SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
o | | REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR 12(G) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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OR |
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¨ | | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
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þ | | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
OR
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¨ | | SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Date of event requiring this shell company report
For the transition period from January 1, 2009 to October 31, 2009
Commission file number: 000-53826
GSME ACQUISITION PARTNERS I
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
N/A
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
Cayman Islands
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
762 West Beijing Road, Shanghai, China 200041
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
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Units consisting of one Ordinary Share, par value US$.001 per share, and one Warrant | OTCBB |
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Ordinary Shares, US$.001 par value per share | OTCBB |
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Warrants to purchase Ordinary Shares | OTCBB |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the Issuer’s classes of capital or ordinary shares as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: 1,380,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, as of October 31, 2009.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No þ
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes ¨ No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ¨ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer þ
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
US GAAP þ | International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ¨ | | Other ¨ |
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
Item 17 ¨ Item 18 ¨
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes þ No ¨
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION | 2 |
PART I | 4 |
ITEM 1. | IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS | 4 |
ITEM 2. | OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE | 4 |
ITEM 3. | KEY INFORMATION | 4 |
ITEM 4. | INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY | 26 |
ITEM 4A. | UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS | 42 |
ITEM 5. | OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS | 42 |
ITEM 6. | DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES | 43 |
ITEM 7. | MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS | 46 |
ITEM 8. | FINANCIAL INFORMATION | 49 |
ITEM 9. | THE OFFER AND LISTING | 49 |
ITEM 10. | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 50 |
ITEM 11. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK | 59 |
ITEM 12. | DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES | 60 |
PART II | 61 |
ITEM 13. | DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES | 61 |
ITEM 14. | MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS | 61 |
ITEM 15T. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES | 61 |
ITEM 16A. | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT | 62 |
ITEM 16B. | CODE OF ETHICS | 62 |
ITEM 16C. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES | 62 |
ITEM 16D. | EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES | 62 |
ITEM 16E. | PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS | 62 |
ITEM 16F. | CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT | 62 |
ITEM 16G. | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | 62 |
PART III | 63 |
ITEM 17. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 63 |
ITEM 18. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 63 |
ITEM 19. | EXHIBITS | 64 |
SIGNATURES | 65 |
INTRODUCTION
General
Unless otherwise indicated and except where the context otherwise requires, references in this annual report on Form 20-F to:
| • | “we,” “us” or “our company” refer to GSME Acquisition Partners I; |
| • | “initial shareholders” refers to all of our shareholders prior to our initial public offering, including all of our officers and directors; |
| • | “initial shares” refers to the 1,200,000 ordinary shares held by our initial shareholders; |
| • | “insider warrants” refers to the 3,600,000 warrants purchased by MCK Capital Co., Limited, Eli D. Scher and Larry Wizel simultaneously with the consummation of our initial public offering; |
| • | “China” or the “PRC” refer to the People’s Republic of China as well as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan; |
| • | “$” refer to the legal currency of the United States; |
| • | “RMB” refer to Renminbi, the legal currency of the PRC; and |
| • | “Companies Law” refers to the Companies Law (Revised) of the Cayman Islands. |
We are a Cayman Islands blank check company organized on March 27, 2008 as an exempted company with limited liability. We were organized for the purpose of acquiring, through a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, plan of arrangement, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination, an operating business, or control of such operating business through contractual arrangements, that has its principal operations located in the PRC. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry.
On November 25, 2009, we closed our initial public offering (“IPO”) of 3,600,000 units with each unit consisting of one ordinary share and one warrant, each to purchase one ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $36,000,000. The ordinary shares issued in our IPO are referred to as “public shares” and the holders thereof as “public shareholders.”
Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, we consummated the private sale of 3,600,000 insider warrants at a price of $0.50 per warrant, generating total proceeds of $1,800,000. The insider warrants were purchased by Eli D. Scher, our Chief Executive Officer, Lawrence Wizel, and MCK Capital Co., Limited, an entity controlled by Jing Dong Gao, the Chairman of the Board.
An aggregate of $36,000,000 of the proceeds of the IPO and the private sale of the insider warrants was placed in a trust account at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee.
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any substantive commercial business until we consummate a business combination. We intend to utilize our cash, including the funds held in the trust fund, capital stock, debt or a combination of the foregoing in effecting a business combination.
We will have until November 25, 2010 to consummate a business combination. In addition, if we have executed a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or definitive agreement for a business combination prior to November 25, 2010, we will have an additional six months to consummate a business combination. Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (“Articles”), if we fail to consummate a business combination by (y) November 25, 2010 or (z) May 25, 2011 if the period to consummate our business combination has been extended, our corporate existence will automatically cease and we will liquidate and distribute the proceeds held in the trust account to our public shareholders.
For further information, see the Part I, Item 4, “Information on the Company.”
Forward-Looking Statements
This annual report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this annual report, or the documents to which we refer you in this annual report, to reflect any change in our expectations with respect to such statements or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
This report should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto, which are included in Item 18 to this annual report.
PART I
| IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS. |
Not Applicable.
ITEM 2. | OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE. |
Not Applicable.
A. Selected Financial Data
The selected financial information set forth below has been derived from our audited financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2009, the period from March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2008 and the period from March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2009 and as of October 31, 2009 and 2008. The information is only a summary and should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and notes thereto contained elsewhere herein. The financial results should not be construed as indicative of financial results for subsequent periods. See Part I, Item 4, “Information on the Company” and Part I, Item 5, “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.”
Selected Financial Data
(Expressed in United States Dollars)
| | Year Ended | | | Period from March 27, 2008 (inception) | | | Period from March 27, 2008 (inception) | |
| | | | | to October 31, | | | | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2008 | |
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: | | | | | | | | | |
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Formation costs and operating expenses | | $ | 17,979 | | | $ | 8,967 | | | $ | 26,946 | |
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Net loss applicable to common shareholders | | $ | 17,979 | | | $ | 8,967 | | | $ | 26,946 | |
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Net loss per common share: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted | | $ | (0.01 | ) | | $ | (0.01 | ) | | $ | (0.02 | ) |
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Weighted average common shares outstanding | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted | | | 1,380,000 | | | | 1,380,000 | | | | 1,380,000 | |
| | As at October 31, | | | | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | | |
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets | | | 492,027 | | | | 161,033 | | | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 493,973 | | | | 145,000 | | | | | |
Total shareholders’ equity | | | (1,946 | ) | | | 16,033 | | | | | |
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B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable.
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
D. Risk Factors
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this Form 20-F before making a decision to invest in our units.
Risks Associated with Our Business
We are a development stage company with no operating history and, accordingly, you will not have any basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We are a recently incorporated development stage company with no operating results to date. Therefore, our ability to commence operations is dependent upon obtaining financing through the public offering of our securities. Since we do not have an operating history, you will have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective, which is to acquire an operating business. We have not conducted any discussions and we have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective acquisition candidates. We will not generate any revenues until, at the earliest, after the consummation of a business combination.
If we are forced to liquidate before a business combination and distribute the trust account, our public shareholders may receive less than $10.00 or $10.30 per share (as the case may be), and our warrants will expire worthless.
If we are unable to complete a business combination within twelve months (or eighteen months if the period to consummate our business combination has been extended) from the consummation of the IPO and are forced to liquidate our assets, the per-share liquidation distribution (including any amounts subject to distribution pursuant to the letter of credit that was established in connection with the IPO) may be less than $10.00 or $10.30 (as the case may be), because of claims that may be made against the trust account. Furthermore, there will be no distribution with respect to our outstanding warrants which will expire worthless if we liquidate before the completion of a business combination.
If we are unable to consummate a business combination, our public shareholders may be forced to wait more than twelve months (or eighteen months if we sign a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or definitive agreement within such twelve month period) before receiving liquidation distributions.
We will have until November 25, 2010 to consummate a business combination. In addition, if we have executed a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or definitive agreement for a business combination prior to November 25, 2010, we will have an additional six months to consummate a business combination. We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to such dates unless we consummate a business combination prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought conversion of their shares. Only after the expiration of the full time period will public shareholders be entitled to liquidation distributions if we are unable to complete a business combination. Accordingly, investors’ funds may be unavailable to them until such date.
Because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited.
We are a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States. In addition, certain of our directors and officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States, including the PRC, and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon our directors or executive officers, or enforce judgments obtained in the United States courts against our directors or officers. Moreover, we have been advised that the PRC does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the United States. Further, it is unclear if extraction treaties now in effect between the United States and the PRC would permit effective enforcement of criminal penalties of the United States federal securities laws.
Our corporate affairs will be governed by our Articles, the Companies Law and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
The Cayman Islands courts are also unlikely:
| • | to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; and |
| • | to impose liabilities against us, in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws that are penal in nature. |
We may issue shares of our capital stock or debt securities to complete a business combination, which would reduce the equity interest of our shareholders and likely cause a change in control of our ownership.
Our Articles authorizes the issuance of up to 50,000,000 ordinary shares, par value $.001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.001 per share. We have 38,000,000 authorized but unissued ordinary shares available for issuance (after appropriate reservation for the issuance of the shares upon full exercise of our outstanding warrants). Although we have no commitment as of the date of this report, we may issue a substantial number of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares, or a combination of ordinary and preferred shares, to complete a business combination. The issuance of additional ordinary or preferred shares:
| • | may significantly reduce the equity interest of investors; |
| • | may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if we issue preferred shares with rights senior to those afforded to our ordinary shares; |
| • | may cause a change in control if a substantial number of ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and |
| • | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our ordinary shares. |
Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in:
| • | default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations; |
| • | acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant; |
| • | our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand; and |
| • | our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding. |
If the net proceeds of the IPO not being held in trust are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 18 months, we may be unable to complete a business combination.
We believe that the funds available to us outside of the trust account, plus the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be available to us, will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 18 months, assuming that a business combination is not consummated during that time. However, we cannot assure you that our estimates will be accurate. We could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into a letter of intent where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business.
A decline in interest rates could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete a business combination since we will depend on interest earned on the trust account to fund our search, to pay our tax obligations and to complete our initial business combination.
We will depend on sufficient interest being earned on the proceeds held in the trust account to provide us with additional working capital we will need to identify one or more target businesses and to complete our initial business combination, as well as to pay any tax obligations that we may owe. Interest rates on permissible investments for us have been less than 1% over the last several months. While we are entitled to have released to us for such purposes certain interest earned on the funds in the trust account, a substantial decline in interest rates may result in our having insufficient funds available with which to structure, negotiate or close an initial business combination. In such event, we would need to borrow funds from our initial shareholders to operate or may be forced to liquidate. Our initial shareholders are under no obligation to advance funds in such circumstances.
If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in trust could be reduced and the per-share liquidation price received by shareholders may be less than $10.00 or $10.30 per share (as the case may be).
Our placing of funds in trust may not protect those funds from third party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors and service providers we engage and prospective target businesses we negotiate with execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public shareholders, they may not execute such agreements. Furthermore, even if such entities execute such agreements with us, they may seek recourse against the trust account. A court may not uphold the validity of such agreements. Accordingly, the proceeds held in trust could be subject to claims which could take priority over those of our public shareholders. If we liquidate before the completion of a business combination and distribute the proceeds held in trust to our public shareholders, Jing Dong Gao and Eli D. Scher have agreed that they will be personally liable to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.00 per share by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us. However, we cannot assure you that they may not be able to meet such obligation. Therefore, the per-share distribution from the trust account combined with any amounts subject to distribution pursuant to the letter of credit, if we liquidate, may be less than $10.00 or $10.30 (as the case may be), plus interest, due to such claims.
Additionally, if we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we may not be able to return to our public shareholders at least $10.00 or, upon any distribution of the per share amount pursuant to the letter of credit, $10.30 per share (as the case may be).
Our shareholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them.
Our Articles provide that we will continue in existence only until twelve months from the consummation of the IPO, or eighteen months if the period to complete our business combination has been extended. If we have not completed a business combination by such date, our corporate existence will cease except for the purposes of winding up our affairs and dissolving. As a result, this has the same effect as if we had formally went through a voluntary liquidation procedure under the Companies Law. In such a situation under the Companies Law, a liquidator would give at least 21 days’ notice to creditors of his intention to make a distribution by notifying known creditors (if any) who have not submitted claims and by placing a public advertisement in the Cayman Islands Official Gazette, although in practice this notice requirement need not necessarily delay the distribution of assets as the liquidator may be satisfied that no creditors would be adversely affected as a consequence of a distribution before this time period has expired. As soon as the affairs of the company are fully wound-up, the liquidator must lay his final report and accounts before a final general meeting which must be called by a public notice at least one month before it takes place. After the final meeting, the liquidator must make a return to the Registrar confirming the date on which the meeting was held and three months after the date of such filing the company is dissolved. In the case of a full voluntary liquidation procedure, any liability of shareholders with respect to a liquidating distribution would be barred if creditors miss the deadline for submitting claims. However, it is our intention to liquidate the trust account to our public shareholders as soon as reasonably possible and our directors and officers have agreed to take any such action necessary to dissolve our company and liquidate the trust account as soon as reasonably practicable if we do not complete a business combination within the required time periods. Pursuant to our Articles, failure to consummate a business combination within twelve months from the date of the IPO, or eighteen months if the period to complete our business combination has been extended, will trigger an automatic winding up of the company. As such, our shareholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them pursuant to such process and any liability of our shareholders may extend beyond the date of such dissolution. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that third parties will not seek to recover from our shareholders amounts owed to them by us.
If we are unable to consummate a transaction within the required time periods, our purpose and powers will be limited to dissolving and winding up. Upon notice from us, the trustee of the trust account will distribute the amount in our trust account to our public shareholders as part of our plan of dissolution and distribution. Concurrently, we shall pay, or reserve for payment, from funds not held in trust, our liabilities and obligations, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. If there are insufficient funds held outside the trust account for such purpose, Messrs. Gao and Scher have agreed that they will be liable to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.00 per share by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us.
If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our shareholders. Furthermore, because we intend to distribute the proceeds held in the trust account to our public shareholders promptly after our termination, this may be viewed or interpreted as giving preference to our public shareholders over any potential creditors with respect to access to or distributions from our assets. Furthermore, our board may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Our obligation to have any amounts we draw on the letter of credit that was provided to us by Cohen & Company Securities, LLC in connection with the IPO evidenced by a demand promissory note secured by all of the assets of the target business with which we complete a business combination may make it more difficult for us to complete such a business combination.
Upon closing of the IPO, Cohen & Company Securities, LLC caused a letter of credit from an internationally recognized bank to be issued to us in an amount equal to $0.30 per share sold in the IPO. After we draw on this letter of credit, it shall be cancelled and, in the event we have completed a business combination, we will issue to Cohen & Company Securities, LLC a demand secured first priority promissory note in an amount equal to the amount we draw on the letter of credit bearing annual interest at the rate of 8%, payable quarterly, with a default interest rate of 13%. Such promissory note must be secured by all of the assets of the target business with which we complete a business combination (subject to any existing security interests the target business has in place). Since Cohen & Company Securities, LLC can demand payment at any time and since the note will be secured by all of the target businesses assets, this obligation may make us a less attractive candidate to complete a business combination with. Accordingly, it may be more difficult for us to complete a business combination than if the note was not required to be secured by all of the assets of the target business.
An effective registration statement may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such investor from being able to exercise his, her or its warrants and causing such warrants to be practically worthless.
No warrant held by public shareholders will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue ordinary shares unless at the time such holder seeks to exercise such warrant, a prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrant is current and the ordinary shares have been registered or qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants. Under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to meet these conditions and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the expiration of the warrants. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so, and if we do not maintain a current prospectus related to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, holders will be unable to exercise their warrants and we will not be required to settle any such warrant exercise. If the prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the warrants is not current or if the ordinary shares are not qualified or exempt from qualification in the jurisdictions in which the holders of the warrants reside, the warrants held by public shareholders may have no value, the market for such warrants may be limited and such warrants may expire worthless. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the insider warrants may be exercisable for unregistered shares of common stock even if the prospectus relating to the common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not current.
An investor will only be able to exercise a warrant if the issuance of ordinary shares upon such exercise has been registered or qualified or is deemed exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants.
No warrants will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue ordinary shares unless the ordinary shares issuable upon such exercise 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. Because the exemptions from qualification in certain states for resales of warrants and for issuances of ordinary shares by the issuer upon exercise of a warrant may be different, a warrant may be held by a holder in a state where an exemption is not available for issuance of ordinary shares upon an exercise and the holder will be precluded from exercise of the warrant. As a result, the warrants may be deprived of any value, the market for the warrants may be limited and the holders of warrants may not be able to exercise their warrants if the ordinary shares issuable upon such exercise is not qualified or exempt from qualification in the jurisdictions in which the holders of the warrants reside.
We may amend the terms of the warrants that may be adverse to holders with the approval by the holders of a majority of the then outstanding warrants.
Our warrants were issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of a majority of the then outstanding warrants in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the warrants in an adverse way to a holder if a majority of the holders approve of such amendment.
Since we have not yet selected a particular industry or target business with which to complete a business combination, we are unable to currently ascertain the merits or risks of the industry or business in which we may ultimately operate.
We may consummate a business combination with a company in any industry we choose and are not limited to any particular industry or type of business. Accordingly, there is no current basis for you to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the particular industry in which we may ultimately operate or the target business which we may ultimately acquire. To the extent we complete a business combination with a financially unstable company or an entity in its development stage, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations of those entities. If we complete a business combination with an entity in an industry characterized by a high level of risk, we may be affected by the currently unascertainable risks of that industry. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular industry or target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our securities will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in a target business.
Our ability to successfully effect a business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following a business combination. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct.
Our ability to successfully effect a business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following a business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a public company which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely affect our operations.
Our officers and directors may not have significant experience or knowledge regarding the jurisdiction or industry of the target business we may seek to acquire.
We may consummate a business combination with a target business in any geographic location or industry we choose so long as the target business has its principal operations located in the PRC. If we decide to complete a business combination with a target business that also has operations outside of the PRC or that operates in a field outside of the expertise of our officers and directors, we cannot assure you that our officers and directors will have enough experience or have sufficient knowledge relating to the jurisdiction of the target or its industry to make an informed decision regarding a business combination.
Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following a business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Our key personnel will be able to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements or other appropriate arrangements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to the company after the consummation of the business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business.
Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate a business combination.
Our officers and directors are not required to commit their full time to our affairs, which could create a conflict of interest when allocating their time between our operations and their other commitments. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of a business combination. All of our executive officers are engaged in several other business endeavors and are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our affairs. If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote more substantial amounts of time to such affairs, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs and could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate a business combination.
Our officers, directors and their affiliates may in the future become affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
None of our directors, officers or their affiliates has been or currently is a principal of, or affiliated or associated with, a blank check company. However, 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. Additionally, our officers and directors may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities to which they owe fiduciary duties. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. As a result, a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us and we may not be afforded the opportunity to engage in a transaction with such target business. Furthermore, the officer or director who determines to present the target to another entity may not be held liable to us under Cayman Islands law.
Our officers and directors or their affiliates own the initial shares and insider warrants. These shares and warrants will not participate in liquidation distributions and, therefore, our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate for a business combination.
Our officers and directors or their affiliates own the initial shares and insider warrants. Such individuals have waived their right to convert their initial shares or any other shares purchased in the IPO or thereafter, or to receive distributions with respect to their initial shares upon our liquidation if we are unable to consummate a business combination. Accordingly, the initial shares, as well as the insider warrants and any warrants purchased by our officers or directors in the aftermarket, will be worthless if we do not consummate a business combination. The personal and financial interests of our directors and officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and selecting a target business and completing a business combination. Consequently, our directors’ and officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our shareholders’ best interest.
If our ordinary shares become subject to the SEC’s penny stock rules, broker-dealers may experience difficulty in completing customer transactions and trading activity in our securities may be adversely affected.
If at any time we have net tangible assets of $5,000,000 or less and our ordinary shares have a market price per share of less than $5.00, transactions in our ordinary shares may be subject to the “penny stock” rules promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under these rules, broker-dealers who recommend such securities to persons other than institutional accredited investors must:
| • | make a special written suitability determination for the purchaser; |
| • | receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction prior to sale; |
| • | provide the purchaser with risk disclosure documents which identify certain risks associated with investing in “penny stocks” and which describe the market for these “penny stocks” as well as a purchaser’s legal remedies; and |
| • | obtain a signed and dated acknowledgment from the purchaser demonstrating that the purchaser has actually received the required risk disclosure document before a transaction in a “penny stock” can be completed. |
If our ordinary shares become 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.
We may only be able to complete one business combination, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services.
Our business combination must be with a business with a fair market enterprise value of at least 80% of the gross offering proceeds at the time of such acquisition, although this may entail the simultaneous acquisitions of several operating businesses at the same time whose collective value equals or exceeds 80% of the gross offering proceeds. By consummating a business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
| • | solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, or |
| • | dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services. |
This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to a business combination.
Alternatively, if we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
The ability of our shareholders to exercise their conversion rights may not allow us to effectuate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
When we seek shareholder approval of any business combination, we will offer each public shareholder (but not our initial shareholders) who votes against the proposed business combination the right to have his, her or its ordinary shares converted to cash for $10.00 per share. In addition, any public shareholder will have the right to vote for the proposed business combination and demand that such shareholder’s shares be converted into a pro rata share of the trust account (which amount, when aggregated with the right to receive an additional $0.30 per eligible share, is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.30 per share). Accordingly, if our business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, because we will not know how many shareholders may exercise such conversion rights, we may either need to reserve part of the trust account for possible payment upon such conversion, or we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business combination in case a larger percentage of shareholders exercise their conversion rights than we expect. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing. Therefore, we may not be able to consummate a business combination that requires us to use all of the funds held in the trust account as part of the purchase price, or we may end up having a leverage ratio that is not optimal for our business combination. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.
We will offer each public shareholder the option to vote in favor of a proposed business combination and still seek conversion of his, her or its shares.
When we seek shareholder approval of any business combination, we will offer each public shareholder (but not our initial shareholders) the right to have his, her or its ordinary shares converted to cash for a pro rata share of the trust account and to further receive an additional $0.30 per eligible share pursuant to the letter of credit (initially anticipated to be an aggregate distribution of approximately $10.30 per share) so long as such public shareholder votes each such share in favor of our proposed business combination. We may proceed with a business combination as long as public shareholders owning less than 81% of the total number of public shares exercise their conversion rights, regardless of whether they are voting for or against the proposed business combination. Accordingly, public shareholders owning approximately 80.99% of the public shares may exercise their conversion rights and we could still consummate a proposed business combination. This is different than other similarly structured blank check companies where shareholders are offered the right to convert their shares only when they vote against a proposed business combination. Furthermore, our conversion threshold at 81% is significantly higher than the more typical threshold of between 20% and 40% and further allows holders of our ordinary shares the right to vote in favor of our business combination and elect to convert their shares. This higher threshold and the ability to seek conversion while voting in favor of our proposed business combination may make it more likely that we will consummate a business combination.
Public shareholders, together with any affiliates of theirs or any other person with whom they are acting in concert or as a “group” with, will be restricted from seeking conversion rights with respect to more than 10% of the public shares.
When we seek shareholder approval of any business combination, we will offer each public shareholder (but not our existing shareholders) the right to have his, her, or its ordinary shares converted into cash. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a “group” will be restricted from seeking conversion rights with respect to more than 10% of the public shares. Accordingly, if you own more than 10% of the public shares and a proposed business combination is approved, you will not be able to seek conversion rights with respect to the full amount of your shares and may be forced to hold such additional ordinary shares or sell them in the open market. We cannot assure you that the value of such additional shares will appreciate over time following a business combination or that the market price of our ordinary shares will exceed the per-share conversion price.
We may require shareholders who wish to convert their shares in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for conversion that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their conversion rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights.
We may require public shareholders who wish to convert their shares in connection with a proposed business combination to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent at any time prior to the vote taken at the shareholder meeting relating to such business combination or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a shareholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, DTC and our transfer agent will need to act to facilitate this request. It is our understanding that shareholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, because we do not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, it may take significantly longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. While we have been advised that it takes a short time to deliver shares through the DWAC System, we cannot assure you of this fact. Accordingly, if it takes longer than we anticipate for shareholders to deliver their shares, shareholders who wish to convert may be unable to meet the deadline for exercising their conversion rights and thus may be unable to convert their shares.
If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their shares in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for conversion, such converting shareholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.
If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their shares in connection with the proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for conversion and such proposed business combination is not consummated, we will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public shareholders. Accordingly, investors who attempted to convert their shares in such a circumstance will be unable to sell their securities after the failed acquisition until we have returned their securities to them. The market price for our ordinary shares may decline during this time and you may not be able to sell your securities when you wish to, even while other shareholders that did not seek conversion may be able to sell their securities.
We may use funds in our trust account to purchase, directly or indirectly, shares from holders thereof who have indicated an intention to vote against such proposed business combination and convert their shares.
If holders of public shares indicate an intention to vote against a proposed business combination and/or seek conversion of their shares into cash, we may privately negotiate arrangements to provide for the purchase of such shares at the closing of the business combination using funds held in the trust account. The purpose of such arrangements would be to increase the likelihood of satisfaction of the requirements that the holders of a majority of our ordinary shares outstanding vote in favor of a proposed business combination and that holders of fewer than 81% of the total number of public shares demand conversion of their shares into cash where it appears that such requirements would otherwise not be met. This may result in the approval of a business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. Additionally, as a consequence of such purchases,
| • | the funds in our trust account that are so used will not be available to us after the merger; and |
| • | the public “float” of our ordinary shares may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange. |
Because of our limited resources and structure, we may not be able to consummate an attractive business combination.
We expect to encounter intense competition from entities other than blank check companies having a business objective similar to ours, including venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds and operating businesses competing for acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe that there are numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, the obligation we have to seek shareholder approval of a business combination may delay the consummation of a transaction. 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. If we are unable to consummate a business combination with a target business within the prescribed time periods, we will be forced to liquidate.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing, if required, to complete a business combination or to fund the operations and growth of the target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
Although we believe that the proceeds available to us will be sufficient to allow us to consummate a business combination, because we have not yet identified any prospective target business, we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the proceeds available to us are insufficient, either because of the size of the business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, or the obligation to convert into cash a significant number of shares from dissenting shareholders, we will be required to seek additional financing. Such financing may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to consummate a particular business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. In addition, if we consummate a business combination, we may require additional financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or shareholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after a business combination.
Our initial shareholders, including our officers and directors, control a substantial interest in us and thus may influence certain actions requiring a shareholder vote.
Our initial shareholders (including all of our officers and directors) collectively own 20% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares. None of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units or ordinary shares from persons in the open market or in private transactions. However, if a significant number of shareholders vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against a proposed business combination, our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates could make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to influence the vote.
We have two directors with each director being elected for a term of two years and only one director being elected in each year. It is unlikely that there will be an annual meeting of shareholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation of a business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the consummation of the business combination. Accordingly, you may not be able to exercise your voting rights under corporate law for up to 30 months. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our initial shareholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our initial shareholders will continue to exert control at least until the consummation of a business combination.
Our outstanding warrants and option may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
We issued warrants to purchase 3,600,000 ordinary shares as part of the units sold in the IPO and the insider warrants to purchase 3,600,000 ordinary shares. We also issued an option to purchase 360,000 units to the representative of the underwriters in the IPO which, if exercised, will result in the issuance of an additional 360,000 warrants. To the extent we issue ordinary shares to effect a business combination, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares upon exercise of these warrants and option could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle in the eyes of a target business. Such securities, when exercised, will increase the number of issued and outstanding ordinary shares and reduce the value of the shares issued to complete the business combination. Accordingly, our warrants and option may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business. Additionally, the sale, or even the possibility of sale, of the shares underlying the warrants and option could have an adverse effect on the market price for our securities or on our ability to obtain future financing. If and to the extent these warrants and option are exercised, you may experience dilution to your holdings.
We may redeem the warrants at a time that is not beneficial to public investors.
We may call the public warrants for redemption at any time after the redemption criteria for our warrants have been satisfied. If we call the public warrants for redemption, public shareholders may be forced to accept a nominal redemption price or sell or exercise the warrants when they may not wish to do so.
Our management’s ability to require holders of our warrants to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis will cause holders to receive fewer ordinary shares upon their exercise of the warrants than they would have received had they been able to exercise their warrants for cash.
If we call our warrants for redemption, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise his warrant (including the insider warrants) to do so on a “cashless basis.” If our management chooses to require holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, the number of ordinary shares received by a holder upon exercise will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised his warrant for cash. This will have the effect of reducing the potential “upside” of the holder’s investment in our company.
If our initial shareholders exercise their registration rights with respect to their securities, it may have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares and the existence of these rights may make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
Our initial shareholders are entitled to make a demand that we register the resale of their initial shares at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which their shares may be released from escrow. Additionally, the holders of the insider warrants are entitled to demand that we register the resale of their insider warrants and underlying ordinary shares at any time after we consummate a business combination. If such individuals exercise their registration rights with respect to all of their securities, then there will be an additional 1,200,000 ordinary shares and 3,600,000 warrants (as well as 3,600,000 ordinary shares underlying the warrants) eligible for trading in the public market. The presence of these additional ordinary shares trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities. In addition, the existence of these rights may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business, as the shareholders of the target business may be discouraged from entering into a business combination with us or will request a higher price for their securities because of the potential effect the exercise of such rights may have on the trading market for our ordinary shares.
If we are deemed to be an investment company, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete a business combination.
A company that, among other things, is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, trading or holding certain types of securities would be deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Since we will invest the proceeds held in the trust account, it is possible that we could be deemed an investment company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act of 1940. To this end, the proceeds held in trust may be invested by the trustee only in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 having a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, we intend to meet the requirements for the exemption provided in Rule 3a-1 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
If we are nevertheless deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, we may be subject to certain restrictions that may make it more difficult for us to complete a business combination, including:
| • | restrictions on the nature of our investments; and |
| • | restrictions on the issuance of securities. |
In addition, we may have imposed upon us certain burdensome requirements, including:
| • | registration as an investment company; |
| • | adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and |
| • | reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy, compliance policies and procedures and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations. |
Compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expense for which we have not allotted.
We are not required to file our proxy statement for our initial business combination with the SEC pursuant to the proxy rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Assuming we remain a foreign private issuer, we will be exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act relating to the furnishing and content of proxy statements. We have agreed with the representative of the underwriters in our IPO that, until the earlier of our consummation of an initial business combination or our liquidation, in connection with any proposed business combination, we will deliver to our shareholders proxy solicitation materials containing the information we believe would have been required to be provided to shareholders had we not been a foreign private issuer but still had a class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and we will file with the SEC a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K the proxy solicitation material. Assuming we remain a foreign private issuer, however, we would not required and do not intend to file our proxy solicitation materials with the SEC for review or comment.
We may become a passive foreign investment company (or “PFIC”), which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. investors.
In general, we will be classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for any taxable year in which either (1) at least 75% of our gross income is passive income or (2) at least 50% of the average value of our assets is attributable to assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. Passive income generally includes, without limitation, dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and gains from the disposition of passive assets. If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. holder held our ordinary shares or warrants, the U.S. holder may be subject to increased U.S. federal income tax liability and may be subject to additional reporting requirements. We cannot assure you that we will not be a PFIC in the current or any future year. We urge U.S. investors to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules
If we deviate in our actions from the disclosure contained in the prospectus for our IPO, investors may not ultimately receive the same benefits from the IPO that they originally anticipated receiving.
Following completion of their initial public offerings, some similarly structured blank check companies have deviated from the disclosure contained in their initial public offering prospectuses in order to consummate their initial business combinations, such as by modifying their charters and governing instruments. While we do not anticipate deviating from the disclosure contained in the prospectus for our IPO, we may do so. Consequently, investors may not receive the same benefits from the IPO that they originally anticipated receiving. In such a situation, it is possible that each investor who purchased units in the IPO and still held such units upon learning of our deviation from the disclosure contained in the prospectus could seek rescission of the purchase of the units he acquired in the offering (under which a successful claimant has the right to receive the total amount paid for his or her securities pursuant to an allegedly deficient prospectus, plus interest and less any income earned on the securities, in exchange for surrender of the securities) or bring an action for damages (compensation for loss on an investment caused by alleged material misrepresentations or omissions in the sale of a security).
Risks Related to Operations in China
Business combinations with companies with operations in China entail special considerations and risks. If we are successful in completing a business combination with a target business with operations in China, we will be subject to, and possibly adversely affected by, the following risks:
After a business combination, substantially all of our assets will likely be located in China and substantially all of our revenue will be derived from our operations in China. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects will be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political and legal policies, developments and conditions in China.
The PRC’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as government policies, could affect our business. The PRC economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects. China’s GDP has grown consistently since 1978 (National Bureau of Statistics of China). However, such growth may not be sustained in the future. If in the future China’s economy experiences a downturn or grows at a slower rate than expected, there may be less demand for spending in certain industries. A decrease in demand for spending in certain industries could materially and adversely affect our ability to find an attractive target business with which to consummate a business combination and if we effect a business combination, the ability of that target business to become profitable.
The PRC’s economic growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures benefit the overall PRC economy, but may have a negative effect on us, depending on the industry in which we engage in a business combination. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by PRC government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations that are applicable to a potential target business and a business combination.
The PRC economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy. Although in recent years the PRC government has implemented measures emphasizing the use of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of sound corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the PRC government. In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. It also exercises significant control over PRC economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.
If relations between the United States and the PRC deteriorate, potential target businesses or their goods or services could become less attractive.
The relationship between the United States and the PRC is subject to sudden fluctuation and periodic tension. For instance, the United States recently announced its intention to impose new short-term quotas on Chinese clothing imports, which may be extended for several years. Such import quotas may adversely affect political relations between the two countries and result in retaliatory countermeasures by the PRC in industries that may affect our ultimate target business. Relations may also be compromised if the U.S. becomes a more vocal advocate of Taiwan or proceeds to sell certain military weapons and technology to Taiwan. Changes in political conditions in the PRC and changes in the state of Sino-U.S. relations are difficult to predict and could adversely affect our operations or cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive.
As a result of merger and acquisition regulations implemented on September 8, 2006 relating to acquisitions of assets and equity interests of Chinese companies by foreign persons, it is expected that acquisitions will take longer and be subject to economic scrutiny by the PRC government authorities such that we may not be able to complete a transaction.
On September 8, 2006, the Ministry of Commerce, together with several other government agencies, promulgated a comprehensive set of regulations governing the approval process by which a Chinese company may participate in an acquisition of its assets or its equity interests and by which a Chinese company may obtain public trading of its securities on a securities exchange outside the PRC. Such regulations became effective on September 8, 2006. Although there was a complex series of regulations in place prior to September 8, 2006 for approval of Chinese enterprises that were administered by a combination of provincial and centralized agencies, the new regulations have largely centralized and expanded the approval process to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC), the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) or its branch offices, the State Asset Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). Depending on the structure of the transaction as determined once a definitive agreement is executed, these regulations will require the Chinese parties to make a series of applications and supplemental applications to the aforementioned agencies, some of which must be made within strict time limits and depending on approvals from one or the other of the aforementioned agencies. The application process has been supplemented to require the presentation of economic data concerning a transaction, including appraisals of the business to be acquired and evaluations of the acquirer which will permit the government to assess the economics of a transaction in addition to the compliance with legal requirements. If obtained, approvals will have expiration dates by which a transaction must be completed. Also, completed transactions must be reported to MOFCOM and some of the other agencies within a short period after closing or be subject to an unwinding of the transaction. It is expected that compliance with the regulations will be more time consuming than in the past, will be more costly for the Chinese parties and will permit the government much more extensive evaluation and control over the terms of the transaction. Therefore, a business combination we propose may not be able to be completed because the terms of the transaction may not satisfy aspects of the approval process and may not be completed, even if approved, if they are not consummated within the time permitted by the approvals granted. Because the September 8, 2006, PRC merger and acquisition regulations permit the government agencies to have scrutiny over the economics of an acquisition transaction and require consideration in a transaction to be paid within stated time limits, we may not be able to negotiate a transaction that is acceptable to our shareholders or sufficiently protect their interests in a transaction.
The regulations have introduced aspects of economic and substantive analysis of the target business and the acquirer and the terms of the transaction by MOFCOM and the other governing agencies through submissions of an appraisal report, an evaluation report and the acquisition agreement, all of which form part of the application for approval, depending on the structure of the transaction as determined once a definitive agreement is executed. The regulations also prohibit a transaction at an acquisition price obviously lower than the appraised value of the Chinese business or assets. The regulations require that in certain transaction structures, the consideration must be paid within strict time periods, generally not in excess of a year. In asset transactions there must be no harm to third parties or the public interest in the allocation of assets and liabilities being assumed or acquired. These aspects of the regulations will limit our ability to negotiate various terms of the acquisition, including aspects of the initial consideration, contingent consideration, holdback provisions, indemnification provisions and provisions relating to the assumption and allocation of assets and liabilities. Therefore, we may not be able to negotiate a transaction with terms that will satisfy our investors and protect our shareholders interests in an acquisition of a Chinese business or assets.
The PRC merger and acquisition regulations of September 8, 2006, have introduced industry protection and antitrust aspects to the acquisition of Chinese companies and assets which may limit our ability to effect an acquisition.
Under the PRC merger and acquisition regulations, acquisitions of Chinese domestic companies relating to “important industries” that may affect the national economic security or result in the transfer of “actual control” of companies having “famous Chinese brand names” or “well established Chinese brand names” must be reported and approved by the Ministry of Commerce. The merger and acquisition regulations also provide for antitrust review requirements for certain large transactions or transactions involving large companies and roll-up transactions with the same effect in the relevant Chinese market. In addition, certain mergers and acquisitions among foreign companies occurring outside of the PRC could also be subject to antitrust review in China which is similar to United States anti-trust law concepts. The regulations use various economic tests to determine if the transaction has to be reported to MOFCOM which include (i) if any of the parties to the transaction has a turnover in the Chinese market of more than RMB 1,500,000,000, (ii) if in a transaction outside of the PRC, any party thereto has assets in the PRC of more than RMB 3,000,000,000, (iii) if any of the parties to the transaction, before its consummation, has control not less than 20% of the Chinese market, (iv) if any of the parties as a result of the transaction will control 25% of the Chinese market, (v) the foreign investor has acquired 10 or more enterprises in related industries in the PRC during the last year, or (vi) if in a transaction outside of the PRC results in the foreign entities acquiring 15 or more FIEs in related industries within the PRC. Exemptions may be sought from the MOFCOM and SAIC on the basis that: (i) the transaction will improve market competition, (ii) the transaction will restructure unprofitable entities and ensures employment, (iii) the transaction will introduce high technologies and increase international competitiveness, and (iv) the transaction will improve the environment. Notwithstanding the September 8, 2006, regulations, the Anti-Monopoly Law of the PRC took effect as of August 1, 2008, which replace or supplement the above provisions. Any transaction that we contemplate will have to comply with these regulations and may require additional approval or abandonment if we are not able to satisfy the requirements of the governmental authorities. When we evaluate a potential transaction, we will consider the need to comply with these regulations which may result in our modifying or not pursuing a particular transaction.
Ambiguities in the regulations of September 8, 2006 may make it difficult for us to properly comply with all applicable rules and may affect our ability to consummate a business combination.
Although the merger and acquisition regulations provide specific requirements and procedures, there are many ambiguities which give the regulators great latitude in the approval process which will cause uncertainty in our ability to complete a transaction on a timely basis.
The merger and acquisition regulations set forth many requirements that have to be followed, but there are still many ambiguities in the meaning of many provisions. Although further regulations are anticipated in the future, until there has been clarification either by pronouncements, regulation or practice, there is some uncertainty in the scope of the regulations. Moreover, the ambiguities give the regulators wide latitude in the enforcement of the regulations and approval of transactions. Therefore, we cannot predict the extent to which the regulations will apply to a transaction, and therefore, there may be uncertainty in whether or not a transaction will be completed until the approval process is under way or until the preliminary approvals are obtained. This may negatively impact our ability to consummate a business combination.
If the PRC imposes restrictions to reduce inflation, future economic growth in the PRC could be severely curtailed which could materially and adversely impact our profitability following a business combination.
While the economy of the PRC has experienced rapid growth, this growth has been uneven among various sectors of the economy and in different geographical areas of the country. Rapid economic growth can lead to growth in the supply of money and rising inflation. In order to control inflation in the past, the PRC has imposed controls on bank credits, limits on loans for fixed assets and restrictions on state bank lending. Imposition of similar restrictions may lead to a slowing of economic growth and decrease the interest in the services or products we may ultimately offer leading to a material and adverse impact on our profitability.
Any devaluation of currencies used in the PRC could negatively impact our target business’ results of operations and any appreciation thereof could cause the cost of a target business as measured in United States dollars to increase.
Because our objective is to complete a business combination with a target business having its primary operating facilities located in the PRC, and because substantially all revenues and income following a business combination would be received in a foreign currency such as Renminbi, the main currency used in the PRC, the dollar equivalent of our net assets and distributions, if any, would be adversely affected by reductions in the value of the Renminbi. The value of the Renminbi fluctuates and is affected by, among other things, changes in the PRC’s political and economic conditions. The conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies such as the United States dollar has been generally based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China, which are set daily based on the previous day’s interbank foreign exchange market rates and current exchange rates on the world financial markets. Historically, China “pegged” its currency to the United States dollar. This meant that each unit of Chinese currency had a set ratio for which it could be exchanged for United States currency, as opposed to having a floating value like other countries’ currencies. Many countries argued that this system of keeping the Chinese currency low when compared to other countries gave Chinese companies an unfair price advantage over foreign companies. Due to mounting pressure from other countries, the PRC recently reformed its economic policies to establish a floating value for its currency. However, China recently adopted a floating rate with respect to the Renminbi, with a 0.3% fluctuation. This floating exchange rate, and any appreciation of the Renminbi that may result from such rate, could cause the cost of a target business as measured in dollars to increase. Further, target companies may be adversely affected since the competitive advantages that existed as a result of the former policies will cease. We cannot assure you that a target business with which we consummate a business combination will be able to compete effectively with the new policies in place.
Fluctuations in the value of the Renminbi relative to foreign currencies could affect our operating results.
Following a business combination, our payroll and other costs of non-United States operations will be payable in foreign currencies, primarily Renminbi. To the extent future revenue is denominated in non-United States currencies, we would be subject to increased risks relating to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. The value of Renminbi against the United States dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions. As our operations will be primarily in China, any significant revaluation of the Renminbi may materially and adversely affect our cash flows, revenues and financial condition. For example, to the extent that we need to convert United States dollars into Chinese Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of this currency against the United States dollar could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into United States dollars for other business purposes and the United States dollar appreciates against this currency, the United States dollar equivalent of the Renminbi we convert would be reduced. The Chinese government recently announced that it is pegging the exchange rate of the Renminbi against a number of currencies, rather than just the United States dollar. Fluctuations in the Renminbi exchange rate could adversely affect our ability to find an attractive target business with which to consummate a business combination and to operate our business after a business combination.
Exchange controls that exist in the PRC may limit our ability to utilize our cash flow effectively following a business combination.
Following a business combination, we will be subject to the PRC’s rules and regulations on currency conversion. In the PRC, the State Administration for Foreign Exchange (SAFE) regulates the conversion of the Renminbi into foreign currencies. Currently, foreign investment enterprises (FIEs) are required to apply to the SAFE for “Foreign Exchange Registration Certificates for FIEs.” Following a business combination, we will likely be an FIE as a result of our ownership structure. With such registration certificates, which need to be renewed annually, FIEs are allowed to open foreign currency accounts including a “basic account” and “capital account.” Conversion of currency in the “capital account,” including capital items such as infused registered capital and foreign currency loans require approval of the SAFE. We cannot assure you that the PRC regulatory authorities will not impose further restrictions on the convertibility of the Renminbi. Any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use our cash flow for the distribution of dividends to our shareholders or to fund operations we may have outside of the PRC.
If the PRC enacts regulations in our target business’ proposed industry segments which forbid or restrict foreign investment, our ability to consummate a business combination could be severely impaired.
Many of the rules and regulations that companies face in China are not explicitly communicated. If new laws or regulations forbid foreign investment in industries in which we want to complete a business combination, they could severely limit the candidate pool of potential target businesses. Additionally, if the relevant Chinese authorities find us or the target business with which we ultimately complete a business combination to be in violation of any existing or future Chinese laws or regulations, they would have broad discretion in dealing with such a violation, including, without limitation:
| • | revoking our business and other licenses; |
| • | requiring that we restructure our ownership or operations; and |
| • | requiring that we discontinue any portion or all of our business. |
Recent regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may increase the administrative burden we face and create regulatory uncertainties that may limit or adversely affect our ability to acquire PRC companies.
Notice on Issues Relating to Administration of Foreign Exchange in Fund-raising and Round-trip Investment Activities of Domestic Residents Conducted via Offshore Special Purpose Companies, or Notice 75, was issued on October 21, 2005 by the SAFE (that replaced two previously issued regulations on January 24, 2005 and April 8, 2005, respectively) that will require approvals from, and registrations with, PRC government authorities in connection with direct or indirect offshore investment activities by PRC residents and PRC corporate entities. The SAFE regulations retroactively require approval and registration of direct or indirect investments previously made by PRC residents in offshore companies. In the event that a PRC shareholder with a direct or indirect stake in an offshore parent company fails to obtain the required SAFE approval and make the required registration, the PRC subsidiaries of such offshore parent company may be prohibited from making distributions of profit to the offshore parent and from paying the offshore parent proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation in respect of the PRC subsidiaries. Further, failure to comply with the various SAFE approval and registration requirements described above, as currently drafted, could result in liability under PRC law for foreign exchange evasion.
Although the SAFE issued an implementation Notice No. 106, or Notice 106, on May 29, 2007 to its local branches or agencies (but not openly disclosed to the public), the uncertainty as to when and how the new procedure and requirements will take effect or be enforced, and uncertainty concerning the reconciliation of the new regulations with other approval requirements, it remains unclear how these existing regulations, and any future legislation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. We are committed to complying with the relevant rules. As a result of the foregoing, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of the target business we intend to acquire, as the case may be, will be able to complete the necessary approval, filings and registrations for a proposed business combination. This may restrict our ability to implement our business combination strategy and adversely affect our operations.
Because Chinese law will govern almost all of any target business’ material agreements, we may not be able to enforce our rights within the PRC or elsewhere, which could result in a significant loss of business, business opportunities or capital.
Chinese law will govern almost all of our target business’ material agreements, many of which may be with Chinese governmental agencies. We cannot assure you that the target business will be able to enforce any of its material agreements or that remedies will be available outside of the PRC. The system of laws and the enforcement of existing laws and contracts in the PRC may not be as certain in implementation and interpretation as in the United States. The Chinese judiciary is relatively inexperienced in enforcing corporate and commercial law, leading to a higher than usual degree of uncertainty as to the outcome of any litigation. Furthermore, to the extent our target business’ material agreements are with Chinese governmental agencies, we may not be able to enforce our rights as the Chinese agencies would be immune from the jurisdiction of another country’s courts under the doctrine of sovereign immunity. However, Chinese agencies are not protected from suit within China. The inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our future agreements could result in a significant loss of business, business opportunities or capital.
If we acquire a target business through contractual arrangements with one or more operating businesses in China, such contracts may not be as effective in providing operational control as direct ownership of such businesses and may be difficult to enforce.
The government of the PRC has restricted or limited foreign ownership of certain kinds of assets and companies operating in certain industries. The industry groups that are restricted are wide ranging, including certain aspects of telecommunications, advertising, food production, and heavy equipment manufacturers, for example. In addition there can be restrictions on the foreign ownership of businesses that are determined from time to time to be in “important industries” that may affect the national economic security or having “famous Chinese brand names” or “well-established Chinese brand names.” Subject to the review requirements of the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant agencies as discussed elsewhere for acquisitions of assets and companies in the PRC and subject to the various percentage ownership limitations that exist from time to time, acquisitions involving foreign investors and parties in the various restricted categories of assets and industries may nonetheless sometimes be consummated using contractual arrangements with permitted Chinese parties. To the extent that such agreements are employed, they may be for control of specific assets such as intellectual property or control of blocks of the equity ownership interests of a company which may not be subject to the merger and acquisition regulations mentioned above since these types of arrangements typically do not involve a change of equity ownership in a PRC operating company, injure a third party or affect the social public interest. The agreements would be designed to provide our company with the economic benefits of and control over the subject assets or equity interests similar to the rights of full ownership, while leaving the technical ownership in the hands of Chinese parties who would be our nominees and, therefore, may exempt the transaction from the merger and acquisition regulations, including the application process required thereunder. However, since there has been limited implementation guidance provided with respect to the merger and acquisition regulations, there can be no assurance that the relevant government agency would not apply them to a business combination effected through contractual arrangements. If such an agency determines that such an application should have been made consequences may include levying fines, revoking business and other licenses, requiring restructure of ownership or operations and requiring discontinuation of any portion of all of the acquired business. These agreements likely also would provide for increased ownership or full ownership and control by us when and if permitted under PRC law and regulation. If we choose to effect a business combination that employs the use of these types of control arrangements, we may have difficulty in enforcing our rights.
Therefore these contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing us with the same economic benefits, accounting consolidation or control over a target business as would direct ownership. For example, if the target business or any other entity fails to perform its obligations under these contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend substantial resources to enforce such arrangements, and rely on legal remedies under Chinese law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which we cannot assure will be sufficient to off-set the cost of enforcement and may adversely affect the benefits we expect to receive from the business combination.
Moreover, we expect that the contractual arrangements upon which we would be relying would be governed by Chinese law and would be the only basis of providing resolution of disputes which may arise through either arbitration or litigation in China. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with Chinese law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with Chinese legal procedures. Uncertainties in the Chinese legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert the effective level of control or receive the full economic benefits of full direct ownership over the target business.
The business we acquire may distribute products that, due to their country of origin, are at a higher risk for containing design or manufacturing defects, which could cause us to incur significant expenses, harm our customer relationships and industry reputation, and reduce our revenues and profitability following the business combination.
Recent events have indicated that there may be a higher incidence of defective and dangerous products among those produced in the PRC than among those produced in the United States. As a result of such manufacturing or design defects, we may be required to repair or replace a substantial number of products, incurring significant expenses in the process. In addition, any manufacturing or design defect could cause injury to a customer or a third party, cause us to lose customers or revenues or damage our customer relationships and industry reputation. The occurrence of any or all of the foregoing events may adversely affect our results from operations following a business combination.
If our management following a business combination is unfamiliar with United States securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws which could lead to various regulatory issues.
Following a business combination, our management will likely resign from their positions as officers of the company and the management of the target business at the time of the business combination will remain in place. We cannot assure you that management of the target business will be familiar with United States securities laws. If new management is unfamiliar with our laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely affect our operations.
Because any target business with which we attempt to complete a business combination may be required to provide our shareholders with financial statements prepared in accordance with and reconciled to United States generally accepted accounting principles, prospective target businesses may be limited.
In accordance with requirements of United States Federal securities laws, in order to seek shareholder approval of a business combination, a proposed target business may be required to have certain financial statements which are prepared in accordance with, or which can be reconciled to, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and audited in accordance with U.S. generally accepted auditing standards. To the extent that a proposed target business does not have financial statements which have been prepared with, or which can be reconciled to, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and audited in accordance with U.S. generally accepted auditing standards, we may not be able to complete a business combination with that proposed target business. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses with which we may complete a business combination. Furthermore, to the extent that we seek to acquire a target business that does not have financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, it could make it more difficult for our management to analyze such target business and determine whether it has a fair market enterprise value in excess of 80% of the gross offering proceeds. It could also delay our preparation of our proxy statement that we will send to shareholders relating to the proposed business combination with such a target business, thereby making it more difficult for us to consummate such a business combination.
There are significant uncertainties under the new corporate income tax law of the PRC, or the New CIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008, regarding our PRC enterprise income tax liabilities after we consummate a business combination, such as tax on dividends paid to us by a subsidiary. The New CIT Law also contains uncertainties regarding possible PRC withholding tax on dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders and gains realized from the transfer of our shares by our overseas shareholders.
We are a Cayman Islands company. After we consummate a business combination, we will likely be a Cayman Islands holding company which operates through the target business in the PRC that we acquire. The New CIT Law and its implementation rules, both of which became effective on January 1, 2008, provide that China-sourced income of foreign enterprises, such as dividends paid by a PRC subsidiary to its overseas parent, will normally be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10%, unless there are applicable treaties that reduce such rate.
Under the New CIT Law, enterprises established under the laws of jurisdictions outside China with their “de facto management bodies” located within China may be considered to be PRC tax resident enterprises for tax purposes. A substantial majority of the members of our management team following a business combination likely will be located in China. If we are considered as a PRC tax resident enterprise under the above definition, then our global income will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25%.
Furthermore, the implementation rules of the New CIT Law provide that, (i) if the enterprise that distributes dividends is domiciled in the PRC, or (ii) if gains are realized from transferring equity interests of enterprises domiciled in the PRC, then such dividends or capital gains are treated as China-sourced income. It is not clear how “domicile” may be interpreted under the New CIT Law, and it may be interpreted as the jurisdiction where the enterprise is a tax resident. Therefore, if we are considered as a PRC tax resident enterprise for tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders as well as gains realized by such shareholders from the transfer of our shares may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result be subject to PRC withholding tax at the rate up to 10%. We intend to take the position that any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders will not be subject to a withholding tax in the PRC.
As the New CIT Law and the implementation rules have only recently taken effect, it is uncertain as to how they will be implemented by the relevant PRC tax authorities. If dividend payments from any subsidiary to us are subject to PRC withholding tax, or our global income becomes subject to PRC corporate income tax, our financial condition, results of operations and the amount of dividends available to pay our shareholders following our business combination may be adversely affected. If dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders or gains realized by such shareholders from the transfer of our shares are subject to PRC withholding tax, it may materially and adversely affect your investment return and the value of your investment in us.
After we consummate a business combination, our operating company in China will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments.
After we consummate a business combination, we will rely on dividends and other distributions from our operating company to provide us with cash flow and to meet our other obligations. Current regulations in China would permit our operating company in China to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated distributable profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our operating company in China will be required to set aside at least 10% (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital) of its accumulated profits each year. Such reserve account may not be distributed as cash dividends. In addition, if our operating company in China incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us.
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY.
Overview
We are a Cayman Islands blank check company organized on March 27, 2008 as an exempted company with limited liability.
Pursuant to our Articles, we were formed with the purpose of acquiring, through a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, plan of arrangement, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination, an operating business, or control of such operating business through contractual arrangements that has its principal operations located in the PRC. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry.
We have until November 25, 2010 to consummate a business combination. In addition, if we have executed a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or definitive agreement for a business combination prior to November 25, 2010, we will have an additional six months to consummate a business combination. Pursuant to our Articles, if we fail to consummate a business combination by (i) November 25, 2010 or (ii) May 25, 2011 if the period to consummate our business combination has been extended, our corporate existence will automatically cease and we will liquidate and distribute the proceeds held in the trust account to our public shareholders.
On November 25, 2009, we closed our IPO of 3,600,000 units with each unit consisting of one ordinary share and one warrant, each to purchase one ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $36,000,000.
Cohen & Company Securities, LLC acted as the managing underwriter for the IPO. The securities sold in the IPO were registered under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to a registration statement on Form F-1 (No. 333-162547). The Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, declared the registration statement effective on November 19, 2009. Our units began trading on the OTCBB on November 20, 2009.
Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, we consummated the private sale of 3,600,000 insider warrants at a price of $0.50 per warrant, generating total proceeds of $1,800,000. The insider warrants were purchased by Eli D. Scher, our Chief Executive Officer, Lawrence Wizel, and MCK Capital Co., Limited, an entity controlled by Jing Dong Gao, the Chairman of the Board. The holders of the insider warrants agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, the insider warrants will not be sold or transferred by them until 60 days after the completion of a business combination. The insider warrants are identical to the warrants underlying the units sold in the IPO except that the insider warrants (i) are exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis and (ii) will be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the original purchasers of the insider warrants and their permitted transferees.
$36,000,000, or approximately $10.00 per unit of the proceeds of the IPO and the private placement of the insider warrants was placed in the trust account at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company as trustee, acting as trustee. These proceeds include $1.44 million in deferred underwriting discounts and commissions.
Holders of the Company’s units have been able to separately trade the ordinary shares and warrants included in such units since on or about December 14, 2009. The ordinary shares and warrants are quoted on the OTCBB under the symbols GSMXF and GSMWF, respectively.
Our principal executive offices are located at 762 West Beijing Road, Shanghai, PRC 200041 and the phone number is (86) 21-6271-6777. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Graubard Miller located at 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10174.
Opportunities in China
Opportunities for market expansion have emerged for businesses with operations in China due to certain changes in the PRC’s political, economic and social policies as well as certain fundamental changes affecting the PRC and its neighboring countries. We believe that China represents both a favorable environment for making acquisitions and an attractive operating environment for a target business for several reasons, including:
| • | prolonged economic expansion within China, including gross domestic product growth of approximately 9% on average over the last 25 years, including 10.1% in 2004, 9.9% in 2005, 11.1% in 2006, 11.4% in 2007, with a projected rate of 9.8% for 2008 (National Bureau of Statistics of China); |
| • | increased government focus within China on privatizing assets, improving foreign trade and encouraging business and economic activity; |
| • | favorable labor rates and efficient, low-cost manufacturing capabilities; |
| • | the recent entry of China into the World Trade Organization, the sole global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations, which may lead to a reduction on tariffs for industrial products, a reduction in trade restrictions and an increase in trading with the United States; and |
| • | the fact that China’s public equity markets are not as well developed and active as the equity markets within the United States and are characterized by companies with relatively small market capitalizations and low trading volumes, thereby causing Chinese companies to attempt to be listed on the United States equity markets. |
We believe that these factors and others should enable us to acquire a target business with growth potential on favorable terms.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, business combinations with companies having operations in the PRC entail special considerations and risks, including the need to obtain financial statements audited or reconciled in accordance with U.S. GAAP or prepared or reconciled in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards of potential targets that have previously kept their accounts in accordance with GAAP of the PRC, the possible need for restructuring and reorganizing corporate entities and assets and the requirements of complex Chinese regulatory filings and approvals. These may make it more difficult for us to consummate a business combination.
Government Regulations
Government Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange Controls
The principal regulation governing foreign exchange in China is the Foreign Currency Administration Rules, as amended. Under these rules, the Renminbi, China’s currency, is freely convertible for trade and service related foreign exchange transactions (such as normal purchases and sales of goods and services from providers in foreign countries), but not for direct investment, loan or investment in securities outside of China unless the prior approval of the SAFE of China is obtained. FIEs are required to apply to the SAFE for “Foreign Exchange Registration Certificates for FIEs.” Following a business combination, involving a change of equity ownership of a PRC operating entity or through contractual arrangements with a PRC operating entity, our subsidiary will likely be an FIE as a result of our ownership structure. With such registration certificates, which need to be renewed annually, FIEs are allowed to open foreign currency accounts including a “basic account” and “capital account.” Conversion of currency in the “capital account,” including capital items such as infused registered capital and foreign currency loans require approval of the SAFE. This prior approval may delay or impair our ability to operate following a business combination. On November 21, 2005, the SAFE issued Notice No. 75 on “Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Corporate Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles.” Notice 75 confirms that the use of offshore special purpose vehicles as holding companies for PRC investments is permitted as long as proper foreign exchange registrations are made with the SAFE and if applicable, approvals are received from the Ministry of Commerce. On May 29, 2007, the SAFE issued the implementation Notice 106 to further clarify SAFE’s Notice 75.
Government Regulations Relating to Taxation
According to the PRC Corporate Income Tax Law (the “New CIT Law”) and its Implementation Rules, both of which became effective on January 1, 2008, the standard Corporate Income Tax (“CIT”) rate is 25%, and China-sourced income of foreign enterprises, such as dividends paid by a PRC subsidiary to its overseas parent, will normally be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10%, unless there are applicable treaties that reduce such rate. Certain special tax treatments are available to companies that are conducting business in certain geographic areas such as the west part of the mainland China, or in sectors that are considered “encouraged” by the government such as clean energy, high-tech business, etc.
Under the New CIT Law, enterprises established under the laws of jurisdictions outside China with their “de facto management bodies” located within China may be considered to be PRC tax resident enterprises for tax purposes. A substantial majority of the members of our management team following a business combination likely will be located in China. If we are considered as a PRC tax resident enterprise under the above definition, then our global income will be subject to PRC corporate income tax at the rate of 25%.
As the New CIT Law and the implementation rules have only recently taken effect, it is uncertain as to how they will be implemented by the relevant PRC tax authorities. If dividend payments from any subsidiary to us are subject to PRC withholding tax, or our global income becomes subject to PRC corporate income tax, our financial condition, results of operations and the amount of dividends available to pay our shareholders following our business combination may be adversely affected. If dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders or gains realized by such shareholders from the transfer of our shares are subject to PRC withholding tax, it may materially and adversely affect your investment return and the value of your investment in us. See “Risk Factors — There are significant uncertainties under the new corporate income tax law of the PRC, or the New CIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008, regarding our PRC enterprise income tax liabilities after we consummate a business combination , such as tax on dividends paid to us by a subsidiary. The New CIT Law also contains uncertainties regarding possible PRC withholding tax on dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders and gains realized from the transfer of our shares by our overseas shareholders.”
Regulation of Foreign Currency Exchange and Dividend Distribution
Foreign currency exchange. Foreign currency exchange in China is governed by a series of regulations, including the Foreign Currency Administrative Rules (1996), as amended, and the Administrative Regulations Regarding Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange (1996), as amended. Under these regulations, the Renminbi is freely convertible for trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not for direct investment, loans or investments in securities outside China without the prior approval of the SAFE. Pursuant to the Administrative Regulations Regarding Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange, foreign-invested enterprises in China may purchase foreign exchange without the approval of the SAFE for trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions by providing commercial documents evidencing these transactions. They may also retain foreign exchange, subject to a cap approved by the SAFE, to satisfy foreign exchange liabilities or to pay dividends. However, the relevant Chinese government authorities may limit or eliminate the ability of foreign-invested enterprises to purchase and retain foreign currencies in the future. In addition, foreign exchange transactions for direct investment, loan and investment in securities outside China are still subject to limitations and require approvals from the SAFE.
Regulation of Foreign Exchange in Certain Onshore and Offshore Transactions. Pursuant to recent regulations issued by the SAFE, PRC residents are required to register with and receive approvals from the SAFE in connection with offshore investment activities. The SAFE has stated that the purpose of these regulations is to ensure the proper balance of foreign exchange and the standardization of the cross-border flow of funds.
On January 24, 2005, the SAFE issued a regulation stating that SAFE approval is required for any sale or transfer by the PRC residents of a PRC company’s assets or equity interests to foreign entities in exchange for the equity interests or assets of the foreign entities. The regulation also states that, when registering with the foreign exchange authorities, a PRC company acquired by an offshore company must clarify whether the offshore company is controlled or owned by PRC residents and whether there is any share or asset link between or among the parties to the acquisition transaction.
On April 8, 2005, the SAFE issued another regulation further explaining and expanding upon the January regulation. The April regulation clarified that, where a PRC company is acquired by an offshore company in which PRC residents directly or indirectly hold shares, such PRC residents must (i) register with the local SAFE regarding their respective ownership interests in the offshore company, even if the transaction occurred prior to the January regulation, and (ii) file amendments to such registration concerning any material events of the offshore company, such as changes in share capital and share transfers. The April regulation also expanded the statutory definition of the term “foreign acquisition”, making the regulations applicable to any transaction that results in PRC residents directly or indirectly holding shares in the offshore company that has an ownership interest in a PRC company. The April regulation also provides that failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth therein may result in the imposition of restrictions on the PRC company’s foreign exchange activities and its ability to distribute profits to its offshore parent company.
On October 21, 2005, the SAFE issued the Notice on Issues Relating to the Administration of Foreign Exchange in Fund-raising and Round-trip Investment Activities of Domestic Residents Conducted via Offshore Special Purpose Companies, or Notice 75, which became effective as of November 1, 2005. Notice 75 replaced the two rules issued by the SAFE in January and April 2005 mentioned above.
According to Notice 75:
| • | prior to establishing or assuming control of an offshore company for the purpose of financing that offshore company with assets or equity interests in an onshore enterprise in the PRC, each PRC resident, whether a natural or legal person, must complete the overseas investment foreign exchange registration procedures with the relevant local SAFE branch; |
| • | an amendment to the registration with the local SAFE branch is required to be filed by any PRC resident that directly or indirectly holds interests in that offshore company upon either (1) the injection of equity interests or assets of an onshore enterprise to the offshore company, or (2) the completion of any overseas fund raising by such offshore company; and |
| • | an amendment to the registration with the local SAFE branch is also required to be filed by such PRC resident when there is any material change involving a change in the capital of the offshore company, such as (1) an increase or decrease in its capital, (2) a transfer or swap of shares, (3) a merger or division, (4) a long term equity or debt investment, or (5) the creation of any security interests over the relevant assets located in China. |
Moreover, Notice 75 applies retroactively. As a result, PRC residents who have established or acquired control of offshore companies that have made onshore investments in the PRC in the past are required to complete the relevant overseas investment foreign exchange registration procedures by March 31, 2006. Under the relevant rules, failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in Notice 75 may result in restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the refusal of registration as a SPV, payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliate and the capital inflow from the offshore entity, and may also subject relevant PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations.
On May 29, 2007, the SAFE issued Notice 106 to further clarify relevant issues concerning the implementation and application of Notice 75. Notice 106 sets length of qualitative financial and operational requirements (normally financial disclosure for 3 years subject to certain exceptions depending on the type of investment) for candidate offshore companies. Failure to comply will result in (i) refusal of registration as a SPV, (ii) refusal of remittance of dividends and other distributions and (iii) potential punishment for illegal remittance of foreign exchange.
As a Cayman Islands company, and therefore a foreign entity, if we purchase the assets or equity interest of a PRC company owned by PRC residents, such PRC residents will be subject to the registration procedures described in the regulations as currently drafted. Moreover, PRC residents who are beneficial holders of our shares are required to register with the SAFE in connection with their investment in us.
As a result of the lack of implementing rules, other uncertainties concerning how the existing SAFE regulations will be interpreted or implemented, and uncertainty as to when the new regulations will take effect, we cannot predict how they will affect our business operations following a business combination. For example, our ability to conduct foreign exchange activities following a business combination, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, may be subject to compliance with the SAFE registration requirements by such PRC residents, over whom we have no control. In addition, we cannot assure you that such PRC residents will be able to complete the necessary approval and registration procedures required by the SAFE regulations. We will require all our shareholders, following a business combination, who are PRC residents to comply with any SAFE registration requirements, although we have no control over either our shareholders or the outcome of such registration procedures. Such uncertainties may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and adversely affect our business and prospects following a business combination.
Dividend Distribution. The principal laws and regulations in China governing distribution of dividends by foreign-invested companies include:
| • | The Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Law (1979), as amended; |
| • | The Regulations for the Implementation of the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Law (1983), as amended; |
| • | The Sino-foreign Cooperative Enterprise Law (1988), as amended; |
| • | The Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Sino-foreign Cooperative Enterprise Law (1995), as amended; |
| • | The Foreign Investment Enterprise Law (1986), as amended; and |
| • | The Regulations of Implementation of the Foreign Investment Enterprise Law (1990), as amended. |
Under these regulations, foreign-invested enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China are required to set aside at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds unless such reserve funds have reached 50% of their respective registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.
Regulation of Foreign Investors’ Merging Chinese Enterprises and Overseas Listing of Chinese Companies
On August 8, 2006, the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, State Administration of Taxation, State Administration of Industry and Commerce, China Securities Regulatory Commission and State Administration of Foreign Exchange jointly promulgated the Regulations on Merger with and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, which took effect on September 8, 2006.
Such new merger regulations, among other things, include provisions that purport to require that an offshore special purpose vehicle formed for purposes of overseas listing of equity interests in PRC companies and controlled directly or indirectly by PRC companies or individuals obtain the approval of the MOFCOM and CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange.
On September 21, 2006, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC, published on its official website procedures regarding its approval of overseas listings by special purpose vehicles. The CSRC approval procedures require the filing of a number of documents with the CSRC and it would take several months to complete the approval process. The application of this new PRC regulation remains unclear, with no consensus currently existing among leading PRC law firms regarding the scope of the applicability of the CSRC approval requirement. On December 1, 2007, National Development and Reform Commission and MOFCOM issued the Catalogue for Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries, or 2007 Catalogue, as the 4th amendment to its original 1995 Catalogue. The 2007 Catalogue may affect the acquisitions involving foreign investors and parties in various restricted categories of industries.
We cannot predict how those regulations will affect our future completion of a business combination. However, we are confident our strong and in-depth understanding of Chinese market would help us minimize the negative impacts.
Use of Contractual Arrangements
The government of the PRC has restricted or limited foreign ownership of certain kinds of assets and companies operating in certain industries. The industry groups that are restricted are wide ranging, including certain aspects of telecommunications, advertising, food production, and heavy equipment manufacturers, for example. In addition, there can be restrictions on the foreign ownership of businesses that are determined from time to time to be in “important industries” that may affect the national economic security or having “famous Chinese brand names” or “well established Chinese brand names.” Subject to the review requirements of the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant agencies as discussed elsewhere for acquisitions of assets and companies in the PRC and subject to the various percentage ownership limitations that exist from time to time, acquisitions involving foreign investors and parties in the various restricted categories of assets and industries may nonetheless sometimes be consummated using contractual arrangements with permitted Chinese parties. To the extent that such agreements are employed, they may be for control of specific assets such as intellectual property or control of blocks of the equity ownership interests of a company. The agreements would be designed to provide our company with the economic benefits of and control over the subject assets or equity interests similar to the rights of full ownership, while leaving the technical ownership in the hands of Chinese parties who would be our nominees. These agreements likely also would provide for increased ownership or full ownership and control by us when and if permitted under PRC law and regulation. If we choose to effect a business combination that employs the use of these types of control arrangements, we may have difficulty in enforcing our rights. Therefore these contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing us with the same economic benefits, accounting consolidation or control over a target business as would direct ownership.
Effecting a Business Combination
General
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any substantive commercial business until consummation of a business combination. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of the IPO, our capital stock, debt or a combination of these in effecting a business combination. 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 simultaneous business combinations with more than one target business, we will probably have the ability, as a result of our limited resources, to effect only a single business combination.
We Have Not Identified a Target Business
To date, we have not selected any target business on which to concentrate our search for a business combination. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will be able to locate a target business or that we will be able to engage in a business combination with a target business on favorable terms or at all.
Subject to the limitations that a target business have its principal operations in the People’s Republic of China and have a fair market enterprise value of at least 80% of the gross offering proceeds from our IPO at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination as described below in more detail, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. We have not established any other specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. Accordingly, there is no basis for investors in 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
While we have not yet identified any acquisition candidates, we believe based on our management’s business knowledge and past experience that there are numerous acquisition candidates. We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital funds, private equity funds, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses they think we may be interested in on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read our IPO prospectus and know that we are searching for target businesses having principal operations in China. Our officers and directors, as well as their affiliates and network of entrepreneurs, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage these firms or other individuals in the future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. Our management has experience in evaluating transactions, but will retain advisors as they deem necessary to assist them in their due diligence efforts. If we become aware of a potential business combination outside of the industries which our officers and directors have their most extensive experience, it is more likely that they would retain consultants and advisors with experience in such industries to assist in the evaluation of such business combination and in our determination of whether or not to proceed with such a business combination, although we are not required to do so and may determine that our management is able to make its own determinations based on its collective business experience. In no event, however, will any of our existing officers, directors or shareholders, or any entity with which they are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation by us or a target business prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). If we determine to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our officers, directors, special advisors or shareholders, we would do so only if we obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm reasonably acceptable to Cohen & Company Securities, LLC that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.
We will not acquire an entity with which any of our officers or directors, through their other business activities, is currently having acquisition or investment discussions. Additionally, we do not anticipate (i) acquiring an entity with which our officers or directors, through their other business activities, had acquisition or investment discussions in the past, (ii) acquiring an entity that is either a portfolio company of, or has otherwise received a material financial investment from, any private equity fund or investment company (or an affiliate thereof) that is affiliated with any of our officers or directors or (iii) entering into a business combination where we acquire less than 100% of a target business and any of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates acquire the remaining portion of such target business. However, if we determine to enter into such a transaction, we are required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm reasonably acceptable to Cohen & Company Securities, LLC that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.
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 having its principal operations in China and a fair market enterprise value that is at least 80% of the gross offering proceeds from our IPO at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for such business combination (both of which are required by our Articles), our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective target business. We have not established any other specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. In evaluating a prospective target business, our management may consider a variety of factors, including one or more of the following:
| • | financial condition and results of operation; |
| • | experience and skill of management and availability of additional personnel; |
| • | 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 is made available to us. This due diligence review will be conducted either by our management or by unaffiliated third parties we may engage, although we have no current intention to engage any such third parties. We are also required to have all prospective target businesses execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account. If any prospective target business refused to execute such agreement, we would cease negotiations with such target business.
The time and costs required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete the business combination cannot presently be ascertained with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which a business combination is not ultimately completed will result in a loss to us and reduce the amount of capital available to otherwise complete a business combination.
Fair Market Enterprise Value of Target Business
The target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market enterprise value equal to at least 80% of the gross offering proceeds from our IPO at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, although we may acquire a target business whose fair market enterprise value significantly exceeds 80% of such gross offering proceeds. Accordingly, we could consummate a business combination in which we acquire two separate target businesses where neither has a fair market enterprise value that exceeds 80% of the gross offering proceeds at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination but do so on a collective basis. In looking at the target’s balance sheet for purposes of determining whether this threshold is met, we will not include the amount of cash from the trust fund that we contribute to the target’s business. We anticipate structuring a business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure a business combination to acquire less than100% of such interests or assets of the target business or businesses but will not acquire less than a controlling interest (meaning more than 50% of the voting securities of each target business or all or substantially all of the assets of each target business). If we acquire only a controlling interest in a target business or businesses, only the portion of such business or businesses that we acquire will be counted towards the 80% threshold test. The market value of all of the businesses (or portion of such businesses) that we acquire must be equal to at least 80% of the gross offering proceeds at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. In order to consummate an acquisition, we may issue a significant amount of our debt or equity securities to the sellers of such businesses and/or seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not entered into any such fund raising arrangement and have no current intention of doing so. The fair market enterprise value of the target will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings and cash flow and/or book value). If our board is not able to independently determine that the target business has a sufficient fair market enterprise value, we will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We will not be required to obtain an opinion from an investment banking firm as to the fair market enterprise value if our board of directors independently determines that the target business complies with the 80% threshold.
Lack of Business Diversification
Our business combination must be with a target business or businesses that collectively satisfy the minimum valuation standard at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for such business combination, as discussed above, although this process may entail the simultaneous acquisitions of several operating businesses at the same time. Therefore, at least initially, 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 performance of a single operating business or the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services. |
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other acquisitions, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination. With multiple acquisitions, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business.
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target Business’ Management
Although we intend to scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of the target business’ management will prove to be correct. In addition, we cannot assure you that the 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 following a business combination cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that some of our key personnel will remain associated in senior management or advisory positions with us following a business combination, it is unlikely that they will devote their full time efforts to our affairs subsequent to a business combination. Moreover, they would only be able to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for them to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to the company after the consummation of the business combination. While the personal and financial interests of our key personnel may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, their ability to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. Additionally, we cannot assure you that our officers and directors will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
Following a business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that any such additional managers we do recruit will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Opportunity for Shareholder Approval of Business Combination
Prior to the completion of a business combination, we will submit the transaction to our shareholders for approval, even if the nature of the acquisition is such as would not ordinarily require shareholder approval under applicable state law.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding proxy statements. However, we have agreed with the representative of the underwriters in our IPO that until the earlier of our consummation of an initial business combination or our liquidation, in connection with any proposed business combination, we will deliver to our shareholders a proxy statement containing the information we believe is required by the rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This proxy statement will include a description of the operations of the target business and audited historical financial statements of the business.
We will proceed with the business combination only if (i) a majority of the ordinary shares voted by the public shareholders are voted in favor of the business combination and (ii) public shareholders owning less than 81% of the total number of public shares properly exercise their conversion rights, regardless of whether they are voting for or against the proposed business combination. If holders of public shares indicate an intention to vote against a proposed business combination and/or seek conversion of their shares into cash, we may negotiate arrangements to provide for the purchase of such shares at the closing of the business combination using funds held in the trust account. The purpose of such arrangements would be to increase the likelihood of satisfaction of the requirements that the holders of a majority of our ordinary shares outstanding vote in favor of a proposed business combination and that holders of fewer than 81% of the public shares demand conversion of their shares into cash where it appears that such requirements would otherwise not be met. All shares purchased by us or our affiliates pursuant to such arrangements would be voted in favor of the proposed business combination. No such arrangements currently exist.
Conversion Rights
At the time we seek shareholder approval of any business combination, we will offer each public shareholder the right to have such shareholder’s ordinary shares converted to cash. Public shareholders who vote against a proposed business combination will be entitled to convert their stock for $10.00 per share if the business combination is approved and consummated. In addition, any public shareholder will have the right to vote for the proposed business combination and demand that such shareholder’s shares be converted into a pro rata share of the trust account (which amount, when aggregated with the right to receive an additional $0.30 per eligible share pursuant to the letter of credit, is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.30 per share) if the business combination is approved and consummated. Our initial business combination will not be completed if public shareholders owning 81% or more of the total number of public shares seek conversion of their ordinary shares, regardless of whether they are voting for or against the proposed business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) will be restricted from seeking conversion rights with respect to 10% or more of the public shares. Such a public shareholder would still be entitled to vote against a proposed business combination with respect to all ordinary shares owned by him or his affiliates. We believe this restriction will prevent shareholders from accumulating large blocks of shares before the vote held to approve a proposed business combination and attempt to use the conversion right as a means to force us or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then current market price. By limiting a shareholder’s ability to convert no more than 10% of the public shares, we believe we have limited the ability of a small group of shareholders to unreasonably attempt to block a transaction which is favored by our other public shareholders.
In the event the business combination is not approved by a majority of our public shareholders or 81% or more public shareholders demand conversion of their shares, regardless of whether they are voting for or against the proposed business combination, and the trust account is liquidated, the public shareholders that voted against that proposed business combination shall be entitled to receive only $10 per ordinary share, and those public shareholders who voted for that proposed business combination shall be entitled to receive a pro rata share of the trust account (which amount, when aggregated with the right to receive an additional $0.30 per eligible share pursuant to the letter of credit, is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.30 per share).
Our initial shareholders will not have conversion rights with respect to any ordinary shares owned by them, directly or indirectly.
An eligible shareholder may request conversion at any time after the mailing to our shareholders of the proxy statement and prior to the vote taken with respect to the proposed business combination at a meeting held for that purpose. Additionally, we may require public shareholders, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent at any time through the vote on the business combination or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The proxy solicitation materials that we will furnish to shareholders in connection with the vote for any proposed business combination will indicate whether we are requiring shareholders to satisfy such certification and delivery requirements. Accordingly, a shareholder would have from the time we send out our proxy statement through the vote to tender his shares if he wishes to seek to exercise his conversion rights. This time period varies depending on the specific facts of each transaction. However, as the delivery process can be accomplished by the shareholder, whether or not he is a record holder or his shares are held in “street name,” in a matter of hours by simply contacting the transfer agent or his broker and requesting delivery of his shares through the DWAC System, we believe this time period is sufficient for an average investor. However, because we do not have any control over this process, it may take significantly longer than we anticipated. Accordingly, we will only require shareholders to deliver their certificates prior to the vote if we give shareholders at least two weeks between the mailing of the proxy solicitation materials and the meeting date.
The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting would be imposed to ensure that a converting holder’s election to convert is irrevocable once the business combination is approved. Traditionally, in order to perfect conversion rights in connection with a blank check company’s business combination, a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to convert. After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such shareholder to arrange for him to deliver his certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the shareholder then had an “option window” after the consummation of the business combination during which he could monitor the price of the stock in the market. If the price rose above the conversion price, he could sell his shares in the open market before actually delivering his shares to the company for cancellation. Thus, the conversion right, to which shareholders were aware they needed to commit before the shareholder meeting, would become a continuing right surviving past the consummation of the business combination until the converting holder delivered his certificate for conversion at the conversion price.
There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $45 and it would be the broker’s decision whether or not to pass this cost on to the converting holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise conversion rights to tender their shares prior to the meeting — the need to deliver shares is a requirement of conversion regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated. However, if the proposed business combination is ultimately rejected and we are unable to complete another business combination, such fee would have been incurred unnecessarily.
Any request for conversion, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the vote taken with respect to the proposed business combination. Furthermore, if a shareholder delivered his certificate for conversion and subsequently decided prior to the meeting not to elect conversion, he may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to shareholders entitled to convert their shares who elect conversion will be distributed promptly after completion of a business combination. Public shareholders who convert their stock still have the right to exercise any warrants they still hold.
If a vote on our initial business combination is held and the business combination is not approved, we may continue to try to consummate a business combination until the expiration of the applicable time period. If the initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then public shareholders who elected to exercise their conversion rights would not be entitled to convert their ordinary shares. In such case, if we have required public shareholders to tender their certificates prior to the meeting, we will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public shareholder.
Automatic Dissolution and Subsequent Liquidation if No Business Combination
Our Articles provide that we will continue in existence only until November 25, 2010 or May 25, 2011 if the period to complete our business combination has been extended. If we have not completed a business combination by such date, it will trigger our automatic dissolution. This has the same effect as if our board of directors and shareholders had formally voted to approve our winding up and dissolution and formally began a voluntary winding up procedure under the Companies Law. As a result, no vote would be required from our shareholders to commence such a voluntary winding up and dissolution. We view this provision terminating our corporate life by November 25, 2010 or May 25, 2011 if the period to complete our business combination has been extended as an obligation to our shareholders and will not take any action to amend or waive this provision to allow us to survive for a longer period of time. As mentioned above, under the Companies Law, in the case of a full voluntary liquidation procedure, a liquidator would give at least 21 days’ notice to creditors of his intention to make a distribution. We anticipate notifying the trustee of the trust account to begin liquidating the trust account promptly after the expiration of such 21-day period and anticipate it will take no more than 10 business days to effectuate the distribution of the assets thereof to all of our public shareholders, 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 (subject to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors). Our initial shareholders have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to their initial shares. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our warrants which will expire worthless.
We will pay the costs of liquidation from our remaining assets outside of the trust fund. If such funds are insufficient, Jing Dong Gao and Eli D. Scher have contractually agreed to advance us the funds necessary to complete such liquidation (currently anticipated to be no more than $15,000) and have contractually agreed not to seek repayment of such expenses.
If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of the IPO, 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 as follows:
| • | If we have not presented to public shareholders a proposed business combination by such time period, public shareholders shall be entitled to receive a pro rata share of the trust account (which amount, when aggregated with the right to receive an additional $0.30 per eligible share pursuant to the letter of credit, is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.30 per share). |
| • | If, prior to liquidation, we have presented to public shareholders a proposed business combination that ultimately was not approved, the public shareholders that voted against the last proposed business combination before liquidation or did not vote on such business combination shall be entitled to receive only $10.00 per ordinary share, and those public shareholders who voted for the proposed business combination and continued to hold their shares until liquidation shall be entitled to receive a pro rata share of the trust account (which amount, when aggregated with the right to receive an additional $0.30 per eligible share pursuant to the letter of credit, is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.30 per share). |
The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors (which could include vendors and service providers we have engaged to assist us in any way in connection with our search for a target business and that are owed money by us, as well as target businesses themselves) which could have higher priority than the claims of our public shareholders. Jing Dong Gao and Eli D. Scher have contractually agreed that if we liquidate prior to the consummation of a business combination they will be personally liable to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.00 per share by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us.
Accordingly, if a claim brought by a target business or vendor did not exceed the amount of funds available to us outside of the trust account or available to be released to us from interest earned on the trust account balance, Messrs. Gao and Scher would not have any personal obligation to indemnify such claims as they would be paid from such available funds. However, if a claim exceeded such amounts, the only exceptions to the obligations of Messrs. Gao and Scher to pay such claim would be if the party executed a valid and binding waiver agreement enforceable under law. We have questioned such individuals on their financial net worth and reviewed their financial information and believe they will be able to satisfy any indemnification obligations that may arise. We cannot assure you, however, that they would be able to satisfy those obligations. Furthermore, if they refused to satisfy their obligations, we would be required to bring a claim against him to enforce our indemnification rights. Furthermore, as our board cannot waive these indemnification obligations because it would be a breach of their fiduciary obligations, if they refused to satisfy their obligations, we would be required to bring a claim against them to enforce our indemnification rights. Accordingly, although such agreements are legally binding obligations on the part of Messrs. Gao and Scher, as such individuals are residents of jurisdictions other than the Cayman Islands, we may have difficulty enforcing our rights under such agreements. Therefore, the actual per-share liquidation price could be less than $10.00 or upon any distribution of the per-share amount pursuant to the letter of credit, $10.30 (as the case may be) plus interest, due to claims of creditors.
Our public shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of the expiration of our existence and our automatic dissolution and subsequent liquidation or if they properly convert their respective shares into cash upon consummation of a business combination. In no other circumstances will a shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
Additionally, in any liquidation proceedings of the company under Cayman Islands’ law, the funds held in our trust account may be included in our estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any such claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return to our public shareholders the liquidation amounts payable to them. Furthermore, a liquidator of the company might seek to hold a shareholder liable to contribute to our estate to the extent of distributions received by them pursuant to the dissolution of the trust account beyond the date of dissolution of the trust account. Additionally, we cannot assure you that third parties will not seek to recover from our shareholders amounts owed to them by us. Furthermore, our board may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims for having paid public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
If we are unable to consummate a transaction by November 25, 2010 or May 25, 2011 if the period to complete our business combination has been extended, our purpose and powers will be limited to dissolving, liquidating and winding up. Upon notice from us, the trustee of the trust account will liquidate the investments constituting the trust account and will turn over the proceeds to our transfer agent for distribution to our public shareholders as part of our plan of distribution and dissolution. Concurrently, we shall pay, or reserve for payment, from funds not held in trust, our liabilities and obligations, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. If there are insufficient funds held outside the trust account for such purpose, Jing Dong Gao and Eli D. Scher have contractually agreed that if we liquidate prior to the consummation of a business combination they will be personally liable to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.00 per share by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors and service providers (such as accountants, lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) and potential target businesses. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers and prospective target businesses execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account. As a result, we believe the claims that could be made against us will be limited, thereby lessening the likelihood that any claim would result in any liability extending to the trust. We therefore believe that any necessary provision for creditors will be reduced and should not have a significant impact on our ability to distribute the funds in the trust account to our public shareholders. Nevertheless, we cannot assure you of this fact as there is no guarantee that vendors, service providers and prospective target businesses will execute such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if they execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust fund. A court could also conclude that such agreements are not legally enforceable. As a result, if we liquidate, the per-share distribution from the trust fund could be less than $10.00 or upon any distribution of the per-share amount pursuant to the letter of credit, $10.30 (as the case may be) due to claims or potential claims of creditors.
Competition for Target Business
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours. Additionally, we may be subject to competition from entities other than blank check companies having a business objective similar to ours, including venture capital firms, leverage buyout firms and operating businesses looking to expand their operations through the acquisition of a target business. 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, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources. We will only have access to approximately $36 million in our trust account to consummate a business combination. Accordingly, if we locate a target business that is valued at substantially more than $36 million and the sellers of that target business wish to be paid in cash, we will be forced to obtain third party financing to complete such a transaction. There is no assurance that such financing will be available to us on terms acceptable to us or at all. Other blank check companies whose trust accounts are significantly larger than ours would not have the same problem in financing such a transaction. Accordingly, this inherent competitive limitation may give others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target business. However, our ability to issue our securities in connection with any business combination would allow us to complete a business combination with a much larger target business. This is consistent with other similarly structured blank check companies that have issued securities in connection with their business combination with Chinese targets. We therefore believe that this competitive disadvantage may be reduced in our situation although we cannot assure you of this fact. The following also may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses:
| • | our obligation to seek shareholder approval of a business combination may delay the completion of a transaction; |
| • | our obligation to convert into cash ordinary shares held by our public shareholders to such holders that exercise their conversion rights may reduce the resources available to us for a business combination; and |
| • | our outstanding warrants and option, and the potential future dilution they represent. |
Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. Our management believes, however, that our status as a public entity and potential access to the United States public equity markets may give us a competitive advantage over privately-held entities having a similar business objective as ours in acquiring a target business with significant growth potential on favorable terms.
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 principal executive offices at 762 West Beijing Road, Shanghai, PRC 200041. GSME Capital Partners Inc. is providing this space to us at no cost. We consider our current office space, combined with the other office space otherwise available to our executive officers, adequate for our current operations.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements
Assuming we remain a foreign private issuer, we will be exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act regarding proxy statements. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file current reports with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as United States companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. However, we have agreed with the representative of the underwriters in the IPO that, for until the earlier of our consummation of an initial business combination or our liquidation, in connection with any proposed business combination, we will deliver to our shareholders proxy solicitation materials containing the information we believe would have been required to be provided to shareholders had we not been a foreign private issuer but still had a class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and we will file with the SEC a Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K the proxy solicitation material. We have also agreed with the representative of the underwriters that until the earlier of the consummation of an initial business combination or our liquidation, we will comply with the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act prescribing the requirements and filing deadlines for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and will file Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K complying with those rules and regulations; however, we cannot assure you that the SEC will review any Form 6-Ks we file. We have also agreed to comply with the rules and regulations prescribing the requirements and filing deadlines for Section 16 filings, including Forms 3, 4 and 5, during this time period.
We will provide shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the proxy solicitation materials sent to shareholders to assist them in assessing the target business. These financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with or reconciled to United States GAAP or prepared or reconciled in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards for potential targets that have previously kept their accounts in accordance with GAAP of the PRC. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have the necessary financial statements. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation currently pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such.
ITEM 4A. | UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS. |
None.
| OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS. |
For the year ended October 31, 2009, we had a net loss of $17,979 comprised entirely of operating expenses.
For the period from March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2008, we had a net loss of $8,967 attributable to formation costs and operating expenses.
On November 25, 2009, we consummated our IPO and raised net proceeds of $34,367,806. On consummation of our IPO, $36,000,000 of the net proceeds (including $1,800,000 we received from the sale of insider warrants) was deposited in trust, with the remaining net proceeds ($200,000) becoming available to pay for business, legal and accounting due diligence on prospective acquisitions and continuing general and administrative expenses. We intend to utilize our cash, including the funds held in the trust fund, capital stock, debt or a combination of the foregoing to effect a business combination. To the extent that our capital stock or debt securities are used in whole or in part as consideration to effect a business combination, the proceeds held in the trust fund as well as any other available cash will be used to finance the operations of the target business.
We believe that the funds available to us outside of the trust account and amounts available from interest income earned on the trust account will be sufficient to allow us to operate until November 25, 2010, assuming that a business combination is not consummated during that time. Over this time period, we will be using these funds for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing business due diligence on prospective target businesses, traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses, reviewing corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, selecting the target business to acquire and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination. We anticipate that we will incur approximately $100,000 of expenses for legal, accounting and other third-party 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 by our officers, directors and initial shareholders, $35,000 of expenses in legal and accounting fees relating to our SEC reporting obligations and $65,000 for general working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses, taxes and reserves, including director and officer liability insurance premiums. We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following the IPO 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, although we have not entered into any such arrangement and have no current intention of doing so.
Prior to the date of our IPO, Eli Scher advanced an aggregate of $125,000 to us for payment of offering expenses on our behalf. This loan was repaid following our IPO from the proceeds of the offering.
| DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES. |
Directors and Executive Officers
Name | | Age | | Position |
Jing Dong Gao | | 42 | | Chairman of the Board |
| | | | |
Eli D. Scher | | 29 | | Chief Executive Officer and Director |
| | | | |
Zhong Wen Lin | | 40 | | Vice President, Finance |
Jing Dong Gao has served as our chairman of the board since our inception. Mr. Gao has invested in and built businesses in China in a variety of industries, gaining experience in evaluating companies and investments in China. Mr. Gao is the co-founder and chairman of GSME Capital Partners, a principal investment business headquartered in Shanghai founded in July 2007. GSME Capital Partners makes early stage investments in Chinese businesses with a focus on service industries. Additionally, Mr. Gao serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Fundamental Films, a film distribution and production company he co-founded in April 2008, and invested in by the principals of GSME Capital Partners. Further, Mr. Gao is the chairman of Media Communication Group (MCG), a light-emitting diode (LED) high-technology media business he founded in 2006 and invested in by the principals of GSME Capital Partners. MCG is the exclusive operator of LED advertising screens in the Shanghai and Beijing subways, and owns proprietary media networking management software and has advanced LED screen optimization techniques. Prior to GSME, in 1997, he founded MCHEM Pharma Group, a generic pharmaceuticals manufacturer that manufactured drugs focusing on HIV/AIDS intermediates, APIs and FDFs which was sold to Matrix Labs of India. He served as the company’s chairman and chief executive officer from 1997 to 2007. Mr. Gao also invested in Xiamen Prosolar, a Shanghai stock exchange listed real estate development company (SSE: 600193), and sat on its board of directors until May 2008. Mr. Gao received a B.S. from Nanjing University.
Eli D. Scher has served as our chief executive officer and a member of our board of directors since our inception. Since July 2007, Mr. Scher has served as chief executive officer of GSME Capital Partners Inc. From July 2007 to February 2008, Mr. Scher served as chief development officer and a director of MCG. Since February 2008, he has served as chief financial officer of MCG. Additionally, Mr. Scher is a co-founder, and serves as president and chief financial officer, of Fundamental Films. From September 2003 to February 2007, Mr. Scher served as a principal at Daroth Capital Advisors LLC, which is involved in investing and advising clients on financings, mergers and acquisitions and restructurings, where he led the firm’s Asian business development efforts. From July 2002 to September 2003, he served as a vice president of Cohen Bros. & Co., a private investment bank. From June 2001 to September 2001, he was a financial intern with China International Capital Corporation, a Sino-American joint venture investment bank where Morgan Stanley and the China Construction Bank acted as the principal partners and investors. Mr. Scher received an A.B. from Princeton University. Mr. Scher is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.
Zhong Wen Lin has served as our vice president, finance since our inception. Since February 2007, Mr. Lin has served as finance director of MCG. From July 2006 to February 2007, Mr. Lin served as general manager assistant at JCDecaux China Shanghai Zhongle Vehicle Paint-Spraying Co., LTD, an outdoor transportation media business. From January 2006 to July 2006, he served as finance director of JCDecaux China, Metro Media System Department, a traditional media subway advertising business. From April 1997 to January 2006, Mr. Lin held various roles within Media Partners International, a company acquired by JC Decaux, including: Shanghai Media Partners International Advertising Co., LTD, Public transit system department — Finance Director; Group (Shanghai) — Finance Director; Nanjing Media Partners International Public Transport Advertising Co., LTD — Finance Director; and Shanghai Media Partners International Advertising Co., LTD — Finance Manager. Mr. Lin received a bachelor’s degree in Financial Accounting from Shanghai University.
Special Advisor
We may seek guidance and advice from the following special advisor. We have no formal arrangement or agreement with this individual to provide services to us and accordingly, he has no contractual or fiduciary obligations to present business opportunities to us. This individual will simply provide advice, introductions to potential targets, and assistance to us, at our request, only if he is able to do so. Our special advisor does not speak Chinese. Nevertheless, we believe with his business background and extensive contacts, he will be helpful to our search for a target business and our consummation of an initial business combination.
Lawrence S. Wizel has served on the board of directors of American Oriental Bioengineering, Inc., a plant-based Chinese pharmaceutical company, since 2006. He also serves on the board of directors of several other companies. From 1965 to June 2006, Mr. Wizel served with Deloitte & Touche in Deloitte’s New York office as a partner from 1980 to June 2006. He most recently held the position of deputy professional practice director. Mr. Wizel was responsible for serving a diverse client base of publicly held and private companies in a variety of capacities including SEC filings, initial public offerings, mergers and acquisition transactions and periodic reporting. He received a B.S. from Michigan State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Executive Officer and Director Compensation
No executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. No compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our initial shareholders, including our directors, or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination. However, such individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. 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 of the foregoing, we will generally not have the benefit of independent directors examining the propriety of expenses incurred on our behalf and subject to reimbursement.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Overall, following our initial business combination, we will seek to provide total compensation packages that are competitive in terms of potential value to our executives, and which are tailored to the unique characteristics and needs of our company within our industry in order to create an executive compensation program that will adequately reward our executives for their roles in creating value for our shareholders. We intend to be competitive with other similarly situated companies in our industry following completion of our initial business combination. The compensation decisions regarding our executives will be based on our need to attract individuals with the skills necessary for us to achieve our business plan, to reward those individuals fairly over time, and to retain those individuals who continue to perform at or above our expectations.
It is likely that our executives’ compensation will have three primary components – salary, cash incentive bonus and stock-based awards. We will view the three components of executive compensation as related but distinct. We do not believe that significant compensation derived from one component of compensation should negate or reduce compensation from other components. We anticipate determining the appropriate level for each compensation component based in part, but not exclusively, on our view of internal equity and consistency, individual performance and other information deemed relevant and timely. We have not adopted any formal or informal policies or guidelines for allocating compensation between long-term and currently paid out compensation, between cash and non-cash compensation, or among different forms of compensation.
We may utilize the services of third parties from time to time in connection with the hiring and compensation awarded to executive employees. This could include subscriptions to executive compensation surveys and other databases.
Benchmarking of Cash and Equity Compensation
We believe it is important when making compensation-related decisions to be informed as to current practices of similarly situated publicly held companies. We expect to stay apprised of the cash and equity compensation practices of publicly held companies in the industry we operate in following our initial business combination through the review of such companies’ public reports and through other resources. It is expected that any companies chosen for inclusion in any benchmarking group would have business characteristics comparable to our company, including revenues, financial growth metrics, stage of development, employee headcount and market capitalization. While benchmarking may not always be appropriate as a stand-alone tool for setting compensation due to the aspects of our post-acquisition business and objectives that may be unique to us, we generally believe that gathering this information will be an important part of our compensation-related decision-making process.
Compensation Components
Base Salary. Generally, we anticipate setting executive base salaries at levels comparable with those of executives in similar positions and with similar responsibilities at comparable companies. We will seek to maintain base salary amounts at or near the industry norms while avoiding paying amounts in excess of what we believe is necessary to motivate executives to meet corporate goals. It is anticipated base salaries will generally be reviewed annually, subject to terms of employment agreements, and that we will seek to adjust base salary amounts to realign such salaries with industry norms after taking into account individual responsibilities, performance and experience.
Annual Bonuses. We may design and utilize cash incentive bonuses for executives to focus them on achieving key operational and financial objectives within a yearly time horizon. We will structure cash incentive bonus compensation so that it is taxable to our employees at the time it becomes available to them. At this time, it is not anticipated that any executive officer’s annual cash compensation will exceed $1 million, and we have accordingly not made any plans to qualify for any compensation deductions under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Equity Awards. We may also use stock options and other stock-based awards to reward long-term performance. We believe that providing a meaningful portion of our executives’ total compensation package in stock options and other stock-based awards will align the incentives of our executives with the interests of our shareholders and with our long-term success.
Board Practices
We have two directors with each director serving a two-year term. The term of office of Jing Dong Gao will expire at our first annual meeting of shareholders. The term of office of Eli D. Scher will expire at the second annual meeting. Pursuant to our Articles, the number of directors that shall constitute our board has been fixed at two. This provision in our Articles may not be amended by shareholders prior to the consummation of our initial business combination except upon approval by the holders of at least 85% of the outstanding ordinary shares.
Employees
We have three executive officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters and intend to devote only as much time as they deem necessary to our affairs. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for the business combination and the stage of the business combination process the company is in. Accordingly, once management locates a suitable target business to acquire, they will spend more time investigating such target business and negotiating and processing the business combination (and consequently spend more time to our affairs) than they would prior to locating a suitable target business. We presently expect each of our executive officers to devote an average of approximately 10 hours per week to our business. We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of a business combination.
ITEM 7. | MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. |
A. Major Shareholders
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of May 21, 2010:
| · | each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding ordinary shares; |
| · | 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 ordinary shares beneficially owned by them.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1) | | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | | | Percent of Class | |
Hartz Capital, Inc. (2) | | | 755,000 | (3) | | | 15.7 | % |
Bulldog Investors General Partnership(4) | | | 529,641 | | | | 11.0 | % |
Polar Securities Inc. (5) | | | 250,000 | (6) | | | 5.2 | % |
Barry Rubenstein(7) | | | 250,000 | (8) | | | 5.2 | % |
Jing Dong Gao | | | 1,044,000 | (9) | | | 21.8 | % |
Eli D. Scher | | | 120,000 | | | | 2.5 | % |
Zhong Wen Lin | | | 0 | | | | 0 | % |
All directors and executive officers as a group (three individuals) | | | 1,164,000 | (10) | | | 24.3 | % |
| | | | | | | | |
(1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is 762 West Beijing Road, Shanghai, China 2000041. |
(2) | The business address of Hartz Capital, Inc. is 400 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ 07094. |
(3) | Represents 755,000 shares held by Hartz Capital Investments, LLC. Hartz Capital, Inc. is the manager of Hartz Capital Investments, LLC and therefore exercises voting and dispositive power over such shares. The foregoing information is derived from a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 5, 2010. |
(4) | The business address of Bulldog is Park 80 West, Plaza Two, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663. Phillip Goldstein exercises voting and dispositive power over such shares. The foregoing information is derived from a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 8, 2010. |
(5) | The business address of Polar Securities Inc. is 372 Bay Street, 21st floor, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2W9, Canada. |
(6) | Represents shares held by North Pole Capital Master Fund of which Polar Securities controls. The foregoing information is derived from a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 4, 2010. |
(7) | The business address of Barry Rubenstein is 68 Wheatley Road, Brookville, NY 11545. |
(8) | Represents 150,000 shares held by Woodland Partners, of which Mr. Rubenstein is general partner, and 100,000 shares held in a joint account by Mr. Rubenstein and his wife. Does not include 250,000 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants that are not currently exercisable and will not become exercisable within 60 days. The foregoing information is derived from a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 10, 2009. |
(9) | Represents shares held by MCK Capital Co., Limited, an entity controlled by Mr. Gao. |
(10) | Does not include 3,600,000 shares issuable upon exercise of insider warrants that are not currently exercisable and will not become exercisable within 60 days. |
All of the initial shares have been placed in escrow with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as escrow agent, until (i) with respect to 20% of such shares, upon consummation of our initial business combination, (ii) with respect to 20% of such shares, when the closing price of our ordinary shares exceeds $12.00 for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period following the consummation of our initial business combination, (iii) with respect to 20% of such shares, when the closing price of our ordinary shares exceeds $14.00 for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period following the consummation of our initial business combination, (iv) with respect to 20% of such shares, when the closing price of our ordinary shares exceeds $16.00 for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period following the consummation of our initial business combination and (v) with respect to 20% of such shares, when the closing price of our ordinary shares exceeds $20.00 for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period following the consummation of our initial business combination. All of the initial shares may be released from escrow earlier than as described above if within that time period, we consummate a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.
During the escrow period, the holders of these shares will not be able to sell or transfer their securities except (i) for transfers to an entity’s members upon its liquidation, (ii) to relatives and trusts for estate planning purposes, (iii) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (iv) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (v) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of our securities or (vi) by private sales made at or prior to the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares were originally purchased, in each case where the transferee agrees to the terms of the escrow agreement, but will retain all other rights as our shareholders, including, without limitation, the right to vote their ordinary shares and the right to receive cash dividends, if declared. If dividends are declared and payable in ordinary shares, such dividends will also be placed in escrow. If we are unable to effect a business combination and liquidate, none of our initial shareholders will receive any portion of the liquidation proceeds with respect to their initial shares
B. Related Party Transactions
In March 2008, we issued 1,293,750 ordinary shares to the individuals set forth below for $25,000 in cash, at a purchase price of approximately $0.02 share, as follows:
Name | | Number of Shares | | Relationship to Us |
Jing Dong Gao | | 1,125,563 | | Chairman of the Board |
Eli D. Scher | | 129,375 | | Chief Executive Officer |
Lawrence S. Wizel | | 38,812 | | Consultant |
In July 2009, Mr. Gao transferred all his shares to MCK Capital Co., Limited, an entity he controls. In September 2009, our board of directors authorized a share dividend of approximately 0.067 shares for each outstanding ordinary share.
In connection with the IPO, the underwriters determined not to exercise any of their over-allotment option. As a result, our founders forfeited to us an aggregate of 180,000 shares. Upon receipt, such forfeited shares were immediately cancelled.
The holders of the majority of the initial shares are entitled to make up to two demands that we register these shares. The holders of the majority of these shares may elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these ordinary shares are released from escrow. In addition, these shareholders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the date on which these ordinary shares are released from escrow. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
MCK Capital Co., Limited, Eli D. Scher and Larry Wizel purchased 3,600,000 insider warrants (for a total purchase price of $1,800,000) from us simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO. The insider warrants are identical to the warrants underlying the units sold in the IPO except that the insider warrants will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and will not be redeemable by us, in each case so long as such warrants are held by the purchasers or their affiliates. The purchasers have agreed that the insider warrants will not be sold or transferred by them until 60 days after we have completed a business combination. The holders of the majority of these insider warrants (or underlying shares) will be entitled to demand that we register these securities. The holders of the majority of these securities may elect to exercise these registration rights with respect to such securities at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, these holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to such date. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
In order to meet our working capital, certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount such officer or director deems reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a note and, upon consummation of our business combination, either payable without interest or, at such officer or director’s discretion, convertible into warrants of the post business combination entity at a price of $0.50 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the insider warrants. The holders of a majority of such warrants (or underlying shares) will be entitled to demand that we register these securities pursuant to an agreement to be entered into at the time of the loan. The holders of a majority of these securities would have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to such date. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
In connection with the IPO, Eli D. Scher advanced to us $125,000 to cover expenses related to the offering. The loan was payable without interest on the consummation of the IPO. This loan was repaid from the proceeds of the IPO not placed in trust.
We will reimburse our management team 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 out-of-pocket expenses that could be incurred; provided, however, that to the extent such out-of-pocket expenses exceed the funds available to us, such out-of-pocket expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate our initial business combination.
Other than the reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses payable to our management team, no compensation or fees of any kind, including finder’s fees, consulting fees or other similar compensation, will be paid to any of our founders, officers or directors or to any of their respective affiliates, prior to or with respect to the business combination.
All ongoing and future transactions between us and any member of our management team or their respective affiliates, including loans by members of our management team, will be on terms believed by us at that time, based upon other similar arrangements known to us, to be no less favorable than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions or loans, including any forgiveness of loans, will require prior approval in each instance by our audit committee who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. It is our intention to obtain estimates from unaffiliated third parties for similar goods or services to ascertain whether such transactions with affiliates are on terms that are no less favorable to us than are otherwise available from such unaffiliated third parties.
Our Code of Ethics requires us to avoid, wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interest, except under guidelines approved by the Board of Directors (or the audit committee, if one exists). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 5 percent beneficial owner of our ordinary shares, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10 percent beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.
We will not acquire an entity with which any of our officers or directors, through their other business activities, is currently having acquisition or investment discussions. To further minimize potential conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to (i) acquire an entity with which our officers or directors, through their other business activities, had acquisition or investment discussions in the past, (ii) consummate an initial business combination with an entity which is, or has been within the past five years, affiliated with any of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates, including an entity that is either a portfolio company of, or has otherwise received a material financial investment from, any private equity fund or investment company (or an affiliate thereof) that is affiliated with such individuals; or (iii) enter into a business combination where we acquire less than 100% of a target business and any of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates acquire the remaining portion of such target business, unless, in any case, we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm reasonably acceptable to Cohen & Company Securities, LLC that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.
C. Interest of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. | FINANCIAL INFORMATION. |
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
Please see “Item 18. Financial Statements” for a list of the financial statements filed as part of this annual report.
B. Significant Changes
Not applicable.
ITEM 9. | THE OFFER AND LISTING |
A. Offer and Listing Details
Our securities did not commence trading on the OTC Bulletin Board until after October 31, 2009.
B. Plan of Distribution
Not applicable.
C. Markets
Our units, ordinary shares and warrants are traded under the symbols “GSMEF,” “GSMXF” and “GSMWF,” respectively, on the OTC Bulletin Board.
D. Selling Shareholders
Not applicable.
E. Dilution
Not applicable.
F. Expenses of the Issue
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. |
A. Share Capital
Not applicable.
B. Memorandum and Articles of Association
The following represents a summary of certain key provisions of our Articles. The summary does not purport to be a summary of all of the provisions of our Articles or of all relevant provisions of Cayman Islands law governing the management and regulation of Cayman Islands exempted companies.
Incorporation
We were incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company on March 27, 2008 under the Companies Law with company registration number 207509. Our authorized share capital is $51,000.00 divided into 50,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.001 each and 1,000,000 preferred shares of a par value of US$0.001 each.
Objects and Purposes
Our Articles grants us full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Law or as the same may be revised from time to time, or any other law of the Cayman Islands.
Directors
We have two directors and each director will generally serve for a term of two years with only one director being elected in each year. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares eligible to vote for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.
Subject to their fiduciary duties and our Articles, directors may engage in transactions with us and vote on such transactions, provided the nature of the interest is disclosed in accordance with the procedures under our Articles. Directors also may exercise all the powers to borrow money and to mortgage or charge our undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock, mortgages, bonds and other such securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of us or of any third party.
Rights and Obligations of Shareholders
Dividends
Subject to the Companies Law, directors may declare dividends and distributions on our ordinary shares in issue and authorize payment on the dividends or distributions out of lawfully available funds. No dividend or distribution may be paid except out of our realized or unrealized profits, or out of the share premium account or as otherwise permitted by the Companies Law.
Voting Rights
Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any shares, on a show of hands every member who (being an individual) is present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person is present by its duly authorized representative or proxy, has one vote and on a poll every member has one vote for every share of which he is the holder.
In the case of joint holders of record the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, is accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and seniority is determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register of Members.
A member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court, having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by his committee, receiver, curator bonis, or other person on such member's behalf appointed by that court, and any such committee, receiver, curator bonis or other person may vote by proxy.
No person is entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of a class of shares unless he is registered as a member on the record date for such meeting nor unless all calls or other monies then payable by him in respect of such shares have been paid.
On a poll or on a show of hands votes may be cast either personally or by proxy. A member may appoint more than one proxy to attend and vote at a general meeting.
On a poll, a member holding more than one share need not cast the votes in respect of his shares in the same way on any resolution and therefore may vote a share or some or all such shares either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting a share or some or all of the shares and, subject to the terms of the instrument appointing him, on a poll, a proxy appointed under one or more instruments may vote a share or some or all of the shares in respect of which he is appointed either for or against a resolution and/or abstain from voting.
Any person in consequence of the death or bankruptcy or winding-up of a member (or in any other way than by transfer) who becomes the holder of a share may vote at any general meeting in respect thereof in the same manner as if he were the registered holder of such shares, provided that forty-eight hours at least before the time of the holding of the meeting or adjourned meeting, as the case may be, at which he proposes to vote, he satisfies the directors of his entitlement to such shares, or the directors have previously admitted his right to vote at such meeting in respect thereof.
Change to Rights of Shareholders
Shareholders may change the rights of their class of shares by passing a special resolution at a general meeting of the shareholders of that class.
There are no general limitations on the rights to own shares specified by the Articles.
General Meetings
A general meeting may be convened:
| · | by three directors at any time; or |
| · | our chairman of the board. |
Notice of a general meeting is given to all shareholders. All business shall be deemed special that is transacted at an extraordinary general meeting, and also all business that is transacted at an annual general meeting, with the exception of:
| (a) | the declaration and sanctioning of dividends; |
| (b) | consideration and adoption of the accounts and balance sheet and the reports of the directors and auditors and other documents required to be annexed to the balance sheet; |
| (c) | the election of directors; |
| (d) | appointment of auditors (where special notice of the intention for such appointment is not required by the Companies Law) and other officers; |
| (e) | the fixing of the remuneration of the auditors, |
| (f) | the voting of remuneration or extra remuneration to the directors; the granting of any mandate or authority to the directors to offer, allot, grant options over or otherwise dispose of the unissued shares in the capital of the Company representing not more than 20% in nominal value of its existing issued share capital; and |
| (g) | the granting of any mandate or authority to the directors to repurchase our securities. |
A quorum of shareholders is required to be present at any general meeting in order to carry out business. A quorum consists of the holder or holders present in person or by proxy entitled to exercise not less than 33.33% of the voting rights of the shares of each class or series of shares entitled to vote as a class or series thereon.
The directors are permitted to designate any general meeting of shareholders as an annual general meeting provided that only one annual general meeting may be held each year.
Changes in Capital
We may increase our share capital by ordinary resolution. The new shares will be subject to all of the provisions to which the original shares are subject. We may also by ordinary resolution:
| · | consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount; |
| · | sub-divide existing shares into shares of a smaller amount; and |
| · | cancel any shares which, at the date of the resolution, are not held or agreed to be held by any person. |
We may reduce our share capital and any capital redemption reserve by special resolution in accordance with relevant provisions of the Companies Law.
Indemnity
Pursuant to our amended and restated Memorandum and Articles of association, every director, agent or officer shall be indemnified out of our assets against any liability incurred by him as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out his functions other than such liability (if any) that he may incur by his own fraud or willful default. No such director, agent or officer shall be liable to us for any loss or damage in carrying out his functions unless that liability arises through the fraud or willful default of such director, agent or officer.
C. Material Contracts
As of May 21, 2010, the Company has not entered into any material contracts.
D. Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders
Under Cayman Islands law, there are currently no restrictions on the export or import of capital, including foreign exchange controls or restrictions that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to nonresident holders of our shares.
E. Taxation
The following summary of the material Cayman Islands and United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in ordinary shares is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this Form 20-F, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our ordinary shares, such as the tax consequences under U.S. state, local and other tax laws.
Cayman Islands Taxation
The Government of the Cayman Islands will not, under existing legislation, impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax upon the company or its shareholders. The Cayman Islands are not party to a double tax treaty with any country that is applicable to any payment made to or by us.
We have received an undertaking from the Governor-in-Cabinet of the Cayman Islands that, in accordance with section 6 of the Tax Concessions Law (1999 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, for a period of 20 years from the date of the undertaking, no law which is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations shall apply to us or our operations and, in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax shall be payable (i) on the shares, debentures or other obligations of the company or (ii) by way of the withholding in whole or in part of a payment of dividend or other distribution of income or capital by the company to its members or a payment of principal or interest or other sums due under a debenture or other obligation of the company.
United States Federal Income Taxation
This section describes the material United States federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares and warrants. This section does not address any aspect of United States federal gift or estate tax, or the state, local or foreign tax consequences of an investment in our ordinary shares and warrants. This section only applies to you if you hold your ordinary shares and warrants as capital assets for tax purposes. This discussion does not discuss all the tax consequences that may be relevant to particular investors in light of their circumstances or to investors that are subject to special rules, including:
| · | a dealer in securities or currencies; |
| · | a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings; |
| · | a tax-exempt organization; |
| · | a person liable for alternative minimum tax; |
| · | a person that actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the vote or value of our shares; |
| · | a person that holds ordinary shares that are a hedge or that are hedged against currency risks or as part of a straddle or a conversion transaction; |
| · | a U.S. holder (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
| · | a person who acquired shares pursuant to the exercise of a compensatory stock option; or |
| · | a person who owns shares through a partnership or other pass-through entity. |
This section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative interpretations thereof, all as in effect as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to changes, possibly retroactively. There is currently no comprehensive tax treaty between the United States and the Cayman Islands.
For purposes of the United States federal income tax discussion below, you are a U.S. holder if you are a beneficial owner of ordinary shares or warrants and you are:
| · | a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| · | an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; |
| · | or a trust if (A) a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (B) the trust was in existence on August 20, 1996, and validly elected to continue to be treated as a United States domestic trust. |
In general, the tax consequences for shares owned by a partnership depends on the tax status of the parties.
A non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of ordinary shares or warrants that is not a United States Holder for United States federal income tax purposes.
You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the United States federal, state and local tax consequences of owning and disposing of the ordinary shares or warrants in your particular circumstances.
This discussion addresses only United States federal income taxation.
Allocation of Purchase Price Between Shares and Warrants
There is no authority addressing the treatment, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, of securities with terms substantially the same as the units, and, therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. Each unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as an investment unit consisting of one ordinary share and a warrant to acquire one ordinary share. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for a unit between the ordinary share and the warrant included in that unit based on their respective relative fair market values at the time of issuance. A holder’s initial tax basis in the ordinary share and the warrant included in each unit should equal the portion of the purchase price of the unit allocated thereto. While uncertain, it is possible that the IRS, by analogy to the rules relating to the allocation of the purchase price to components of a unit consisting of debt and equity, may take the position that our allocation of the purchase price will be binding on a holder of a unit, unless the holder explicitly discloses in a statement attached to its timely filed U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year that includes the acquisition date of the unit that the holder’s allocation of the purchase price between the ordinary share and warrant that comprise the unit is different than our allocation.
Any purchase price allocation by a holder of a unit or by us is not binding on the IRS or the courts. For that reason, and because of the absence of authority addressing the federal income tax treatment of the units, each holder is urged to consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit) and regarding the risks associated with an allocation of the purchase price between the ordinary share and the warrant that comprise a unit that is inconsistent with our allocation or the holder’s allocation of the purchase price. Unless otherwise stated, the following discussion is based on the assumption that the characterization of the units described above is accepted for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Taxation of Dividends
U.S. Holders. Under the United States federal income tax laws, and subject to the personal foreign investment company rules discussed below, if you are a U.S. holder, the gross amount of any dividend we pay out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) is subject to United States federal income taxation. If you are a non-corporate U.S. holder, dividends paid to you in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011 that constitute qualified dividend income will be taxable to you at a maximum tax rate of 15% provided that you hold our ordinary shares for more than 60 days during the 120-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date and meet other holding period requirements. Dividends we pay with respect to our ordinary shares generally will be qualified dividend income provided that, in the year in which the dividend is paid, our ordinary shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States.
The dividend will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to United States corporations in respect of dividends received from other United States corporations. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for United States federal income tax purposes, will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of your basis in our ordinary shares and thereafter as capital gain. If the dividend is declared and paid in a foreign currency, the amount of the dividend distribution that you must include in your income as a U.S. holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the payments made in the foreign currency, determined at the spot foreign currency/U.S. dollar rate on the date the dividend distribution is includible in your income, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Therefore, since the value of the foreign currency may decrease before you actually convert the currency into U.S. dollars, you may actually be taxed on a larger amount in U.S. dollars than the U.S. dollar amount that you will ultimately receive. Generally, any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date you include the dividend payment in income to the date you convert the payment into U.S. dollars will be treated as ordinary income or loss and will not be eligible for the special tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income. The gain or loss generally will be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.
Dividends will be income from sources outside the United States, but generally will be passive income or financial services income, which is treated separately from other types of income for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to you.
Non-U.S. Holders. If you are a non-U.S. holder, dividends paid to you in respect of our ordinary shares will not be subject to United States federal income tax unless the dividends are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States, and the dividends are attributable to a permanent establishment that you maintain in the United States if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting you to United States taxation on a net income basis. In such cases you will be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. holder. If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, effectively connected dividends may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate.
Taxation of Capital Gains
U.S. Holders. Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, if you are a U.S. holder and you sell or otherwise dispose of your ordinary shares or warrants, you will recognize capital gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount that you realize and your tax basis, determined in U.S. dollars, in your ordinary shares or warrants. Capital gain of a noncorporate U.S. holder that is recognized before January 1, 2011 is generally taxed at a maximum rate of 15% where the holder has a holding period greater than one year. The gain or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Your ability to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations.
Non-U.S. Holders. If you are a non-U.S. holder, you will not be subject to United States federal income tax on gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of your ordinary shares or warrants unless:
| · | the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States and the dividends are attributable to a permanent establishment that you maintain in the United States if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting you to United States taxation on a net income basis; or |
| · | you are an individual, you are present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the sale and certain other conditions exist |
If you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, effectively connected gains that you recognize, under certain circumstances, may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate.
Exercise, Disposition or Lapse of Warrants
Subject to the discussion of the PFIC rules below, a U.S. holder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the exercise of a warrant. Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a warrant will have a tax basis equal to the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the warrant (that is, an amount equal to the portion of the purchase price of each Unit allocated to the warrant as described above in “Allocation of Purchase Price Between Shares and Warrants”), increased by the amount paid to exercise the warrant. The holding period of such share would begin on the day following the date of exercise of the warrant and will not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the warrant.
Subject to the discussion of the PFIC rules below, upon the sale or other disposition of a warrant (other than by exercise), a U.S. holder will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the warrant (that is, as discussed above, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to such warrant). Such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder has held the warrant for more than one year. Under certain circumstances, we have the right to redeem the warrants. A redemption of warrants will be treated as a sale or exchange of the warrants.
The terms of the warrant provide for certain adjustments to the number of shares for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrants. Such adjustment may, under certain circumstances, result in constructive distributions that could be taxable as a dividend to the U.S. holder of the warrants. Conversely, the absence of an appropriate adjustment may result in a constructive distribution that could be taxable as a dividend to a U.S. holder of the shares. See “Taxation of Dividends.”
If a warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. holder will recognize a capital loss in an amount equal to such holder’s tax basis in the warrant. Such loss will be long-term if the warrant has been held for more than one year. The ability to deduct any such loss may be subject to certain limitations, and holders should consult their own tax advisors as to the potential applicability to them of such limitations.
As discussed above in “Allocation of Purchase Price Between Shares and Warrants”, the allocation of price of a unit between the share and the warrants comprising such unit is not binding on the IRS. If the IRS were successfully to challenge your allocation, the amount of gain recognized upon disposition of a share or warrant could be increased, and the amount of loss recognized upon disposition of a share or warrant or upon lapse of a warrant could be reduced.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
Special United States tax rules apply to a company that is considered a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC. Under these rules, we will be classified as a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes in any taxable year in which either:
| · | at least 75% of our gross income for the taxable year is passive income; or |
| · | at least 50% of the gross value, determined on the basis of a quarterly average, of our assets is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. |
Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents (not including certain rents and royalties derived in the active conduct of a trade or business), annuities and gains from assets that produce passive income. If a foreign corporation owns directly or indirectly at least 25% by value of the stock of another corporation, the foreign corporation is treated for purposes of the PFIC tests as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation, and as receiving directly its proportionate share of the other corporation’s income.
If we are treated as a PFIC, and you are a U.S. holder that does not make a mark-to-market election, as described below, you will be subject to special rules with respect to:
| · | any gain you realize on the sale or other disposition of your ordinary shares or warrants; and |
| · | any excess distribution that we make to you (generally, any distributions to you during a single taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received by you in respect of the ordinary shares during the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, your holding period for the ordinary shares or ordinary shares). |
Under these rules:
| · | the gain or excess distribution will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the ordinary shares; |
| · | the amount allocated to the taxable year in which you realized the gain or excess distribution will be taxed as ordinary income; |
| · | the amount allocated to each prior year, with certain exceptions, will be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year; and |
| · | the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed in respect of the tax attributable to each such year. |
Special rules apply for calculating the amount of the foreign tax credit with respect to excess distributions by a PFIC.
If you own ordinary shares in a PFIC that are treated as marketable shares, you may make a mark-to-market election. If you make this election, you will not be subject to the PFIC rules described above. Instead, in general, you will include as ordinary income each year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of your ordinary shares or warrants at the end of the taxable year over your adjusted basis in your ordinary shares or warrants. These amounts of ordinary income will not be eligible for the favorable tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains. You will also be allowed to take an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of your ordinary shares over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-market election). Your basis in the ordinary shares or warrants will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. Your gain, if any, recognized upon the sale of your ordinary shares or warrants will be taxed as ordinary income.
In addition, notwithstanding any election you make with regard to the ordinary shares, dividends that you receive from us will not constitute qualified dividend income to you if we are a PFIC either in the taxable year of the distribution or the preceding taxable year. Dividends that you receive that do not constitute qualified dividend income are not eligible for taxation at the 15% maximum rate applicable to qualified dividend income. Instead, you must include the gross amount of any such dividend paid by us out of our accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) in your gross income, and it will be subject to tax at rates applicable to ordinary income.
If you own ordinary shares during any year that we are a PFIC, you must file Internal Revenue Service Form 8621.
You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the application of the PFIC rules to our ordinary shares or warrants in your particular circumstances, including the availability of making an election to avoid adverse United States federal income tax consequences under the PFIC rules in the case we are determined to be a PFIC in any given year.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
If you are a noncorporate U.S. holder, information reporting requirements, on Internal Revenue Service Form 1099, generally will apply to:
| · | dividend payments or other taxable distributions made to you within the United States, and |
| · | the payment of proceeds to you from the sale of ordinary shares effected at a United States office of a broker. |
Additionally, backup withholding may apply to such payments if you are a noncorporate U.S. holder that:
| · | fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number, |
| · | is notified by the Internal Revenue Service that you have failed to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on your federal income tax returns, or |
| · | in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements. |
If you are a non-U.S. holder, you are generally exempt from backup withholding and information reporting requirements with respect to:
| · | dividend payments made to you outside the United States by us or another non-United States payor and |
| · | other dividend payments and the payment of the proceeds from the sale of ordinary shares and warrants effected at a United States office of a broker, as long as the income associated with such payments is otherwise exempt from United States federal income tax, and the payor or broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and you have furnished the payor or broker: |
| · | dividend payments if you have provided us with an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are a non-United States person, or |
| · | other documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payments as made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations, or |
| · | you otherwise establish an exemption. |
Payment of the proceeds from the sale of ordinary shares or warrants effected at a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale of ordinary shares or warrants that is effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding if:
| · | the proceeds are transferred to an account maintained by you in the United States, |
| · | the payment of proceeds or the confirmation of the sale is mailed to you at a United States address, or |
| · | the sale has some other specified connection with the United States as provided in U.S. Treasury regulations, |
unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above are met or you otherwise establish an exemption.
In addition, a sale of ordinary shares or warrants effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject to information reporting if the broker is:
| · | a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes, |
| · | a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business for a specified three-year period, or |
| · | a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year: |
| · | one or more of its partners are “U.S. persons”, as defined in U.S. Treasury regulations, who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership, or |
| · | such foreign partnership is engaged in the conduct of a United States trade or business, |
unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above are met or you otherwise establish an exemption. Backup withholding will apply if the sale is subject to information reporting and the broker has actual knowledge that you are a United States person.
You generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed your income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the United States Internal Revenue Service.
F. Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
G. Statement by Experts
Not applicable.
H. Documents on Display
We file annual reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any report or document we file, including the exhibits, at the SEC’s public reference room located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Such materials can also be obtained on the SEC’s site on the internet at http://www.sec.gov.
We will also provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, upon written or oral request of that person, a copy of any and all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this annual report. Please direct such requests to Eli D. Scher, Chief Executive Officer, GSME Acquisition Partners I, 762 West Beijing Road, Shanghai, PRC 200041.
I. Subsidiary Information
Not applicable.
ITEM 11. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK. |
Market risk is a broad term for the risk of economic loss due to adverse changes in the fair value of a financial instrument. These changes may be the result of various factors, including interest rates, foreign exchange rates, commodity prices and/or equity prices. $36,000,000 of the proceeds from our IPO and private sale of insider warrants have been placed into a trust account at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee. The proceeds held in trust will only be invested in United States “government securities,” defined as any Treasury Bill issued by the United States having a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940.. Thus, we are subject to market risk primarily through the effect of changes in interest rates on government securities. In addition, following a business combination, it is possible that some or all of our revenues and expenses may be denominated in non-United States currencies, which could subject us to increased risks relating to foreign exchange rate fluctuations that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
ITEM 12. | DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES. |
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 13. | DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES. |
There has been no default of any indebtedness nor is there any arrearage in the payment of dividends.
ITEM 14. | MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS. |
There have been no changes to the instruments defining the rights of the holders of any class of registered securities, and the rights of holders of the registered securities have not been altered by the issuance or modification of any other class of securities. There are no restrictions on working capital and no removal or substitution of assets securing any class of our registered securities.
ITEM 15T. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. |
(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of October 31, 2009. Based upon their evaluation, they concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
(b) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
This annual report does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an attestation report of the company’s registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for newly public companies.
(c) Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm.
See above.
(d) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
During the most recently completed fiscal quarter, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 16A. | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT. |
We do not have a standing audit committee. Accordingly, we do not have an audit committee financial expert serving on an audit committee.
In November 2009, our board of directors adopted a code of ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees as well as those of our subsidiaries. We will provide a copy of this code of ethics to any person that request it, free of charge. Requests for copies of our code of ethics should be sent in writing to Eli D. Scher, Chief Executive Officer, GSME Acquisition Partners I, 762 West Beijing Road, Shanghai, PRC 200041.
ITEM 16C. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. |
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by our auditors for fiscal years ended October 31 are as follows:
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
Audit Fees | | $ | 17,978 | | | $ | 4,500 | |
Audit Related Fees | | $ | 18,107 | | | $ | 5,500 | |
Audit fees represent fees for professional services related to the audit of our financial statements for the period from March 27, 2008 (inception) to December 31, 2008 and for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009. Audit related fees represent fees for professional services related to the filing of our registration statement with the SEC.
ITEM 16D. | EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES. |
Not applicable.
ITEM 16E. | PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS. |
Not applicable.
ITEM 16F. | CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT. |
Not applicable.
ITEM 16G. | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE. |
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 17. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. |
We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.
ITEM 18. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. |
The following financial statements are filed as part of this annual report.
| Page Number |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | F-1 |
Balance Sheets | F-2 |
Statements of Operations | F-3 |
Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity | F-4 |
Statements of Cash Flows | F-5 |
Notes to Financial Statements | F-6 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
GSME Acquisition Partners I
Shanghai, China
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of GSME Acquisition Partners I (a development stage company) as of October 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statements of operations, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the year ended October 31, 2009 and the periods from March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2008 and March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2009. 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 audits.
We conducted our audits 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. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. 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 audits provide 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 GSME Acquisition Partners I as of October 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended October 31, 2009 and the periods from March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2008 and March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2009, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Crowe Horwath LLP
New York, New York
May 24, 2010
(A Development Stage Company)
BALANCE SHEETS
| | October 31, 2009 | | | October 31, 2008 | |
ASSETS | |
Cash and cash equivalent | | $ | 2,036 | | | $ | 15,516 | |
Deferred offering costs | | | 489,991 | | | | 145,517 | |
Total assets | | $ | 492,027 | | | $ | 161,033 | |
| | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES and SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | $ | 368,973 | | | $ | 20,000 | |
Due to related party | | | 125,000 | | | | 125,000 | |
Total Liabilities | | | 493,973 | | | | 145,000 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Shareholders' equity: | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares, $.001 par value | | | | | | | | |
Authorized 50,000,000 shares: | | | | | | | | |
1,380,000 shares issued and outstanding | | | 1,380 | | | | 1,380 | |
Additional Paid-in capital | | | 23,620 | | | | 23,620 | |
Deficit accumulated during the development stage | | | (26,946 | ) | | | (8,967 | ) |
Total shareholders' equity | | | (1,946 | ) | | | 16,033 | |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | | $ | 492,027 | | | $ | 161,033 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
(A Development Stage Company)
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| | Year ended October 31, 2009 | | | For the period from March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2008 | | | For the period from March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2009 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Formation and operating costs | | $ | 17,979 | | | $ | 8,967 | | | $ | 26,946 | |
Net loss | | $ | (17,979 | ) | | $ | (8,967 | ) | | $ | (26,946 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares outstanding | | | 1,380,000 | | | | 1,380,000 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic and diluted net loss per share | | $ | (0.01 | ) | | $ | (0.01 | ) | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
(A Development Stage Company)
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the Period from March 27, 2008 (Inception) to October 31, 2009
| | Ordinary Shares | | | Additional Paid-in Capital | | | Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage | | | Shareholders' Equity | |
| | Shares | | | Amount | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares issued at inception at $0.02 per share | | | 1,380,000 | | | $ | 1,380 | | | $ | 23,620 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 25,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss for the period from March 27, 2008 (inception) to December 31, 2008 | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (8,967 | ) | | | (8,967 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at October 31, 2008 | | | 1,380,000 | | | | 1,380 | | | | 23,620 | | | | (8,967 | ) | | | 16,033 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss for the year ended October 31, 2009 | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (17,979 | ) | | | (17,979 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at October 31, 2009 | | | 1,380,000 | | | $ | 1,380 | | | $ | 23,620 | | | $ | (26,946 | ) | | $ | (1,946 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
(A Development Stage Company)
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| | Year ended October 31, 2009 | | | For the period from March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2008 | | | For the period from March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2009 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from operating activities | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (17,979 | ) | | $ | (8,967 | ) | | $ | (26,946 | ) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Deferred offering costs | | | (344,474 | ) | | | (145,517 | ) | | | (489,991 | ) |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | | 348,973 | | | | 20,000 | | | | 368,973 | |
Net cash used in operating activities | | | (13,480 | ) | | | (134,484 | ) | | | (147,964 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from sale of ordinary shares to founding Shareholders | | | - | | | | 25,000 | | | | 25,000 | |
Proceeds from due to related party | | | - | | | | 125,000 | | | | 125,000 | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | | | - | | | | 150,000 | | | | 150,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (decrease) increase in cash | | | (13,480 | ) | | | 15,516 | | | | 2,036 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash at beginning of period | | | 15,516 | | | | - | | | | - | |
Cash at end of period | | $ | 2,036 | | | $ | 15,516 | | | $ | 2,036 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
GSME ACQUISITION PARTNERS I
(A Development Stage Company)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Organization and Plan of Business Operations
GSME Acquisition Partners I (the “Company”) was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on March 27, 2008 as a blank check company whose objective is to acquire an operating business, or control of such operating business through contractual arrangements, that has its principal operations located in the People’s Republic of China.
At October 31, 2009, the Company had not yet commenced any operations. All activity from March 27, 2008 (inception) to October 31, 2009 relates to the Company’s formation and the public offering described below. On November 25, 2009, the Company changed its fiscal year end from December 31 to October 31.
The registration statement for the Company’s initial public offering (the “Offering”) was declared effective on November 19, 2009. The Company consummated the Offering on November 25, 2009 and received net proceeds of $34,367,806 and $1,800,000 from the private placement sale of insider warrants (Note 3). Substantially, all of the net proceeds of the Offering are intended to be generally applied toward consummating a business combination (“Business Combination”). The Company’s management has complete discretion in identifying and electing the target business. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination. Management agreed that at least $10 per unit sold in the Offering (or $36,000,000) would be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 having a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 until the earlier of (i) the consummation of its first Business Combination and (ii) liquidation of the Company. The placing of funds in the Trust Account may not protect those funds from third party claims against the Company. Although the Company will seek to have all vendors, prospective target businesses and other entities it engages execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements. Two of the Company’s officers have agreed that they will be liable under certain circumstances to ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced below $10.00 per share by the claims of target businesses or by vendors or other entities that are owed money by the Company for services rendered contracted for or products sold to the Company. However, there can be no assurance that they will be able to satisfy those obligations. The remaining net proceeds (not held in the Trust Account) may be used to pay for business, legal and accounting due diligence on prospective acquisitions and continuing general and administrative expenses. Additionally, any interest earned on the Trust Account may be released to the Company to fund working capital and to pay the Company’s tax obligations.
GSME ACQUISITION PARTNERS I
(A Development Stage Company)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 — Organization and Plan of Business Operations (continued)
The Company, after signing a definitive agreement for the acquisition of a target business, is required to submit such transaction for shareholder approval. In the event that shareholders owning more than 80.99% of the total number of shares sold in the Offering exercise their conversion rights, regardless of whether they vote for or against the Business Combination, the Business Combination will not be consummated. All of the Company’s shareholders prior to the Offering, including all of the officers and directors of the Company (“Initial Shareholders”), have agreed to vote their founding ordinary shares in accordance with the vote of the majority in interest of all other shareholders of the Company (“Public Shareholders”) with respect to any Business Combination and have agreed to vote any ordinary shares acquired in the Offering or in the aftermarket in favor of 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 Shareholder may demand that the Company convert his or her shares. If a Public Shareholder votes against a proposed Business Combination, the per share conversion price will equal $10.00 per share. Any Public Shareholder will have the right to vote for the proposed Business Combination and demand that such shareholder’s shares be converted into a pro rata share of the Trust Account (which amount, when aggregated with the right to receive an additional $0.30 per eligible share pursuant to the letter of credit, is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.30 per share).
The Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that the Company will continue in existence only until November 25, 2010 or until May 25, 2011 if the Company has signed a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or definitive agreement by November 25, 2010. If the Company has not completed a Business Combination by such date, its corporate existence will cease and it will dissolve and liquidate for the purposes of winding up its affairs.
Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Use of Estimates
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.
Geographical Risk
The Company’s operations, if a Business Combination is consummated outside the United States, will be subject to local government regulations and to the uncertainties of the economic and political conditions of those areas.
GSME ACQUISITION PARTNERS I
(A Development Stage Company)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Income Taxes
The Company was incorporated as a Cayman Island exempted company and management does not foresee the imposition of any income tax.
Redeemable common stock:
The Company accounts for redeemable common stock in accordance with Emerging Issue Task Force D-98 “Classification and Measurement of Redeemable Securities” which provides that securities that are redeemable for cash or other assets are classified outside of permanent equity if they are redeemable at the option of the holder. In addition, if the redemption causes a liquidation event, the redeemable securities should not be classified outside of permanent equity. As discussed in Note 1, the Business Combination will only be consummated if 80.99% (2,915,999) or less of ordinary shares sold in the Offering exercise their conversion rights. As further discussed in Note 1, if a Business Combination is not consummated by November 25, 2010, or May 25, 2011 if certain extension criteria have been satisfied, the Company will liquidate. Accordingly, 2,915,999 shares of common stock sold in the offering will be classified outside of permanent equity at redemption value. The Company recognizes changes in the redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of the redeemable common stock to equal its redemption value at the end of each reporting period.
Earnings per Share
The Company computes basic earnings per common share by dividing the net income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing the net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common share equivalents then outstanding.
The 1,380,000 ordinary shares issued to the Company’s Initial Shareholders were issued for $0.02 per share, which is considerably less than the Proposed Offering per share price. Under the provisions of Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 4:D such shares have been assumed to be retroactively outstanding for the period since inception.
There are no potentially dilutive securities as of October 31, 2009 and 2008 respectively.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Management does not believe that any of the recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
GSME ACQUISITION PARTNERS I
(A Development Stage Company)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 3 — Initial Public Offering
On November 25, 2009, the Company sold 3,600,000 Units at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one ordinary share, $.001 par value, of the Company and one Redeemable Purchase Warrant (“Warrants”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase from the Company one ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 commencing upon the completion of a Business Combination and expiring November 18, 2014. The Company may redeem the Warrants, at a price of $.01 per Warrant upon 30 days notice while the Warrants are exercisable, only in the event that the last sale price of the ordinary shares is at least $17.50 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. If the Company redeems the Warrants as described above, management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise his Warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.’' In such event, the holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering his Warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (X) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the Warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (Y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the ordinary shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to holders of Warrants. In accordance with the warrant agreement relating to the Warrants sold and issued in the Offering, the Company is only required to use its best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement covering the Warrants. The Company will not be obligated to deliver securities, and there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities, if a registration statement is not effective at the time of exercise. Additionally, in the event that a registration is not effective at the time of exercise, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and in no event (whether in the case of a registration statement not being effective or otherwise) will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrant exercise. Consequently, the Warrants may expire unexercised and unredeemed.
GSME ACQUISITION PARTNERS I
(A Development Stage Company)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 3 — Initial Public Offering (continued)
The Company paid the underwriters in the Offering an underwriting discount of 7.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering. However, the underwriters have agreed that 4.0% of the underwriting discounts will not be payable unless and until the Company completes a Business Combination and have waived their right to receive such payment upon the Company's liquidation if it is unable to complete a Business Combination. The Company also issued a unit purchase option, for $100, to Cohen & Company Securities, LLC (“Cohen Securities”), the representative of the underwriters in the Offering, and its designees to purchase 360,000 Units (10% of the total number of units sold in the Offering) at an exercise price of $15.00 per Unit (150% of the public offering price). The Units issuable upon exercise of this option are identical to the Units in the Offering. This option is exercisable commencing on the later of the consummation of a Business Combination and November 19, 2010 and expiring November 18, 2014. The Company accounted for the fair value of the unit purchase option, net of the receipt of the $100 cash payment, as an expense of the Offering resulting in a charge directly to shareholders' equity. The Company estimates the fair value of this unit purchase option is approximately $2.14 per unit using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
The fair value of the unit purchase option granted to the underwriter was estimated as of the date of grant using the following assumptions: (1) expected volatility of 35%, (2) risk-free interest rate of 2.59% and (3) expected life of 5 years. The unit purchase option may be exercised for cash or on a “cashless” basis, at the holder’s option (except in the case of a forced cashless exercise upon the Company’s redemption of the Warrants, as described above), such that the holder may use the appreciated value of the unit purchase option (the difference between the exercise prices of the unit purchase option and the underlying Warrants and the market price of the Units and underlying ordinary shares) to exercise the unit purchase option without the payment of cash.
The Company will have no obligation to net cash settle the exercise of the unit purchase option or the Warrants underlying the unit purchase option. The holder of the unit purchase option will not be entitled to exercise the unit purchase option or the Warrants underlying the unit purchase option unless a registration statement covering the securities underlying the unit purchase option is effective or an exemption from registration is available. If the holder is unable to exercise the unit purchase option or underlying Warrants, the unit purchase option or Warrants, as applicable, will expire worthless.
GSME ACQUISITION PARTNERS I
(A Development Stage Company)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 4 — Deferred Offering Costs
Deferred offering costs consist principally of legal, underwriting and other professional fees incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Offering and were charged to shareholders' equity on November 25, 2009 upon the receipt of the capital raised.
Note 5 — Related Party Transactions
The Company issued an unsecured promissory note to an officer of the Company in an aggregate principal amount of $125,000. The note does not bear interest. The note was repaid upon consummation of the Offering from the proceeds of the Offering. Due to the short-term nature of the note, the fair value of the note approximates its carrying amount.
Note 6 — Shareholder's Equity
Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of October 31, 2009 and 2008, no shares were issued or outstanding.
Common Stock
The Company is authorized to issue up to 50,000,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share. The holders of the ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each ordinary share. In addition, the holders of the ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors. In September 2009, the Company’s board of directors authorized a share dividend of approximately 0.067 shares for each outstanding ordinary share for a total of 86,250 additional shares. All references to share and per share amounts have been restated to retroactively reflect this transaction.
As of October 31, 2009 and 2008, 1,380,000 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding, of which 180,000 ordinary shares were subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters' over-allotment option was not exercised in full.
Note 7 — Insider Warrants
The Initial Shareholders executed letter agreements with the Company waiving their rights to receive distributions with respect to their founding ordinary shares upon the Company's liquidation. The Initial Shareholders and/or their designees purchased 3,600,000 Warrants (“Insider Warrants”) at $0.50 per Warrant (for an aggregate purchase price of $1,800,000) privately from the Company simultaneously with the consummation of the Offering. All of the proceeds received from this purchase were placed in the Trust Account. The Insider Warrants purchased are identical to the Warrants sold in the Offering except that the Insider Warrants may be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and will not be redeemable by the Company, in each case so long as such securities are held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates. Furthermore, the purchasers of the Insider Warrants have agreed that the Insider Warrants and underlying securities will not be sold or transferred until 60 days after the Company has completed a Business Combination.
GSME ACQUISITION PARTNERS I
(A Development Stage Company)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 7 — Insider Warrants (continued)
The Initial Shareholders and the holders of the Insider Warrants will be entitled to registration rights with respect to their founding shares pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Offering. The holders of the majority of the founding shares are entitled to make up to two demands that the Company register such shares. The holders of the majority of the founding shares and the holders of the majority of the Insider Warrants can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these ordinary shares are to be released from escrow. The holders of the Insider Warrants (or underlying securities) are entitled to demand that the Company register these securities at any time after the Company consummates a Business Combination. In addition, the Initial Shareholders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights on registration statements filed after the Company's consummation of a Business Combination.
Note 8 – Letter of Credit
Upon closing of the Offering, Cohen & Company Securities, LLC issued a letter of credit from an internationally recognized bank to the Company in an amount equal to $0.30 per share sold in the Offering. The proceeds of the letter of credit shall not be held in trust or comprise any portion of any pro-rata distribution of the Company’s Trust Account. The Company shall draw on the letter of credit in order to distribute $0.30 per qualified share to certain of its Public Shareholders, which amount shall be in addition to any pro-rata distribution from the Trust Account. The $0.30 per share amount provided by the letter of credit shall be distributed upon (i) the consummation of a Business Combination to each of the Public Shareholders for each ordinary share voted in favor of the Business Combination and properly converted, (ii) the Company’s liquidation, in the event that a Business Combination was presented to the Company’s Public Shareholders for approval but not consummated, to each of the Public Shareholders for each ordinary share voted in favor of such proposed Business Combination, or (iii) the Company’s liquidation, in the event that no Business Combination is presented to the Public Shareholders for a vote, to each of the Public Shareholders. The Company may draw on the letter of credit solely to the extent necessary to pay each eligible holder an additional $0.30 per eligible share upon the earlier to occur of a Business Combination or liquidation. After the Company draws on the letter of credit, it shall be cancelled and, in the event the Company has completed a Business Combination, the Company will issue to Cohen & Company Securities, LLC a demand secured first priority promissory note in an amount equal to the amount the Company draws on the letter of credit bearing annual interest at the rate of 8%, payable quarterly, with a default interest rate of 13%.
Exhibit No. | | Description |
| | |
1.1 | | Form of Underwriting Agreement.* |
3.1 | | Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.* |
4.1 | | Specimen Unit Certificate.* |
4.2 | | Specimen Ordinary Share Certificate.* |
4.3 | | Specimen Warrant Certificate.* |
4.4 | | Form of Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Registrant.* |
4.5 | | Form of Representative’s Unit Purchase Option.* |
10.1 | | Letter Agreement among the Registrant, EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. and Jing Dong Gao.* |
10.2 | | Letter Agreement among the Registrant, EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. and Eli D. Scher.* |
10.3 | | Letter Agreement among the Registrant, EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. and Lawrence S. Wizel.* |
10.4 | | Letter Agreement among the Registrant, EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. and Zhong Wen Lin.* |
10.5 | | Form of Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Registrant.* |
10.6 | | Form of Stock Escrow Agreement between the Registrant, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Initial Shareholders.* |
10.7 | | Form of Registration Rights Agreement among the Registrant and the Initial Shareholders.* |
10.8 | | Form of Subscription Agreement among the Registrant, EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., Graubard Miller and each of MCHEM Pharm Group Limited (Hong Kong), Eli D. Scher and Lawrence S. Wizel.* |
10.9 | | Form of Letter of Credit.* |
12.1 | | Form of Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended |
12.2 | | Form of Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended |
13 | | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
* Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Form F-1 (Commission File No. 333-162547)SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
Dated: May 24, 2010
| GSME ACQUISITION PARTNERS I |
| |
| By: | /s/ Eli D. Scher | |
| | Eli D. Scher |
| | Chief Executive Officer |