selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our stockholders’ best interest.
If our common stock becomes subject to these rules, broker-dealers may find it difficult to effectuate customer transactions and trading activity in our securities may be adversely affected. As a result, the market price of our securities may be depressed, and you may find it more difficult to sell our securities.
The net proceeds from this offering will provide us with only approximately $32,210,000 which we may use to complete a business combination. Our initial business combination must be with a business with a fair market value of at least 80% of our net assets at the time of such acquisition. Consequently, it is probable that we will have the ability to complete only a single business combination. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
In this case, we will not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry.
We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds and operating businesses competing for acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe that there are numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Further, the obligation we have to seek stockholder approval of a business combination may delay the consummation of a transaction, and our obligation to convert into cash the shares of common stock held by public stockholders in certain instances may reduce the resources available for a business combination. Additionally, our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Any of these obligations may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing, if required, to complete a business combination or to fund the operations and growth of the target business, which could compel us to restructure the transaction or abandon a particular business combination.
Although we believe that the net proceeds of this offering will be sufficient to allow us to consummate a business combination, in as much as we have not yet identified any prospective target business, we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of the business combination or the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, or because we become obligated to convert into cash a significant number of shares from dissenting stockholders, we will be required to seek additional financing. We cannot assure you that such financing would be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to consummate a particular business combination, we would be compelled to restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. In addition, if we consummate a business combination, we may require additional financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after a business combination.
Our existing stockholders, including our officers and directors, control a substantial interest in us and thus may influence certain actions requiring stockholder vote.
Upon consummation of our offering, our existing stockholders (including all of our officers and directors) will collectively own 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock (assuming they do not purchase units in this offering). None of our existing stockholders, officers and directors has indicated to us that he intends to purchase our securities in the offering. Our board of directors is divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of two years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. It is unlikely that there will be an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation of a business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office at least until the consummation of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our existing stockholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our existing stockholders will continue to exert control at least until the consummation of a business combination. In addition, our existing stockholders and their affiliates and relatives are not prohibited from purchasing units in this offering or shares in the aftermarket. If they do, we cannot assure you that our existing stockholders will not have considerable influence upon the vote in connection with a business combination.
Our existing stockholders paid an aggregate of $25,000, or $0.0167 per share, for their shares and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our common stock.
The difference between the public offering price per share of our common stock and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. The fact that our existing stockholders acquired their shares of common stock at a nominal price has significantly contributed to this dilution. Assuming the offering is completed, you and the other new investors will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 31.2% or $1.87 per share (the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $4.13, and the initial offering price of $6.00 per unit).
Our outstanding warrants may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
In connection with this offering, as part of the units, we will be issuing warrants to purchase 12,000,000 shares of common stock. We will also issue an option to purchase 300,000 units to the representative of the underwriters which, if exercised, will result in the issuance of an additional 600,000 warrants. To the extent we issue shares of common stock to effect a business combination, the potential for the issuance of substantial numbers of additional shares upon exercise of these warrants and options could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle in the eyes of a target business as such securities, when exercised, will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of our common stock and reduce the value of the shares issued to complete the business combination. Accordingly, our warrants and options may make it more difficult to effectuate a business
10
combination or increase the cost of the target business. Additionally, the sale, or even the possibility of sale, of the shares underlying the warrants and options could have an adverse effect on the market price for our securities or on our ability to obtain future public financing. If and to the extent these warrants and options are exercised, you may experience dilution to your holdings.
If our existing stockholders exercise their registration rights, it may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and the existence of these rights may make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
Our existing stockholders are entitled to demand that we register the resale of their shares of common stock at any time after the date on which their shares are released from escrow. If our existing stockholders exercise their registration rights with respect to all of their shares of common stock, then there will be an additional 1,500,000 shares of common stock eligible for trading in the public market. The presence of this additional number of shares of common stock eligible for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock. In addition, the existence of these rights may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of the target business, as the stockholders of the target business may be discouraged from entering into a business combination with us or will request a higher price for their securities as a result of these registration rights and the potential future effect their exercise may have on the trading market for our common stock.
If you are not an institutional investor, you may purchase our securities in this offering only if you reside within certain states and may engage in resale transactions only in those states and a limited number of other jurisdictions.
We have applied to register our securities, or have obtained or will seek to obtain an exemption from registration, in Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New York and Rhode Island. If you are not an “institutional investor,” you must be a resident of these jurisdictions to purchase our securities in the offering. The definition of an “institutional investor” varies from state to state but generally includes financial institutions, broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies and other qualified entities. In order to prevent resale transactions in violation of states’ securities laws, you may engage in resale transactions only in these states and in other jurisdictions in which an applicable exemption is available or a Blue Sky application has been filed and accepted. This restriction on resale may limit your ability to resell the securities purchased in this offering and may impact the price of our securities. For a more complete discussion of the Blue Sky state securities laws and registrations affecting this offering, please see the section entitled “State Blue Sky Information” below.
We intend to have our securities quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, which will limit the liquidity and price of our securities more than if our securities were quoted or listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market or a national exchange.
Our securities will be traded in the over-the-counter market. It is anticipated that they will be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, an NASD-sponsored and operated inter-dealer automated quotation system for equity securities not included on The Nasdaq Stock Market. Quotation of our securities on the OTC Bulletin Board will limit the liquidity and price of our securities more than if our securities were quoted or listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market or a national exchange.
The representative of the underwriters in the offering will not make a market for our securities which could adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
EarlyBirdCapital, the representative of the underwriters in this offering, does not make markets in securities and will not be making a market in our securities. EarlyBirdCapital not acting as a market maker for our securities may adversely impact the liquidity of our securities.
If we are deemed to be an investment company, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete a business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, our activities may be restricted, including:
| | | |
• | | restrictions on the nature of our investments; and | |
11
• | | restrictions on the issuance of securities, | |
which may make it difficult for us to complete a business combination.
In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including: | |
| | | |
• | | registration as an investment company; | |
| | | |
• | | adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and | |
| | | |
• | | reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations. | |
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act of 1940. To this end, the proceeds held in trust may only be invested by the trust agent in “government securities” with specific maturity dates. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, we intend to meet the requirements for the exemption provided in Rule 3a-1 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940. If we were deemed to be subject to the act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expense that we have not allotted for.
Because we may be deemed to have no “independent” directors, actions taken and expenses incurred by our officers and directors on our behalf will generally not be subject to “independent” review.
Each of our directors owns shares of our common stock and, although no compensation will be paid to them for services rendered prior to or in connection with a business combination, they may receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of these out-of-pocket expenses and there will be no review of the reasonableness of the expenses by anyone other than our board of directors, which includes persons who may seek reimbursement, or a court of competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged. Because none of our directors will be deemed “independent,” we will generally not have the benefit of independent directors examining the propriety of expenses incurred on our behalf and subject to reimbursement. Although we believe that all actions taken by our directors on our behalf will be in our best interests, we cannot assure you that this will be the case. If actions are taken, or expenses are incurred that are not in our best interests, it could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations and the price of our stock held by the public stockholders.
Because our initial stockholders’ initial equity investment was only $25,000, our offering may be disallowed by state administrators that follow the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. Statement of Policy on development stage companies.
Pursuant to the Statement of Policy Regarding Promoter’s Equity Investment promulgated by The North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc., an international organization devoted to investor protection, any state administrator may disallow an offering of a development stage company if the initial equity investment by a company’s promoters does not equal a certain percentage of the aggregate public offering price. Our promoters’ initial investment of $25,000 is less than the required $1,010,000 minimum amount pursuant to this policy. Accordingly, a state administrator would have the discretion to disallow our offering if it wanted to. We cannot assure you that our offering would not be disallowed pursuant to this policy. Additionally, the initial equity investment made by the initial stockholders may not adequately protect investors.
Risks related to the technology industry
Although we are not limited to any particular industry, we intend to focus on target businesses in the technology industry. Accordingly, we believe the following risks may apply to us following the completion of a business combination.
The technology industry is highly cyclical, which may affect our future performance and ability to sell our products, and in turn, hurt our profitability.
Technology products and services tend to be relatively expensive and buyers tend to defer purchases during periods of economic weakness, opting instead to continue to use what they already own. Conversely, during periods of economic strength, technology sales frequently exceed expectations. As a consequence, revenues and earnings for technology companies may fluctuate more than those of less economically sensitive companies. Due
12
to the cyclical nature of the technology industry, inventories may not always be properly balanced, resulting in lost sales when there are shortages or write-offs when there are excess inventories. This may adversely affect our profitability.
If we are unable to keep pace with the changes in the technology industry, our products could become obsolete and it could hurt our results of operations.
The technology industry is generally characterized by intense, rapid changes, often resulting in product obsolescence or short product life cycles. Our ability to compete after consummation of a business combination will be dependent upon our ability to keep pace with changes in this industry. If we are ultimately unable to adapt our operations as needed, our financial condition following a business combination will be adversely affected.
The technology sector is highly competitive and we may not be able to compete effectively which could adversely affect our revenues and profitability following a business combination.
The technology industry is rapidly evolving and intensely competitive. We expect competition to continue and intensify in the future. Many of the competitors we will face following a business combination may have significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do. Some of these competitors may also offer a wider range of services than we can and have greater name recognition and a larger client base. These competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or changing opportunities, technologies and client requirements. They may also be able to undertake more extensive promotional activities, offer more attractive terms to clients, and adopt more aggressive pricing policies. If we are unable to compete effectively, it could harm our business.
If we are unable to protect the intellectual property rights we obtain in a business combination, competitors may be able to use our technology or trademarks, which could weaken our competitive position.
Because of the competitive nature of the technology industry, we will likely rely on a combination of copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and restrictions to protect our proprietary technology and rights. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary technology and rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our products or technology, particularly in foreign countries where the laws may not protect our proprietary rights as fully as in the United States. Any unauthorized use of our proprietary technology and rights could have a material adverse affect on our operations.
13
USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering will be as set forth in the following table:
| Without Over- | Over-Allotment |
| Allotment Option | Option Exercised |
|
Gross proceeds | $36,000,000.00 | | $41,400,000.00 | |
Offering expenses(1) | | | | |
Underwriting discount (7% of gross proceeds) | 2,520,000.00 | | 2,898,000.00 | |
Underwriting non-accountable expense allowance (2% of gross proceeds) | 720,000.00 | | 720,000.00 | |
Legal fees and expenses (including blue sky services and expenses) | 350,000.00 | | 350,000.00 | |
Miscellaneous expenses | 97,948.87 | | 97,948.87 | |
Printing and engraving expenses | 50,000.00 | | 50,000.00 | |
Accounting fees and expenses | 25,000.00 | | 25,000.00 | |
SEC registration fee | 14,839.12 | | 14,839.12 | |
NASD registration fee | 12,212.01 | | 12,212.01 | |
Net proceeds | | | | |
Held in trust | 31,200,000.00 | | 36,222,000.00 | |
Not held in trust | 1,010,000.00 | | 1,010,000.00 | |
|
Total net proceeds | $32,210,000.00 | | $37,232,000.00 | |
|
| | | | |
Use of net proceeds not held in trust | | | | |
Payment of administrative fee to American Fund Advisors ($7,500 per month for two years) | $180,000 | | (17.8%) | |
Legal, accounting and other expenses attendant to the due diligence investigation, structuring and negotiation of a business combination | 150,000 | | (14.8%) | |
Due diligence of prospective target businesses | 50,000 | | (5.0%) | |
Legal and accounting fees relating to SEC reporting obligations | 40,000 | | (4.0%) | |
Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses, D&O insurance and reserves | 590,000 | | (58.4%) | |
|
Total | $1,010,000 | | (100.0%) |
|
| |
| (1) | | A portion of the offering expenses have been paid from the funds we received from Mr. Gordon described below. These funds will be repaid out of the proceeds of this offering not being placed in trust upon consummation of this offering. | |
$31,200,000, or $36,222,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, of net proceeds will be placed in a trust account at JPMorgan Chase NY Bank maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, New York, New York, as trustee. The proceeds will not be released from the trust account until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or our liquidation. The proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we complete a business combination. Any amounts not paid as consideration to the sellers of the target business may be used to finance operations of the target business.
The payment to American Fund Advisors, an affiliate of Barry J. Gordon, Marc H. Klee and Alan J. Loewenstein, of a monthly fee of $7,500 is for general and administrative services including office space, utilities and secretarial support. This arrangement is being agreed to by American Fund Advisors for our benefit and is not intended to provide any of our officers or directors compensation in lieu of a salary. We believe, based on rents and fees for similar services in the Garden City, New York area, that the fee charged by American Fund Advisors is at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated person. Upon completion of a business combination or our liquidation, we will no longer be required to pay this monthly fee.
14
We intend to use the excess working capital (approximately $590,000) for director and officer liability insurance premiums (approximately $60,000) with the balance of $530,000, being held in reserve in the event due diligence, legal, accounting and other expenses of structuring and negotiating business combinations exceed our estimates, as well as for reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by our existing stockholders in connection with activities on our behalf as described below. We believe that the excess working capital will be sufficient to cover the foregoing expenses and reimbursement costs.
To the extent that our capital stock is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect a business combination, the proceeds held in the trust account as well as any other net proceeds not expended will be used to finance the operations of the target business.
Barry J. Gordon, our chairman of the board and chief executive officer, has advanced to us a total of $77,500 which was used to pay a portion of the expenses of this offering referenced in the line items above for SEC registration fee, NASD registration fee and legal fees and expenses. The loans will be payable without interest on the earlier of September 30, 2005 or the consummation of this offering. The loans will be repaid out of the proceeds of this offering not being placed in trust.
The net proceeds of this offering not held in the trust account and not immediately required for the purposes set forth above will only be invested in United States “government securities,” defined as any Treasury Bill issued by the United States having a maturity of one hundred and eighty days or less so that we are not deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act. The interest income derived from investment of these net proceeds during this period will be used to defray our general and administrative expenses, as well as costs relating to compliance with securities laws and regulations, including associated professional fees, until a business combination is completed.
We believe that, upon consummation of this offering, we will have sufficient available funds to operate for at least the next 24 months, assuming that a business combination is not consummated during that time.
Commencing on the effective date of this prospectus through the consummation of the acquisition of the target business, we will pay American Fund Advisors the fee described above. Other than this $7,500 per month administrative fee, no compensation of any kind (including finder’s and consulting fees) will be paid to any of our existing stockholders, or any of their affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the consummation of the business combination. However, our existing stockholders will receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Since the role of present management after a business combination is uncertain, we have no ability to determine what remuneration, if any, will be paid to those persons after a business combination.
A public stockholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account (including interest earned on his, her or its portion of the trust account) only in the event of our liquidation or if that public stockholder were to seek to convert such shares into cash in connection with a business combination which the public stockholder voted against and which we consummate. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
15
DILUTION
The difference between the public offering price per share of common stock, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of common stock which may be converted into cash), by the number of outstanding shares of our common stock.
At October 31, 2004, our net tangible book value was a deficiency of $1,029, or approximately $.00 per share of common stock. After giving effect to the sale of 6,000,000 shares of common stock included in the units, and the deduction of underwriting discounts and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value at October 31, 2004 would have been $25,997,091 or $4.13 per share, representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $4.13 per share to the existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $1.87 per share or 31% to new investors not exercising their conversion rights. For purposes of presentation, our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering is $6,236,880 less than it otherwise would have been because if we effect a business combination, the conversion rights to the public stockholders may result in the conversion into cash of up to approximately 19.99% of the aggregate number of the shares sold in this offering at a per-share conversion price equal to the amount in the trust account as of the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote on the business combination, inclusive of any interest, divided by the number of shares sold in this offering.
The following table illustrates the dilution to the new investors on a per-share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units:
Public offering price | | | $6.00 | |
Net tangible book value before this offering | $ — | | | |
Increase attributable to new investors | 4.13 | | |
|
Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering | | | 4.13 | |
|
Dilution to new investors | | | $1.87 | |
|
The following table sets forth information with respect to our existing stockholders and the new investors:
| Shares Purchased | Total Consideration | Average |
|
| Price Per |
| Number | Percentage | Amount | Percentage | Share |
|
Existing stockholders | 1,500,000 | | 20.0% | | $ 25,000 | | 0.1% | | $0.0167 | |
New investors | 6,000,000 | | 80.0% | | $36,000,000 | | 99.9% | | $ 6.00 | |
|
| 7,500,000 | | 100.0% | | $36,025,000 | | 100.0% | | | |
|
16
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization at October 31, 2004 and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our units and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of our units:
| October 31, 2004 |
|
|
| Actual | As Adjusted |
| | | | |
Common stock, $.0001 par value, - -0- and 1,199,400 shares which are subject to possible conversion, shares at conversion value | — | | $ 6,236,880 | |
|
Stockholders’ equity: | |
Preferred stock, $.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding | — | | — | |
|
Common stock, $.0001 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized; 1,500,000 shares issued and outstanding; 6,300,600 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 1,199,400 shares subject to possible conversion), as adjusted | $ 150 | | 630 | |
Additional paid-in capital | 24,850 | | 25,997,490 | |
Deficit accumulated during the development stage | (1,029) | | (1,029) | |
| | | | |
Total stockholders’ equity: | 23,971 | | 25,997,091 | |
|
| | | | |
Total capitalization | $23,971 | | $32,233,971 | |
|
If we consummate a business combination, the conversion rights afforded to our public stockholders may result in the conversion into cash of up to approximately 19.99% of the aggregate number of shares sold in this offering at a per-share conversion price equal to the amount in the trust account, inclusive of any interest thereon, as of two business days prior to the proposed consummation of a business combination divided by the number of shares sold in this offering.
17
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
We were formed on September 14, 2004, to serve as a vehicle to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition or other similar business combination with an operating business. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of this offering, our capital stock, debt or a combination of cash, capital stock and debt, in effecting a business combination. The issuance of additional shares of our capital stock:
• | | may significantly reduce the equity interest of our stockholders; | |
| | | |
• | | will likely cause a change in control if a substantial number of our shares of common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and most likely will also result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and | |
| | | |
• | | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our common stock. | |
Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in:
• | | default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a business combination were insufficient to pay our debt obligations; | |
| | | |
• | | acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we have made all principal and interest payments when due if the debt security contains covenants that required the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves and any such covenant is breached without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; | |
| | | |
• | | our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand; and | |
| | | |
• | | our inability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain additional financing while such security is outstanding. | |
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our entire activity since inception has been to prepare for our proposed fundraising through an offering of our equity securities.
We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the units, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $1,270,000, including $720,000 evidencing the underwriters’ non-accountable expense allowance of 2% of the gross proceeds, and underwriting discounts of approximately $2,520,000, will be approximately $32,210,000, or $37,232,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full. Of this amount, $31,200,000, or $36,222,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, will be held in trust and the remaining $1,010,000, in either case, will not be held in trust. We will use substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering to acquire a target business, including identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, selecting the target business, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination. To the extent that our capital stock is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect a business combination, the proceeds held in the trust account as well as any other net proceeds not expended will be used to finance the operations of the target business. We believe that, upon consummation of this offering, the funds available to us outside of the trust account will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months, assuming that a business combination is not consummated during that time. Over this time period, we anticipate approximately $180,000 for the administrative fee payable to American Fund Advisors ($7,500 per month for two years), $150,000 of expenses for legal, accounting and other expenses attendant to the due diligence investigations, structuring and negotiating of a business combination, $50,000 of expenses for the due diligence and investigation of a target business, $40,000 of expenses in legal and accounting fees relating to our SEC reporting obligations and $590,000 for general working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses and reserves, including approximately $60,000 for director and officer liability insurance premiums. We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, we may need to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities if such funds are required to consummate a business combination that is presented to us. We would only consummate such a financing simultaneously with the consummation of a business combination.
18
We are obligated, commencing on the date of this prospectus, to pay to American Fund Advisors, an affiliate of Barry J. Gordon, Marc H. Klee and Alan J. Loewenstein, a monthly fee of $7,500 for general and administrative services. In addition, in September 2004 and January 2005, Mr. Gordon advanced an aggregate of $77,500 to us, on a non-interest bearing basis, for payment of offering expenses on our behalf. The loans will be payable without interest on the earlier of September 30, 2005 or the consummation of this offering. The loans will be repaid out of the proceeds of this offering not being placed in trust.
19
PROPOSED BUSINESS
Introduction
We are a recently organized Delaware blank check company incorporated on September 14, 2004 in order to serve as a vehicle for the acquisition of an operating business which we believe has significant growth potential. Our efforts in identifying a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry, although we intend to focus on technology-related businesses.
We believe technology valuations have become very favorable for the following reasons:
• | | Attractive target valuations. While the excitement of the Internet drove technology stocks to extraordinarily high levels in the late 1990’s, the subsequent significant decline in stock prices has started to return public valuations to lower levels. Consequently, we believe the opportunity to make an acquisition at a reasonable level is currently attractive. | |
| | | |
• | | Fewer alternatives for private companies. During robust stock market periods, private companies have numerous opportunities to raise capital for expansion, acquisition, debt repayment and working capital needs. However, when the markets are not as strong, the ability of a private company to go public through the initial public offering process is significantly reduced. Similarly, venture capital is generally more difficult to acquire during these timeframes. Consequently, we believe that following the recent slump in market activity, our ready source of capital for target businesses may put us in an advantageous position to acquire companies at opportune levels. | |
| | | |
• | | Continued worldwide spending. While, historically, information technology expenditures were largely the province of the corporate and government sectors, and primarily in North America, Western Europe, Japan and several other areas, this is becoming less so over time. Today, average consumers purchase items such as personal computers, digital cameras and cellular telephones. Additionally, experts in the field such as Gartner Group (It Watch: Increasing Optimism for 2005 (December 20, 2004)) believe areas of the world that have historically been under-penetrated with technology goods will soon see an increase and availability of new technologies. | |
| | | |
• | | Potential future markets. We think a number of significant technology-related markets will start to evolve into substantial opportunities. For instance, Gartner Group (It Watch: Increasing Optimism for 2005 (December 20, 2004)) and Morgan Stanley (Industry Overview, Communications Equipment (January 6, 2005)) believe wireless communications, the digital home and other technologies will continue to evolve into larger markets. However, even areas of technology that have been in existence for a number of years continually change and adapt to new technologies, thereby opening up different uses and opportunities. | |
Effecting a business combination
General
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any substantive commercial business for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of this offering, our capital stock, debt or a combination of these in effecting a business combination. Although substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering are intended to be generally applied toward effecting a business combination as described in this prospectus, the proceeds are not otherwise being designated for any more specific purposes. Accordingly, prospective investors will invest in us without an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of any one or more business combinations. A business combination may involve the acquisition of, or merger with, a company which does not need substantial additional capital but which desires to establish a public trading market for its shares, while avoiding what it may deem to be adverse consequences of undertaking a public offering itself. These include time delays, significant expense, loss of voting control and compliance with various Federal and state securities laws. In the alternative, we may seek to consummate a business combination with a company that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth. While we may seek to effect business combinations with more than one target business, we will probably have the ability, as a result of our limited resources, to effect only a single business combination.
20
We have not identified a target business or target industry
To date, we have not selected any target business or target industry on which to concentrate our search for a business combination. Subject to the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of our net assets at the time of the acquisition, as described below in more detail, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Accordingly, there is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the target business with which we may ultimately complete a business combination. To the extent we effect a business combination with a financially unstable company or an entity in its early stage of development or growth, including entities without established records of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business and operations of financially unstable and early stage or potential emerging growth companies. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
Sources of target businesses
We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital funds, private equity funds, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community, who may present solicited or unsolicited proposals. Our officers and directors as well as their affiliates may also bring to our attention target business candidates. While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage these firms in the future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee or other compensation. In no event, however, will we pay any of our existing officers, directors or stockholders or any entity with which they are affiliated any finder’s fee or other compensation for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the consummation of a business combination.
Selection of a target business and structuring of a business combination
Subject to the requirement that our initial business combination must be with a target business with a fair market value that is at least 80% of our net assets at the time of such acquisition, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective target business. In evaluating a prospective target business, our management will consider, among other factors, the following:
• | | financial condition and results of operation; | |
| | | |
• | | growth potential; | |
| | | |
• | | experience and skill of management and availability of additional personnel; | |
| | | |
• | | capital requirements; | |
| | | |
• | | competitive position; | |
| | | |
• | | barriers to entry into other industries; | |
| | | |
• | | stage of development of the products, processes or services; | |
| | | |
• | | degree of current or potential market acceptance of the products, processes or services; | |
| | | |
• | | proprietary features and degree of intellectual property or other protection of the products, processes or services; | |
| | | |
• | | regulatory environment of the industry; and | |
| | | |
• | | costs associated with effecting the business combination. | |
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular business combination will be based, to the extent relevant, on the above factors as well as other considerations deemed relevant by our management in effecting a business combination consistent with our business objective. In evaluating a prospective target business, we will conduct an extensive due diligence review which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and inspection of facilities, as well as review of financial and other information which will be made available to us.
21
The time and costs required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete the business combination cannot presently be ascertained with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which a business combination is not ultimately completed will result in a loss to us and reduce the amount of capital available to otherwise complete a business combination. However, we will not pay any finders or consulting fees to our existing stockholders, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered to or in connection with a business combination.
Fair Market Value of Target Business
The initial target business that we acquire must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of our net assets at the time of such acquisition. The fair market value of such business will be determined by our board of directors based upon standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as actual and potential sales, earnings and cash flow and book value. If our board is not able to independently determine that the target business has a sufficient fair market value, we will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm which is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. Since any opinion, if obtained, would merely state that fair market value meets the 80% of net assets threshold, it is not anticipated that copies of such opinion would be distributed to our stockholders, although copies will be provided to stockholders who request it. We will not be required to obtain an opinion from an investment banking firm as to the fair market value if our board of directors independently determines that the target business has sufficient fair market value.
Probable lack of business diversification
While we may seek to effect business combinations with more than one target business, our initial business combination must be with a target business which satisfies the minimum valuation standard at the time of such acquisition, as discussed above. Consequently, it is probable that we will have the ability to effect only a single business combination. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be entirely dependent upon the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations of entities operating in multiple industries or multiple areas of a single industry, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses. By consummating a business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
• | | subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to a business combination, and | |
| | | |
• | | result in our dependency upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services. | |
Limited ability to evaluate the target business’ management
Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of the target business’ management will prove to be correct. In addition, we cannot assure you that the future management will have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of our officers and directors, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following a business combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to a business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that our officers and directors will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
Following a business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
22
Opportunity for stockholder approval of business combination
Prior to the completion of a business combination, we will submit the transaction to our stockholders for approval, even if the nature of the acquisition is such as would not ordinarily require stockholder approval under applicable state law. In connection with seeking stockholder approval of a business combination, we will furnish our stockholders with proxy solicitation materials prepared in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which, among other matters, will include a description of the operations of the target business and audited historical financial statements of the business.
In connection with the vote required for any business combination, all of our existing stockholders, including all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote their respective shares of common stock owned by them immediately prior to this offering in accordance with the majority of the shares of common stock voted by the public stockholders. This voting arrangement shall not apply to shares included in units purchased in this offering or purchased following this offering in the open market by any of our existing stockholders, officers and directors. We will proceed with the business combination only if a majority of the shares of common stock voted by the public stockholders are voted in favor of the business combination and public stockholders owning less than 20% of the shares sold in this offering exercise their conversion rights.
Conversion rights
At the time we seek stockholder approval of any business combination, we will offer each public stockholder the right to have such stockholder’s shares of common stock converted to cash if the stockholder votes against the business combination and the business combination is approved and completed. The actual per-share conversion price will be equal to the amount in the trust account, inclusive of any interest (calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the proposed business combination), divided by the number of shares sold in this offering. Without taking into any account interest earned on the trust account, the initial per-share conversion price would be $5.20, or $0.80 less than the per-unit offering price of $6.00. An eligible stockholder may request conversion at any time after the mailing to our stockholders of the proxy statement and prior to the vote taken with respect to a proposed business combination at a meeting held for that purpose, but the request will not be granted unless the stockholder votes against the business combination and the business combination is approved and completed. Any request for conversion, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date of the meeting. It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to stockholders entitled to convert their shares who elect conversion will be distributed promptly after completion of a business combination. Public stockholders who convert their stock into their share of the trust account still have the right to exercise the warrants that they received as part of the units. We will not complete any business combination if public stockholders, owning 20% or more of the shares sold in this offering, exercise their conversion rights.
Liquidation if no business combination
If we do not complete a business combination within 18 months after the consummation of this offering, or within 24 months if the extension criteria described below have been satisfied, we will be dissolved and distribute to all of our public stockholders, in proportion to their respective equity interests, an aggregate sum equal to the amount in the trust account, inclusive of any interest, plus any remaining net assets. Our existing stockholders have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to shares of common stock owned by them immediately prior to this offering. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless.
If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of this offering, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the initial per-share liquidation price would be $5.20, or $0.80 less than the per-unit offering price of $6.00. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which could be prior to the claims of our public stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share liquidation price will not be less than $5.20, plus interest, due to claims of creditors. Our directors have agreed pursuant to agreements with us and EarlyBirdCapital that, if we liquidate prior to the consummation of a business combination, they will be personally liable to pay debts and obligations to vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or products sold to us in excess of the net proceeds of this offering not held in the trust account. We cannot assure you, however, that they would be able to satisfy those obligations.
23
If we enter into either a letter of intent, an agreement in principle or a definitive agreement to complete a business combination prior to the expiration of 18 months after the consummation of this offering, but are unable to complete the business combination within the 18-month period, then we will have an additional six months in which to complete the business combination contemplated by the letter of intent, agreement in principle or definitive agreement. If we are unable to do so within 24 months following the consummation of this offering, we will then liquidate. Upon notice from us, the trustee of the trust account will commence liquidating the investments constituting the trust account and will turn over the proceeds to our transfer agent for distribution to our public stockholders. We anticipate that our instruction to the trustee would be given promptly after the expiration of the applicable 18-month or 24-month period.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of our liquidation or if the stockholders seek to convert their respective shares into cash upon a business combination which the stockholder voted against and which is completed by us. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than us and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there may be numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target business. Further:
• | | our obligation to seek stockholder approval of a business combination may delay the completion of a transaction; | |
| | | |
• | | our obligation to convert into cash shares of common stock held by our public stockholders in certain instances may reduce the resources available to us for a business combination; and | |
| | | |
• | | our outstanding warrants and options, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. | |
Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. Our management believes, however, that our status as a public entity and potential access to the United States public equity markets may give us a competitive advantage over privately-held entities having a similar business objective as ours in acquiring a target business with significant growth potential on favorable terms.
If we succeed in effecting a business combination, there will be, in all likelihood, intense competition from competitors of the target business. We cannot assure you that, subsequent to a business combination, we will have the resources or ability to compete effectively.
Facilities
We maintain our executive offices at 1415 Kellum Place, Suite 205, Garden City, New York. The cost for this space is included in the $7,500 per-month fee American Fund Advisors charges us for general and administrative services pursuant to a letter agreement between us and American Fund Advisors. We believe, based on rents and fees for similar services in the Garden City, New York metropolitan area, that the fee charged by American Fund Advisors is at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated person. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We have four officers, two of which are also members of our board of directors. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters and intend to devote only as much time as they deem necessary to our affairs. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on the availability of suitable target businesses to investigate, although we expect Mr. Gordon to devote an average of
24
approximately ten hours per week to our business. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of a business combination.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements
We have registered our units, common stock and warrants under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual and quarterly reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent accountants.
We will not acquire a target business if audited financial statements based on United States generally accepted accounting principles cannot be obtained for the target business. Additionally, our management will provide stockholders with audited financial statements, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, of the prospective target business as part of the proxy solicitation materials sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. Our management believes that the requirement of having available audited financial statements for the target business will not materially limit the pool of potential target businesses available for acquisition.
Comparison to offerings of blank check companies
The following table compares and contrasts the terms of our offering and the terms of an offering of blank check companies under Rule 419 promulgated by the SEC assuming that the gross proceeds, underwriting discounts and underwriting expenses for the Rule 419 offering are the same as this offering and that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. None of the terms of a Rule 419 offering will apply to this offering.
| | Terms of Our Offering | | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
|
Escrow of offering proceeds | | $31,200,000 of the net offering | | $29,484,000 of the offering proceeds | |
| | proceeds will be deposited into a | | would be required to be deposited | |
| | trust account at JPMorgan Chase | | into either an escrow account with an | |
| | NY Bank maintained by Continental | | insured depositary institution or in a | |
| | Stock Transfer & Trust Company. | | separate bank account established by | |
| | | | broker-dealer in which the broker- | |
| | | | dealer acts as trustee for persons | |
| | | | having the beneficial interests in the | |
| | | | account. | |
| | | | | |
Investment of net proceeds | | The $31,200,000 of net offering | | Proceeds could be invested only in | |
| | proceeds held in trust will only be | | specified securities such as a money | |
| | invested in U.S. “government | | market fund meeting conditions of | |
| | securities,” defined as any Treasury | | the Investment Company Act of 1940 | |
| | Bill issued by the United States | | or in securities that are direct | |
| | having a maturity of one hundred | | obligations of, or obligations | |
| | and eighty days or less. | | guaranteed as to principal or interest | |
| | | | by, the United States. | |
| | | | | |
Limitation on Fair Value or Net Assets of Target Business | | The initial target business that we | | We would be restricted from acquiring | |
| | acquire must have a fair market | | a target business unless the fair value | |
| | value equal to at least 80% of our | | of such business or net assets to be | |
| | net assets at the time of such | | acquired represent at least 80% of | |
| | acquisition. | | the maximum offering proceeds. | |
25
| | Terms of Our Offering | | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
|
Trading of securities issued | | The units may commence trading | | No trading of the units or the under | |
| | on or promptly after the date of this | | lying common stock and warrants | |
| | prospectus. The common stock and | | would be permitted until the | |
| | warrants comprising the units will | | completion of a business | |
| | begin to trade separately on the | | combination. During this period, the | |
| | 90th day after the date of this | | securities would be held in the | |
| | prospectus unless EarlyBirdCapital | | escrow or trust account. | |
| | informs us of its decision to allow | | | |
| | earlier separate trading, provided we | | | |
| | have filed with the SEC a Current | | | |
| | Report on Form 8-K, which includes | | | |
| | an audited balance sheet reflecting | | | |
| | our receipt of the proceeds of this | | | |
| | offering, including any proceeds we | | | |
| | receive from the exercise of the over- | | | |
| | allotment option, if such option is | | | |
| | exercised prior to the filing of the | | | |
| | Form 8-K. | | | |
| | | | | |
Exercise of the warrants | | The warrants cannot be exercised | | The warrants could be exercised | |
| | until the later of the completion of | | prior to the completion of a business | |
| | a business combination and one year | | combination, but securities received | |
| | from the date of this prospectus and, | | and cash paid in connection with the | |
| | accordingly, will be exercised only | | exercise would be deposited in the | |
| | after the trust account has been | | escrow or trust account. | |
| | terminated and distributed. | | | |
| | | | | |
Election to remain an investor | | We will give our stockholders the | | A prospectus containing information | |
| | opportunity to vote on the business | | required by the SEC would be sent to | |
| | combination. In connection with | | each investor. Each investor would | |
| | seeking stockholder approval, we | | be given the opportunity to notify the | |
| | will send each stockholder a proxy | | company, in writing, within a period | |
| | statement containing information | | of no less than 20 business days and | |
| | required by the SEC. A stockholder | | no more than 45 business days from | |
| | following the procedures described | | the effective date of the post-effective | |
| | in this prospectus is given the right | | amendment, to decide whether he or | |
| | to convert his or her shares into his | | she elects to remain a stockholder of | |
| | or her pro rata share of the trust | | the company or require the return of | |
| | account. However, a stockholder | | his or her investment. If the company | |
| | who does not follow these procedures | | has not received the notification by | |
| | or a stockholder who does not take | | the end of the 45th business day, | |
| | any action would not be entitled to | | funds and interest or dividends, if any, | |
| | the return of any funds. | | held in the trust or escrow account | |
| | | | would automatically be returned to | |
| | | | the stockholder. Unless a sufficient | |
| | | | number of investors elect to remain | |
| | | | investors, all of the deposited funds in | |
| | | | the escrow account must be returned | |
| | | | to all investors and none of the | |
| | | | securities will be issued. | |
26
| | Terms of Our Offering | | Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
|
Business combination deadline | | A business combination must | | If an acquisition has not been | |
| | occur within 18 months after the | | consummated within 18 months after | |
| | consummation of this offering or | | the effective date of the initial | |
| | within 24 months after the | | registration statement, funds held in | |
| | consummation of this offering if | | the trust or escrow account would be | |
| | a letter of intent or definitive | | returned to investors. | |
| | agreement relating to a prospective | | | |
| | business combination was entered | | | |
| | into prior to the end of the 18-month | | | |
| | period. | | | |
| | | | | |
Release of funds | | The proceeds held in the trust | | The proceeds held in the escrow | |
| | account will not be released until | | account would not be released until | |
| | the earlier of the completion of a | | the earlier of the completion of a | |
| | business combination and our | | business combination or the failure | |
| | liquidation upon failure to effect a | | to effect a business combination | |
| | business combination within the | | within the allotted time. | |
| | allotted time. | | |
27
MANAGEMENT
Directors and Executive Officers
Our current directors and executive officers are as follows:
Name | Age | | Position | | |
|
Barry J. Gordon | 59 | | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | | |
Marc H. Klee | 50 | | President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Director | | |
Alan J. Loewenstein | 48 | | Vice President | | |
Robert Sroka | 55 | | Vice President | | |
Robert Brill | 58 | | Director | | |
Arthur H. Goldberg | 62 | | Director | | |
Philip Goodman | 67 | | Director | | |
Barry J. Gordon has been our chairman of the board and chief executive officer since our inception. Mr. Gordon served as executive vice president of American Fund Advisors, Inc. from September 1978 until December 1980, as its president from December 1980 until May 1987 and has been its chairman of the board since May 1987. American Fund Advisors is a private money management firm that manages money for high net worth individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, and is the subadvisor to the John Hancock Technology Fund. Mr. Gordon has been a director of American Fund Advisors since December 1980. Since December 1991, he has been the president, and from December 1991 to December 1993, he was a director, of John Hancock Technology Series, Inc., an investment company. Since September 1999, Mr. Gordon has been president, chief executive officer and a director of BlueStone AFA Management, LLC, the general partner of the AFA Private Equity Fund 1, (formerly BlueStone AFA Fund), a venture capital fund providing equity capital for public and private companies primarily in the technology sector, and since January 2000, has been a director of the AFA Private Equity Fund 1. Mr. Gordon has also been chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the New Jersey Cardinals, a Class A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, since February 1990 and the Norwich Navigators, a Class AA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, since March 1991. He has also served as a director of Winfield Capital Corp., an Over The Counter Bulletin Board listed small business investment company, since October 1995. Mr. Gordon was also the 1992 Entrepreneur of the Year for Long Island in financial services. Mr. Gordon received a B.B.A. from the University of Miami and an M.B.A. from Hofstra University.
Marc H. Klee has been our president, chief financial officer, secretary and a member of our board of directors since our inception. Mr. Klee was the vice president of American Fund Advisors from January 1981 until May 1984, its senior vice president from May 1984 until March 2000 and has been its executive vice president since March 2000. He has also been a director of American Fund Advisors since May 1984. Mr. Klee was the vice president of the John Hancock Technology Series, Inc. from May 1981 until May 1987 and has been co-portfolio manager of the John Hancock Technology Fund since January 1983. Since September 1999, Mr. Klee has been secretary and a director of BlueStone AFA Management, LLC and since January 2000, has been a director of the AFA Private Equity Fund 1. Mr. Klee has also been the president of the New Jersey Cardinals since February 1990 and vice president of the Norwich Navigators since March 1991. Mr. Klee received a B.A. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook (Phi Beta Kappa), an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and is a chartered financial analyst.
Alan J. Loewenstein has been our vice president since our inception. Mr. Loewenstein has been the senior vice president of American Fund Advisors since April 2000 and was its vice president from May 1983 to April 2000. Prior to joining American Fund Advisors, Mr. Loewenstein served as an investment officer at Fidelity Union Bank from June 1980 to January 1983. Mr. Loewenstein received a B.A. from Rutgers University, an M.B.A. from Rutgers School of Management and is a chartered financial analyst.
Robert Sroka has been our vice president since our inception. Mr. Sroka has served as a managing director of Corporate Solutions Group, LLC, an investment banking firm, since December 2003. Mr. Sroka has also served as managing partner of Lighthouse Partners, a private investment and business consulting company, since August 1998. From February 1994 to June 1998, Mr. Sroka served as managing director of Investment Banking-Mergers and Acquisitions for J.P. Morgan. Mr. Sroka has also served as a director of Sypris Solutions, Inc., a Nasdaq National Market listed provider of outsourced services and specialty products, since March 1997. Mr. Sroka also serves as non-executive chairman of the board of Avado Brands, Inc., an operator of restaurants. On
28
February 4, 2004, Avado Brands, Inc. filed a voluntary petition under the federal bankruptcy laws. Mr. Sroka received a B.A. (cum laude) from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.A. (with honors) and an M.B.A. (with distinction) from New York University.
Robert Brill has been a member of our board of directors since our inception. Dr. Brill has been a managing partner of Newlight Associates, a group of venture capital funds that invest equity capital in information technology companies, since he co-founded Newlight in August 1997. From September 1988 to December 2003, Dr. Brill was a managing partner of PolyVentures, a venture capital fund whose principal investment focus was on early stage investments in technology companies. Dr. Brill has been a director of Standard Microsystems Corporation, a Nasdaq listed provider of semiconductor systems solutions for high-speed communication and computing applications, since July 1994. Dr. Brill was a founding member of the Technical Advisory Board of the Semiconductor Research Corporation and a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi. He received a B.A. and B.S. with high honors from Lehigh University and a Ph.D. in Physics from Brown University.
Arthur H. Goldberg has been a member of our board of directors since our inception. Mr. Goldberg has served as a member of Corporate Solutions Group since January 2000. From February 1994 to December 1999, Mr. Goldberg served as president of Manhattan Associates, an investment and merchant banking firm. Mr. Goldberg has been a director of Atlantic Realty Trust, a Nasdaq SmallCap listed real estate investment trust, since 1996, and has been a trustee of Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust (formerly named RPS Realty Trust), a New York Stock Exchange listed real estate investment trust, since 1988. Mr. Goldberg received a B.S. (cum laude) from New York University Stern School and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law.
Philip Goodman has been a member of our board of directors since our inception. Since 1990, Mr. Goodman has acted as an independent private consultant to various companies, including American Fund Advisors since 1998 and PharmaTech Solutions, Inc., a healthcare services company, since February 2004. Mr. Goodman received an A.A. from the University of Chicago, a B.A. from Miami University (Ohio) and studied at the Case Institute of Technology.
Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class serving a three-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Arthur H. Goldberg, will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Philip Goodman and Robert Brill, will expire at the second annual meeting. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Barry J. Gordon and Marc H. Klee, will expire at the third annual meeting. These individuals will play a key role in identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, selecting the target business, and structuring, negotiating and consummating its acquisition. None of these individuals has been a principal of or affiliated with a public company or a blank check company that executed a business plan similar to our business plan and none of these individuals is currently affiliated with such an entity.
Executive Compensation
No executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered. Commencing on the effective date of this prospectus through the acquisition of a target business, we will pay American Fund Advisors, an affiliate of Barry J. Gordon, Marc H. Klee and Alan J. Loewenstein, a fee of $7,500 per month for providing us with office space and certain office and secretarial services. However, this arrangement is solely for our benefit and is not intended to provide Messrs. Gordon, Klee or Loewenstein compensation in lieu of a salary. Other than this $7,500 per-month fee, no compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid to any of our existing stockholders, including our directors, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with a business combination. However, our existing stockholders will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of these out-of-pocket expenses and there will be no review of the reasonableness of the expenses by anyone other than our board of directors, which includes persons who may seek reimbursement, or a court of competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged. Because none of our directors will be deemed “independent,” we will generally not have the benefit of independent directors examining the propriety of expenses incurred on our behalf and subject to reimbursement.
29
Conflicts of Interest
Potential investors should be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest:
• | | None of our officers and directors are required to commit their full time to our affairs and, accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities. | |
| | | |
• | | In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. They may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. For a complete description of our management’s other affiliations, see the previous section entitled “Directors and Executive Officers.” | |
| | | |
• | | Our officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities, including other blank check companies, engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us. | |
| | | |
• | | Since our directors own shares of our common stock which will be released from escrow only if a business combination is successfully completed, and may own warrants which will expire worthless if a business combination is not consummated, our board may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate to effect a business combination. The personal and financial interests of our directors and officers may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, completing a business combination timely and securing the release of their stock. | |
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
• | | the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity; | |
| | | |
• | | the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and | |
| | | |
• | | it would not be fair to the corporation and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation. | |
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. In addition, conflicts of interest may arise when our board evaluates a particular business opportunity with respect to the above-listed criteria. We cannot assure you that any of the above mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple corporate affiliations, each of our officers and directors has agreed in principle, until the earliest of a business combination, our liquidation or such time as he ceases to be an officer or director, to present to us for our consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any business opportunity which may reasonably be required to be presented to us under Delaware law, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary obligations he might have.
Each of our officers and directors has certain pre-existing fiduciary obligations to other entities that may cause him to have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity he presents a specific business opportunity. To the extent that one of our officers or directors identifies a business opportunity that may be suitable for an entity that he has a pre-existing fiduciary obligation to, he may honor his pre-existing fiduciary obligation to this entity. Accordingly, he may not present opportunities to us that otherwise may be attractive to such entity unless it has declined to accept such opportunities.
In connection with the vote required for any business combination, all of our existing stockholders, including all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote their respective shares of common stock which were owned prior to this offering in accordance with the vote of the public stockholders owning a majority of the shares of our common stock sold in this offering. In addition, they have agreed to waive their respective rights to participate in any liquidation distribution but only with respect to those shares of common stock acquired by them prior to this offering.
To further minimize potential conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate a business combination with an entity which is affiliated with any of our existing stockholders unless we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that the business combination is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view.
30
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of February 24, 2005, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our common stock included in the units offered by this prospectus (assuming no purchase of units in this offering), by:
• | | each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock; | |
| | | |
• | | each of our officers and directors; and | |
| | | |
• | | all our officers and directors as a group. | |
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them.
| | | Approximate Percentage |
| Amount and Nature | of Outstanding Common Stock |
| of Beneficial |
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) | Ownership | Before Offering | After Offering |
|
Barry J. Gordon | 561,940 | | 37.5% | | 7.5% | |
Marc H. Klee | 437,060 | | 29.1% | | 5.8% | |
Arthur H. Goldberg(2) | 187,500 | | 12.5% | | 2.5% | |
Alan J. Loewenstein | 60,000 | | 4.0% | | * | |
Robert Sroka(2) | 60,000 | | 4.0% | | * | |
Robert Brill(3) | 60,000 | | 4.0% | | * | |
Philip Goodman(4) | 60,000 | | 4.0% | | * | |
All directors and executive officers as a group (7 individuals) | 1,426,500 | | 95.1% | | 19.0% | |
| |
* | | | | Less than 1%. | |
(1) | | | | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following is 1415 Kellum Place, Suite 205, Garden City, New York 11530. | |
(2) | | | | The business address of each of these individuals is c/o Corporate Solutions Group, 175 Great Neck Road, Suite 408, Great Neck, NY 11021. | |
(3) | | | | The business address of Dr. Brill is c/o Newlight Associates, 500 North Broadway, Suite 144, Jericho, New York 11753. | |
(4) | | | | The business address of Mr. Goodman is 6 Oakwood Drive, Sewall’s Point, Florida 34996. | |
Immediately after this offering, our existing stockholders, which include all of our officers and directors, collectively, will beneficially own 20% of the then issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. Because of this ownership block, these stockholders may be able to effectively exercise control over all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions other than approval of a business combination.
All of the shares of our common stock outstanding prior to the date of this prospectus will be placed in escrow with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as escrow agent, until the earliest of:
• | | three years following the date of this prospectus; | |
| | | |
• | | our liquidation; and | |
| | | |
• | | the consummation of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to our consummating a business combination with a target business. | |
During the escrow period, the holders of these shares will not be able to sell or transfer their securities except to their spouses and children or trusts established for their benefit, but will retain all other rights as our stockholders, including, without limitation, the right to vote their shares of common stock and the right to receive cash
31
dividends, if declared. If dividends are declared and payable in shares of common stock, such dividends will also be placed in escrow. If we are unable to effect a business combination and liquidate, none of our existing stockholders will receive any portion of the liquidation proceeds with respect to common stock owned by them prior to the date of this prospectus.
Our directors have agreed with EarlyBirdCapital that after this offering is completed and within the first forty trading days after separate trading of the warrants has commenced, they or certain of their affiliates or designees will collectively purchase up to 1,000,000 warrants in the public marketplace at prices not to exceed $0.70 per warrant. They have further agreed that any warrants purchased by them or their affiliates or designees will not be sold or transferred until after we have completed a business combination. The warrants may trade separately on the 90th day after the date of this prospectus unless EarlyBirdCapital determines that an earlier date is acceptable. In no event will EarlyBirdCapital allow separate trading of the common stock and warrants until we file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the proceeds of this offering including any proceeds we receive from the exercise of the over-allotment option if such option is exercised prior to our filing of the Form 8-K. Purchases of warrants demonstrate confidence in our ultimate ability to effect a business combination because the warrants will expire worthless if we are unable to consummate a business combination.
Barry J. Gordon, Marc H. Klee and Arthur H. Goldberg may be deemed to be our “parents” and “promoters,” as these terms are defined under the Federal securities laws.
32
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
In September 2004, we issued 750,000 shares of our common stock to the individuals set forth below for $25,000 in cash, at an average purchase price of approximately $0.033 per share, as follows:
Name | Number of Shares | | Relationship to Us | |
|
Barry J. Gordon | 280,970 | | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | |
Marc H. Klee | 218,530 | | President, Chief Financial Officer and Director | |
Arthur H. Goldberg | 93,750 | | Director | |
Harvey Granat | 36,750 | | Stockholder | |
Alan J. Loewenstein | 30,000 | | Vice President | |
Robert Sroka | 30,000 | | Vice President | |
Robert Brill | 30,000 | | Director | |
Philip Goodman | 30,000 | | Director | |
On January 4, 2005, our board of directors authorized a stock dividend of 0.666666 shares of common stock for each outstanding share of common stock and on January 24, 2005, our board of directors authorized a further stock dividend of 0.2 shares of common stock for each outstanding share of common stock, effectively lowering the purchase price to $0.0167 per share.
The holders of the majority of these shares will be entitled to make up to two demands that we register these shares pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the date of this prospectus. The holders of the majority of these shares may elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after the date on which these shares of common stock are released from escrow. In addition, these stockholders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights on registration statements filed subsequent to the date on which these shares of common stock are released from escrow. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
American Fund Advisors, an affiliate of Barry J. Gordon, Marc H. Klee and Alan J. Loewenstein, has agreed that, commencing on the effective date of this prospectus through the acquisition of a target business, it will make available to us a small amount of office space and certain office and secretarial services, as we may require from time to time. We have agreed to pay American Fund Advisors $7,500 per month for these services. Mr. Gordon is the chairman of the board and president and 51.43% owner of American Fund Advisors, Mr. Klee is the executive vice president and 28.34% owner of American Fund Advisors and Mr. Loewenstein is the senior vice president and 2.86% owner of American Fund Advisors. As a result of these affiliations, these individuals will benefit from the transaction to the extent of their interest in American Fund Advisors. However, this arrangement is solely for our benefit and is not intended to provide any of our officers or directors compensation in lieu of a salary. We believe, based on rents and fees for similar services in the Garden City metropolitan area, that the fee charged by American Fund Advisors is at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated person. However, as our directors may not be deemed “independent,” we did not have the benefit of disinterested directors approving this transaction.
Barry J. Gordon has advanced $77,500 to us as of the date of this prospectus to cover expenses related to this offering. The loans will be payable without interest on the earlier of September 30, 2005 or the consummation of this offering. We intend to repay these loans from the proceeds of this offering not being placed in trust.
We will reimburse our officers and directors for any reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on our behalf such as identifying and investigating possible target businesses and business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of accountable out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us, which will be reviewed only by our board or a court of competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged.
Other than the $7,500 per-month administrative fee and reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses payable to our officers and directors, no compensation or fees of any kind, including finders and consulting fees, will be paid to any of our existing stockholders, officers or directors who owned our common stock prior to this offering, or to any of their respective affiliates for services rendered to us prior to or with respect to the business combination.
All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates, including loans by our officers and directors, will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable than are available from unaffiliated third parties and such transactions or loans, including any forgiveness of loans, will require prior approval in each instance by a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors (to
33
the extent we have any) or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
General
We are authorized to issue 30,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.0001, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.0001. As of the date of this prospectus, 1,500,000 shares of common stock are outstanding, held by eight recordholders. No shares of preferred stock are currently outstanding.
Units
Each unit consists of one share of common stock and two warrants. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock. The common stock and warrants will begin to trade separately on the 90th day after the date of this prospectus unless EarlyBirdCapital informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, provided that in no event may the common stock and warrants be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering. We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes this audited balance sheet upon the consummation of this offering. The audited balance sheet will reflect proceeds we receive from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K.
Common stock
Our stockholders are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. In connection with the vote required for any business combination, all of our existing stockholders, including all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote their respective shares of common stock owned by them immediately prior to this offering in accordance with the public stockholders. This voting arrangement shall not apply to shares included in units purchased in this offering or purchased following this offering in the open market by any of our existing stockholders, officers and directors. Additionally, our existing stockholders, officers and directors will vote all of their shares in any manner they determine, in their sole discretion, with respect to any other items that come before a vote of our stockholders.
We will proceed with the business combination only if a majority of the shares of common stock voted by the public stockholders are voted in favor of the business combination and public stockholders owning less than 20% of the shares sold in this offering exercise their conversion rights discussed below.
Our board of directors is divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.
If we are forced to liquidate prior to a business combination, our public stockholders are entitled to share ratably in the trust fund, inclusive of any interest, and any net assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities. Our existing stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to share in any distribution with respect to common stock owned by them prior to the offering if we are forced to liquidate.
Our stockholders have no conversion, preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to the common stock, except that public stockholders have the right to have their shares of common stock converted to cash equal to their pro rata share of the trust account if they vote against the business combination and the business combination is approved and completed. Public stockholders who convert their stock into their share of the trust account still have the right to exercise the warrants that they received as part of the units.
Preferred stock
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of 1,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock with such designation, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our board of directors.
34
No shares of preferred stock are being issued or registered in this offering. Accordingly, our board of directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of common stock, although the underwriting agreement prohibits us, prior to a business combination, from issuing preferred stock which participates in any manner in the proceeds of the trust account, or which votes as a class with the common stock on a business combination. We may issue some or all of the preferred stock to effect a business combination. In addition, the preferred stock could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of us. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.
Warrants
No warrants are currently outstanding. Each warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $5.00 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on the later of:
• | | the completion of a business combination; and | |
| | | |
• | | one year from the date of this prospectus. | |
The warrants will expire four years from the date of this prospectus at 5:00 p.m., New York City time.
We may call the warrants for redemption, with EarlyBirdCapital’s prior consent
• | | in whole and not in part, | |
| | | |
• | | at a price of $.01 per warrant at any time after the warrants become exercisable, | |
| | | |
• | | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder, and | |
| | | |
• | | if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the common stock equals or exceeds $8.50 per share, for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third business day prior to the notice of redemption to warrant holders. | |
The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants.
The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of common stock at a price below their respective exercise prices.
The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price, by certified check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of common stock. After the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
No warrants will be exercisable unless at the time of exercise a prospectus relating to common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is current and the common stock has been registered or qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants. Under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed to meet these conditions and use our best efforts to maintain a current prospectus relating to common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the expiration of the warrants. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so. The warrants may be deprived of any value and the market for the warrants may be limited if the prospectus relating to the common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants is not current or if the common stock is not qualified or exempt from qualification in the jurisdictions in which the holders of the warrants reside.
35
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round up to the nearest whole number the number of shares of common stock to be issued to the warrant holder.
Purchase Option
We have agreed to sell to the representative of the underwriters an option to purchase up to a total of 300,000 units at a per-unit price of $9.90. The units issuable upon exercise of this option are identical to those offered by this prospectus except that the warrants included in the option have an exercise price of $6.25 (125% of the exercise price of the warrants included in the units sold in the offering). For a more complete description of the purchase option, see the section below entitled “Underwriting—Purchase Option.”
Dividends
We have not paid any dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay dividends prior to the completion of a business combination. The payment of dividends in the future will be contingent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our then board of directors. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.
Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for our securities and warrant agent for our warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 17 Battery Place, New York, New York 10004.
Shares Eligible for Future Sale
Immediately after this offering, we will have 7,500,000 shares of common stock outstanding, or 8,400,000 shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full. Of these shares, the 6,000,000 shares sold in this offering, or 6,900,000 shares if the over-allotment option is exercised, will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the remaining 1,500,000 shares are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering. None of those will be eligible for sale under Rule 144 prior to September 14, 2005. Notwithstanding this, all of those shares have been placed in escrow and will not be transferable for a period of three years from the date of this prospectus and will only be released prior to that date subject to certain limited exceptions.
Rule 144
In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock for at least one year would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of either of the following:
• | | 1% of the number of shares of common stock then outstanding, which will equal 75,000 shares immediately after this offering (or 84,000 if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option); and | |
| | | |
• | | the average weekly trading volume of the common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale. | |
Sales under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Rule 144(k)
Under Rule 144(k), a person who is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of or at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned the restricted shares proposed to be sold for at least two years, including the holding period of any prior owner other than an affiliate, is entitled to
36
sell their shares without complying with the manner of sale, public information, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144.
SEC Position on Rule 144 Sales
The Securities and Exchange Commission has taken the position that promoters or affiliates of a blank check company and their transferees, both before and after a business combination, would act as an “underwriter” under the Securities Act when reselling the securities of a blank check company. Accordingly, the Securities and Exchange Commission believes that those securities can be resold only through a registered offering and that Rule 144 would not be available for those resale transactions despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144.
Registration Rights
The holders of our 1,500,000 issued and outstanding shares of common stock on the date of this prospectus will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of the majority of these shares are entitled to make up to two demands that we register these shares. The holders of the majority of these shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after the date on which these shares of common stock are released from escrow. In addition, these stockholders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights on registration statements filed subsequent to the date on which these shares of common stock are released from escrow. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
37
UNDERWRITING
In accordance with the terms and conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to each of the underwriters named below, and each of the underwriters, for which EarlyBirdCapital is acting as representative, have severally, and not jointly, agreed to purchase on a firm commitment basis the number of units offered in this offering set forth opposite their respective names below:
Underwriters | | | Number of Units | |
|
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. | | | 3,900,000 | |
Maxim Group LLC | | | 2,100,000 | |
| | |
| |
Total | | | 6,000,000 | |
| | |
| |
|
A copy of the underwriting agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
State Blue Sky Information
We will offer and sell the units to retail customers only in Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New York and Rhode Island. In New York and Hawaii, we have relied on exemptions from the state registration requirements for transactions between an issuer and an underwriter involving a firm-commitment underwritten offering. In the other states, we have applied to have the units registered for sale and will not sell the units in these states until such registration is effective (including in Colorado, pursuant to 11-51-302(6) of the Colorado Revised Statutes).
If you are not an institutional investor, you may purchase our securities in this offering only in the jurisdictions described directly above. Institutional investors in every state except in Idaho and South Dakota may purchase the units in this offering pursuant to exemptions provided to such entities under the Blue Sky laws of various states. The definition of an “institutional investor” varies from state to state but generally includes financial institutions, broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies and other qualified entities.
Under the National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, the resale of the units, from and after the effective date, and the common stock and warrants comprising the units, once they become separately transferable, are exempt from state registration requirements because we will file periodic and annual reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. However, states are permitted to require notice filings and collect fees with regard to these transactions and a state may suspend the offer and sale of securities within such state if any such required filing is not made or fee is not paid. The following states do not presently require any notice filings or fee payments and permit the resale of the units, and the common stock and warrants comprising the units, once they become separately transferable:
• | | Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. | |
Additionally, the following states permit the resale of the units, and the common stock and warrants comprising the units, once they become separately transferable, if the proper notice filings have been made and fees paid:
• | | Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Vermont. | |
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not determined in which, if any, of these states we will submit the required filings or pay the required fee. If any of these states that has not yet adopted a statute relating to the National Securities Markets Improvement Act adopts such a statute in the future requiring a filing or fee or if any state amends its existing statutes with respect to its requirements, we would need to comply with those new requirements in order for the securities to continue to be eligible for resale in those jurisdictions.
Despite the exemption from state registration provided by the National Securities Markets Improvement Act, described above, the following states, regardless of whether they require a filing to be made or fee to be paid, have advised us that they do not recognize this act as a basis for exempting the registration of resales in their states of securities issued in blank check offerings:
38
• | | Alaska, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming. | |
We do not intend to register the resale of the securities sold in this offering in these states.
However, we believe that the units, from and after the effective date, and the common stock and warrants comprising the units, once they become separately transferable, will be eligible for sale on a secondary market basis in each of the following states, without any notice filings or fee payments, based upon the availability of another applicable exemption from the state’s registration requirements:
• | | immediately in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland and Rhode Island; | |
| | | |
• | | commencing 90 days after the date of this prospectus in Iowa and New Mexico; and | |
| | | |
• | | commencing 180 days from the date of this prospectus in Massachusetts. | |
Idaho and South Dakota have informed us that they do not permit the resale in their states of securities issued in blank check offerings, without exception. We will amend this prospectus for the purpose of disclosing additional states, if any, which advise us that our securities will be eligible for secondary trading without registration.
Pricing of Securities
We have been advised by the representative that the underwriters propose to offer the units to the public at the initial offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. They may allow some dealers concessions not in excess of $0.24 per unit and the dealers may reallow a concession not in excess of $0.10 per unit to other dealers.
Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the warrants were negotiated between us and the representative. Factors considered in determining the prices and terms of the units, including the common stock and warrants underlying the units, include:
• | | the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies; | |
| | | |
• | | prior offerings of those companies; | |
| | | |
• | | our prospects for acquiring an operating business at attractive values; | |
| | | |
• | | our capital structure; | |
| | | |
• | | an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies; | |
| | | |
• | | general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering; and | |
| | | |
• | | other factors as were deemed relevant. | |
However, although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities for an operating company in a particular industry since the underwriters are unable to compare our financial results and prospects with those of public companies operating in the same industry.
Over-Allotment Option
We have also granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable during the 45-day period commencing on the date of this prospectus, to purchase from us at the offering price, less underwriting discounts, up to an aggregate of 900,000 additional units for the sole purpose of covering over-allotments, if any. The over-allotment option will only be used to cover the net syndicate short position resulting from the initial distribution. The underwriters may exercise that option if the underwriters sell more units than the total number set forth in the table above. If any units underlying the option are purchased, the underwriters will severally purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above.
39
Commissions and Discounts
The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount to be paid by us to the underwriters and the proceeds, before expenses, to us. This information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option.
| Per unit | Without option | | With option |
|
Public offering price | $6.00 | | $36,000,000 | | | $41,400,000 | |
Discount | $0.42 | | $ 2,520,000 | | | $ 2,898,000 | |
Non-accountable Expense Allowance(1) | $0.12 | | $ 720,000 | | | $ 720,000 | |
Proceeds before expenses(2) | $5.46 | | $32,760,000 | | | $37,782,000 | |
| |
(1) | | | | The non-accountable expense allowance is not payable with respect to the units sold upon exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. | |
(2) | | | | The offering expenses are estimated at $550,000. | |
Purchase Option
We have agreed to sell to the representative, for $100, an option to purchase up to a total of 300,000 units. The units issuable upon exercise of this option are identical to those offered by this prospectus except that the warrants included in the option have an exercise price of $6.25 (125% of the exercise price of the warrants included in the units sold in the offering). This option is exercisable at $9.90 per unit commencing on the later of the consummation of a business combination and one year from the date of this prospectus and expiring five years from the date of this prospectus. The option and the 300,000 units, the 300,000 shares of common stock and the 600,000 warrants underlying such units, and the 600,000 shares of common stock underlying such warrants, have been deemed compensation by the NASD and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 2710(g)(1) of the NASD Conduct Rules. Additionally, the option may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a one-year period (including the foregoing 180-day period) following the date of this prospectus. However, the option may be transferred to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the offering and their bona fide officers or partners. Although the purchase option and its underlying securities have been registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part of, the option grants to holders demand and “piggy back” rights for periods of five and seven years, respectively, from the date of this prospectus with respect to the registration under the Securities Act of the securities directly and indirectly issuable upon exercise of the option. We will bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the securities, other than underwriting commissions which will be paid for by the holders themselves. The exercise price and number of units issuable upon exercise of the option may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the option will not be adjusted for issuances of common stock at a price below its exercise price.
Regulatory Restrictions on Purchase of Securities
Rules of the SEC may limit the ability of the underwriters to bid for or purchase our securities before the distribution of the securities is completed. However, the underwriters may engage in the following activities in accordance with the rules:
• | | Stabilizing Transactions. The underwriters may make bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of our securities, so long as stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. | |
| | | |
• | | Over-Allotments and Syndicate Coverage Transactions. The underwriters may create a short position in our securities by selling more of our securities than are set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. If the underwriters create a short position during the offering, the representative may engage in syndicate covering transactions by purchasing our securities in the open market. The representative may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of the over-allotment option. | |
| | | |
• | | Penalty Bids. The representative may reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the common stock originally sold by the syndicate member is purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. | |
40
Stabilization and syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of the securities to be higher than they would be in the absence of these transactions. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the prices of the securities if it discourages resales of the securities.
Neither we nor the underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the prices of the securities. These transactions may occur on the OTC Bulletin Board, in the over-the-counter market or on any trading market. If any of these transactions are commenced, they may be discontinued without notice at any time.
Other Terms
Although they are not obligated to do so, any of the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital, as needs may arise in the future, but there are no preliminary agreements or understandings between any of the underwriters and any potential targets. We are not under any contractual obligation to engage any of the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, but if we do, we may pay the underwriters a finder’s fee that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation where the terms would be fair and reasonable to each of the interested parties; provided that no agreement will be entered into and no fee will be paid prior to the one year anniversary of the date of this prospectus.
Indemnification
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against some liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in this respect.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus are being passed upon for us by Graubard Miller, New York, New York. Bingham McCutchen LLP, New York, New York, is acting as counsel for the underwriters in this offering.
EXPERTS
The financial statements included in this prospectus and in the registration statement have been audited by Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, to the extent and for the period set forth in their report appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and in the registration statement. The financial statements and the report of Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP are included in reliance upon their report given upon the authority of Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1, which includes exhibits, schedules and amendments, under the Securities Act, with respect to this offering of our securities. Although this prospectus, which forms a part of the registration statement, contains all material information included in the registration statement, parts of the registration statement have been omitted as permitted by rules and regulations of the SEC. We refer you to the registration statement and its exhibits for further information about us, our securities and this offering. The registration statement and its exhibits, as well as our other reports filed with the SEC, can be inspected and copied at the SEC’s public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549-1004. The public may obtain information about the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov which contains the Form S-1 and other reports, proxy and information statements and information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
41
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
Ardent Acquisition Corporation
(a corporation in the development stage)
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | | F-2 | |
Financial statements | | | |
Balance Sheet | | F-3 | |
Statement of Operations | | F-4 | |
Statement of Stockholders’ Equity | | F-5 | |
Statement of Cash Flows | | F-6 | |
Notes to Financial Statements | | F-7–F-8 | |
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors
Ardent Acquisition Corporation
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Ardent Acquisition Corporation (a corporation in the development stage) as of October 31, 2004, and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period from September 14, 2004 (inception) to October 31, 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Ardent Acquisition Corporation as of October 31, 2004, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from September 14, 2004 (inception) to October 31, 2004 in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles.
Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP
New York, New York
November 29, 2004, except for Note 7, as to which the date is January 24, 2005
F-2
Ardent Acquisition Corporation
(a corporation in the development stage)
Balance Sheet
| October 31, |
| 2004 |
|
ASSETS | | |
Current assets — Cash | $69,971 | |
|
Deferred offering costs | 25,000 | |
|
Total assets | $94,971 | |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | |
Current liabilities: | | |
Accrued expenses | $ 1,000 | |
Note payable, stockholder | 70,000 | |
|
Total liabilities | 71,000 | |
|
Commitment | | |
Stockholders’ equity | | |
Preferred stock, $.0001 par value | | |
Authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued | | |
Common stock, $.0001 par value | | |
Authorized 30,000,000 shares | | |
Issued and outstanding 1,500,000 shares | 150 | |
Additional paid-in capital | 24,850 | |
Deficit accumulated during the development stage | (1,029) | |
|
Total stockholders’ equity | 23,971 | |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $94,971 | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
F-3
Ardent Acquisition Corporation
(a corporation in the development stage)
Statement of Operations
| For the period from |
| September 14, 2004 |
| (inception) to |
| October 31, 2004 |
|
Interest income | $ 26 | |
Formation and operating costs | (1,055) | |
|
Net loss | $ (1,029) | |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding | 1,500,000 | |
|
Net loss per share | $ (0.00) | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
F-4
Ardent Acquisition Corporation
(a corporation in the development stage)
Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
For the period from September 14, 2004 (inception) to October 31, 2004
| | | | | | | Deficit | | |
| | | | | | | Accumulated | | |
| Common Stock | Additional | During the | | |
|
| paid-in | Development | Stockholders’ |
| Shares | Amount | capital | Stage | Equity |
|
Common shares issued September 14, 2004 at $.03333 per share | 750,000 | | $75 | | $24,925 | | -- | | $25,000 | |
Effect of stock dividends (see Note 7) | 750,000 | | 75 | | (75) | | — | | — | |
Net Loss | -- | | -- | | -- | | $(1,029) | | (1,029) | |
|
Balance at October 31, 2004 | 1,500,000 | | $150 | | $24,850 | | $(1,029) | | $23,971 | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
F-5
Ardent Acquisition Corporation
(a corporation in the development stage)
Statement of Cash Flows
| For the period from |
| September 14, 2004 |
| (inception) to |
| October 31, 2004 |
|
Cash flow from operating activities | | |
Net loss | $ (1,029) | |
Increase in accrued expenses | 1,000 | |
|
Net cash used in operating activities | (29) | |
|
Cash flows from financing activities | | |
Proceeds from note payable, stockholder | 70,000 | |
Proceeds from sale of shares of common stock | 25,000 | |
Payment of costs of the proposed public offering | (25,000) | |
|
Net cash provided by financing activities | 70,000 | |
|
Net increase in cash and cash at end of period | $ 69,971 | |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
F-6
Ardent Acquisition Corporation
(a corporation in the development stage)
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Organization, Business Operations and Significant Accounting Policies
Ardent Acquisition Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on September 14, 2004 as a blank check company whose objective is to acquire an operating business.
At October 31, 2004, the Company had not yet commenced any operations. All activity through October 31, 2004 relates to the Company’s formation and the proposed public offering described below. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year-end.
The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a proposed public offering (“Proposed Offering”) which is discussed in Note 2. The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of this Proposed Offering, although substantially all of the net proceeds of this Proposed Offering are intended to be generally applied toward consummating a business combination with an operating business (“Business Combination”). Furthermore, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination. Upon the closing of the Proposed Offering, at least $5.20 per unit sold in the Proposed Offering will be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and invested in government securities until the earlier of (i) the consummation of a first Business Combination and (ii) liquidation of the Company. The remaining net proceeds (not held in the Trust Account) may be used to pay for business, legal and accounting due diligence on prospective acquisitions and continuing general and administrative expenses. The Company, after signing a definitive agreement for the acquisition of a target business, will submit such transaction for stockholder approval. In the event that stockholders owning 20% or more of the shares sold in the Proposed Offering vote against the Business Combination and exercise their conversion rights described below, the Business Combination will not be consummated. All of the Company’s stockholders prior to the Proposed Offering, including all of the officers and directors of the Company (“Initial Stockholders”), have agreed to vote their 1,500,000 founding shares of common stock in accordance with the vote of the majority in interest of all other stockholders of the Company (“Public Stockholders”) with respect to any Business Combination. After consummation of a Business Combination, these voting safeguards will no longer be applicable.
With respect to a Business Combination which is approved and consummated, any Public Stockholder who voted against the Business Combination may demand that the Company convert his or her shares. The per share conversion price will equal the amount in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the proposed Business Combination, divided by the number of shares of common stock held by Public Stockholders at the consummation of the Proposed Offering. Accordingly, Public Stockholders holding 19.99% of the aggregate number of shares owned by all Public Stockholders may seek conversion of their shares in the event of a Business Combination. Such Public Stockholders are entitled to receive their per share interest in the Trust Account computed without regard to the shares held by Initial Stockholders.
The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides for mandatory liquidation of the Company in the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within 18 months from the date of the consummation of the Proposed Offering, or 24 months from the consummation of the Proposed Offering if certain extension criteria have been satisfied. In the event of liquidation, it is likely that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be less than the initial public offering price per share in the Proposed Offering (assuming no value is attributed to the Warrants contained in the Units to be offered in the Proposed Offering discussed in Note 2).
Deferred income taxes are provided for the differences between the bases of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
The Company recorded a deferred income tax asset for the tax effect of net operating loss carryforwards and temporary differences, aggregating approximately $350. In recognition of the uncertainty regarding the ultimate amount of income tax benefits to be derived, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance at October 31, 2004.
F-7
Ardent Acquisition Corporation
(a corporation in the development stage)
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
The effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 34% due to the increase in the valuation allowance.
Loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements.
2. Proposed Public Offering
The Proposed Offering calls for the Company to offer for public sale up to 6,000,000 units (“Units”). Each Unit consists of one share of the Company’s common stock, $.0001 par value, and two Redeemable Common Stock Purchase Warrants (“Warrants”). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase from the Company one share of common stock at an exercise price of $5.00 commencing the later of the completion of a Business Combination and one year from the effective date of the Proposed Offering and expiring four years from the effective date of the Proposed Offering. The Warrants will be redeemable, upon prior written consent of EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., at a price of $.01 per Warrant upon 30 days’ notice after the Warrants become exercisable, only in the event that the last sale price of the common stock is at least $8.50 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third day prior to the date on which notice of redemption is given.
3. Deferred Offering Costs
Deferred offering costs consist of legal and underwriting fees incurred through the balance sheet date that are related to the Proposed Offering and that will be charged to capital upon the receipt of the capital raised.
4. Note Payable, Stockholder
The Company issued a $70,000 unsecured promissory note to an Initial Stockholder, who is also an officer, on September 30, 2004. The note is non-interest bearing and is payable on the earlier of September 30, 2005 or the consummation of the Proposed Offering. Due to the short-term nature of the note, the fair value of the note approximates its carrying amount.
5. Commitment
The Company presently occupies office space provided by an affiliate of an Initial Stockholder. Such affiliate has agreed that, until the acquisition of a target business by the Company, it will make such office space, as well as certain office and secretarial services, available to the Company, as may be required by the Company from time to time. The Company has agreed to pay such affiliate $7,500 per month for such services commencing on the effective date of the Proposed Offering.
6. Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
7. Subsequent Events
On January 4, 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock dividend of 0.666666 shares of common stock for each outstanding share of common stock. On January 24, 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a further stock dividend of 0.2 shares of common stock for each outstanding share of
F-8
Ardent Acquisition Corporation
(a corporation in the development stage)
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
common stock. Additionally, on January 24, 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 20,000,000 shares to 30,000,000 shares. All references in the accompanying financial statements to the number of shares of stock have been retroactively restated to reflect these transactions.
Until April 5, 2005, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
No dealer, salesperson or any other person is authorized to give any information or make any representations in connection with this offering other than those contained in this prospectus and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the securities offered by this prospectus, or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized or is unlawful.
$36,000,000
Ardent Acquisition Corporation
6,000,000 Units
PROSPECTUS
EarlyBirdCapital, Inc.
February 24, 2005