Subject to Completion, dated , 2021
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
$200,000,000
Aurora Acquisition Corp.
20,000,000 Units
Aurora Acquisition Corp. is a Cayman Islands exempted company newly incorporated as a blank check company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to as our initial business combination. We have not selected any potential business combination target, and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us. While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any stage of its corporate evolution or in any industry or sector, we intend to focus our search on technology and media companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
This is an initial public offering of our securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-quarter of one warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, as described herein. Only whole warrants are exercisable. The warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and 12 months from the closing of this offering, and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation, as described in this prospectus. The underwriters have a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to 15% of additional units to cover over-allotments, if any.
We will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Class A ordinary shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (excluding any amounts then on deposit in the trust account that are allocable to the Novator private placement shares) described below calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest (net of taxes payable), but excluding any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that are allocable to the Novator private placement shares, divided by the number of then outstanding Class A ordinary shares, subject to the limitations described herein. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will redeem 100% of our Class A ordinary shares and Novator private placement shares for cash, subject to applicable law and certain conditions as further described herein.
Our initial shareholders, which include our sponsor, own an aggregate of 6,625,000 Class B ordinary shares (up to 750,000 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised), which will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis. Only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to appoint directors in any election held prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.
Our sponsor, Novator Capital Sponsor Ltd., an affiliate of Novator Capital (Guernsey) Ltd., has agreed to purchase 4,000,000 warrants (or 4,400,000 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, at a price of $1.50 per warrant, in a private placement of warrants that will close concurrently with the closing of this offering. We refer to these warrants as the private placement warrants.
Additionally, our sponsor, as well as certain of our directors and executive officers, have agreed to purchase 3,500,000 units, at a price of $10.00 per unit for an aggregate purchase price of $35,000,000 in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of this offering. The gross proceeds of the Novator private placement will be deposited into the trust account. We refer to these units as the Novator private placement units. The Novator private placement units are identical to the units being sold in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions described in this prospectus. Our sponsor, as well as directors and executive officers of our Company, have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to the Class A ordinary shares included in the Novator private placement units in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.
Currently, there is no public market for our units, Class A ordinary shares or warrants. We have applied to have our units listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol ‘‘AURCU’’ on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing. We expect our Class A ordinary shares and warrants comprising the units to begin separate trading on the Nasdaq under the symbols ‘‘AURC’’ and ‘‘AURCW,’’ respectively, on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless the representative of the underwriters permits earlier separate trading and we have satisfied certain conditions.
We are an ‘‘emerging growth company’’ under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review and consider the section entitled ‘‘Risk Factors’’ beginning on page
35 of this prospectus. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
| | | Per Unit | | | Total(1) | |
Price to public | | | | $ | 10.00 | | | | | $ | 200,000,000 | | |
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) | | | | $ | 0.55 | | | | | $ | 11,000,000 | | |
Proceeds to us (before expenses) | | | | $ | 9.45 | | | | | $ | 189,000,000 | | |
(1)
Includes $0.35 per unit, or $7,000,000 in the aggregate (or up to $8,050,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein and will only be payable upon consummation of our initial business combination. Does not include certain fees and expenses payable to the underwriters in connection with this offering. See also ‘‘Underwriting’’ for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters.
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering, the sale of the Novator private placement units and the sale of the private placement warrants described in this prospectus, $235 million, or $265 million if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit in either case), will be deposited into a segregated trust account located in a U.S.-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public shareholders and holders of the Novator private placement shares.
The underwriters are offering the units for sale on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters expect to deliver the units to the purchasers on or about , 2021.