and in accordance with inspection rights as so granted by Section 220 of the DGCL, any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right during the usual hours of business to inspect for any proper purpose the Corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, annual financial statements and its minutes of stockholder meetings for the past three (3) years. A proper purpose shall mean a purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a stockholder. In every instance where an attorney or other agent shall be the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing which authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on behalf of the stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the Corporation at its registered office or at its principal place of business.
ARTICLE VII — STOCK CERTIFICATES, DIVIDENDS, ETC.
Section 1. Certification of Shares: The shares of stock of the Corporation may or may not be represented by certificates; the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any class or series shall be uncertificated shares that may be evidenced by a book-entry system maintained by the registrar of such stock. If shares are represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in the form, other than bearer form, approved by the Board of Directors. The certificates representing shares of stock of each class shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by any two authorized officers of the Corporation. Any or all such signatures may be facsimiles. Although any officer, transfer agent, or registrar whose manual or facsimile signature is affixed to such a certificate ceases to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate has been issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent, or registrar were still such at the date of its issue.
Section 2. Transfers: Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws. Any transfer of stock by a stockholder must be made in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as well as similar state securities laws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof, by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and, in the case of certificated shares, upon the surrender of the certificate thereof, which shall be cancelled before a new certificate or uncertificated shares shall be issued. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred. To the extent designated by the President or the Treasurer of the Corporation, the Corporation may recognize the transfer of fractional uncertificated shares, but shall not otherwise be required to recognize the transfer of fractional shares.
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Section 3. Lost Certificates: The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the owner of the allegedly lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or uncertificated shares, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of the lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate, or the owner’s legal representative to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
Section 4. Dividends: Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock, unless otherwise provided by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 5. Reserves: Before payment of any dividend there may be set aside out of the net profits of the Corporation such sum or sums as the directors, from time to time in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining the property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interests of the Corporation. The directors may abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
Section 6. Multiple Classes of Stock: If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the Corporation shall (a) cause the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights to be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of any certificate that the Corporation issues to represent shares of such class or series of stock or (b) in the case of uncertificated shares, within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth on certificates as specified in clause (a) above; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of such certificate or, in the case of uncertificated shares, on such written notice a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences or rights.
ARTICLE VIII — INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT
Section 1. Definitions: Solely for purposes of this Article VIII, the following terms shall have the definitions set forth below:
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Section 2. Indemnification of Directors and Officers: Subject to the operation of Section 4 of this Article VIII, each Director and Officer shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against any and all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts reasonably paid in settlement that are incurred by such Director or Officer or on such Director’s or Officer’s behalf in connection with any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, which such Director or Officer is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Director’s or Officer’s status or conduct as such, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The rights of indemnification provided by this Section 2 shall continue as to a Director or Officer after he or she has ceased to be a Director or Officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives.
Section 3. Indemnification of Non-Executive Employees: Subject to the operation of Section 4 of this Article VIII of these Bylaws, each Non-Officer Employee may, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against any or all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts reasonably paid in settlement that are incurred by such Non-Officer Employee or on such Non-Officer Employee’s behalf in connection with any threatened, pending or completed Proceeding, or any claim, issue or matter therein, which such Non-Officer Employee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in by reason of such Non-Officer Employee’s status or conduct as such, if such Non-Officer Employee acted in good faith and in a manner such Non-Officer Employee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The rights of indemnification provided by this Section 3 shall exist as to a Non-Officer Employee after he or she has ceased to be a Non-Officer Employee and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may indemnify any Non-Officer Employee seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Non-Officer Employee only if such Proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Advancement of Expenses to Directors Prior to Final Disposition:
Section 6. Advancement of Expenses to Officers and Non-Officer Employees Prior to Final Disposition:
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Section 7. Contractual Nature of Rights:
Section 8. Insurance: The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 9. Amendments: Any repeal or amendment of this Article VIII by the Board of Directors or the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provision of these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article VIII, will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights to indemnitees on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision; provided however, that amendments to or repeals of this Article VIII shall require the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding at least two thirds (2/3) (66.67%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 10. Severability: If any provision or provisions of this Article VIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article VIII shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VIII (including, without limitation, each such portion of this Article VIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
ARTICLE IX — AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments: These Bylaws may be supplemented, amended, or repealed by the Board of Directors without any action on the part of the stockholders or by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding not less than a majority of the voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, duly convened after notice to the stockholders of that purpose; provided, that (a) the Board of Directors may not alter, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws which under the DGCL, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws requires action by the stockholders, (b) any alteration, amendment or repeal of these Bylaws by the
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Board of Directors and any new Bylaw adopted by the Board of Directors may be altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders as set forth in this Section, and (c) amendments to Article VIII of these Bylaws require the approval set forth in Section 9 thereof.
ARTICLE X — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 1. Checks: All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
Section 2. Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Notice: Whenever notice is required to be given to any person by these Bylaws, such notice shall be deemed given effectively if given in person, by mail addressed to such person at such person’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, by facsimile, or by any means of Electronic Transmission.
Section 5. Waiver of Notice: Whenever any written notice is required by these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such a notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, including a communication sent by means of Electronic Transmission bearing the name of the person or persons entitled to notice, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Attendance of a person either in person or by proxy at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting was unlawfully convened.
Section 6. Meeting Attendance via Remote Communication:
Section 7. Contracts and Negotiable Instruments: Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument may be executed and delivered in the name and on behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers or other employee or employees of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may from time to time authorize. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board of Directors may determine. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may delegate powers to execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to other officers or employees of the Corporation under such person’s supervision and authority, it being understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.
Section 8. Surety Bonds: Such officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (if any) as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, any Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board of Directors may direct, from time to time, shall be bonded for the faithful performance of their duties and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of their death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in their possession
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or under their control belonging to the Corporation, in such amounts and by such surety companies as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board of Directors may determine. The premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the Corporation and the bonds so furnished shall be in the custody of the Secretary.
Section 9. Securities of Other Corporations: Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents in writing and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, any Chief Executive Officer, President, any Vice President or any officers authorized by the Board of Directors. Any such officer, may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such corporation, and at any such meeting or with respect to any such consent shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed. The Board of Directors may from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 10. Application of Delaware Law: Whenever any provision of these Bylaws is inconsistent with any provision of the DGCL, as they may be amended from time to time, then in such instance, Delaware law shall prevail.
Section 11. Conflicts with the Certificate of Incorporation: In the event that any provision contained in these Bylaws conflicts with any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation shall prevail and be given full force and effect, to the full extent permissible under the DGCL.
* * * * *
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Annex F
Execution Copy
SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This Sponsor Support Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of June 12, 2026, by and among Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), Graf Global Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pubco”), and BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and the other parties set forth on the signature pages hereto or which execute a joinder to this Agreement (such parties, together with Sponsor, the “Insiders”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Insider is the holder of record and the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of such number of shares of SPAC Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants as set forth opposite such Insider’s name on Schedule I attached hereto (all such securities of such Insider are referred to herein as the “Subject Securities”);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company, Pubco, Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Company Merger Sub,” and together with SPAC Merger Sub, the “Merger Subs”), and the SPAC, have entered into a Business Combination Agreement (as may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, on the day prior to the Closing Date, immediately prior to the Conversion and immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time, each issued and outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Share will be automatically converted into SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares, on a one-for-one basis, in accordance with the terms of the SPAC Organizational Documents and this Agreement (the “SPAC Class B Conversion”) and pursuant to the Conversion, each issued and outstanding SPAC Ordinary Share (for the avoidance of doubt, after effecting the SPAC Class B Conversion) will be automatically converted into shares of SPAC Common Stock, on a one-for-one basis, in accordance with the terms of the SPAC Organizational Documents and the Business Combination Agreement;
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement and in accordance with the DGCL, on the Closing Date, at the SPAC Merger Effective Time, SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into the SPAC (the “SPAC Merger”), with the SPAC surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, and each issued and outstanding share of SPAC Common Stock (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the shares of SPAC Common Stock issued in connection with the SPAC Class B Conversion) will be automatically converted, as of the SPAC Merger Effective Time, into one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock, and the SPAC Warrants will become the Pubco Warrants, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement; and
WHEREAS, as an inducement to the SPAC, Pubco and the Company to enter into the Business Combination Agreement and to consummate the Transactions as contemplated therein, the parties hereto desire to agree to certain matters as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree, as follows:
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ARTICLE I
SUPPORT AGREEMENT; COVENANTS
Section 1.01 Binding Effect of Business Combination Agreement. Each Insider hereby acknowledges that it has read the Business Combination Agreement and this Agreement and has had the opportunity to consult with its tax and legal advisors to understand their tax and legal implications. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier to occur of (a) the Closing Date, (b) such date and time as the Business Combination Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 8.1 (Termination) thereof, (c) the liquidation of the SPAC, (d) the written agreement of each of the terminating Insider (or Insiders (as applicable)), the SPAC, Pubco and the Company with respect to terminating the rights and obligations under this Agreement of a specific Insider or a subset of Insiders, and (e) the written agreement of all Insiders, SPAC, Pubco and the Company to terminate this Agreement in its entirety (such earlier date, the “Expiration Time”), each Insider shall be bound by and comply with Section 6.15 (Confidential Information), Section 3.18 (SPAC Trust Account), Section 6.6 (No Solicitation; Change in Recommendation), Section 6.14 (Public Announcements) and Section 6.20 (Transaction Financing) of the Business Combination Agreement (and any relevant definitions contained in such Section) as if such Insider was an original signatory to the Business Combination Agreement with respect to such provision.
Section 1.02 No Transfer. From the date hereof until the Expiration Time, no Insider shall (except in each case, pursuant to the Transactions), without the prior written consent of the Company and Pubco, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, assign, transfer (including by operation of law), hypothecate, pledge, distribute, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly (other than pursuant to any non-redemption agreements that may be entered into by SPAC and such Insider in connection with the Transactions), file (or participate in the filing of) a registration statement with the SEC (other than the Registration Statement) or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, with respect to any Subject Securities of such Insider, (ii) deposit any Subject Securities of such Insider into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement or grant any proxy or power of attorney with respect thereto that is inconsistent with this Agreement, or (iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Subject Securities of such Insider, or (iv) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clauses (i) through (iii), (clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), collectively, a “Transfer”), except, in each case, for any Transfers of Subject Securities of such Insider (a) to the SPAC’s officers or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of the SPAC’s officers or directors, any affiliate of the Sponsor or to any members of the Sponsor or any of their affiliates, or to such Insider’s officers or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of such Insider’s officers or directors; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of such individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such individual or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement or in connection with the consummation of the Transactions at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (f) in case of an entity, to any Affiliate of such entity, any shareholder, partner or member of such entity or their Affiliates, any investment fund or other entity managing or managed by such entity or any Affiliate of such entity, or who shares a common investment advisor of such entity; (g) in the event of the SPAC’s liquidation prior to the completion of an initial business combination; (h) by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor; or (i) in the event of the SPAC’s liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the SPAC’s shareholders having the right to exchange their SPAC Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the SPAC’s completion of an initial business combination (each of the foregoing clauses (a) through (i), a “Permitted Transfer”); provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f) or (h), any Permitted Transfer shall be permitted only if, as a precondition to such Permitted Transfer, the transferee also agrees in a writing, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the SPAC and the Company, to assume all of the obligations of the transferring Insider under, and be bound by all of the terms of, this Agreement; provided, further, that any Transfer permitted under this Section 1.02 shall not relieve such Insider of its obligations under this Agreement. Any Transfer in violation of this Section 1.02 with respect to the Subject Securities of an Insider shall be void ab initio and of no force or effect.
Section 1.03 New Shares. In the event that, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending at the Expiration Time, (a) any SPAC Ordinary Shares are issued to an Insider after the date of this Agreement pursuant to any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or exchange of SPAC Ordinary Shares or otherwise, (b) such Insider purchases or otherwise acquires beneficial ownership of any SPAC Ordinary Shares or (c) such Insider acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any SPAC Ordinary Shares (collectively the “New Securities”), then such New Securities acquired or purchased by such
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Insider shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted the Subject Securities owned by the Insider as of the date hereof.
Section 1.04 Voting Agreements.
No Insider shall commit or agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing. The obligations under this Section 1.04 shall apply whether or not the SPAC Board or other governing body or any committee or subgroup thereof recommends any of the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters and regardless of any SPAC Change in Recommendation.
Section 1.05 Sponsor Earnout. Effective as of the Closing, an aggregate of 500,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock held by the Sponsor (which, for the avoidance of doubt, will not include any of the Sponsor Forfeited Shares or Discretionary Founder Shares (each as defined below)) (the “Sponsor Earnout Shares”) will be subject to vesting and will vest upon the first to be satisfied of any of the following conditions:
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In the event that there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and immediately prior to (but subject to) the consummation of the Sale, the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is less than the Earnout Price, (i) if such Sale Price is payable in cash or in the form of privately held securities or other consideration other than publicly tradable securities, then all of the Sponsor Earnout Shares shall be deemed forfeited and cancelled for no consideration or (ii) if such price is payable in the form of publicly tradable securities, then Pubco shall cause the acquiror in such Sale to provide for the conversion of all of the Sponsor Earnout Shares into the kind and amount of such publicly tradable securities receivable upon such Sale of Pubco that the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive in such Sale and shall provide that the Earnout Shares, as so converted, shall remain subject to vesting as set forth in this Section 1.05, with an appropriate adjustment to the Earnout Price to provide to the Sponsor the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.
In the event Pubco shall at any time during the Earnout Period pay any dividend on Pubco Common Stock by the issuance of additional shares of Pubco Common Stock, or effect a subdivision, recapitalization, split, or combination, exchange or consolidation of the outstanding Pubco Comon Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Pubco Common Stock, then in each such case, in respect of the Sponsor Earnout Shares (i) the number of Sponsor Earnout Shares shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Pubco Common Stock (including any other shares so reclassified as Pubco Common Stock) outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Pubco Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event, and (ii) the Earnout Price set forth in Section 1.05(b) above shall be appropriately adjusted to provide to the Sponsor the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.
Further, for so long as any Sponsor Earnout Share remains subject to the vesting conditions specified in this Section 1.05, (i) the holder thereof will not be entitled to exercise the voting rights carried by such Sponsor Earnout Share and (ii) the holder thereof will not be entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions in respect of such Sponsor Earnout Share; provided, that any dividends or distributions paid or made in respect of such Sponsor Earnout Share will be retained by Pubco and invested as and to the extent determined by Pubco, and such dividends or distributions (together with any earnings thereon) will be paid or made to the holder of such Sponsor Earnout Share only when and to the extent that such Sponsor Earnout Share vests in accordance with this Section 1.05.
If, upon the expiration of the Earnout Period, the vesting of the Sponsor Earnout Shares has not occurred in accordance with this Section 1.05, then the Sponsor Earnout Shares will be forfeited to Pubco for no consideration, and no Person (other than Pubco) will have any further right with respect thereto.
Sponsor agrees that it shall not Transfer any Sponsor Earnout Shares, until after such shares vest, if at all, in accordance with this Section 1.05. Sponsor acknowledges and agrees that during the Earnout Period, until such Sponsor Earnout Shares become fully vested in accordance with Section 1.05, Pubco shall issue stop-transfer instructions to its transfer agent with respect to the applicable Sponsor Earnout Shares and Pubco shall not be required to (a) transfer on its books any Sponsor Earnout Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of this Agreement or (b) treat as owner of such shares, or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends, to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such shares have been so transferred.
As used herein:
“Sale” means (a) any transaction or series of related transactions (whether by merger, consolidation, tender offer, exchange offer, stock transfer or otherwise) that (A) results in any Person acquiring beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of equity securities of Pubco that represent more than 50% of (i) the issued and outstanding Pubco Common Stock or the equity interests of the Company Surviving Subsidiary or (B) in which holders of equity securities of Pubco own less than 50% of the surviving entities’ (or direct or indirect parent of surviving entities’) equity securities immediately after the transaction, or (ii) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting equity securities of Pubco, or (b) any sale, transfer or other disposition to a Person of all or substantially all of the assets (by book value), of Pubco and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis based on the most recent annual audited financial statements of Pubco (other than licensing, partnering or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business).
“Sale Price” means the price per share of Pubco Common Stock paid or payable to the holders of outstanding Pubco Common Stock in a Sale, inclusive of the net present value of any contingent deferred purchase price or earnouts; provided that, if and to the extent such price is payable in whole or in part in the form of consideration other than cash, the price for such non-cash consideration shall be with respect to any securities, (i) pursuant to the methodology of valuation of securities in the definitive agreement for the Sale, (ii) if such methodology is not available, the volume weighted average of the closing prices of the sales of such securities on all securities exchanges on which such securities are then listed over a period of at least 20 days (which days need not be consecutive) out
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of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date of determination, or (iii) in the absence of (i) and if the information contemplated by the preceding clause (ii) is not practically available, then the fair value of such securities as of the date of valuation as determined by an independent, nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the board of directors of Pubco, on the basis of an orderly sale to a willing, unaffiliated buyer in an arm’s-length transaction, taking into account all factors determinative of value as the investment banking firm determines relevant (and giving effect to any transfer Taxes payable in connection with such sale).
Section 1.06 Sponsor Share Forfeiture. Effective as of immediately prior to the Conversion and conditioned upon the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set forth in Article VII of the Business Combination Agreement (other than such conditions that, by their nature, are to be satisfied at the closing of the Transactions), (a) the Sponsor shall forfeit and surrender to the SPAC an aggregate of 2,750,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares held by the Sponsor (“Sponsor Forfeited Shares”), (b) the Sponsor may, in its discretion, transfer to third parties up to an additional 500,000 SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares held by the Sponsor to incentivize non-redemptions or investments into the SPAC or PubCo or otherwise to support the Transactions (the “Discretionary Founder Shares”), provided that any portion of the Discretionary Founder Shares that are not so transferred shall be forfeited by the Sponsor and surrendered to the SPAC, and (c) the Sponsor shall not have any further rights with respect to such Sponsor Forfeited Shares and Discretionary Founder Shares. SPAC is authorized to deliver any notices required to be delivered to its transfer agent and take such further actions in order to accept, terminate and/or cancel any Sponsor Forfeited Shares and Discretionary Founder Shares that have been forfeited as provided in this Section 1.06. The foregoing restrictions shall apply only to the Sponsor and not to any other Insider.
Section 1.07 Insider Letter. From the date hereof until the Expiration Time, for the benefit of Pubco, (a) each Insider agrees that it shall fully comply with, and perform all of its obligations, covenants and agreements set forth in, the Insider Letter (as defined below), (b) SPAC agrees to enforce the Insider Letter in accordance with its terms and conditions, and (c) each Insider and SPAC agree not to amend, modify or waive any provision of the Insider Letter without the prior written consent of Pubco (not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).
Section 1.08 Waiver of Conversion Ratio Adjustment. Effective as of immediately prior to the Conversion and conditioned upon the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set forth in Article VII of the Business Combination Agreement (other than such conditions that, by their nature, are to be satisfied at the closing of the Transactions), each Insider hereby (a) irrevocably relinquishes and waives any and all rights that such Insider has or will have under the SPAC Organizational Documents to any adjustment to the conversion ratio applicable to the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares set forth in the SPAC Organizational Documents (the “Conversion Rights Provision”) or any other anti-dilution or similar protection and (b) irrevocably elects to convert, subject to Section 1.08(a), each SPAC Class B Ordinary Share that is issued and outstanding as of such time in accordance with the Conversion Rights Provision into one share of SPAC Class A Ordinary Share, and the Insiders agree that as a result of such conversion, the 5,750,000 outstanding SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares shall collectively convert on a one-for-one basis into 5,750,000 SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (subject to ordinary equitable adjustments on account of any share split, reverse share split or similar equity restructuring transaction). The waiver specified in Section 1.08(a) and the election specified in Section 1.08(b) shall be applicable only in connection with the Transactions and shall be void and of no force and effect if the Business Combination Agreement shall be terminated for any reason.
Section 1.09 Consent to Disclosure. Each Insider hereby consents to the publication and disclosure in the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement (and, as and to the extent otherwise required by applicable securities Laws or the SEC or any other securities authorities, any other documents or communications provided by the Company or SPAC to any Governmental Entity or to securityholders of SPAC) of the identity of such Insider and beneficial ownership of Subject Securities and the nature of such Insider’s commitments, arrangements and understandings under and relating to this Agreement and, if deemed appropriate by the Company or SPAC, a copy of this Agreement. Each Insider will promptly provide any information reasonably requested by the SPAC, Pubco or the Company for any applicable regulatory application or filing made or approval sought in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (including filings with the SEC).
Section 1.10 Dissenters’ Rights. Each Insider hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to exercise or attempt to exercise, any right to dissent, right to demand payment or right of appraisal or any similar provision under applicable Law in connection with the SPAC Merger, and the other Transactions; provided, however, that such Insider shall not be prohibited from exercising or attempting to exercise any of the foregoing in the event of fraud or material misrepresentation pertaining to this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents to which such Insider is a party on the part of any of SPAC, Pubco, or the Company that results or would reasonably be expected to result in a material harm to the Insider.
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Section 1.11 No Challenges. Each Insider agrees not to commence, join in, facilitate, assist or encourage, and agrees to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against SPAC, Pubco, the Merger Subs, the Company or any of their respective successors or officers or directors (a) challenging the validity of, or seeking to enjoin the operation of, any provision of this Agreement, or (b) alleging a breach of any fiduciary duty of any person in connection with the evaluation, negotiation or entry into the Business Combination Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the ability of such Insider to enforce its rights under the Business Combination Agreement, this Agreement or any other Ancillary Documents to which such Insider is a party or has third-party beneficiary rights with respect to or seek any other remedies with respect to any breach of the Business Combination Agreement, this Agreement or such other Ancillary Documents by any other party hereto or thereto, including by commencing any Action in connection therewith.
Section 1.12 Closing Date Deliverables. On the Closing Date, the Insiders shall deliver to SPAC and Pubco a duly executed copy of (i) the Lock-Up Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit B to the Business Combination Agreement and (ii) the Registration Rights Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit C to the Business Combination Agreement.
Section 1.13 Financing Support. At or immediately prior to the Closing, (a) if the Closing SPAC Cash is less than $100,000,000, Sponsor shall invest, or cause its affiliate or designee to invest, an aggregate of at least $5,000,000 of gross proceeds in a Transaction Financing (the “Sponsor Investment”), or (b) if the Closing SPAC Cash is equal to or greater than $100,000,000, Sponsor or its affiliate or designee may, in their discretion, make the Sponsor Investment. In either case, the Sponsor Investment shall be conditioned on all of the following, in addition to any conditions set forth in the definitive agreement between the parties with respect to the Sponsor Investment, which conditions may be waived by the Sponsor (or its affiliate or designee, as applicable) in its sole discretion: (i) the purchase price of the Sponsor Investment is equal to the lowest purchase price paid by any other investor in any Transaction Financing, and the Sponsor Investment is made upon such other terms that are no less favorable to the Sponsor (or such affiliate or designee) than the terms offered to any other investor in any Transaction Financing, including without limitation the transfer of Discretionary Founder Shares pursuant to Section 1.06 above, (ii) Closing SPAC Cash shall be at least $50,000,000 (including the gross proceeds of the Sponsor Investment), (iii) the Pubco Common Stock shall have been approved for listing on the Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance, (iv) no governmental authority of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any judgment, order, law, rule or regulation (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and has the effect of making the consummation of the Sponsor Investment illegal or otherwise restraining, enjoining, or prohibiting consummation of the Sponsor Investment, and no such governmental authority shall have instituted or threatened in writing a proceeding seeking to impose any such restraint or prohibition, (v) except to the extent consented to in writing by Sponsor, the Business Combination Agreement shall not have been amended, modified, or supplemented, and no condition shall have been waived thereunder, in each case, in a manner that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the economic benefits that Sponsor, or its affiliate or designee, as applicable, would reasonably expect to receive in connection with the Sponsor Investment in a manner that is disproportionate to the economic benefits received by other investors in the Transaction Financing, and (vi) there has not occurred any Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company that is continuing.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each Insider represents and warrants as of the date hereof to SPAC, Pubco, and the Company (solely with respect to such Insider and not with respect to any other Insider) as follows:
Section 2.01 Organization; Due Authorization. With respect to an Insider that is a legal entity, such Insider is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, formed, organized or constituted, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are within its powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary actions on the part of such Insider. With respect to an Insider that is a natural person, such Insider has full legal capacity, right and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform his or her obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Insider and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties to this Agreement, this Agreement constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of such Insider, enforceable against such Insider in accordance with the terms hereof.
Section 2.02 Ownership. Such Insider is the record and/or beneficial owner (as defined in the Securities Act) of, and has good title to, all of the Subject Securities listed across from such Insider’s name on Schedule I hereto, and there exist no Liens or any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such Subject Securities (other than
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transfer restrictions under the Securities Act)) affecting any such Subject Securities, other than Liens pursuant to (i) this Agreement, (ii) SPAC’s Organizational Documents, (iii) the Business Combination Agreement, (iv) that Letter Agreement, dated June 25, 2024, by and between SPAC, the Insiders, and the other parties thereto (the “Insider Letter”), or (v) any applicable securities Laws. The Subject Securities of such Insider listed across from such Insider’s name on Schedule I hereto are the only equity securities in SPAC owned of record or beneficially by such Insider on the date of this Agreement, and none of the Subject Securities held by such Insider are subject to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of such Subject Securities, except as provided hereunder or under the Insider Letter. Such Insider has full voting power with respect to the Subject Securities held by such Insider. Other than the Subject Securities held by such Insider, such Insider does not hold or own any rights to acquire (directly or indirectly) any equity securities of SPAC or any equity securities convertible into, or which can be exchanged for equity securities of SPAC.
Section 2.03 No Conflicts. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Insider does not, and the performance by such Insider of its obligations hereunder will not, (i) conflict with or result in a violation of, if such Insider is a legal entity, its Organizational Documents, (ii) require any consent or approval that has not been given or other action that has not been taken by any Person (including under any contract binding upon such Insider or Insider’s Subject Securities), in each case, to the extent such consent, approval or other action would prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Insider of its obligations under this Agreement or (iii) conflict with or violate any applicable Law.
Section 2.04 Litigation. There are no (a) Actions pending against such Insider, or to the knowledge of such Insider threatened against such Insider, seeking to prevent the Transactions; or (b) Orders pending against such Insider, or to the knowledge of such Insider threatened against such Insider or to which such Insider is otherwise a party, in each case relating to this Agreement, the Business Combination Agreement or the Business Combination.
Section 2.05 Brokerage Fees. No broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finder’s fee or other commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by such Insider, for which Pubco or any of its Affiliates may become liable.
Section 2.06 Acknowledgment. Such Insider understands and acknowledges that each of SPAC, Pubco and the Company is entering into the Business Combination Agreement in reliance upon such Insider’s execution and delivery of this Agreement.
Section 2.07 Adequate Information. Such Insider is a sophisticated shareholder and has adequate information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company to make an informed decision regarding this Agreement, the SPAC Merger, and the other Transactions and has independently and without reliance upon the SPAC, Pubco, or the Company and based on such information as such Insider has deemed appropriate, made its own analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Such Insider acknowledges that the SPAC, Pubco, or the Company has not made and does not make any representation or warranty to such Insider, whether express or implied, of any kind or character except as expressly set forth in this Agreement. Such Insider acknowledges that the agreements contained herein with respect to the Subject Securities held by such Insider are irrevocable.
ARTICLE III
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.01 Termination.
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Section 3.02 Governing Law. The Law of the State of New York shall govern (a) all claims or matters related to or arising from this Agreement (including any tort or non-contractual claims) and (b) any questions concerning the construction, interpretation, validity and enforceability of this Agreement, and the performance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement, in each case without giving effect to any choice-of-law or conflict-of-law rules or provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Law of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
Section 3.03 Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial.
Section 3.04 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that, except in connection with a Permitted Transfer, no party hereto will assign its rights or delegate any or all of its obligations under this Agreement, including by merger, consolidation, operation of law or otherwise, without the express prior written consent of the other parties hereto. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 3.04 shall be void, in addition to constituting a material breach of this Agreement.
Section 3.05 Specific Performance. The parties hereto hereby acknowledge and agree that irreparable injury for which monetary damages (even if available) would not be an adequate remedy would occur if any party hereto does not perform any provision of this Agreement in accordance with its specified terms or otherwise breaches such provisions. Accordingly, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, prior to a valid termination, to prevent breaches or threatened breaches by the parties hereto of any of their respective covenants or obligations set forth in this Agreement, including its failure to take all actions required under the express terms of this Agreement to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and that prior to a valid termination of this Agreement, the parties hereto shall be entitled to specific performance of such agreements and covenants in such event and other equitable relief to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each of the parties hereto agrees that it will not oppose the granting of any such injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that any other party hereto has an adequate remedy at Law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at Law or in equity. Each party hereto hereby waives any requirement to provide any bond or other security in connection with such order or injunction.
Section 3.06 Amendments, Waivers and Remedies. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument or instruments in writing and mutually signed by each of the parties hereto. Each party hereto may, only by an instrument in writing, waive compliance by any other party hereto with any term or provision of this Agreement on the part of such other party hereto to be performed or complied with. The waiver by a party hereto of a breach of any term or provision of this Agreement by another party hereto shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach. Neither any failure or delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder or in requiring satisfaction of any condition herein nor any course of dealing shall constitute a waiver of or prevent any party hereto from enforcing any right or remedy or from requiring satisfaction of any condition. No notice to or demand on a party hereto waives or otherwise affects any obligation of that party hereto or impairs any right of the party hereto giving such notice or making such demand, including any right to take any action without notice or demand not otherwise required by this Agreement. No exercise of any right or remedy with respect to a breach of this Agreement shall preclude exercise of any other right or remedy, as appropriate to make the aggrieved party whole with respect to such breach, or subsequent exercise of any right or remedy
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with respect to any other breach. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any and all remedies provided herein will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon any party hereto, and the exercise by a party hereto of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no party hereto shall seek, nor shall any party hereto be liable for, punitive or exemplary damages under any tort, contract, equity or other legal theory with respect to any breach (or alleged breach) of this Agreement or any provision hereof or any matter otherwise relating hereto or arising in connection herewith.
Section 3.07 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such a determination, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties hereto as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
Section 3.08 Notices. Any notice or other communication hereunder shall be sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or recognized courier service, by 5:00 PM on a Business Day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and otherwise on the first Business Day after such delivery; (b) if by email, on the date of transmission; or (c) five (5) days after mailing by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties hereto as follows (excluding telephone numbers, which are for convenience only), or to such other address as a party hereto shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions:
If to SPAC:
Graf Global Corp.
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Attn: James Graf
Email:
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
White & Case LLP
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
Attn: Matthew Kautz
Email:
If to the Company or Pubco:
BIG3 HoldCo LLC
13351 Riverside Drive
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Attn: Jeffrey Kwatinetz
Email:
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10105
Attn: David Landau, Esq., Meredith Laitner, Esq.
Email:
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If to an Insider:
To such Insider’s address set forth in Schedule I
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
White & Case LLP
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
Attn: Matthew Kautz
Email:
Section 3.09 Capacity. Each Insider is signing this Agreement solely in such Insider’s capacity as a holder of Subject Securities, and not in that Insider’s capacity as a director, officer or employee of SPAC or in such Insider’s capacity as a trustee or fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or trust. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall in any way restrict a director or officer of SPAC in the exercise of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer of SPAC or in his or her capacity as a trustee or fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or trust or prevent or be construed to create any obligation on the part of any director or officer of SPAC or any trustee or fiduciary of any employee benefit plan or trust from taking any action in his or her capacity as such director, officer, trustee or fiduciary, provided that nothing contained in this Section 3.09 shall obviate any of such Insider’s obligations under Article I of this Agreement.
Section 3.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered (by telecopy, electronic delivery or otherwise) to the other parties hereto. Signatures to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in “portable document format” form, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing the original signature.
Section 3.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the agreements referenced herein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede any prior discussion, correspondence, negotiation, proposed term sheet, agreement, understanding or arrangement and there are no agreements, understandings, representations or warranties among the parties hereto other than those set forth or referred to in this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Insiders, SPAC, Pubco and the Company have each caused this Sponsor Support Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| GRAF GLOBAL CORP. | |
| | |
| By: | /s/ James A. Graf |
| | Name: James A. Graf |
| | Title: Chief Executive Officer & Director |
| | |
| GRAF GLOBAL SPONSOR LLC | |
| | |
| By: | /s/ James A. Graf |
| | Name: James A. Graf |
| | Title: Chief Executive Officer |
| | |
| HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC. | |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
| | Name: Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
| | Title: Chief Executive Officer |
| | |
| BIG3 HOLDCO LLC | |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
| | Name: Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
| | Title: Chairman |
| | |
| /s/ Louis Belanger-Martin | |
| Name: Louis Bélanger-Martin | |
| | |
| /s/ Kenneth Weinstein | |
| Name: Kenneth Weinstein | |
| | |
| /s/ Fred S. Zeidman | |
| Name: Fred S. Zeidman | |
[Signature Page to the Sponsor Support Agreement]
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Annex G
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
This Lock-Up Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of [●], 2026, by and among Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly known as Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. “Pubco”), the shareholders of Pubco listed on the signature pages hereto under the heading “Lock-up Securityholders,” each officer and director of Pubco, the Company (as defined below) and SPAC (as defined below) who hold Pubco Common Stock and/or Pubco Warrants (each as defined below) as of the Closing Date, and the other persons who enter into a joinder to this Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto in order to become a “Lock-up Securityholder” for purposes of this Agreement (collectively, the “Lock-up Securityholders,” and each individually, a “Lock-up Securityholder”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Lock-up Securityholders own equity interests in Pubco pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below);
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, Pubco consummated the transactions contemplated by that certain Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) dated as of June 12, 2026, entered into by and among Pubco, BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), Graf Global Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “SPAC”), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), and Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Company Merger Sub”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Conversion, the Class B Share Conversion and the SPAC Merger have occurred; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Business Combination, the parties hereto wish to set forth herein certain understandings between such parties with respect to restrictions on the transfer of certain equity interests in Pubco acquired pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. | Subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 3, and if applicable, any amendment, modification or waiver set forth in Section 6, each Lock-up Securityholder shall not, without the prior written consent of the board of directors of Pubco, (a) Transfer any Lock-Up Shares until the end of the Shares Lock-up Period (as defined below) and (b) Transfer any Lock-Up Warrants until the end of the Warrants Lock-up Period (as defined below). |
2. | As used herein: |
a. | the term “Transfer” means (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, assign, transfer (including by operation of law), lend, hypothecate, pledge, encumber, donate, distribute, sell any option or contract to purchase, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, file (or participate in the filing of) a registration statement with the SEC (other than the Registration Statement) or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with respect to any Lock-up Securities (as defined below), (ii) deposit any Lock-up Securities into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement or grant any proxy or power of attorney with respect thereto that is inconsistent with this Agreement, or (iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Lock-up Securities, or (iv) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clauses (i) through (iii); |
b. | the term “Lock-up Securities” means the Lock-Up Shares and Lock-Up Warrants, together with any securities paid as dividends or distributions with respect to such securities or into which such securities are exchanged or converted; |
c. | the term “Lock-Up Shares” means the Class A common stock in the capital of Pubco and Class B common stock in the capital of Pubco (collectively, the “Pubco Common Stock”) held by a Lock-up Securityholder set forth on Schedule I |
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hereto; provided, that “Lock-Up Shares” does not include any Pubco Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Pubco Warrants.
d. | the term “Lock-Up Warrants” means the Pubco Warrants held by a Lock-up Securityholder set forth on Schedule I hereto (including such Pubco Warrants issued upon the conversion of the SPAC’s private placement warrants and the SPAC’s warrants issued upon the conversion of up to $1,000,000 of working capital loans made to SPAC), and any Pubco Common Stock received upon the exercise of such Pubco Warrants. |
e. | the term “Shares Lock-up Period” means the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the earlier of (x) six (6) months after the Closing Date and (y) the date on which Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of Pubco’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Common Stock for cash, securities or other property; and |
f. | the term “Warrants Lock-up Period” means the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the earlier of (x) thirty (30) days after the Closing Date and (y) the date on which Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of Pubco’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. |
3. | The restrictions set forth in Section 1 shall not apply to: |
a. | a Transfer to Pubco’s directors or officers, any affiliates or family members of Pubco’s directors or officers, a Lock-up Securityholder, any officers, directors, managers, members, partners, trustees, or subscribers of a Lock-up Securityholder or any affiliate of a Lock-up Securityholder; |
b. | in the case of an individual, a Transfer by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family (as defined below), or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the individual or a member of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization; |
c. | in the case of an individual, Transfers by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; |
d. | in the case of an individual, Transfers by operation of law or pursuant to a court order, such as a qualified domestic relations order, divorce decree or separation agreement; |
e. | in the case of an individual, Transfers to a partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the undersigned and/or the immediate family (as defined below) of the undersigned are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests; |
f. | in the case of an entity, Transfers to (i) any Affiliate of such entity, (ii) any stockholder, partner or member of such entity or their Affiliates, (iii) any investment fund or other entity managing or managed by such entity or Affiliates of such entity, or who shares a common investment advisor with such entity; |
g. | in the case of an entity that is a trust, Transfers to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust; |
h. | in the case of an entity, Transfers by virtue of the laws of the state of the entity’s organization and the entity’s organizational documents upon dissolution of the entity; |
i. | the exercise of stock options or warrants to purchase shares of Pubco Common Stock or the vesting of stock awards of shares of Pubco Common Stock and any related transfer of shares of Pubco Common Stock to Pubco in connection therewith (x) deemed to occur upon the “cashless” or “net” exercise of such options or warrants or (y) for the purpose of paying the exercise price of such options or warrants or for paying taxes due as a result of the exercise of such options or warrants, the vesting of such options, warrants or stock awards, or as a result of the vesting of such shares of Pubco Common Stock, it being understood that all shares of Pubco Common Stock received upon such exercise, vesting or transfer will remain subject to the restrictions of this Agreement during the Shares Lock-Up Period; |
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j. | Transfers to Pubco pursuant to any contractual arrangement in effect at the Closing that provides for the repurchase by Pubco or forfeiture of shares of Pubco Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Pubco Common Stock in connection with the termination of the Lock-up Securityholder’s service to Pubco; |
k. | the entry, by any Lock-up Securityholder, at any time after the Closing, of any trading plan providing for the sale of shares Pubco Common Stock by the Lock-up Securityholder, which trading plan meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-l(c) under the Exchange Act, provided, however, that such plan does not provide for, or permit, the sale of any shares of Pubco Common Stock during the Shares Lock-Up Period and no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made or required regarding such plan during the Shares Lock-Up Period; and |
l. | Transfers in the event of completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Pubco stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Pubco Common Stock for cash, securities or other property. |
provided, however, that (A) in the case of clauses (a) through (h), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement, in substantially the form of this Agreement (it being understood that any references to “immediate family” in the agreement executed by such transferee shall expressly refer only to the immediate family of the Lock-up Securityholder and not to the immediate family of the transferee), agreeing to be bound by these Transfer restrictions. For purposes of this Section 3, “immediate family” shall mean a spouse, domestic partner, child (including by adoption), father, mother, brother or sister of the undersigned, and lineal descendant (including by adoption) of the undersigned or of any of the foregoing persons; and “affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
4. | For the avoidance of doubt, each Lock-up Securityholder shall retain all of its rights as a stockholder of Pubco with respect to the Lock-up Securities during the Shares Lock-Up Period, including the right to vote any Lock-up Securities that are entitled to vote. |
5. | In furtherance of the foregoing, Pubco, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described therein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Agreement, and such purported Transfer shall be null and void ab initio. In addition, during the Shares Lock-Up Period and Warrants Lock-up Period, each certificate or book-entry position evidencing the Lock-Up Securities shall be marked with a legend in substantially the following form, in addition to any other applicable legends: |
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SET FORTH IN A LOCK-UP AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE ISSUER AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES (OR THE PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST TO THE SECURITIES). A COPY OF SUCH LOCK-UP AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE ISSUER TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”
6. | Pubco represents that (i) each of the Sellers, the IPO Underwriter, the Sponsor, the directors and officers of the SPAC, and any transferees of any shares of SPAC Common Stock and/or SPAC Private Warrants held by the Sponsor, who receive Pubco Common Stock and/or Pubco Warrants at the Closing (collectively, “Relevant Lock-up Securityholders”), has entered into this Agreement as a Lock-up Securityholder with respect to all shares of Pubco Common Stock and Pubco Warrants beneficially owned by such person immediately after the Closing (except to the extent otherwise agreed to by all the Relevant Lock-up Securityholders), (ii) Pubco has not entered into any side letter or agreement with any Lock-up Securityholder which modified, amended, reduced or eliminated the Shares Lock-up Period or Warrants Lock-up Period with respect to any Lock-Up Shares or Lock-up Warrants, respectively, and (iii) Pubco will not enter into any such side letter or agreement unless such modification, amendment, reduction or elimination of the Shares Lock-up Period or Warrants Lock-up Period with respect to any Lock-Up Shares or Lock-up Warrants, respectively, respectively, is also concurrently offered to the other Lock-up Securityholders. Additionally, Pubco agrees that this Agreement shall not be amended or modified, and no terms or conditions thereof waived, in a manner that modifies, amends, reduces or eliminates the Shares Lock-up Period or Warrants Lock-up Period of any Lock-up Securityholder, unless the terms of such modification, amendment, reduction or elimination are also concurrently offered to the other Lock-up Securityholders. For the avoidance of doubt, if (a) any Relevant Lock-up Securityholder does not enter into this Agreement or is not subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement with respect to all shares of Pubco Common Stock and Pubco Warrants beneficially owned by such person immediately after the Closing, or (b) Pubco enters into any side letter or agreement with any Lock-up Securityholder which provides any modification, amendment, reduction or elimination of the Shares Lock-up Period or Warrants Lock-up Period to |
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such Lock-up Securityholder, then such modification, amendment, reduction or elimination of the Shares Lock-up Period or Warrants Lock-up Period shall automatically apply to each other Lock-up Securityholder with respect to such Lock-Up Shares or Lock-Up Warrants beneficially owned by such Lock-up Securityholder equally and on a pro-rata basis.
7. | This Agreement, together with the Business Combination Agreement to the extent referred to herein, constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not affect the rights and obligations of the parties under the Business Combination Agreement, Ancillary Documents, Amended Pubco Charter, Amended Pubco Bylaws or any documents related thereto or referred to therein. This Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by each of the undersigned (i) Lock-up Securityholders and (ii) Pubco. |
8. | The parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledge that Sponsor is a party to that certain letter agreement between SPAC, Sponsor, and the other parties thereto dated June 25, 2024 (“Insider Letter”), and agree that the transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement expressly supersede the transfer restrictions set forth in the Insider Letter. |
9. | No party hereto may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment in violation of this Section 9 shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Agreement shall be binding on each Lock-up Securityholder and each of its respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees. |
10. | The Law of the State of New York shall govern (a) all claims or matters related to or arising from this Agreement (including any tort or non-contractual claims) and (b) any questions concerning the construction, interpretation, validity and enforceability of this Agreement, and the performance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement, in each case without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Law of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. |
11. | Each party hereto submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of first, the New York Supreme Court, Commercial Division, located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, in the State of New York or if such court declines jurisdiction, then to any court of the State of New York or the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York, in any Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, agrees that all claims in respect of the Proceeding shall be heard and determined in any such court and agrees not to bring any Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other courts. Nothing in this Section 11, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law or at equity. Each party hereto agrees that a final judgment in any Proceeding so brought shall be conclusive and may be enforced by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law or at equity. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY OF THE PARTIES (WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS OR THE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED AMONG THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT SUCH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT SUCH PARTY KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. |
12. | The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or in equity without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy and without bond or other security being required, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each of the parties hereto hereby further acknowledges that the existence of any other remedy contemplated by this Agreement does not diminish the availability of specific performance of the obligations hereunder or any other injunctive relief. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to seek and obtain an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in the New York Supreme Court, Commercial Division, located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, in the State of New York, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in |
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equity. Each party hereto hereby further agrees that in the event of any action by any other party for specific performance or injunctive relief, it will not assert that a remedy at law or other remedy would be adequate or that specific performance or injunctive relief in respect of such breach or violation should not be available on the grounds that money damages are adequate or any other grounds.
13. | This Agreement shall terminate upon the expiration of the Shares Lock-up Period. |
14. | Nothing contained in this Agreement or in any instrument or document executed by any party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall create any rights in, or be deemed to have been executed for the benefit of, any person or entity that is not a party hereto or thereto or a successor or permitted assign of such a party. |
15. | In case any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified or deleted, as to the jurisdiction involved, only to the extent necessary to render the same valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby nor shall the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision be affected thereby in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties will substitute for any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid, legal and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision. |
16. | This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by electronic signature or by email in portable document form) in two or more counterparts and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. |
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has duly executed this Lock-Up Agreement as of the Effective Date.
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| Pubco: | |
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| BIG3 BASKETBALL HOLDINGS, INC. | |
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| By: | |
| | Name: |
| | Title: |
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| Lock-up Securityholders: | |
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| [•] | |
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| By: | |
| | Name: |
| | Title: |
[Signature Page to the Lock-Up Agreement]
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Annex H
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2026, is made and entered into by and among Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly known as Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., “Pubco”), Graf Global Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), the members of the Sponsor listed on the signature pages hereto (the “Sponsor Members”), Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “IPO Underwriter”), the directors and officers of SPAC listed on the signature pages hereto (the “SPAC Holders”), and certain members of BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), listed on the signature pages hereto (such members, the “Company Holders” and, together with the Sponsor, the Sponsor Members, the SPAC Holders, the IPO Underwriter and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Pubco is party to that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2026 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among Pubco, the Company, Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company, prior to its domestication as a Delaware corporation (“SPAC”), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), and Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Company Merger Sub”), pursuant to which, among other things, the following occurred: (a) on the day prior to the date of the SPAC Merger (as defined below), SPAC transferred by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to deregister as an exempted company in the Cayman Islands and to convert into and become a Delaware corporation (the “Conversion”), (b) on the day following the Conversion, SPAC Merger Sub merged with and into SPAC, with SPAC continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (the “SPAC Merger”), (c) following the SPAC Merger, Company Merger Sub merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (the “Company Merger,” and together with the SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”, and together with the Conversion, the “Business Combination”);
WHEREAS, as a result of the Business Combination, the Holders were issued securities of Pubco, all on the terms and conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Sponsor, IPO Underwriters, and SPAC Holders and the SPAC are parties to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 25, 2024 (as amended, the “SPAC Registration Rights Agreement”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the parties to the SPAC Registration Rights Agreement desire to terminate the SPAC Registration Rights Agreement and all rights and obligations created pursuant thereto will be terminated;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Business Combination, Pubco and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which Pubco shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of Pubco, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
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Article I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of Pubco, after consultation with counsel to Pubco, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) Pubco has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Block Trade” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.4.1.
“Business Combination Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Closing Date” shall mean the date of the consummation of the Mergers.
“Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Company Founders” shall mean each of (i) BEK, LLC, (ii) O’Shea Jackson Sr. and (iii) BigFourH Holdings LLC.
“Company Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Company Merger” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company Merger Sub” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Conversion” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.3.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Filing Deadline” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Form S-1” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Form S-3” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.
“Founder Shares” shall mean the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issued to the Sponsor, Sponsor Members, and SPAC Holders upon the consummation of the SPAC Merger in exchange for the SPAC’s Class A ordinary shares issued upon the Conversion upon conversion of the SPAC’s Class B ordinary shares held by such persons (after giving effect to certain forfeitures pursuant to the terms of the Sponsor Support Agreement dated June 12, 2026, by and among the SPAC, Sponsor, Pubco, and the SPAC Holders).
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
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“IPO Underwriter” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Lock-Up Agreement” shall mean that certain Lock-Up Agreement dated [], 2026, by and among Sponsor, the SPAC Holders, the IPO Underwriter, and the Company Holders.
“Lock-up Period” shall mean the lock-up period specified in the Lock-Up Agreement.
“Mergers” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
“Other Coordinated Offering” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.4.1.
“Permitted Transferees” shall mean (a) with respect to the Sponsor Holders, IPO Underwriter, and the Company Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, (i) prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, any person or entity to whom such Holder is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreement and (ii) after the expiration of the applicable Lock-up Period, any person or entity to whom such Holder is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities, subject to and in accordance with any applicable agreement between such Holder and/or their respective Permitted Transferees and Pubco and any transferee thereafter; and (b) with respect to all other Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, any person or entity to whom such Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities, subject to and in accordance with any applicable agreement between such Holder and/or their respective Permitted Transferees and Pubco and any transferee thereafter.
“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.
“Private Placement Warrants” shall mean the warrants issued to the Sponsor and IPO Underwriter in a private placement concurrently with the closing of the SPAC’s initial public offering, which warrants were converted into warrants of Pubco exercisable for shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon the consummation of the SPAC Merger.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Pubco” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble and shall include Pubco’s successors by recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction.
“Pubco Class A Common Stock” shall mean the shares of Class A common stock of Pubco, par value $0.0001 per share, having the rights and subject to the obligations set forth in Pubco’s certificate of incorporation, as amended and/or restated from time to time.
“Pubco Class B Common Stock” shall mean the shares of Class B common stock of Pubco, par value $0.0001 per share, having the rights and subject to the obligations (including with respect to conversion into Pubco Class A Common Stock) set forth in Pubco’s certificate of incorporation, as amended and/or restated from time to time.
“Pubco Common Stock” shall mean, collectively, the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock.
“Registrable Security” shall mean (a) the shares of Pubco Common Stock issued as Merger Consideration in the Company Merger (including any shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of any Pubco Class B Common Stock then held by the Company Founders), (b) the Founder Shares (including the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of any Founder Shares or that are issued in exchange for such Founder Shares in the SPAC Merger), (c) the Private Placement Warrants and the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, (d) any outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock or any other equity security (including the shares of Pubco Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of Pubco held by a Sponsor Holder or the IPO Underwriter as of the date of this Agreement, (e) any Working Capital Warrants and shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of
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the Working Capital Warrants, (f) any warrants, shares of capital stock or other securities of Pubco issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in replacement of SPAC Ordinary Shares or SPAC Common Stock and (g) any other equity security of Pubco issued or issuable with respect to any such shares of Pubco Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, spin-off, consolidation, reorganization or similar transaction; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by Pubco and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.
“Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“SPAC” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“SPAC Common Stock” shall mean the shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC following the consummation of the Conversion.
“SPAC Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“SPAC Merger” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“SPAC Merger Sub” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
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“SPAC Ordinary Shares” shall mean the Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC prior to the consummation of the Conversion.
“SPAC Registration Rights Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Sponsor Holders” shall mean the Sponsor and its Permitted Transferees who hold Registrable Securities, including the Sponsor Members.
“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of Pubco are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
“Withdrawal Notice” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.3.
“Working Capital Warrants” shall mean any any warrants issued upon the conversion of up to $1,500,000 of the SPAC’s working capital loans, which warrants were converted into warrants of Pubco exercisable for shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock upon the consummation of the SPAC Merger.
Article II
REGISTRATIONS
2.1Registration.
2.1.1 Filing. Within thirty (30) calendar days following the Closing Date (the “Filing Deadline”), Pubco shall submit to or file with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “Form S-1”) or a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3,” and together with the Form S-1 and any Subsequent Resale Registration Statement, the “Resale Registration Statement”), if Pubco is then eligible to use a Form S-3, in each case, covering the resale of all the Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such submission or filing) on a delayed or continuous basis and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Resale Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (a) the ninetieth (90th) calendar day following the earlier of the filing date thereof or the Filing Deadline if the Commission notifies Pubco that it will “review” the Registration Statement and (b) the tenth (10th) business day after the date Pubco is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. Such Resale Registration Statement shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. In the event Pubco files a Form S-1, Pubco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 to a Form S-3 as soon as practicable after Pubco is eligible to use Form S-3. Pubco shall maintain a Resale Registration Statement in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep a Resale Registration Statement continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities.
2.1.2 Subsequent Registration. If any Resale Registration Statement ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, Pubco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Resale Registration Statement to again become effective under the Securities Act with respect to the resale of all the Registrable Securities (including using its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Resale Registration Statement), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Resale Registration Statement in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Resale Registration Statement or file an additional registration statement (a “Subsequent Resale Registration Statement”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such filing), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by,
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any Holder named therein. If a Subsequent Resale Registration Statement is filed, Pubco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Resale Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof (it being agreed that the Subsequent Resale Registration Statement shall be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) if Pubco is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) at the most recent applicable eligibility determination date) and (ii) keep such Subsequent Resale Registration Statement continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. Any such Subsequent Resale Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 to the extent that Pubco is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Resale Registration Statement shall be on another appropriate form.
2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If, at any time on or after the Closing Date, Pubco proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of shareholders of Pubco, other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee share option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to Pubco’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of Pubco, (iv) for an equity line of credit or an at-the-market offering of securities, (v) for a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering initiated at the request of a Holder, or (vi) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then Pubco shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, or, if applicable, the “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such offering, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to include in such offering such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). Pubco shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of Pubco included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by Pubco.
2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises Pubco and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of the shares of Pubco Common Stock or other equity securities that Pubco desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Pubco Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Pubco Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of Pubco, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Registration without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then:
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2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification (a “Withdrawal Notice”) to Pubco and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration or, in the case of a Piggyback Registration pursuant to a shelf registration statement, the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement with respect to such Piggyback Registration used for marketing such transaction. Pubco (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Pubco shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.
2.3 Registrations on Form S-3. The Holders of Registrable Securities, or any of them (any such holder, a “Demanding Holder”) may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that Pubco, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale of any or all of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-3”); provided, however, that Pubco shall only be obligated to effect such request through an Underwritten Offering if such offering shall include Registrable Securities with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $20,000,000. The (i) Sponsor (including a majority-in-interest of the Sponsor Members) may demand not more than one Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.3, and (ii) the Company Founders may demand not more than three Underwritten Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.3. Within five (5) days of Pubco’s receipt of a written request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for a Registration on Form S-3, Pubco shall promptly give written notice of the proposed Registration on Form S-3 to all other Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1. As soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than twelve (12) days after Pubco’s initial receipt of such written request for a Registration on Form S-3, Pubco shall register all or such portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders; provided, however, that Pubco shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof if (i) a Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders of any other equity securities of Pubco entitled to inclusion in such Registration,
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propose to sell the Registrable Securities and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $10,000,000. If such registration is an Underwritten Offering, then (x) the initial Demanding Holder shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such offering, subject to Pubco’s prior approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed) and (y) prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such Underwritten Offering, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating the Underwritten Offering will have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten offering for any reason or no reason whatsoever by sending a Withdrawal Notice to Pubco and the Underwriter(s), and Pubco shall promptly forward such notice to each other Demanding Holder, and the remaining Demanding Holders, if any, may elect within five (5) days of notice thereof to have Pubco continue an Underwritten Offering so long as such offering shall continue to include Registrable Securities with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $20,000,000.
2.4 Block Trades; Other Coordinated Offerings.
2.4.1 Demand Rights for Block Trades and Other Coordinated Offerings. At any time and from time, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in (a) an underwritten registered offering not involving a “roadshow”, an offer commonly known as a “block trade” (a “Block Trade”), or (b) an “at the market” or similar registered offering through a broker, sales agent or distribution agent, whether as agent or principal (an “Other Coordinated Offering”), in each case, (x) with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed $10 million in the aggregate or (y) with respect to all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then such Demanding Holder shall notify Pubco of the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering at least five (5) business days prior to the day such offering is to commence and Pubco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering; provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with Pubco and any Underwriters, brokers, sales agents or placement agents prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of any Registration Statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering. The Demanding Holder in a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to select the Underwriters and any brokers, sales agents or placement agents (if any) for such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering.
2.4.2 Withdrawal of Block Trades and Other Coordinated Offerings. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to submit a Withdrawal Notice to Pubco, the Underwriter(s) (if any) and any brokers, sales agents or placement agents (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Pubco shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering prior to its withdrawal.
Article III
PUBCO PROCEDURES
3.1 General Procedures. If at any time on or after the date hereof Pubco is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, Pubco shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto Pubco shall, as expeditiously as possible:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by any of the Holders with Registrable Securities registered on such Registration Statement or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by Pubco or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal
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counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of Pubco and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that Pubco shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;
3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by Pubco are then listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
3.1.8 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities and its counsel, including, without limitation, providing copies promptly upon receipt of any comment letters received with respect to any such Registration Statement or Prospectus;
3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;
3.1.10 in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering, or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration, in each of the following cases to the extent customary for a transaction of its type, permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority of the participating Holders), the Underwriters, if any, any other financial institution facilitating such Underwritten Offering, Block Trade, Other Coordinated Offering, or other sale, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders, Underwriters or financial institutions, to participate, at each such person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause Pubco’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, financial institution, attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives, Underwriters or financial institutions enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Pubco, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information; and provided further, Pubco may not include the name of any Holder, Underwriter or other financial institution or any information regarding any Holder or Underwriter in any Registration Statement or Prospectus, any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any response to any comment letter, without the prior written consent of such Holder, Underwriter, or financial institution, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, and providing each such Holder, Underwriter or financial institution a reasonable amount of time to review and comment on such applicable document, which comments Pubco shall include unless contrary to applicable law;
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3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter (including a bring-down letter dated as of the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration) from Pubco’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration or a Block Trade pursuant to such Registration (subject to such placement agent or sales agent providing such certification or representation reasonably requested by Pubco’s independent registered public accountants and Pubco’s counsel), in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter or other financial institution may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.12 in the event of an Underwritten Offering or a Block Trade pursuant to such Registration, on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, to the extent customary for a transaction of its type, obtain an opinion and negative assurance letter, dated such date, of counsel representing Pubco for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the Holders, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriters may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering or a Block Trade, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting or other purchase or sales agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter or other financial institution of such offering or sale;
3.1.14 make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of Pubco’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);
3.1.15 if the Registration involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $25,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of Pubco to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriters in any Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.
3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by Pubco. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriters’ marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
3.3 Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of Pubco pursuant to a Registration initiated by Pubco hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by Pubco and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided, that that such Holder shall only be subject to the restrictions set forth in any such lock-up agreements if the directors and officers of Pubco are subject to a lock-up obligation to the Underwriters managing the offering and the length of such lock-up for such Holder shall be no longer than the shortest lock-up of any such directors and officers; provided, further, that if Pubco or the Underwriters managing the offering waive or shorten the lock-up period for any of Pubco’s officers, directors or stockholders, then (i) all Holders subject to such lock-up shall receive notice of such waiver or modification no later than two (2) business days following such waiver or modification, and (ii) such lock-up will be similarly waived pro rata or shortened for each such Holder. For the avoidance of doubt, the exclusion of a Holder’s Registrable Securities as a result of this Section 3.3 shall not affect the registration of the other Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration.
3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from Pubco that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that Pubco hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it
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is advised in writing by Pubco that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require Pubco to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to Pubco for reasons beyond Pubco’s control, Pubco may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders (which notice shall not specify the nature of the event giving rise to such delay or suspension), delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days, determined in good faith by Pubco to be necessary for such purpose. In the event Pubco exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities until such Holder receives written notice from Pubco that such sales or offers of Registrable Securities may be resumed. Pubco shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.
3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, Pubco, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by Pubco after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. Pubco further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Pubco Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any legal opinions. Upon the request of any Holder, Pubco shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
3.6 Restrictive Legend Removal.
3.6.1 At any time and from time to time in connection with a bona-fide sale of Registrable Securities effected in compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or through any broker-dealer sale transactions described in the plan of distribution set forth within any prospectus and pursuant to the Registration Statement of which such prospectus forms a part, Pubco shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, subject to the receipt of customary documentation required from the holder of the applicable Registrable Securities and broker in connection therewith and compliance with applicable laws, (i) promptly instruct its transfer agent to remove any restrictive legends applicable to the Registrable Securities being sold and (ii) cause its legal counsel to deliver the necessary legal opinions, if any, to the transfer agent in connection with the instruction under subclause (i). Pubco shall be responsible for the fees of its transfer agent, its legal counsel (including for purposes of giving the opinion referenced herein) and all DTC fees associated with such issuance and the Holder shall be responsible for its fees or costs associated with such removal of such restrictive legends (including its legal fees or costs of its legal counsel).
3.6.2 With a view to making available to each Holder of Registrable Securities the benefits of Rule 144 that permit the Holder to sell securities of Pubco to the public without registration, Pubco agrees, for so long as any Holder holds Registrable Securities, to: (a) use commercially reasonable efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of Pubco under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so long as Pubco remains subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents as may be required pursuant to the applicable provisions of Rule 144.
Article IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 Pubco agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable and documented outside attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of a Prospectus, in light of the circumstances in which they were made), except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in
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writing to Pubco by such Holder expressly for use therein. Pubco shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.
4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to Pubco in writing such information and affidavits as Pubco reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify Pubco, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls Pubco (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including without limitation reasonable and documented outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of a Prospectus, in light of the circumstances in which they were made), but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in (or not contained in, in the case of an omission) any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of Pubco.
4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (plus one local counsel) for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault or culpability on the part of such indemnified party or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. Pubco and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event Pubco’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or not made, in the case of an omission), or relates to information supplied by (or not supplied by, in the case of an omission), such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by
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such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Article V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery, electronic mail, telecopy, telegram or facsimile, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to Pubco, to: Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc., 13351 Riverside Drive, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, Attention: Jeffrey Kwatinetz, Email: [ ], with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10105, Attention: David Landau, Esq. and Meredith Laitner, Esq., Email: [ ], and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or contact information as set forth in Pubco’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.
5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of Pubco hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by Pubco in whole or in part.
5.2.2 Prior to the expiration of the applicable Lock-up Period, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the transfer restrictions set forth in this Section 5.5.2. After the expiration of the applicable Lock-up Period, the Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any transferee.
5.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.
5.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 hereof.
5.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate Pubco unless and until Pubco shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Pubco, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.
5.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.
5.4 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG
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NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN EACH CASE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.
5.5 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of Pubco, the Sponsor and the Holders of at least a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of capital shares of Pubco, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or Pubco and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or Pubco in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or Pubco. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
5.6 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (ii) the date as of which (A) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or (B) the Holders of all Registrable Securities are permitted to sell the Registrable Securities without registration pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision) under the Securities Act with no volume or other restrictions or limitations. The provisions of Sections 3.5, 3.6 and Article IV shall survive any termination.
5.7 Other Registration Rights. Other than as provided in any subscription agreement entered into by Pubco and the investors party thereto in connection with the Business Combination, Pubco represents and warrants that no person or entity, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require Pubco to register any securities of Pubco for sale or to include such securities of Pubco in any Registration Statement filed by Pubco for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person or entity. Pubco hereby agrees and covenants that it will not grant rights to register any Pubco Common Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Pubco Common Stock) pursuant to the Securities Act that are more favorable, pari passu or senior to those granted to the Holders hereunder without (a) the prior written consent of Sponsor, for so long as Cormorant and its affiliates hold, in the aggregate, Registrable Securities representing at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of Pubco Common Stock of Pubco or (b) granting economically and legally equivalent rights to the Holders hereunder such that the Holders shall receive the benefit of such more favorable or senior terms and/or conditions. Further, Pubco represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
5.8 SPAC Registration Rights Agreement. The Sponsor, IPO Underwriters, SPAC Parties and the SPAC, as parties to the SPAC Registration Rights Agreement, hereby agree that the SPAC Registration Rights Agreement is terminated as of the Closing Date and is replaced in its entirety by this Agreement.
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5.10 Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
5.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter.
5.12 Adjustments. If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Registrable Securities by way of stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or sale, or by any other means, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement, as may be required, so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the Registrable Securities as so changed.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
| SPAC: | |
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| GRAF GLOBAL CORP. | |
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| By: | |
| | Name: |
| | Title: |
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| PUBCO: | |
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| BIG3 BASKETBALL HOLDINGS, INC. | |
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| By: | |
| | Name: |
| | Title: |
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| SPONSOR: | |
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| GRAF GLOBAL SPONSOR LLC | |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: |
| | Title: |
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| IPO UNDERWRITER: | |
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| CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO. | |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: |
| | Title: |
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| SPAC HOLDERS: | |
| | |
| | |
| James Graf | |
| | |
| | |
| Louis Bélanger-Martin | |
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| Kenneth Weinstein | |
| | |
| | |
| Fred Zeidman | |
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H-17
Annex I
WARRANT ASSIGNMENT, ASSUMPTION AND AMENDMENT AGREEMENT
among
GRAF GLOBAL CORP.,
BIG3 BASKETBALL HOLDINGS, INC.
and
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
Dated [●], 2026
THIS WARRANT ASSIGNMENT, ASSUMPTION AND AMENDMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated [●], 2026 and effective as of the effective time of the SPAC Merger (as defined below), is made by and among Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company which, on the day prior to the SPAC Merger, transferred by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to re-domicile as and become a Delaware corporation pursuant to the Companies Act (as Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “SPAC”), Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly known as Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., “Pubco”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent”), and amends the Warrant Agreement (the “Existing Warrant Agreement”), dated as of June 25, 2024, by and between the SPAC and the Warrant Agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Existing Warrant Agreement.
WHEREAS, the SPAC issued and sold (a) 11,500,000 redeemable warrants as part of the units sold to public investors in its initial public offering (the “Public Warrants”), with each whole Public Warrant being exercisable for one Class A ordinary share of the SPAC, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Ordinary Shares”) at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share, and (b) 6,000,000 redeemable warrants in a private placement transaction (the “Private Placement Warrants” and together with the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”), with each whole Private Placement Warrant exercisable for one Class A Ordinary Share at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share;
WHEREAS, in order to finance the SPAC’s transaction costs in connection with the Business Combination, Graf Global Sponsor LLC, or an affiliate thereof or certain of the SPAC’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, from time to time loan to the SPAC such funds as the SPAC may require (the “Working Capital Loans”);
WHEREAS, up to $1,000,000 of the Working Capital Loans are convertible into additional Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant;
WHEREAS, the terms of the Warrants are governed by the Existing Warrant Agreement;
WHEREAS, on June 12, 2026, 2026, the SPAC, Pubco, Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Company Merger Sub”), and BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, among other things, (i) on the day prior to the consummation of the SPAC Merger, SPAC transferred by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to re-domicile as and become a Delaware corporation pursuant to the Companies Act (as Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Conversion”), and (ii) at the SPAC Merger Effective Time (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), SPAC Merger Sub merged with and into the SPAC, with the SPAC surviving as a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Pubco (the “SPAC Merger”);
WHEREAS, as a result of the Conversion and the SPAC Merger, (i) each of the SPAC’s Class A Ordinary Shares that were issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time (including the Class A Ordinary Shares issued in connection with the Class B Share Conversion (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and the Unit Separation (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), but not including any redeemed Class A Ordinary Shares or any shares cancelled pursuant to Section 1.10(c) of the Business Combination Agreement, or any Sponsor Forfeited Shares (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement)) shall automatically be converted into one share of Pubco Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per
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share (“Pubco Class A Common Stock”); (ii) each Public Warrant that is issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time will be converted into public warrants of Pubco (each, a “Pubco Public Warrant”) and will be exercisable (subject to the terms of the Existing Warrant Agreement, as amended by this Agreement) for shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share; and (iii) each Private Placement Warrant that is issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time will be converted into private placement warrants of Pubco (each, a “Pubco Private Placement Warrant” and together with the Pubco Public Warrants, the “Pubco Warrants”) and will be exercisable (subject to the terms of the Existing Warrant Agreement, as amended by this Agreement) for shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share;
WHEREAS, the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock constitute the Alternative Issuance pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Existing Warrant Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the SPAC has determined that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement constitute a Business Combination;
WHEREAS, in connection with the SPAC Merger, the SPAC desires to assign all of its right, title and interest in the Existing Warrant Agreement to Pubco, and Pubco wishes to accept such assignment; and
WHEREAS, Section 9.8 of the Existing Warrant Agreement provides that the SPAC and the Warrant Agent may amend the Existing Warrant Agreement without the consent of any Registered Holders for the purpose of providing for the delivery of the Alternative Issuance pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Existing Warrant Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Assignment and Assumption; Consent.
1.1 Assignment and Assumption. As of and with effect on and from the SPAC Merger Effective Time, (i) the SPAC hereby assigns to Pubco all of the SPAC’s right, title and interest in and to the Existing Warrant Agreement (as amended hereby), and (ii) Pubco hereby assumes, and agrees to pay, perform, satisfy and discharge in full, as the same become due, all of the SPAC’s liabilities and obligations under the Existing Warrant Agreement (as amended hereby) arising on, from and after the SPAC Merger Effective Time, as if it were the original “Company” party thereto.
1.2 Consent. The Warrant Agent hereby consents to (i) the assignment of the Existing Warrant Agreement by the SPAC to Pubco pursuant to this Section 1 and the assumption of the Existing Warrant Agreement by Pubco from the SPAC pursuant to Section 1 hereof, in each case effective as of the SPAC Merger Effective Time, and (ii) the continuation of the Existing Warrant Agreement (as amended hereby), in full force and effect from and after the SPAC Merger Effective Time.
Section 2. Amendment of Existing Warrant Agreement.
2.1 Effective as of the SPAC Merger Effective Time, the SPAC and the Warrant Agent hereby amend the Existing Warrant Agreement as provided in this Section 2, and acknowledge and agree that the amendments to the Existing Warrant Agreement set forth in this Section 2 are to provide for the delivery of the Alternative Issuance pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Existing Warrant Agreement (in connection with the SPAC Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement).
2.2 References to the Company. The preamble to the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby amended by deleting “Graf Global Corp.” and replacing it with “Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.” As a result thereof, all references to the “Company” in the Existing Warrant Agreement shall be references to Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc. rather than Graf Global Corp.
2.3 References to Ordinary Shares. All references to the “Ordinary Shares” that holders of Warrants are entitled to purchase in the Existing Warrant Agreement (including Exhibit B thereto) shall be references to “Class A Common Stock” of Pubco.
2.4 References to Business Combination. All references to “Business Combination” in the Existing Warrant Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto) shall be references to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, and references to “the consummation of its initial Business Combination,” “the completion by the Company of an initial Business Combination” and all variations thereof in the Existing Warrant Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto) shall be references to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
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2.5 References to Charter. All references to the “Charter” in the Existing Warrant Agreement shall be references to Pubco’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time, in lieu of the SPAC’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
2.6 Detachability of Warrants. Section 2.4 of the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section and replacing it entirely as follows:
“[intentionally omitted]”.
2.7 Fractional Warrants. Section 2.5 of the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section and replacing it entirely as follows:
“2.5 Fractional Warrants. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants.”
2.8 Private Placement Warrants. Sections 2.6(e), (g), and (h) of the Existing Warrant Agreement are amended by deleting such Sections and replacing them entirely as follows:
“[intentionally omitted]”.
2.9 Duration of Warrants. Section 3.2 of the Existing Warrant Agreement is amended and restated by deleting it and inserting the following:
“3.2 Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) (A) commencing the date that is thirty (30) days after [●]1, and (B) terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earliest to occur of (i) the date that is five (5) years after [●]2, (ii) the liquidation of the Company, and (iii) the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.2 hereof (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement. Each outstanding Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.”
1Note to Draft: To be the SPAC Merger Effective Time.
2Note to Draft: To be the SPAC Merger Effective Time.
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2.10 Extraordinary Dividends. Section 4.1.2 of the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
“4.1.2 Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities, or other assets to all or substantially all of the holders of the Class A Common Stock on account of such Class A Common Stock (or other securities of the Company’s share capital into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above or (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below) (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Class A Common Stock in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the Class A Common Stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant) does not exceed $0.50.”
2.11 Raising of Capital in Connection with the Initial Business Combination. Section 4.3.2 of the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
“[intentionally omitted]”.
2.12 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. Section 4.5(ii) of the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby amended to remove the clause “(other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the Company in connection with redemption rights held by shareholders of the Company as provided for in the Charter or as a result of the redemption of Ordinary Shares by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented to the shareholders of the Company for approval)”, which clause shall be deemed deleted.
2.13 No Adjustment. Section 4.9 of the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section and replacing it entirely as follows:
“[intentionally omitted]”.
2.14 Fractional Warrants. Section 5.3 of the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section and replacing it entirely as follows:
“5.3 Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a Warrant.”
2.15 Transfer of Warrants. Section 5.6 of the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
“[intentionally omitted]”.
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2.16 Registration of Common Stock. Section 7.4.1 of the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section and replacing it entirely as follows:
“The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than twenty (20) Business Days after [●]3, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission a post-effective amendment to the registration statement, or a new registration statement registering, under the Securities Act, the issuance of the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such post-effective amendment or registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such post-effective amendment or registration statement has not been declared effective by the sixtieth (60th) Business Day following [●]4, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the sixty-first (61st) Business Day after [●]5 and ending upon such post-effective amendment or registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor rule) or another exemption) for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 7.4.1, “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average closing price of the Class A Common Stock for the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date that notice of exercise is received by the Warrant Agent from the holder of such Warrants or its securities broker or intermediary. The date that notice of cashless exercise is received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent. In connection with the “cashless exercise” of a Public Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the exercise of the Warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with this subsection 7.4.1 is not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United States federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule)) of the Company and, accordingly, shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. Except as provided in subsection 7.4.2, for the avoidance of any doubt, unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised or have expired, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this subsection 7.4.1.”
2.17 Waiver. Section 8.6 of the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section and replacing it entirely as follows:
“[intentionally omitted]”.
2.18 Warrant Certificate. Exhibit A to the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby amended by deleting Exhibit A in its entirety and replacing it with a new Exhibit A attached hereto.
3Note to Draft: To be the closing of the Business Combination.
4Note to Draft: To be the closing of the Business Combination.
5Note to Draft: To be the closing of the Business Combination.
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2.19 Notice Clause. Section 9.2 of the Existing Warrant Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
“Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:
Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.
13351 Riverside Drive
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Attn:
Telephone No.:
Email:
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10105
Attn: David Landau, Esq., Meredith Laitner, Esq.
Email:
Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attention: Compliance Department”
Section 3. Miscellaneous Provisions.
3.1 Effectiveness of the Amendment. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that the effectiveness of this Agreement shall be expressly subject to the occurrence of the SPAC Merger and shall automatically be terminated and shall be null and void if the Business Combination Agreement shall be terminated for any reason.
3.2 Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of Pubco, the SPAC or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.
3.3 Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. Subject to applicable law, each of Pubco and the SPAC hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. Each of Pubco and the SPAC hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
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3.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.
3.5 Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
3.6 Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
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| GRAF GLOBAL CORP. | |
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| By: | |
| | Name: |
| | Title: |
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| BIG3 BASKETBALL HOLDINGS, INC. | |
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| By: | |
| | Name: |
| | Title: |
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| CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent | |
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| By: | |
| | Name: |
| | Title: |
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE
See attached.
[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[FACE]
Number
Warrants
THIS WARRANT SHALL BE NULL AND VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR
IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW
BIG3 BASKETBALL HOLDINGS, INC.
Incorporated Under the Laws of the State of Delaware
CUSIP [●]
Warrant Certificate
This warrant certificate (this “Warrant Certificate”) certifies that , or registered assigns, is the registered holder of warrant(s) evidenced hereby (the “Warrants,” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Class A Common Stock”), of Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Class A Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Warrant Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money of the United States of America (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Warrant Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.
Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable share of Class A Common Stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Class A Common Stock, the Company will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the Warrant holder. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
The initial Warrant Price is equal to $11.50 per share of Class A Common Stock. The Warrant Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and, to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants may be redeemed, subject to certain conditions, as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.
This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
| BIG3 BASKETBALL HOLDINGS, INC. | |
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| By: | |
| | Name: |
| | Title: |
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| CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent | |
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| By: | |
| | Name: |
| | Title: |
[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[Reverse]
The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive shares of Class A Common Stock and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement, dated as of June 25, 2024, as duly executed and delivered by Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “SPAC”), to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), as amended by the Warrant Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, dated as of [ ],by and among the SPAC, the Warrant Agent and the Company (as so amended, the “Warrant Agreement”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties, and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company, and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company.
Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Warrant Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her, or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the shares of Class A Common Stock is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement. In addition, and notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, to the extent that the holder of a Warrant has delivered a notice contemplated by subsection 3.3.5 of the Warrant Agreement, neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall issue to Holder, and Holder may not acquire, any right it might have to acquire, a number of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of any Warrant to the extent that, upon such exercise, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock then beneficially owned by Holder would exceed the Maximum Percentage of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise as determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.5 of the Warrant Agreement.
The Warrant Agreement provides that, upon the occurrence of certain events, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Class A Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.
Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.
Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent, a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.
The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.
Election to Purchase
(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to shares of Class A Common Stock, and herewith tenders payment for such shares of Class A Common Stock to the order of the Company in the amount of $ in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that certificates for such shares of Class A Common Stock be registered in the name of , whose address is , and that such shares of Class A Common Stock be delivered to , whose address is . If said number of shares of Class A Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Class A Common Stock be registered in the name of , whose address is , and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to , whose address is .
In the event that the Warrant has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Warrant Agreement and the Company has required cashless exercise pursuant to Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) and Section 6.3 of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive shares of Class A Common Stock. If said number of shares of Class A Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Class A Common Stock be registered in the name of , whose address is , and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to , whose address is .
By signing this Election to Purchase, the undersigned hereby certifies that such election will not result in the undersigned beneficially owning shares of Class A Common Stock in excess of the 4.9% Cap outlined in Section 3.3.5 of the Warrant Agreement.
[To be included in any Election to Purchase of a holder who has provided the notice set forth in subsection 3.3.5 of the Warrant Agreement:
By signing this Election to Purchase, the undersigned hereby certifies that upon after giving effect to such exercise, the undersigned (together with such person’s affiliates) or any “group” of which holder or its affiliates is a member, would not beneficially own in excess of the Maximum Percentage of the Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise as determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.5. of the Warrant Agreement.]
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THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS, AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).
Annex J
SPONSOR INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Sponsor Indemnification Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of [•], 2026, by and among Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (formerly known as Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., “Pubco”), BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Graf Global Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2026, entered into by and among Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “SPAC”), Pubco, Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco, and the Company (the “Business Combination Agreement”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, Pubco consummated the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Business Combination, the parties hereto desire to agree to certain matters as set forth herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree, as follows:
1. | Pubco and the Company each hereby agrees to and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sponsor and its shareholders, members, directors, managers and officers (each, a “Sponsor Indemnified Person”), from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, proceedings, investigations, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, fees, penalties, awards, settlements, judgments, decrees, amounts paid in settlement or expenses (including interest, assessments and other charges in connection therewith and reasonable fees and disbursements of attorneys and other professional advisors and costs of suit) (collectively, the “Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities”) arising out of or relating to any pending or threatened action, cause of action, suit, litigation, investigation, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration or claim against any of them or in which any of them may be a participant or may otherwise be involved (including as a witness) that arises out of or relates to the SPAC’s operations or conduct of its business (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Transactions) and/or any claim against the Sponsor and/or a Sponsor Indemnified Person alleging any expressed or implied management, control or endorsement of any activities of the SPAC, or any express or implied association with Pubco, the Company, or the SPAC, or any of their respective affiliates (each of the foregoing, a “Claim”); provided, that the foregoing shall not apply to: |
a. | any Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities to the extent arising primarily out of any breach by such Sponsor Indemnified Person of any other agreement between such Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and the Company, Pubco or the SPAC or any of their respective Subsidiaries, on the other hand; or |
b. | the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of such Sponsor Indemnified Person. |
2. | Pubco and the Company will, at their expense, undertake the defense of any Claim with attorneys of their own choosing reasonably satisfactory in all respects to the applicable Sponsor Indemnified Person, subject to the right of such Sponsor Indemnified Person to undertake such defense as hereinafter provided. The applicable Sponsor Indemnified Person may participate in such defense with counsel of such Sponsor Indemnified Person’s choosing at the expense of Pubco and the Company. In the event that Pubco or the Company does not undertake the defense of any Claim within a reasonable time after the applicable Sponsor Indemnified Person has given the notice thereof, pursuant to Section 13 hereof, or in the event that such Sponsor Indemnified Person shall in good faith determine that the defense of any Claim by Pubco and/or the Company is inadequate or may conflict with the interest of such Sponsor Indemnified Person, such Sponsor Indemnified Person may, at the expense of Pubco and the Company and after giving notice, pursuant to Section 13 hereof, to Pubco or the Company of such action, undertake the defense of the Claim and compromise or settle the Claim, all for the account of and at the risk of Pubco and the Company. |
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3. | Pubco and the Company shall pay all reasonable and documented costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and costs of experts) incurred by any Sponsor Indemnified Person in connection with such Sponsor Indemnified Person’s defense of any such Claim promptly after receipt of any statement therefor. |
4. | In the defense of any Claim against a Sponsor Indemnified Person, the Company and Pubco shall not, except with the prior written consent of such Sponsor Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that includes any injunctive or other non-monetary relief or any payment of money by such Sponsor Indemnified Person, or that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the person or persons asserting such Claim to such Sponsor Indemnified Person of an unconditional release from all liability on any of the matters that are the subject of such Claim and an acknowledgement that such Sponsor Indemnified Person denies all wrongdoing in connection with such matters. |
5. | The Company and Pubco shall not be obligated to indemnify a Sponsor Indemnified Person against amounts paid in settlement of a Claim if such settlement is effected by such Sponsor Indemnified Person without the prior written consent of the Company or Pubco, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. |
6. | If the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is for any reason not available to a Sponsor Indemnified Person as a matter of law in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein, then, in lieu of indemnifying such Sponsor Indemnified Person therefor, the Company and Pubco shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Sponsor Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (and expenses relating thereto): |
a. | in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits to the Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and the Company and Pubco, on the other hand, of the subject matter of this Agreement; or |
b. | if the allocation provided by clause (a) above is not available, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in such clause (a) but also the relative fault of each of such Sponsor Indemnified Person and the Company and Pubco, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. |
7. | The provisions of this Agreement are (x) intended to be for the benefit of, and will be enforceable by, each Sponsor Indemnified Person and each such Sponsor Indemnified Person’s heirs, legatees, representatives, successors and assigns, and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of Pubco and the Company and may not be terminated or amended in any manner adverse to such Sponsor Indemnified Person without its prior written consent and (y) in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any such Sponsor Indemnified Person may have by contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, no amendment, alteration, or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of each Sponsor Indemnified Person under this Agreement in respect of any Claim (regardless of when such Claim is first threatened, commenced, or completed), issue, or matter therein arising out of, or related to, any action taken or omitted by such Sponsor Indemnified Person prior to such amendment, alteration, or repeal. |
8. | This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not affect the rights and obligations of the parties under the Business Combination Agreement or any documents related thereto or referred to therein. This Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by the undersigned. |
9. | The Company and Pubco shall require and cause any of its successors (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to this Agreement, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to each Sponsor Indemnified Person, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement to the fullest extent permitted by law. This Agreement shall be binding on the undersigned and each of its respective successors (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise), heirs and assigns and permitted transferees. |
10. The Law of the State of Delaware shall govern (a) all claims or matters related to or arising from this Agreement (including any tort or non-contractual claims) and (b) any questions concerning the construction, interpretation, validity and enforceability of this Agreement, and the performance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement, in each case without
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giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the Law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
11. | Each party hereto submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of first, the Delaware Court of Chancery, or if such court declines jurisdiction, then to any court of the State of Delaware or the Federal District Court for the District of Delaware, in any Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, agrees that all claims in respect of the Proceeding shall be heard and determined in any such court and agrees not to bring any Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other courts. Nothing in this Section 11, however, shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law or at equity. Each party hereto agrees that a final judgment in any Proceeding so brought shall be conclusive and may be enforced by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law or at equity. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN OR AMONG ANY OF THE PARTIES (WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS OR THE RELATIONSHIPS ESTABLISHED AMONG THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT SUCH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT SUCH PARTY KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. |
12. | The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or in equity without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy and without bond or other security being required, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each of the parties hereto hereby further acknowledges that the existence of any other remedy contemplated by this Agreement does not diminish the availability of specific performance of the obligations hereunder or any other injunctive relief. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in the Delaware Court of Chancery, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity. Each party hereto hereby further agrees that in the event of any action by any other party for specific performance or injunctive relief, it will not assert that a remedy at law or other remedy would be adequate or that specific performance or injunctive relief in respect of such breach or violation should not be available on the grounds that money damages are adequate or any other grounds. |
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13. | Any notice or other communication hereunder shall be sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or recognized courier service, by 5:00 PM on a Business Day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and otherwise on the first Business Day after such delivery; (b) if by email, on the date of transmission; or (c) five (5) days after mailing by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties hereto as follows (excluding telephone numbers, which are for convenience only), or to such other address as a party hereto shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions: |
If to Pubco or the Company:
BIG3 HoldCo LLC
13351 Riverside Drive
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 Attn: Jeffrey Kwatinetz
Email:
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Fl
New York, NY 10105
Attention: David Landau, Esq., Meredith Laitner, Esq.
Email:
If to Sponsor:
Graf Global Sponsor LLC
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Attention: James Graf
Email:
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
White & Case LLP
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Attention: Matthew Kautz
Email:
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pubco, the Company, and Sponsor have each caused this Sponsor Indemnification Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
BIG3 BASKETBALL HOLDINGS, INC. | | |
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Title: | | |
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BIG3 HOLDCO LLC | | |
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By: | | |
Name: [●] | | |
Title: [●] | | |
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GRAF GLOBAL SPONSOR LLC | | |
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By: | | |
Name: [●] | | |
Title: [●] | | |
[Signature Page to the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement]
Annex K
BIG3 BASKETBALL HOLDINGS, INC.
2026 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. | Purpose |
The Plan’s purpose is to attract, retain, and motivate persons who make important contributions to the Company by providing these individuals with the opportunity to acquire Shares. Additionally, the Plan is intended to align the interests of these individuals to those of the Company’s other shareholders.
2. | Definitions |
2.1. | Administrator means the Board or a Committee to the extent the Board’s powers and authorities under the Plan have been delegated to a Committee. “Administrator” also includes any officer that has been delegated authority pursuant to Section 4.2 for such time as such delegation is in effect. |
2.2. | Affiliate means (i) any person or entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company and/or (ii) to the extent provided by the Board or a Committee, any person or entity in which the Company has a significant interest as determined by the Board or a Committee in its discretion. The term “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any person or entity, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person or entity, whether through the ownership of voting or other securities, by contract or otherwise. |
2.3. | Applicable Law means any applicable law, including without limitation: (i) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder, (ii) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements, or regulations, whether federal, state, local, or foreign, and (iii) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted, or traded. |
2.4. | Award means an Option award, Stock Appreciation Right award, Restricted Stock award, Restricted Stock Unit award, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalents award, or Other Stock or Cash Based Award granted to a Participant under the Plan. |
2.5. | Award Agreement means an agreement (written or electronic) made and delivered in accordance with Section 12.3 of this Plan, evidencing the grant of an Award hereunder. |
2.6. | Board means the Board of Directors of the Company. |
2.7. | Cause means, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, (i) the Company or an Affiliate having “cause” to terminate a Participant’s employment or service, as defined in any employment or consulting agreement or similar document or policy between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate in effect at the time of such termination or (ii) in the absence of any such employment or consulting agreement, document or policy (or the absence of any definition of “Cause” contained therein), (A) a continuing material breach or material default (including, without limitation, any material dereliction of duty) by Participant of any agreement between the Participant and the Company, except for any such breach or default which is caused by the Participant’s Disability, or a continuing failure by the Participant to follow the direction of a duly authorized representative of the Company; (B) gross negligence, willful misfeasance or breach of fiduciary duty to the Company or Affiliate by the Participant; (C) the commission by the Participant of an act of fraud, embezzlement or any felony or other crime of dishonesty in connection with the Participant’s duties to the Company or Affiliate; or (D) the Participant’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a felony or any other crime that would materially and adversely affect: (i) the business reputation of the Company or Affiliate or (ii) the performance of the Participant’s duties to the Company or an Affiliate. Any determination of whether Cause exists shall be made by the Administrator in its sole discretion. |
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2.8. | Change in Control shall, in the case of a particular Award, unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise or contains a different definition of “Change in Control” be deemed to occur upon: |
2.8.1. | A tender offer (or series of related offers) which is made and consummated for the ownership of 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, unless as a result of such tender offer more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting corporation or entity are owned in the aggregate by (A) the shareholders of the Company (as of the time immediately prior to the commencement of such offer), or (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and their Affiliates; |
2.8.2. | The consummation of the Company’s merger or consolidation with another corporation, unless as a result of such merger or consolidation, more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting corporation or entity shall be owned in the aggregate by (A) the shareholders of the Company (as of the time immediately prior to such transaction); provided, that a merger or consolidation of the Company with another company which is controlled by persons owning more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company shall constitute a Change in Control unless the Administrator, in its discretion, determines otherwise, or (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and their Affiliates; |
2.8.3. | The consummation of the Company’s sale of substantially all of its assets to another entity that is not wholly owned by the Company, unless as a result of such sale more than 50% of such assets shall be owned in the aggregate by (A) the shareholders of the Company (as of the time immediately prior to such transaction), or (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and their Affiliates; |
2.8.4. | The consummation of a transaction, or series of transactions, in which a Person acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (whether directly, indirectly, beneficially or of record), unless as a result of such acquisition more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving or resulting corporation or entity shall be owned in the aggregate by (A) the shareholders of the Company (as of the time immediately prior to the first acquisition of such securities by such Person), or (B) any employee benefit plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and their Affiliates; or |
2.8.5. | The Incumbent Directors cease to constitute a majority of the Board for any reason. |
For purposes of this Section 2.8, ownership of voting securities shall take into account and shall include ownership as determined by applying the provisions of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) (as in effect on the date hereof) under the Exchange Act.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award or portion thereof that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, then to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event described above in this Section 2.8 with respect to such Award or portion thereof shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
The Administrator shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to determine whether a Change in Control has occurred, the effective date of such Change in Control, and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
2.9. | Class A Common Stock or Shares means shares of the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (and any stock or other securities into which such shares may be converted or into which they may be exchanged). |
2.10. | Class B Common Stock means the Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (and any stock or other securities into which such shares may be converted or into which they may be exchanged). |
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2.11. | Clawback Policies means any policy of the Company regarding the reduction, recoupment, clawback or recovery of compensation, as such policies may be amended from time to time. “Clawback Policies” includes the Company’s policies to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or other Applicable Law, as well as any implementing regulations and/or listing standards. |
2.12. | Closing means the closing of the transactions contemplated by the business combination agreement by and among Graf Global Corp, the Company (f/k/a Halfcourt Holdco, Inc.), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, and BIG3 HoldCo LLC, dated as of June 12, 2026. |
2.13. | Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto. References in this Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any regulations or other interpretative guidance issued by any governmental authority under such section, and any amendments or successor provisions to such section, regulations or guidance. |
2.14. | Committee means one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board, which shall be comprised, unless otherwise determined by the Board, solely of not less than two members who shall be (i) Non-Employee Directors, (ii) “Non-Employee Directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, and (iii) to the extent required by the rules of any securities exchange on which the Shares are listed, “independent directors” within the meaning of such rules. The failure of a Committee member to qualify under any of the foregoing requirements shall not invalidate any Award granted or other action taken by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted or taken under the Plan. |
2.15. | Company means Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation. |
2.16. | Consultant means any person, including any adviser, engaged by the Company or a Subsidiary to render services to such entity if the consultant or adviser: (i) renders bona fide services to the Company or a Subsidiary, (ii) renders services not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and does not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities, and (iii) who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under Instruction A.1.(a)(1) of Form S-8 under the Securities Act. |
2.17. | Designated Beneficiary means, if permitted by the Company, the beneficiary or beneficiaries the Participant designates, in a manner the Company determines, to receive amounts due or exercise the Participant’s rights if the Participant dies. If a Participant does not make an effective designation, then the “Designated Beneficiary” will mean the Participant’s estate or legal heirs. |
2.18. | Director means a Board member. |
2.19. | Disability means a permanent and total disability under Code Section 22(e)(3). |
2.20. | Dividend Equivalents means a right granted to a Participant to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on a specified number of Shares. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Administrator. |
2.21. | Effective Date has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 21. |
2.22. | Employee means any employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates. |
2.23. | ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. |
2.24. | Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all regulations, guidance, and other interpretive authority issued thereunder. |
2.25. | Fair Market Value means unless otherwise provided by the Administrator in accordance with Applicable Law, on a given date, (i) if the Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, the closing sales price on the principal exchange of the Shares on such date, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable, or, in the absence of reported sales on such date, the closing sales price on the immediately preceding date on which sales were |
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reported, or (ii) if the Shares are not listed on a national securities exchange, the mean between the bid and offered prices as quoted by any nationally recognized interdealer quotation system for such date, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable, provided that if the Shares are not quoted on an interdealer quotation system or it is determined that the fair market value is not properly reflected by such quotations, Fair Market Value will be determined by such other method as the Administrator determines in good faith to be reasonable and in compliance with Section 409A.
2.26. | GAAP means United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. |
2.27. | Greater Than 10% Shareholder means an individual then owning (within the meaning of Code Section 424(d)) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary. |
2.28. | Incentive Stock Option means an Option that meets the requirements to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Code Section 422. |
2.29. | Incumbent Directors means, for any period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clause 2.8.1 or 2.8.3 of the Change in Control definition) whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least a majority (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the 12-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved. No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director. |
2.30. | Non-Employee Director means a Director who is not an Employee. |
2.31. | Nonqualified Option means an Option that by its terms, or in operation, does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. |
2.32. | Option means an Award granted pursuant to Section 6 hereof (excepting Stock Appreciation Rights) to purchase a specified number of Shares at a specified price per Share during a specified time period, each as specified in an Award Agreement. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Option. |
2.33. | Other Stock or Cash Based Awards means cash awards, awards of Shares, and other awards valued by reference to or based on, Shares or other property. |
2.34. | Parent means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined by Code Section 424(e). |
2.35. | Participant means a Service Provider who has been granted an Award. |
2.36. | Performance Award means an Award granted hereunder that vests or is earned based at least in part upon the attainment of performance criteria established by the Administrator. |
2.37. | Period of Restriction means the period during which the transfer of Restricted Stock is subject to restrictions and a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of certain performance criteria, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator. |
2.38. | Person means as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof; however, a Person shall not include (A) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (B) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (C) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities; or (D) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of the Company. |
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2.39. | Plan means this Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc. 2026 Equity Incentive Plan. |
2.40. | Restricted Stock means Shares, subject to a Period of Restriction or certain other specified restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous service for a specified period of time), granted under Section 7 or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option. |
2.41. | Restricted Stock Unit or RSU means an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, or other property, subject to certain restrictions (including, without limitation, a requirement that the Participant remain continuously employed or provide continuous service for a specified period of time), granted under Section 8. |
2.42. | Restrictive Covenant means any non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, non-disparagement, non-disclosure, or similar agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate. |
2.43. | Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as amended. |
2.44. | Securities Act means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all regulations, guidance, and other interpretive authority issued thereunder. |
2.45. | Section 409A means Code Section 409A and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder by the United States Treasury Department, as amended. |
2.46. | Service Provider means an Employee, Consultant, or a Director. |
2.47. | Share Limit has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.1. |
2.48. | Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means a right granted under Section 6 hereof to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares on the date the right is exercised over the exercise price set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. |
2.49. | Subsidiary means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined by Code Section 424(f). |
2.50. | Substitute Awards means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company or other entity acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines. |
2.51. | Tax Obligations means any United States and non-United States federal, state, and/or local taxes, including income tax, social insurance contributions, fringe benefit tax, employment tax, stamp tax, and any employer tax liability which has been transferred to a Participant, for which a Participant is liable in connection with Awards and/or Shares. |
2.52. | Termination of Service means the time at which a Participant has terminated from all service with the Company and its Affiliates, for any reason. A Termination of Service shall occur when a Participant is no longer a Consultant, Employee, or Non-Employee Director. The Company, in its sole discretion, shall make all determinations regarding whether a Termination of Service has occurred. |
3. | Eligibility |
Service Providers are eligible to receive Awards pursuant to the Plan, subject to the Plan’s conditions and limitations. No Service Provider shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Service Providers, Participants, or other persons uniformly.
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4. | Administration |
4.1. | Generally. The Plan will be administered by the Administrator. The Administrator is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan and to make such determinations and interpretations, and to take such action in connection with the Plan and any benefits granted hereunder as it deems necessary or advisable. Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator shall have the sole discretion to (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended, and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be made; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, settle any controversy regarding, correct any defect in and/or complete any omission in this Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, this Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents as the Administrator shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of this Plan; (ix) accelerate the vesting or exercisability of, payment for or lapse of restrictions on, Awards; (x) to reprice existing Awards or to grant Awards in connection with or in consideration of the cancellation of an outstanding Award with a higher price, in each case subject to the limitations of Section 12.6; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Administrator deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. All determinations and interpretations made by the Administrator shall be binding and conclusive on all Participants and their legal representatives. |
4.2. | Delegation. The Board or a Committee may delegate its powers and authorities to one or more Committees or officers of the Company, provided, however, that no officer of the Company or any Subsidiary may be delegated authority to grant, amend, modify, make any administrative determination to, or cancel any Awards held by either (A) any person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (B) an officer who has been delegated any authority under the Plan. All delegations shall be subject to terms and conditions determined by the Board or a Committee. Any delegation of authority under the Plan may be revoked at any time. Regardless of any delegation, the Board or a Committee may act as the Administrator at any time in accordance with Applicable Law. |
4.3. | Liability. Neither the Administrator nor any employee of the Company shall be liable for any act or failure to act hereunder, except in circumstances involving his or her bad faith, gross negligence, or willful misconduct, or for any act or failure to act hereunder by any other member or employee or by any agent to whom duties in connection with the administration of this Plan have been delegated. The Company shall indemnify the Administrator and any agent of the Administrator who is an employee of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate against any and all liabilities or expenses to which they may be subjected by reason of any act or failure to act with respect to their duties on behalf of the Plan, except in circumstances involving such person’s bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct. |
4.4. | Administrative Delegation and Reliance. The Administrator may delegate to one or more of its members, or to one or more agents, such administrative duties as it may deem advisable, and the Administrator, or any person to whom it has delegated duties as aforesaid, may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Administrator or such person may have under the Plan. The Administrator may employ such legal or other counsel, consultants, and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion or computation received from any such counsel, consultant, or agent. |
5. | Plan Limits |
5.1. | Number of Shares Available for Issuance. Subject to the provisions of Section 11, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan shall be the sum of (A) ten percent (10%) of the sum of (w) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock that are issued and outstanding immediately after the Closing, and (x) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that is issuable upon conversion, exercise, or exchange of convertible, exercisable, or exchangeable securities outstanding immediately after the Closing, plus (B) an increase commencing on January 1, 2028 and continuing annually on each anniversary thereof through and including January 1, 2036, equal to the lesser of (i) five percent (5%) of the sum of (y) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common |
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Stock issued and outstanding at the end of the most recently completed fiscal year, and (z) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion, exercise, or exchange of (a) in-the-money options on Company Shares and (b) in-the-money warrants of the Company, in the case of each of (a) and (b), determined at the beginning of the applicable fiscal year, and (ii) such smaller number of Shares as determined by the Board or the Committee (the “Share Limit”). The Shares subject to the Plan may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired shares.
5.2. | Share Recycling. Upon payment in Shares pursuant to the exercise or settlement of an Award, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced only by the number of Shares actually issued in such payment. If a Participant pays the exercise price (or purchase price, if applicable) of an Award through the tender of Shares, or if the Shares are tendered or withheld to satisfy any tax withholding obligations, the number of Shares so tendered or withheld shall again be available for issuance pursuant to future Awards under the Plan, although such Shares shall not again become available for issuance as Incentive Stock Options. Shares shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash. If any outstanding Award expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if the Shares acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company, the Shares allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased Shares shall again be available for grant under the Plan. |
5.3. | Incentive Stock Option Limit. No more than 40,000,000 Shares (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 11) may be issued under the Plan upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options. |
5.4. | Substitute Awards. Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the Share Limit; provided, however, that Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options shall be counted against the Incentive Stock Option limit in Section 5.3. Additionally, Shares subject to Substitute Awards shall not be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan pursuant to Section 5.2. If the Company or any Subsidiary acquires or combines with a company that has shares available under an equity plan approved by shareholders and in place prior to such acquisition or combination (and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination), the available shares under the acquired or combined entity’s plan (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not count against the Share Limit (and Shares subject to such Awards may again become available for Awards under the Plan as provided in Section 5.2). Awards made from the available shares of an acquired or combined entity’s plan shall not be made after the date awards or grants could not be under the terms of the acquired or combined entity’s plan prior to the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Service Providers prior to such acquisition or combination. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate. |
5.5. | Non-Employee Director Award Limit. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or in any policy of the Company regarding Non-Employee Director compensation, the sum of the grant date fair value (determined as of the grant date in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of all equity-based Awards and the maximum amount that may become payable pursuant to all cash-based Awards that may be granted to a Service Provider as compensation for services as a Non-Employee Director during any calendar year shall not exceed $1,000,000 for such Service Provider’s first year of service as a Non-Employee Director and $750,000 for each year thereafter. |
6. | Options and Stock Appreciation Rights |
6.1. | General. The Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Options or Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan to Service Providers, provided, however, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, a Service Provider may only be granted an Option or Stock Appreciation Right if the Company is an “eligible issuer of service recipient stock” within the meaning of Section 409A, with respect to such Service Provider. Each Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as the Administrator may impose from time to time, subject to the limitations in this Section 6. Any Option or Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. Exercising an Option or Stock Appreciation Right in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available for purchase under the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, by the number of Shares as to which the Option or Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. |
K-7
6.2. | Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A, the exercise price per Share shall be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant, subject to Section 5.4. In the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price for Shares subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be less than the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; provided that the exercise price of any Substitute Award shall be determined in accordance with the applicable requirements of Code Sections 424 and 409A. |
6.3. | Exercise Period. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Administrator; provided, however, that no Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable later than ten (10) years after the date it is granted. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or determined by the Administrator, no portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Participant’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable and the portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Participant’s Termination of Service shall automatically expire on the date of such Termination of Service. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of overtime pay under the United States Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 shall not become exercisable earlier than six months after its date of grant. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate at such earlier times and upon such conditions or circumstances as the Administrator shall in its discretion set forth in such Award Agreement at the date of grant; provided, however, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, later waive any such condition. If, prior to an Option’s or Stock Appreciation Right’s exercise and prior to its termination, a Participant commits an act of Cause (to be determined by the Administrator), or violates a Restrictive Covenant, the Administrator may terminate the Participant’s right to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right when it reasonably believes that the Participant may have participated in such act or violation. |
6.4. | Exercise. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by delivering to the Company (or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator) a notice of exercise, in a form and manner the Company approves, which may be written or electronic, signed or authenticated by the person authorized to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, together with, as applicable, (a) payment in full of the exercise price for the number of Shares for which the Option is exercised in a manner consistent with Section 6.5 and (b) satisfaction in full of any withholding obligations for Tax Obligations in a manner specified in Section 12.5. The Administrator may, in its discretion, require that any partial exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right be with respect to a minimum number of Shares. |
6.5. | Payment Upon Exercise. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Participant may pay the Option exercise price by cash, wire transfer, or check and, if approved by the Administrator, as determined in its sole discretion, by the following methods: |
6.5.1. | surrender of other Shares that meet the conditions established by the Administrator to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company (as determined by the Administrator); |
6.5.2. | by a broker-assisted cashless exercise in accordance with procedures approved by the Administrator, whereby payment of the exercise price may be satisfied, in whole or in part, with Shares subject to the Option by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker (on a form prescribed by the Administrator) to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company in payment of the aggregate exercise price; |
6.5.3. | for a Nonqualified Option, by delivery of a notice of “net exercise” to the Company, pursuant to which the Participant shall surrender Shares then issuable upon the Nonqualified Option’s exercise valued at their Fair Market Value on the exercise date; |
6.5.4. | such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Law; |
6.5.5. | any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. |
K-8
6.6. | Incentive Stock Options. |
6.6.1. | Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company, its Parent, or any Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000 (or such other limit established in the Code), such Options will be treated as Nonqualified Options. For purposes of this Section 6.6.1, Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option is granted. |
6.6.2. | In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the exercise price will be determined by the Administrator, but shall be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. The term of any Incentive Stock Option will be ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Greater Than 10% Shareholder, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement and the exercise price shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. |
6.6.3. | No Option shall be treated as an Incentive Stock Option unless this Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company in a manner intended to comply with the shareholder approval requirements of Code Section 422(b)(1), provided that any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not fail to be effective solely on account of a failure to obtain such approval, but rather such Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Option unless and until such approval is obtained. |
6.6.4. | In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the terms and conditions of such grant shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Code Section 422. If for any reason an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option or portion thereof shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Option appropriately granted under this Plan. |
6.6.5. | By accepting an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant agrees to give prompt notice to the Company of dispositions or other transfers (other than in connection with a Change in Control) of Shares acquired under the Option made within the later of (a) two years from the grant date of the Option or (b) one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant, specifying the date of the disposition or other transfer and the amount the Participant realized, in cash, other property, or other consideration, in such disposition or transfer. Neither the Company nor the Administrator will be liable to a Participant, or any other party, if an Incentive Stock Option fails or ceases to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Code Section 422. Any Incentive Stock Option or portion thereof that fails to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Code Section 422 for any reason, will be a Nonqualified Option. |
7. | Restricted Stock |
7.1. | Generally. The Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine, subject to the limitations of this Section 7. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction and the applicable restrictions, the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Restricted Stock may be awarded in consideration for (i) cash, check, bank draft or money order payable to the Company, (ii) past service, or (iii) any other form of legal consideration (including future Service) that may be acceptable to the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and permissible under Applicable Laws. |
7.2. | Restrictions; Voting Rights; Transferability. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, Restricted Stock will be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions on such Restricted Stock have lapsed. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed. During the Period of Restriction, a Participant holding Restricted Stock may exercise the voting rights applicable to those restricted Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise. Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction. |
K-9
7.3. | Dividends and Other Distributions. Except as provided in the Award Agreement, during the Period of Restriction, a Participant holding Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Restricted Stock. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, such Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. |
7.4. | Return of Restricted Stock to the Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will be forfeited and will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan. |
7.5. | Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election under Code Section 83(b) to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which such Participant would otherwise be taxable under Code Section 83(a), such Participant shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service along with proof of the timely filing thereof. |
8. | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) |
8.1. | Generally. The Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant RSUs under the Plan to Service Providers. Each RSU shall be subject to such terms and conditions as are consistent with the Plan and as the Administrator may impose from time to time, subject to this Section 8. Each Award of RSUs will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of RSUs and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. A Participant holding RSUs will have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company until delivery of Shares, cash, other securities, other property, or a combination of the foregoing. |
8.2. | Vesting and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of RSUs that will be paid out to the Participant. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as determined by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of RSUs, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout. |
8.3. | Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned RSUs will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may settle earned RSUs in Shares, cash, other securities, other property, or a combination of the foregoing. If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering Shares, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the fair market value of the Shares as of the date on which the restricted period lapsed with respect to such RSUs, less an amount equal to any taxes required to be withheld or paid. The Administrator may provide that RSUs will be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the Participant’s election, subject to compliance with Applicable Law. |
8.4. | Voting. The holders of RSUs shall have no voting rights as the Company’s shareholders. |
9. | Performance Awards |
9.1. | Generally. The Administrator shall have the authority to designate any Award described in Sections 6 through 8 of the Plan as a Performance Award. Additionally, the Administrator shall have the authority to make an award of a cash bonus to any Participant and designate such Award as a Performance Award. |
9.2. | Discretion of Administrator. The Administrator shall have the discretion to establish the terms, conditions, and restrictions of any Performance Award. For each performance period, the Administrator shall have the sole authority to select the length of such performance period, the types of Performance Awards to be granted, the performance criteria that will be used to establish the performance goals, and the level(s) of performance which shall result in a Performance Award being earned. |
K-10
9.3. | Performance Criteria. The Administrator may establish performance-based conditions for an Award as specified in the Award Agreement, which may be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company (and/or one or more Subsidiaries, divisions, business segments or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing) and may include, without limitation, any of the following: (i) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); (ii) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (iii) revenue or revenue growth (measured on a net or gross basis); (iv) gross profit or gross profit growth; (v) operating profit (before or after taxes); (vi) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, or sales); (vii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, net cash provided by operations and cash flow return on capital); (viii) financing and other capital raising transactions (including, but not limited to, sales of the Company’s equity or debt securities); (ix) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (x) gross or operating margins; (xi) productivity ratios; (xii) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); (xiii) expense targets; (xiv) margins; (xv) productivity and operating efficiencies; (xvi) customer satisfaction; (xvii) customer growth; (xviii) working capital targets; (xix) measures of economic value added; (xx) inventory control; (xxi) enterprise value; (xxii) sales; (xxiii) debt levels and net debt; (xxiv) combined ratio; (xxv) timely launch of new facilities; (xxvi) client retention; (xxvii) employee retention; (xxviii) timely completion of new product rollouts; (xxix) cost targets; (xxx) reductions and savings; (xxxi) productivity and efficiencies; (xxxii) strategic partnerships or transactions; and (xxxiii) personal targets, goals or completion of projects. Any one or more of the performance criteria may be used on an absolute or relative basis to measure the performance of the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries as a whole or any business unit(s) of the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries or any combination thereof, as the Administrator may deem appropriate, or any of the above performance criteria may be compared to the performance of a selected group of comparison or peer companies, or a published or special index that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or as compared to various stock market indices. The Administrator also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of performance criteria specified in this paragraph. Any performance criteria that are financial metrics, may be determined in accordance with GAAP or may be adjusted when established to include or exclude any items otherwise includable or excludable under GAAP. |
9.4. | Modification of Performance Goals. At any time, the Administrator may adjust or modify the calculation of a performance goal for a performance period, to appropriately reflect any circumstance or event that occurs during a performance period and that in the Administrator’s sole discretion, warrants adjustment or modification. Adjustments the Administrator may make include but are not limited to the following: (i) asset write-downs; (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or regulatory rules affecting reported results; (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (v) unusual and/or infrequently occurring items; (vi) acquisitions or divestitures; (vii) discontinued operations; (viii) any other specific unusual or infrequently occurring or non-recurring events, or objectively determinable category thereof; (ix) foreign exchange gains and losses; and (x) a change in the Company’s fiscal year. |
9.5. | Terms and Conditions to Payment. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by, or providing services to, the Company or an Affiliate on the last day of a performance period to be eligible to vest and receive Shares, cash, or other consideration in respect of a Performance Award for such performance period. A Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Award only to the extent that the performance goals for such period are achieved and any other vesting conditions specified in the Participant’s Award Agreement are satisfied. Following the completion of a performance period, the Administrator shall determine whether, and to what extent, the performance goals for the performance period have been achieved and determine the number of Shares, cash or other consideration that will be settled pursuant to Performance Awards. |
9.6. | Timing of Award Payments. Except as provided in an Award agreement, Performance Awards granted for a performance period shall be paid to Participants as soon as administratively practicable following the Administrator’s determination in accordance with Section 9.5. |
K-11
10. | Other Awards |
10.1. | General. The Administrator may grant Dividend Equivalents or Other Stock or Cash Based Awards, to one or more Service Providers, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as are consistent with the Plan. |
10.2. | Dividend Equivalents. The Administrator may provide that any Award, other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, may provide a Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, settled in cash or Shares and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Award with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents are granted. The payment of Dividend Equivalents shall be specified in the applicable Award Agreement and shall in all cases be subject to Applicable Law. |
10.3. | Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, other Awards granted under the Plan and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan. The Administrator shall have authority to determine the Service Providers to whom and the time or times at which Other Stock-Based Awards shall be made, the amount of such Other Stock-Based Awards, and all other conditions of the Other Stock-Based Awards including any dividend and/or voting rights. The Administrator may grant Cash Awards in such amounts and subject to such performance or other vesting criteria, including the performance criteria set forth in Section 9.3, and terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine. Cash Awards shall be evidenced in such form as the Administrator may determine. |
11. | Adjustments; Change in Control |
11.1. | Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, share split, reverse share split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs such that an adjustment is determined by the Administrator (in its sole discretion) to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Administrator shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust (i) the number and class of Shares which may be delivered under the Plan (or number and kind of other securities or other property); (ii) the number, class and price (including the exercise or strike price of Options and SARs) of Shares subject to outstanding Awards, (iii) any applicable performance criteria, performance period, and other terms and conditions of outstanding Performance Awards, and (iv) the numerical limits in Section 5. Notwithstanding the preceding, the number of Shares subject to any Award always shall be a whole number. |
11.2. | Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. The Administrator in its discretion may provide for a Participant to have the right to exercise an Award, to the extent applicable, until ten (10) days prior to such transaction as to all of the Shares covered thereby, including Shares as to which the Award would not be vested or otherwise be exercisable. In addition, the Administrator may provide that any Company repurchase option or forfeiture rights applicable to any Award shall lapse one hundred percent (100%), and that any Award vesting shall accelerate one hundred percent (100%), provided the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been previously vested and, if applicable, exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action. |
11.3. | Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, any outstanding Award shall be treated in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement. If the applicable Award Agreement does not specify the treatment of the Award in a Change in Control, the Award shall be treated as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Administrator shall not be obligated to treat all outstanding Awards similarly. |
K-12
12. | Provisions Applicable to Awards |
12.1. | Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares will not be issued pursuant to an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Law and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. As a condition to the exercise or receipt of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising or receiving such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise or receipt that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required or desirable. |
12.2. | Transferability. No Award may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, all Awards shall be exercisable: (i) during the Participant’s lifetime only by (A) the Participant, or (B) the Participant’s guardian or legal representative; and (ii) after the Participant’s death, by the legal representative of the Participant’s heirs or legatees. Each Participant may file with the Administrator a written designation of one or more persons as the beneficiary(ies) who shall be entitled to receive the amounts payable with respect to an Award, if any, due under this Plan upon his or her death. A Participant may, from time to time, revoke or change his or her beneficiary designation without the consent of any prior beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Administrator. The last such designation filed with the Administrator shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Administrator prior to the Participant’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt. If no beneficiary designation is filed by a Participant, the beneficiary shall be deemed to be his or her spouse or, if the Participant is unmarried at the time of death, his or her estate. Upon the occurrence of a Participant’s divorce (as evidenced by a final order or decree of divorce), any spousal designation previously given by such Participant shall automatically terminate. |
12.3. | Documentation. All Awards made under the Plan shall be made pursuant to an Award Agreement. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, determine the terms and conditions set forth in each Award Agreement, provided that all such terms and conditions are consistent with the Plan. |
12.4. | Discretion. All Awards made pursuant to the Plan may be made alone or in addition to or in conjunction with any other Award. The terms of each Award are not required to be identical, and the Administrator does not have to treat Participants or Awards uniformly. |
12.5. | Withholding. A Participant shall be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate, or the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold, from any cash, Shares, other securities or other property deliverable under any Award or from any compensation or other amounts owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities or other property) of any required withholding taxes, including any Tax Obligations, in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under this Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Administrator or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding and taxes. In addition, the Administrator, in its discretion, may make arrangements mutually agreeable with a Participant who is not an employee of the Company or an Affiliate to facilitate the payment of applicable income and self-employment taxes. Without limitation, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by (A) the delivery of Shares (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) owned by the Participant having a fair market value equal to such withholding liability, (B) having the Company withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable or deliverable pursuant to the exercise or settlement of the Award a number of shares with a fair market value equal to such withholding liability, (C) deducting an amount sufficient to satisfy such withholding obligation from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant, (D) accepting a payment from the Participant in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, or by check made payable to the order of the Company, or (E) if there is a public market for Shares at the time the withholding obligation for Tax Obligations is to be satisfied, selling Shares issued pursuant to the Award creating the withholding obligation. The amount withheld pursuant to any of the foregoing payment forms shall be determined by the Company and may be up to (but not in excess of) the aggregate amount of such obligations based on the maximum statutory withholding rates in the Participant’s jurisdiction for all Tax Obligations that are applicable to such taxable income. |
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12.6. | Award Modification; Repricing. The Administrator may at any time, and from time to time, amend the terms of any one or more Awards without the consent of any Participant; provided, however, that the Administrator may not make any amendment which would otherwise constitute an impairment of the material rights under any Award unless the Participant consents to such impairment in writing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4 and except for an adjustment pursuant to Section 11 or a repricing approved by shareholders, in no case may the Administrator (i) amend an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce the exercise price of the Award, (ii) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or other awards for the purpose of repricing the Award, or (iii) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for an Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Award. |
12.7. | Acceleration. The Administrator may at any time provide that any Award will become immediately vested and fully or partially exercisable, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise fully or partially realizable, in each case, subject to Applicable Law. |
12.8. | Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Administrator shall determine whether cash, additional Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional Shares or whether any fractional Shares should be rounded, forfeited, or otherwise eliminated. |
13. | Section 409A |
13.1. | General. The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A to the extent subject thereto, and shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” (as defined in Section 409A) shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Administrator may, without a Participant’s consent, amend this Plan or any Award, adopt policies and procedures, make corrective filings, or take any other actions (including amendments and retroactive actions) as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of Awards, including exempting the Plan and Awards from Section 409A or complying with 409A. |
13.2. | Payments to Specified Employees. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, any payment or settlement made pursuant to an Award to a “specified employee” (as defined by Section 409A and as determined by the Administrator) due to such Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined by Section 409A) will, to the extent necessary to avoid adverse tax consequences to the Participant, be delayed for the six-month period immediately following such “separation from service” (or, if earlier, on the “specified employee’s” death) and will instead be paid on the day immediately following such six-month period or as soon as practicable thereafter. Any delayed payment under this Section 13.2 shall not accrue interest during the delay. All payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” (as defined by Section 409A) that are scheduled to be paid more than six months following a “specified employee’s” termination, shall be made on their regular schedule. |
13.3. | Change in Control. If any Award is or becomes subject to Code Section 409A and if payment of such Award would be accelerated or otherwise triggered under a Change in Control, then the definition of Change in Control shall be deemed modified, only to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of an excise tax under Code Section 409A, to mean a “change in control event” as such term is defined for purposes of Code Section 409A. |
14. | Amendment of the Plan |
The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend, or terminate the Plan. The Company may obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary or, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, desirable to comply with Applicable Law, including any amendment that (i) increases the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan or (ii) changes the persons or class of persons eligible to receive Awards. No amendment, alteration, suspension, or termination of the Plan will materially impair the rights of any Participant with respect to outstanding Awards, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.
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15. | Foreign Participants |
The Administrator may from time to time establish sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying securities, tax, or other laws of various jurisdictions in which the Company intends to grant Awards. Any sub-plans shall contain such limitations and other terms and conditions as the Administrator determines are necessary or desirable. All sub-plans shall be deemed a part of the Plan, but each sub-plan shall apply only to the Participants in the jurisdiction for which the sub-plan was designed.
16. | Clawbacks |
Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan, the Administrator may cancel any Award, require reimbursement of any Award, and effect any other right of recoupment of equity or other compensation provided under the Plan in accordance with Company policies, including the Company’s Clawback Policies. A Participant may be required to repay to the Company previously paid compensation, whether provided pursuant to the Plan or an Award Agreement, in accordance with the Clawback Policies. By accepting an Award, the Participant agrees to be bound by the Clawback Policies and to adhere to the Clawback Policies to the extent required by Applicable Law. No recovery of compensation under the Clawback Policies or Applicable Law shall be an event giving rise to a Participant’s right to resign for “good reason” or “constructive termination” (or any similar term) under any agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, and in no event shall the Company or any Affiliate be required to indemnify any Participant against, or pay or reimburse any Participant for, the loss of any compensation recovered or forfeited pursuant to the Clawback Policies or Applicable Law.
17. | No Right to Continued Service |
Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) a Participant’s employment with or without notice and with or without Cause, or (ii) a Participant’s service as a Consultant or Director.
18. | No Rights as a Shareholder |
Except as provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, no Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any Shares subject to such Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Award pursuant to its terms and no adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities, or other property) or distributions of other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), except as provided in Section 11.
19. | Miscellaneous |
19.1. | Limitations on Liability. Neither the Company, nor its Parent, nor any Subsidiary, nor any person serving as Administrator shall have any liability to a Participant in the event an Award held by the Participant fails to achieve its intended characterization under the tax, securities, or other applicable laws and regulations. |
19.2. | Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained. |
19.3. | Severability. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement, if any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this Plan or an Award Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal, and enforceable, and the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part thereof) of the Plan or Award Agreement, as applicable, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. |
K-15
19.4. | Governing Documents. The Plan and each Award Agreement evidencing an Award are intended to be read together, and together, set forth the complete terms and conditions of each Award. To the extent of any contradiction between the Plan and any Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company, the Plan will govern unless the Award Agreement or other written agreement was approved by the Administrator and expressly provides that a specific provision of the Plan will not apply. |
19.5. | Governing Law. The Plan will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to any choice of law principles. |
19.6. | Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTICIPANT WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED ON, ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE PLAN. |
19.7. | Waiver of Claims. Each Participant of an Award recognizes and agrees that before being selected by the Administrator to receive an Award, the Participant has no right to any benefits under the Plan. Accordingly, in consideration of the Participant’s receipt of any Award hereunder, the Participant expressly waives any right to contest the amount of any Award, the terms of any Award Agreement, any determination, action, or omission hereunder or under any Award Agreement by the Administrator, the Company, or the Board, or any amendment to the Plan or any Award Agreement (other than an amendment to the Plan or an Award Agreement to which his or her consent is expressly required). Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant. The Plan is not intended to be subject to ERISA. |
19.8. | No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided in an Award Agreement, neither the Plan nor any Award Agreement will confer on any person other than the Company and the Participant of any Award any rights or remedies thereunder. The provisions of Section 4.3 will inure to the benefit of the estate, beneficiaries, and legatees of any member of the Administrator and the Board, and any person to whom the Administrator or the Board delegates its powers, responsibilities, or duties in writing. |
19.9. | Data Privacy. As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer, in any form, of personal data as described in this section by and among the Company and its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, and their agents exclusively for implementing, administering, and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company, its Subsidiaries, and Affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address, telephone number, birthday, social security or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), any Shares held in the Company, its Subsidiaries, and Affiliates, and Award details to implement, manage, and administer the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company, its Subsidiaries, and Affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement, administer, and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company, its Subsidiaries, and Affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with Plan implementation, administration, and management. These third-party recipients may be located in the United States or elsewhere, and the applicable location may be subject to different data privacy laws than the Participant’s home country. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes each recipient to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data that the Company holds regarding such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data regarding such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data regarding the Participant, or refuse or withdraw the consents in this section in writing, without cost, by contacting the local human resources representative. The Company may cancel the Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this section. |
19.10. | Titles and Headings. The titles and headings in the Plan are for purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the construction of the provisions hereof. |
K-16
19.11. | Intended to Comply with Applicable Law. The Plan and all Awards granted hereunder are intended to fully comply with Applicable Law. All administrative actions, determinations, and exercises of discretion by the Administrator shall comply with Applicable Law. |
19.12. | Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare, or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or agreement thereunder. |
20. | Shareholder Approval |
The Plan will be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted. Such shareholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Law. All Awards hereunder are contingent on approval of the Plan by the Company’s shareholders. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, if the Plan is not approved by the Company’s shareholders within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted, the Plan and any Awards hereunder shall be automatically terminated.
21. | Effective Date |
The Plan was adopted by the Board on , 2026, and shall become effective on the date that it is approved by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”).
Unless terminated earlier under Section 14, this Plan shall terminate on , 2036, ten (10) years after the Effective Date.
K-17
Annex M
PRELIMINARY PROXY CARD — SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
Graf Global Corp.
1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GRAF GLOBAL CORP.
The undersigned hereby appoints James Graf as the proxy (the “Proxy”), with full power of substitution, and hereby authorizes the Proxy to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all ordinary shares of Graf Global Corp. (“SPAC”) held of record by the undersigned on [●], 2026, at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held at [•] a.m. Eastern Time on [●], 2026. The Extraordinary General Meeting will be a virtual meeting conducted via live webcast at [•]. For the purposes of Cayman Islands law and the SPAC Organizational Documents (defined below), the physical location of the Extraordinary General Meeting will be the offices of White & Case LLP, SPAC’s legal counsel, at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the accompanying proxy statement and revokes all prior proxies for the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders.
THE ORDINARY SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO SPECIFIC DIRECTION IS GIVEN AS TO THE PROPOSALS ON THE REVERSE SIDE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” EACH OF THE PROPOSALS PRESENTED TO THE SHAREHOLDERS. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY TO [●], NO LATER THAN [TIME] ON [DATE].
PLEASE DETACH ALONG PERFORATED LINE AND MAIL IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
THIS PROXY REVOKES ALL PRIOR PROXIES GIVEN BY THE UNDERSIGNED.
(Continued and to be marked, dated and signed on reverse side)
PROXY
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IF NO DIRECTIONS ARE GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” PROPOSALS 1 THROUGH 7 BELOW (INCLUDING EACH OF PROPOSALS 5(a) THROUGH 5(k)). THE SPAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE PROPOSALS.
| (1) | Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — A proposal to approve, subject to the approval of the Condition Precedent Proposals, by ordinary resolution, the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2026 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among SPAC, Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. (“Pubco”), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc. (“SPAC Merger Sub”), Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC (“Company Merger Sub”), and BIG3 HoldCo LLC (together with its successors, the “Company”), and the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the performance by SPAC of its obligations thereunder (the “Business Combination Proposal”). |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
M-1
| (2) | Proposal No. 2 — The Domestication Proposal — A proposal to approve, by special resolution of the holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares (the Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of SPAC prior to consummation of the Domestication, the “SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares”), the Domestication, whereby SPAC will de-register as an exempted company in the Cayman Islands pursuant to Article 47 of SPAC’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (as may be amended from time to time, the “SPAC Organizational Documents”) and Section 206 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and be continued and domesticated as a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 388 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “Domestication,” and SPAC after the Domestication, “Post-Domestication SPAC,” and such proposal, the “Domestication Proposal”). |
Only holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares are entitled to vote on this Proposal. Any vote indicated by a holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will be disregarded.
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
| (3) | Proposal No. 3 — The SPAC Merger Proposal — A proposal to approve, by a majority of the SPAC Ordinary Shares outstanding, (i) the merger of SPAC Merger Sub with and into Post-Domestication SPAC, with Post-Domestication SPAC continuing as the surviving company, and (ii) the Certificate of Merger to be entered into in connection therewith (the “SPAC Merger Proposal”). |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
| (4) | Proposal No. 4 — The Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal — A proposal to approve, by special resolution of the holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares, with effect from the Domestication, that the SPAC Organizational Documents be amended and restated by the deletion in their entirety and the substitution in their place of the proposed certificate of incorporation of Post-Domestication SPAC (the “Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Charter”) and the proposed bylaws of Post-Domestication SPAC (the “Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Bylaws”), including, without limitation, the authorization of the change in authorized share capital as indicated therein (the “Post-Domestication Organizational Documents Proposal”). |
Only holders of SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares are entitled to vote on this Proposal. Any vote indicated by a holder of SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares will be disregarded.
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
| (5) | Proposal No. 5 — The Advisory Organizational Documents Proposals — A proposal to approve, on a non-binding and advisory basis, 11 separate ordinary resolutions, the following governance provisions contained in the proposed amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Pubco (the “Proposed Pubco Charter”) and the proposed amended and restated bylaws of Pubco (the “Proposed Pubco Bylaws”): |
(5(a)) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(a) — Dual Class Share Structure — A proposal to approve, as an ordinary resolution, on a non-binding advisory basis, a provision stating that each share of Pubco Class B Common Stock carries 10 votes and each share of Pubco Class A Common Stock carries 1 vote, with holders of Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Class B Common Stock voting together as a single class on all matters, subject to certain exceptions. |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
(5(b)) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(b) — Authorized Share Capital — A proposal to approve, as an ordinary resolution, on a non-binding advisory basis, authorized capital stock of Pubco of [ ] shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, [ ] shares of Pubco Class B Common Stock, and [ ] shares of preferred stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share. |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
M-2
(5(c)) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(c) — Removal of Directors — A proposal to approve, as an ordinary resolution, on a non-binding advisory basis, a provision that any or all directors of Pubco may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of capital stock of Pubco entitled to vote on the election of such director, voting together as a single class. |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
(5(d)) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(d) — Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute — A proposal to approve, as an ordinary resolution, on a non-binding advisory basis, a provision that Pubco will not be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL. |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
(5(e)) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(e) — Charter Amendment — A proposal to approve, as an ordinary resolution, on a non-binding advisory basis, a provision that amendment of the Proposed Pubco Charter generally requires the approval of the Pubco Board and a majority of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class, subject to certain exceptions requiring a higher threshold. |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
(5(f)) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(f) — Bylaws Amendment — A proposal to approve, as an ordinary resolution, on a non-binding advisory basis, a provision expressly authorizing the Pubco Board to make, alter, amend or repeal the Proposed Pubco Bylaws by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Pubco Board, with stockholders also able to amend the Proposed Pubco Bylaws by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
(5(g)) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(g) — Quorum Requirements — A proposal to approve, as an ordinary resolution, on a non-binding advisory basis, a provision establishing that the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote constitutes a quorum for a meeting of Pubco stockholders. |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
(5(h)) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(h) — Exclusive Forum — A proposal to approve, as an ordinary resolution, on a non-binding advisory basis, a provision designating the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for specified stockholder litigation, and the federal district courts of the United States as the exclusive forum for claims arising under the Securities Act, in each case subject to certain carve-outs. |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
(5(i)) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(i) — Board Structure — A proposal to approve, as an ordinary resolution, on a non-binding advisory basis, provisions providing that (A) the Pubco Board shall not be classified and (B) the number of directors shall be fixed exclusively by the Pubco Board. |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
(5(j)) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(j) — Written Consent — A proposal to approve, as an ordinary resolution, on a non-binding advisory basis, a provision that, until the Final Conversion Date (as defined in the Proposed Pubco Charter), stockholder action may be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting, and that following the Final Conversion Date, stockholder action must be taken at a duly called annual or special meeting and may not be taken by written consent. |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
M-3
(5(k)) | Advisory Organizational Documents Proposal 5(k) — Absence of Blank Check Company Provisions — A proposal to approve, as an ordinary resolution, on a non-binding advisory basis, the absence of certain blank check company provisions in the Proposed Pubco Charter and Proposed Pubco Bylaws that will no longer be necessary following consummation of the Business Combination. |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
| (6) | Proposal No. 6 — The Equity Incentive Plan Proposal — A proposal to approve, subject to the approval of the Condition Precedent Proposals, by ordinary resolution, the Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc. 2026 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2026 Equity Incentive Plan” and the proposal, the “Equity Incentive Plan Proposal”). |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
| (7) | Proposal No. 7 — The Adjournment Proposal — A proposal to approve, by ordinary resolution, the adjournment of the Extraordinary General Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or desirable in the reasonable determination of the SPAC Board (the “Adjournment Proposal”). |
| ☐ FOR | ☐ AGAINST | ☐ ABSTAIN |
IN HIS DISCRETION THE PROXY IS AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED TO VOTE UPON OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS AND ALL CONTINUATIONS, ADJOURNMENTS OR POSTPONEMENTS THEREOF.
To change the address on your account, please check the box and indicate your new address in the address space provided below ☐
SHAREHOLDER’S SIGNATURE
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Signature of Shareholder | | | Date | | |
Address | | | | | |
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Signature of Shareholder | | | Date | | |
Address | | | | | |
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Note: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this proxy. When ordinary shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as an executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by duly authorized representative, giving full title as such. If the signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY TO [●], NO LATER THAN [TIME] ON [DATE]!
M-4
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and does not constitute the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
[RESALE PROSPECTUS ALTERNATE PAGE]
PRELIMINARY — SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED OCTOBER 27, 2026
PROSPECTUS FOR
3,000,000 SHARES OF PUBCO CLASS A COMMON STOCK, 6,000,000 PUBCO WARRANTS, AND 6,000,000 SHARES OF PUBCO CLASS A COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF SUCH PUBCO WARRANTS, IN EACH CASE,
OF
HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC. (WHICH WILL BE RENAMED “BIG3 BASKETBALL HOLDINGS, INC.”) (For reoffer)
This prospectus covers the resale by the selling securityholders (including their transferees, donees, pledgees, and other successors-in-interest) named in this prospectus (the “Selling Securityholders”) of 3,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, 6,000,000 Pubco Warrants, and 6,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Pubco Warrants (collectively, the “Resale Securities”). Each Selling Securityholder is deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Selling Securityholders may sell all, some or none of the Resale Securities. Pubco will not receive any proceeds from any such offer or sale by the Selling Securityholders, but will receive proceeds to the extent that the Pubco Warrants are exercised for cash. We will bear all costs, expenses, and fees in connection with the registration of the Resale Securities. The Selling Securityholders will bear all commissions and discounts, if any, attributable to its sales.
The Pubco Class A Common Stock that is being registered for resale would constitute approximately 15.0% of the outstanding Pubco Class A Common Stock and 1.4% of the voting power of outstanding Pubco Class A Common Stock following the completion of the Business Combination in the No Additional Redemptions Scenario. The Pubco Warrants that are being registered for resale would constitute approximately 34.3% of the outstanding Pubco Warrants following the completion of the Business Combination. The Selling Securityholders may offer, sell or distribute all or a portion of the Resale Securities publicly or through private transactions at prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, subject to the terms of the Lock-Up Agreement, described in more detail below. We provide more information about how the Securityholders may sell the Resale Securities in the section titled “Plan of Distribution.” For more information about potential dilution relating to the potential sale of the Resale Shares, see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Ownership of Pubco’s Securities — Future resales of Pubco Class A Common Stock and/or Pubco Warrants by the Selling Securityholders after the consummation of the Business Combination may cause the market price of our securities to drop significantly, even if our business is performing well.”
On June 12, 2026, the board of directors (the “SPAC Board”) of Graf Global Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“SPAC”), unanimously approved the Business Combination Agreement, dated June 12, 2026, by and among SPAC, Halfcourt Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pubco”), Halfcourt Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“SPAC Merger Sub”), Halfcourt Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Company Merger Sub” and together with SPAC Merger Sub, the “Merger Subs”, and the Merger Subs collectively with Pubco and the Company, the “Company Parties”), and BIG3 HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together with its successors, the “Company”), pursuant to which the following will occur: (i) SPAC will, as an intermediate and transitory step in the business combination transaction, transfer by way of continuation out of the Cayman Islands and into the State of Delaware so as to re-domicile as and become a Delaware corporation pursuant to Part 12 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”) and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) (the “Domestication”, and SPAC after the Domestication, “Post-Domestication SPAC”), (ii) following the Domestication, SPAC Merger Sub will merge with and into Post-Domestication SPAC, with Post-Domestication SPAC continuing as the surviving entity (the “SPAC Merger”), (iii) following the SPAC Merger, Company Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity (the “Company Merger”, and together with the SPAC Merger, the “Mergers”), (iv) as a result of which Mergers, Post-Domestication SPAC and the Company will become wholly-owned subsidiaries of Pubco, and Pubco will be renamed “Big3 Basketball Holdings, Inc.” and become a publicly traded company, and (v) the other transactions contemplated by the Business
Combination Agreement and documents related thereto (such transactions, together with the Domestication and the Mergers, the “Business Combination”). A copy of the Business Combination Agreement is attached to the proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A.
The Company is in the sports media business and is the holding company for BIG3 Basketball, LLC (“OpCo”), which operates a professional three-on-three basketball league. The Company has generated revenue through its existing operations, including revenue from team sales, sponsorships, advertising, event ticket sales and merchandise sales.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and subject to receipt of the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval, immediately prior to the Domestication the following will occur: (i) the SPAC Public Shareholders will have the opportunity to redeem their SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares (the “Redemption”); (ii) each unit of SPAC (“SPAC Public Unit”) that is issued and outstanding will be automatically separated into one Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share (the “SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares”) and one-half of one warrant (the “SPAC Public Warrants”), with each whole warrant exercisable for one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (collectively, the “Unit Separation”); (iii) after the Unit Separation, all SPAC Public Units will be automatically cancelled and cease to exist, and all former holders will cease to have any rights with respect to them except as otherwise provided in the Business Combination Agreement; (iv) the Sponsor will surrender the Sponsor Forfeited Shares; and (v) the Sponsor and each of the SPAC’s independent directors will convert, on a one-for-one basis, each Class B ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share (“SPAC Class B Ordinary Share”), of the SPAC held by it into one (1) SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (the “Class B Share Conversion”).
One day prior to the SPAC Merger Effective Time, and subject to (i) the approval of the holders of the SPAC Class B Ordinary Shares by way of special resolution in accordance with the SPAC Organizational Documents and (ii) SPAC duly filing (1) the Cayman Conversion Documents with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies and (2) the Delaware Conversion Documents with the State of Delaware, SPAC will complete the Domestication. In connection with the Domestication, SPAC will adopt the Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Charter and Proposed Post-Domestication SPAC Bylaws.
At the effective time of the Domestication, by virtue of the Domestication, and without any action on the part of any holder of SPAC Ordinary Shares or SPAC Warrants: (i) each then issued and outstanding SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (for the avoidance of doubt, after effecting the Redemption, Unit Separation, and Class B Share Conversion) shall convert automatically into one share of common stock of SPAC (“Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock”) and (ii) each then issued and outstanding whole SPAC Warrant shall become exercisable for one share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock in lieu of one SPAC Class A Ordinary Share (the “Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants”), pursuant to the Warrant Agreement. No fractional share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and no fractional Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants, or certificates or scrip, will be issued upon the conversion of the SPAC Ordinary Shares and SPAC Warrants pursuant to the Domestication. Instead, any fractional share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock and fractional Post-Domestication SPAC Warrants will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of or warrants, respectively.
Following the Domestication, at the SPAC Merger Effective Time, the SPAC Merger will occur. Pursuant to the SPAC Merger, (i) each outstanding share of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock will automatically convert into the right to receive one share of Pubco Class A Common Stock, and shall thereupon be cancelled and cease to exist and (ii) each Post-Domestication SPAC Warrant will convert into one Pubco Warrant. Each Pubco Warrant will have substantially the same terms as the corresponding SPAC Warrant, except it will represent the right to acquire Pubco Class A Common Stock instead of Post-Domestication SPAC Common Stock, pursuant to the Warrant Assumption Agreement.
Immediately following the SPAC Merger, the Company Merger will occur. Pursuant to the Company Merger, (i) each Company Interest issued and outstanding immediately will be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive the Merger Consideration, (ii) each Company Warrant that is outstanding will be converted into and become a warrant exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock (as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there are no Company Warrants outstanding), (iii) any outstanding Company Convertible Security (excluding Company Warrants that are converted into warrants exercisable for Pubco Class A Common Stock, of which none are outstanding as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus) and Preferred Unit (other than Preferred Units that are converted into Merger Consideration pursuant), if not exercised or converted prior to the Company Merger Effective Time, will be cancelled, retired and terminated and cease to represent a right to acquire, be exchanged for or convert into Company Interests or any other securities.
The aggregate consideration to be paid or payable to holders of the Company Securities will consist of a number of newly issued shares of Pubco Common Stock equal to (x) the result of (i) $290,000,000 plus (ii) the Company’s Cash Position at the Company Merger Effective Time, divided by (y) $10.83. The holders of Company Interests other than Jeffrey Kwatinetz and O’Shea Jackson Sr. (or any of their affiliates) and BigFourH Holdings LLC (collectively, the “Big3 Founders”) will receive merger consideration in the
form of Pubco Class A Common Stock. The Big3 Founders will receive merger consideration in the form of Pubco Class B Common Stock.
At the Closing, Pubco will cause the holders of Company Interests immediately prior to the Closing (collectively, the “Earnout Participants”) to be issued an aggregate of an additional two million (2,000,000) shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock (the “Earnout Shares”), which will be unvested and subject to forfeiture.
The Earnout Shares will vest upon the first to be satisfied of any of the following conditions:
| (1) | if, at any time during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing (the “Earnout Period”), the closing price of the Pubco Class A Common Stock as reported on the Stock Exchange is greater than or equal to $15.00 (the “Earnout Price”) for a period of at least 20 days (which need not be consecutive) out of 30 consecutive trading days, all of the Earnout Shares will immediately vest; and |
| (2) | in the event that there is a Sale of Pubco during the Earnout Period, and the holders of Pubco Common Stock receive a Sale Price that is greater than or equal to the Earnout Price, all of the Earnout Shares will immediately vest. |
The Business Combination Agreement requires SPAC to use its reasonable best efforts to enter into financing agreements with accredited investors for one or more transaction financings by Pubco, on such terms and structuring, and using such strategy, placement agents and approach, as SPAC and the Company reasonably agree (the “Transaction Financing”). Each of SPAC, the Company, and Pubco will use its reasonable best efforts to consummate such transaction financings on or prior to the Closing. These financings may be structured as one, or a combination of, common equity, preferred equity, convertible equity or debt, non-redemption or backstop arrangements with respect to the funds held in SPAC’s trust account (the “Trust Account”), a committed equity facility, debt facility and/or other sources of cash or cash equivalents, in each case, whether such investment is into the SPAC, Company or Pubco. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, there has been no binding agreement for a Transaction Financing.
Under the Business Combination Agreement, the obligations of the parties to consummate the Business Combination are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions of the respective parties, including, without limitation: (i) aggregate cash proceeds of $50,000,000 (the “Minimum Cash Condition”), consisting of (a) the aggregate cash proceeds available for release to SPAC or Pubco from the Trust Account in connection with the Transactions after giving effect to the Redemption, plus (b) the aggregate cash proceeds received by SPAC or Pubco in respect of any Transaction Financing (as defined below), minus (c) unpaid expenses of SPAC and the Company; (ii) the shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination having been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange, NYSE American or another national securities exchange, as mutually determined by SPAC and the Company (the “Stock Exchange”) subject to official notice of issuance; (iii) this Registration Statement having been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement being in effect, and no proceedings for purposes of suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement having been initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC; and (iv) the approval and adoption of the Business Combination Agreement and transactions contemplated thereby by the requisite vote of the holders of SPAC Ordinary Shares. We cannot assure you as to whether these conditions will be satisfied or waived. The Minimum Cash Condition described above is for the benefit of the Company only and is subject to waiver by the Company. Conditions (ii) through (iv) above are for the benefit of both SPAC and the Company, and are subject to waiver by both SPAC and the Company. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Minimum Cash Condition has not been satisfied. The parties intend to satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition through Transaction Financing and through amounts released from the Trust Account. In the event that the Minimum Cash Condition is not satisfied as a result of redemptions of SPAC Public Shares which reduce the amount available to be released to the parties from the Trust Account and/or the failure to obtain third-party financing, the Company may, in its sole discretion, waive the Minimum Cash Condition. If the Company waives the Minimum Cash Condition, SPAC intends to file a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days of such event, however such condition may be waived at any time prior to the Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, and, given such timing, you may not be notified before the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. For more information, see “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal — The Business Combination Agreement — Conditions to Closing.”
Concurrently with the Closing, the BIG3 Founders and other Sellers holding greater than 3% of the outstanding Company Interests, the Sponsor, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., the underwriter (the “IPO Underwriter”) of SPAC’s initial public offering (the “SPAC IPO”), and each director of SPAC will enter into a lock-up agreement (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), pursuant to which such person will agree not to (i) lend, offer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, donate, assign, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Pubco Common Stock to be received by such person in the Business Combination, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such shares of Pubco Common Stock, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing from the Closing and ending (x) on the date that is six (6) months after the Closing for the Pubco Common Stock, or (y) on the date that is thirty (30) days after the Closing for the Pubco Warrants (including the Pubco Common Stock underlying the Pubco Warrants), subject to certain customary transfer exceptions. For more information, see “Ancillary Documents – Lock-Up Agreements.”
The SPAC Public Units, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants are listed on NYSE American under the symbols “TONT U”, “TONT”, and “TONT WS”. On June 11, 2026, the last trading date prior to the public announcement of the Business Combination, SPAC Public Units, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants closed at $11.10, $10.82 and $0.15, respectively. As of October 20, 2026, the closing prices of the SPAC Public Units, SPAC Class A Ordinary Shares and SPAC Public Warrants were $11.01, $10.93 and $0.25, respectively. Pubco intends to apply for listing, to be effective at Closing, of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants on the NYSE under the symbols “TONT” and “TONT WS”, respectively. It is a condition to SPAC’s and the Company’s obligations to consummate the Business Combination that the Pubco Class A Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Business Combination Agreement be approved for listing on the Stock Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance. SPAC and the Company believe that SPAC will satisfy the initial listing requirements of the NYSE at the Closing, but there can be no assurance such listing condition will be met. If such listing condition is not met, the Business Combination may not be consummated unless such condition is waived by SPAC and the Company. The Stock Exchange listing condition may be waived by SPAC or the Company at any time prior to Closing, including after the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting. It is important for you to consider that, at the time of the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting, Pubco may not have received from the NYSE either confirmation of the listing of the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants or confirmation that approval will be obtained prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, and you will not be notified prior to the deadline for submitting redemption requests or the Extraordinary General Meeting if Pubco has not yet received such approval or confirmation. As a result, you may be asked to vote to approve the Business Combination and the other proposals included in this proxy statement/prospectus without knowing whether the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants will be listed on the NYSE or another securities exchange and, further, it is possible that such listing may never be achieved and the Business Combination could still be consummated if such condition is waived.
SPAC is, and Pubco will be, an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and has elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements.
Immediately following the Closing, assuming the No Additional Redemptions Scenario, no Transaction Financing, the forfeiture of 2,750,000 Sponsor Forfeited Shares, but including the 2,000,000 Earnout Shares, which will be issued and outstanding at the Closing and subject to vesting, and assuming the Company’s Cash Position is $0.00 (as of June 30, 2026) and without giving effect to any dilutive instruments, it is expected that (i) SPAC Public Shareholders will own approximately 20.9% of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 3.8% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock, (ii) the holders of Founder Shares, which includes the Sponsor and SPAC’s Independent Directors, will collectively own approximately 7.5% of the Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 1.4% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock (which includes 500,000 Discretionary Founder Shares, which may be used to incentivize non-redemptions by SPAC Public Shareholders, among other uses, and if not used will be forfeited), (iii) the Big3 Founders will collectively own approximately 53.4% of Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 91.5% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock (which includes their pro rata portion of the Earnout Shares), and (v) the Company equityholders other than the Big3 Founders will own approximately 18.2% of the Pubco Common Stock issued and outstanding at that time and 3.3% of the voting power of the outstanding Pubco Common Stock (which includes their pro rata portion of the Earnout Shares).
Investing in Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants involves a high degree of risk. More information about Pubco, SPAC, the Company, and the Business Combination is contained in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. Pubco, SPAC, and the Company encourage you to carefully read this entire document. You should also carefully consider the risk factors described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 77 of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus.
NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
This resale prospectus is dated [●], 2026.
[RESALE PROSPECTUS ALTERNATE PAGE]
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
This section is part of the “resale prospectus” pertaining to the registration under the Securities Act of the resale by the Selling Securityholders of 3,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock, 6,000,000 Pubco Warrants, and 6,000,000 Pubco Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such warrants. The Selling Securityholders may sell all, some or none of such Pubco Warrants and Pubco Class A Common Stock it holds. Pubco will not receive any proceeds from any such offer or sale by the Selling Securityholders, but will receive proceeds to the extent that the Pubco Warrants are exercised for cash.
The table below sets forth the name of the Selling Securityholders and the aggregate number of Pubco Warrants and Pubco Class A Common Stock that the Selling Securityholders may offer for sale pursuant to this resale prospectus. Percentages assume the No Additional Redemptions Scenario. For more information, see “Beneficial Ownership of Securities.”
Pursuant to the terms of the Lock-Up Agreement (a) the Pubco Warrants and the Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying the Pubco Warrants may not be sold by the Selling Securityholders until the earlier of (i) 30 days after the Closing Date and (ii) the date Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, reorganization or similar transaction, and (b) the Pubco Class A Common Stock may not be sold by the Selling Securityholders until the earlier of (i) six (6) months after the Closing Date and (ii) the date Pubco completes a liquidation, merger, reorganization or similar transaction.
Because the Selling Securityholders may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all, some or none of the Pubco Warrants and Pubco Class A Common Stock covered by this resale prospectus, Pubco cannot determine the number of such securities that will be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Selling Securityholders or the amount or percentage of securities that will be beneficially held by the Selling Securityholders upon termination of the resale.
| | Securities Owned | | | | | | Securities Owned |
| ||||||||||||
| | Before the Offering | | Securities to be Sold | | After the Offering |
| ||||||||||||||
| | Pubco | | | | | | | | | | | | Pubco | | | | | | |
|
| | Class A | | Percentage | | | | Percentage | | Pubco | | | | Class A | | Percentage | | | | Percentage |
|
Name of Selling | | Common | | of | | Pubco | | of | | Class A | | Pubco | | Common | | of | | Pubco | | of |
|
Stockholder(1) | | Stock | | Class | | Warrants | | Class | | Common Stock | | Warrants | | Stock | | Class | | Warrants | | Class |
|
Graf Global Sponsor LLC(2) | | 8,910,000 | (3) | 48.9 | % | 6,000,000 | | 34.3 | % | 8,910,000 | (3) | 6,000,000 | | — | | 0.0 | % | — | | 0.0 | % |
Louis Bélanger-Martin |
| 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 30,000 |
| — |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % |
Kenneth Weinstein |
| 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 30,000 |
| — |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % |
Fred S. Zeidman |
| 30,000 |
| * |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | 30,000 |
| — |
| — |
| 0.0 | % | — |
| 0.0 | % |
*Less than 1%.
| (1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Graf Global Corp., 1790 Hughes Landing Blvd., Suite 400, The Woodlands, Texas 77380. |
| (2) | The Sponsor was formed prior to the SPAC IPO for the purpose of acting as the sponsor of SPAC. James A. Graf is the manager of the Sponsor and has voting and investment discretion with respect to the securities held by the Sponsor. Mr. Graf is the Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of SPAC prior to the Business Combination. Mr. Graf disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by the Sponsor except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
| (3) | Includes 6,000,000 shares of Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying 6,000,000 Pubco Warrants held by the Sponsor. |
Registration of the resale of Pubco Warrants and Pubco Class A Common Stock does not mean that such securities necessarily will be offered or sold. Pubco will not receive any proceeds from any such offer or sale by the Selling Securityholders, but will receive proceeds to the extent that the Pubco Warrants are exercised for cash.
[RESALE PROSPECTUS ALTERNATE PAGE]
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Selling Securityholders and any of their pledgees, donees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, after the expiration of the lock-up periods for the Pubco Class A Common Stock and Pubco Warrants, from time to time, sell any or all of the Pubco Class A Common Stock, Pubco Warrants, and Pubco Class A Common Stock underlying the Pubco Warrants being offered under this resale prospectus on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which such securities are traded or in private transactions, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. The Selling Securityholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of shares:
| ● | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| ● | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position; and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| ● | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resales by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| ● | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| ● | privately negotiated transactions; |
| ● | coverage of short sales made after the date that the registration statement of which this resale prospectus is a part is declared effective by the SEC; |
| ● | broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Securityholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; |
| ● | a combination of any of these methods of sale; and |
| ● | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
The Pubco Warrants and Pubco Class A Common Stock may also be sold, after the expiration of the warrants’ lock-up period, under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available for the Selling Securityholders, rather than under this resale prospectus. The Selling Securityholders have the sole and absolute discretion not to accept any purchase offer or make any sale of shares if they deem the purchase price to be unsatisfactory at any particular time.
After expiration of the warrants’ lock-up period, the Selling Securityholders may pledge its shares to its brokers under the margin provisions of customer agreements. If the Selling Securityholders default on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer and sell the pledged shares.
In addition, the Selling Securityholders may elect to make an in-kind distribution of securities to its members pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part by delivering a prospectus with a plan of distribution. Such members would thereby receive freely tradeable securities pursuant to the distribution through a registration statement. To the extent a distributee is an affiliate of Pubco (or to the extent otherwise required by law), Pubco may file a prospectus supplement in order to permit the distributees to use the prospectus to resell the securities acquired in the distribution.
If broker-dealers are used in the sale of the Pubco Warrants and/or Pubco Class A Common Stock offered under this resale prospectus, the Selling Securityholders will sell such Pubco Warrants or Pubco Class A Common Stock to such broker-dealers as principals. They may then resell the Pubco Warrants or Pubco Class A Common Stock to the public at varying prices determined by the broker-dealers at the time of resale. Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Securityholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Securityholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, which commissions as to a particular broker or dealer may be in excess of customary commissions to the extent permitted by applicable law.
The Selling Securityholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares offered under this resale prospectus are deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act. Commissions received by these broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting discount under the Securities Act. To the extent that broker-dealers are used in the sale of the Pubco Warrants and Pubco Class A Common Stock offered under this resale prospectus, any such broker-dealers or agents that are deemed to be underwriters may not sell shares offered under this resale prospectus unless and until Pubco sets forth the names of the underwriters and the material details of their underwriting arrangements in a supplement to this resale prospectus or, if required, in a replacement resale prospectus included in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this resale prospectus is a part. Because each Selling Securityholder is deemed an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, it will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
The Selling Securityholders and any other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the shares offered under this resale prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations under that act, including Regulation M. These provisions may restrict activities of, and limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares by, the Selling Securityholders or any other person. Furthermore, under Regulation M, persons engaged in a distribution of securities are prohibited from simultaneously engaging in market making and other activities with respect to those securities for a specified period of time prior to the commencement of such distributions, subject to specified exceptions or exemptions. All of these limitations may affect the marketability of the shares.
Any FINRA member firm participating in the resale, on behalf of the Selling Securityholders, of the securities on a principal or agency basis shall satisfy the filing and disclosure requirements of Rule 5110 and NASD Notice to Members 88-101, and shall not receive compensation in excess of that allowable under FINRA rules, including Rule 5110, in connection with the resale of the securities by the Selling Securityholders.
If any of the Pubco Warrants and Pubco Class A Common Stock offered for sale pursuant to this resale prospectus are transferred other than pursuant to a sale under this resale prospectus, then subsequent holders could not use this resale prospectus until a post-effective amendment or prospectus supplement, is filed, naming such holders. Pubco offers no assurance as to whether the Selling Securityholders will sell all or any portion of the shares offered under this resale prospectus.
Pubco has agreed to pay all fees and expenses it incurs incident to the registration of the shares being offered under this resale prospectus. However, the Selling Securityholders and subsequent purchaser is responsible for paying any discount, and similar selling expenses it incurs.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, willful neglect, civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. The SPAC Organizational Documents provide for indemnification of our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law, including for any liability incurred in their capacities as such, except through their own actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect. SPAC has purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures its officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures SPAC against its obligations to indemnify its officers and directors. Additionally, SPAC entered into indemnification agreements with each of SPAC’s directors and officers that provide for indemnification and advancement by SPAC of certain expenses and costs relating to claims, suits, or proceedings arising from service to SPAC or, at its request, service to other entities, as officers or directors to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. In some cases, the provisions of these indemnification agreements may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained under Cayman Islands law. These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of SPAC’s officers and directors for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act.
Further, pursuant to the administrative services and indemnification agreement with our Sponsor and an affiliate of our Sponsor relating to the monthly payment for office space and administrative services, we will indemnify our Sponsor, such affiliate, and their respective directors, officers, employees, principals, managers, partners, members, shareholders, equityholders, control persons, affiliates, agents, advisors, consultants and representatives (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from any claims, losses, liabilities, proceedings, investigations, damages, settlements and the like (i) arising out of or relating to the IPO, SPAC’s operations or conduct of the SPAC’s business (including an initial business combination), (ii) in respect of any investment opportunities sourced by the Indemnitee, and/or (iii) any claim against an Indemnitee alleging any expressed or implied management or endorsement by such Indemnitee of any of the company’s activities or any express or implied association between the Indemnitee and the company or any of its affiliates, which agreement provides that the indemnified parties cannot access the funds held in our trust account.
SPAC’s officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the Trust Account, and have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to Inflection Point and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, any indemnification provided will only be able to be satisfied by SPAC if (i) SPAC has sufficient funds outside of the Trust Account or (ii) SPAC consummates an initial business combination.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling SPAC pursuant to the foregoing provisions, SPAC has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or who is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.
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Subsection (b) of Section 145 empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 145 further provides that to the extent a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and the indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and administrators. Section 145 also empowers the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under Section 145.
The Proposed Pubco Charter will provide for indemnification of its directors, officers, employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL, and the Proposed Pubco Bylaws will provide for indemnification of its directors, officers, employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL.
In addition, effective upon the consummation of the Business Combination, as defined in Part I of this registration statement, Pubco will enter into indemnification agreements with directors, officers, and some employees containing provisions which are in some respects broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the DGCL. The indemnification agreements will require Pubco, among other things, to indemnify its directors against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
Pubco will enter into policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures its officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures Pubco against its obligations to indemnify its officers and directors.
Concurrently with the Closing, Pubco, the Company, and the Sponsor will enter into the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, Pubco and the Company will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Sponsor and its shareholders, members, directors, managers, and officers (each, a “Sponsor Indemnified Person”) from and against any and all Sponsor Indemnified Liabilities (as defined in the Sponsor Indemnification Agreement) arising out of or relating to any pending or threatened action, cause of action, suit, litigation, investigation, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration or claim against any of them or in which any of them may be a participant or may otherwise be involved (including as a witness) that arise out of or relate to SPAC’s operations or conduct of its business, the Business Combination, and/or any claim against the Sponsor and/or a Sponsor Indemnified Person alleging any expressed or implied management, control or endorsement of any activities of SPAC, or any express or implied association with Pubco, the Company, or SPAC, or any of their respective affiliates. The Sponsor Indemnification Agreement will not however apply to claims arising primarily out of (a) any breach by such Sponsor Indemnified Person of any other agreement between such Sponsor Indemnified Person, on the one hand, and Pubco, the Company, SPAC, or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the other hand, or (b) the willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith of such Sponsor Indemnified Person.
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Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
| (a) | The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement: |
| | | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | | Description | ||
| | | ||
2.1† | | |||
2.2** | | Form of Plan of Domestication. | ||
2.3** | | Form of Certificate of Merger (included as Annex L to the proxy statement/prospectus). | ||
3.1 | ||||
3.2 | | |||
3.3** | | Form of Post-Domestication Certificate of Incorporation of Graf Global Corp. (included as Annex B to the proxy statement/prospectus) | ||
3.4** | | Form of Post-Domestication Bylaws of Graf Global Corp. (included as Annex C to the proxy statement/prospectus). | ||
3.5 | | |||
3.6 | | |||
3.7** | | Form of post-closing Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company Surviving Subsidiary. | ||
3.8** | | Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of BIG3 Holdco LLC, effective as of September 19, 2024. | ||
3.9** | | Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of BIG3 Basketball LLC, effective as of April 7, 2025. | ||
4.1 | ||||
4.2 | ||||
4.3 | ||||
4.4 | ||||
4.5 | | Form of Warrant Assumption Agreement (included as Annex I to the proxy statement/prospectus). | ||
5.1** | | Opinion of White & Case LLP with respect to the legality of the post-domestication SPAC securities being registered. | ||
5.2** | | Opinion of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP with respect to the legality of the Pubco securities being registered. | ||
8.1** | | Opinion of White & Case LLP with respect to certain tax matters. | ||
10.1 | ||||
10.2 | ||||
10.3 | ||||
10.4 | ||||
10.5 | ||||
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| | | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | | Description | ||
| | | ||
10.6 | ||||
10.7 | ||||
10.8 | ||||
10.9† | | |||
10.10† | | |||
10.11 | | |||
10.12† | | |||
10.13 | | Form of Lock-Up Agreement (included as Annex G to the proxy statement/prospectus). | ||
10.14 | | Form of Registration Rights Agreement (included as Annex H to the proxy statement/prospectus). | ||
10.16 | | Form of Sponsor Indemnification Agreement (included as Annex J to the proxy statement/prospectus). | ||
10.17 | | Form of 2026 Equity Incentive Plan (included as Annex K to the proxy statement/prospectus). | ||
10.18** | | Programming Agreement, effective as of March 21, 2019, between BIG3 LLC, CBS SPORTS, a Division of CBS Broadcasting Inc., and CSTV Networks, Inc., d/b/a CBS Sports Network. | ||
10.19** | | Fourteenth Amendment to Programing Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2025, between BIG3 LLC, CBS SPORTS, a Division of CBS Broadcasting Inc., and CSTV Networks, Inc., d/b/a CBS Sports Network. | ||
21.1** | | List of Subsidiaries. | ||
23.1** | | Consent of White & Case LLP (included within Exhibit 5.1) | ||
23.2** | | Consent of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP (included within Exhibit 5.2) | ||
23.3** | | Consent of White & Case LLP (included within Exhibit 8.1) | ||
23.4* | | |||
23.5* | | Consent of TAAD LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of Halfcourt Holdco, Inc. | ||
23.6* | | Consent of TAAD LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of BIG3 HoldCo LLC. | ||
24.1* | | Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages of the initial filing hereof) | ||
101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document | |||
101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | |||
101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | |||
101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | |||
101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | |||
101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | |||
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (Embedded within the Inline XBRL document and included in Exhibit) | |||
107* | | |||
* | Filed herewith. |
** | To be filed by amendment. |
† | Certain schedules and similar attachments to this exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5). The Registrant agrees to furnish a copy of all omitted schedules and similar attachments to the SEC upon its request. |
+Denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
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Item 22. Undertakings.
| (a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes as follows: |
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. |
| (5) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
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| (6) | That prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), the issuer undertakes that such reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form with respect to reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form. |
| (7) | That every prospectus: (i) that is filed pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph, or (ii) that purports to meet the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act and is used in connection with an offering of securities subject to Rule 415, will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until such amendment is effective, and that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (8) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the undersigned pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the undersigned has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the undersigned of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the undersigned in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the undersigned will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
| (b) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the proxy statement/prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request. |
| (c) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of The Woodlands, State of Texas.
| GRAF GLOBAL CORP. | ||
| | ||
| By: | /s/ James A. Graf | |
| | Name: | James A. Graf |
| | Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
| | | |
Dated: October 27, 2026 | | | |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints James A. Graf as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and revocation, for him or her and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any or all amendments including any post-effective amendments and supplements to this registration statement, and any additional registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Name | | Title | | Date |
| | | ||
/s/ James A. Graf | | Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director | | |
James A. Graf | | (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer) | | October 27, 2026 |
| | | | |
/s/ Louis Bélanger-Martin | | | ||
Louis Bélanger-Martin | | Director | | October 27, 2026 |
| | | | |
/s/ Kenneth Weinstein | | | ||
Kenneth Weinstein | | Director | | October 27, 2026 |
| | | | |
/s/ Fred S. Zeidman | | | | |
Fred S. Zeidman | | Director | | October 27, 2026 |
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AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned has signed this registration statement, solely in its capacity as the duly authorized representative of Graf Global Corp., in the City of The Woodlands, State of Texas, United States.
Date: October 27, 2026
| By: | /s/ James A. Graf | |
| | Name: | James A. Graf |
| | Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in City of Miami Beach, State of Florida.
Date: October 27, 2026
| HALFCOURT HOLDCO, INC. | ||
| | ||
| By: | /s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz | |
| | Name: | Jeffrey Kwatinetz |
| | Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jeffrey Kwatinetz, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and revocation, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any or all amendments including any post-effective amendments and supplements to this registration statement, and any additional registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | | Title | | Date |
| | | | |
/s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz | | Chief Executive Officer and Director | | |
Jeffrey Kwatinetz | | (Principal Executive Officer) | | October 27, 2026 |
| | | | |
/s/ Sean Bannon | | Chief Financial Officer, President and Secretary | | |
Sean Bannon | | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | | October 27, 2026 |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Co-Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Miami Beach, State of Florida.
Date: October 27, 2026
| BIG3 HOLDCO LLC | ||
| | ||
| By: | /s/ O’Shea Jackson Sr. | |
| | Name: | O’Shea Jackson Sr. |
| | Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENT, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jeffrey Kwatinetz, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and revocation, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute any or all amendments including any post-effective amendments and supplements to this registration statement, and any additional registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Co-Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | | Title | | Date |
| | | | |
/s/ Jeffrey Kwatinetz | | Manage, Executive Chairman | | October 27, 2026 |
Jeffrey Kwatinetz | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ O’Shea Jackson Sr. | | Manager and Chief Executive | | October 27, 2026 |
O’Shea Jackson Sr. | | Officer and Director | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Sean Bannon | | Manager | | October 27, 2026 |
Sean Bannon | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Amy Trask | | Manager | | October 27, 2026 |
Amy Trask | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Manager | | October 27, 2026 |
Nancy Lieberman | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Manager | | October 27, 2026 |
Troy Vincent | | | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Fehmi Zeko | | Manager | | October 27, 2026 |
Fehmi Zeko | | | | |
| | | | |
| | Manager | | October 27, 2026 |
Clyde Drexler | | | | |
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