Our Chairman is party to a non-competition agreement that may limit the types of companies that we can target for an initial business combination.
James Murren, our Chairman and an investor in the sponsor, is subject to a non-compete with MGM that prohibits Mr. Murren from engaging in certain competitive activities for a period ending March 22, 2021. Specifically, the non-competition covenant in Mr. Murren’s agreements with MGM prohibits him from being employed by, providing consultation or other services to, engaging, participating or otherwise being connected in any way (other than through passive ownership of 1% or less of the outstanding voting securities) with any “Competitor,” which is defined as “any person, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity which is either directly, indirectly or through an affiliated company, engaged in or proposes to engage in the development, ownership, operation or management of (i) gaming facilities; (ii) convention or meeting facilities; or (iii) one or more hotels if any such hotel is connected in any way, whether physically or by business association, to a gaming establishment and, further, where Competitor’s activities are within a 150 mile radius of any location where any of the foregoing facilities, hotels, or venues are, or are proposed to be, owned, operated, managed or developed by the Company.”
Acies is not engaged in any of the enumerated competitive activities and does not propose to pursue or make any acquisitions that would be competitive during the period of Mr. Murren’s non-compete. We will not seek an initial business combination with any company with operations in businesses and locations covered by the agreement. As such, our prospects for an initial business combination may be limited by the non-compete. Further, any potential dispute regarding our business or Mr. Murren’s non-competition provisions could be time consuming, costly and distract management’s focus from locating suitable acquisition candidates and operating our business.
Since our sponsor, executive officers and directors will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed (other than with respect to public shares they may acquire during or after this offering), a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
On September 15, 2020, our sponsor paid $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, in consideration of 8,625,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001. On October 20, 2020, our sponsor cancelled an aggregate of 2,875,000 founder shares, thereby reducing the aggregate number of founder shares held by our sponsor to 5,750,000 for approximately $0.004 per share. Prior to the initial investment in the company of $25,000 by the sponsor, the company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The per share price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount contributed to the company by the number of founder shares issued. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a share capitalization or a share surrender or redemption or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B ordinary shares immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the number of founder shares, on an as-converted basis, at 20% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering. The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 4,333,333 private placement warrants (or 4,733,333 private placement warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), each exercisable to purchase one Class A ordinary share at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, at a price of $1.50 per warrant ($6,500,000 in the aggregate or $7,100,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. If we do not consummate an initial business within the completion window, the private placement warrants will expire worthless. The personal and financial interests of our executive officers and directors may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination. This risk may become more acute as the end of the completion window nears, which is the deadline for our consummation of an initial business combination.
We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a business combination, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our shareholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no commitments as of the date of this prospectus to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following this offering, we may choose to incur substantial