Vertical Aerospace POS AM Prospectus update (post-effective amendment)

Vertical Aerospace (EVTL) POS AMProspectus update (post-effective amendment)

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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2022.

Registration No. 333-262207

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2

FORM F-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Cayman Islands

3721

Not Applicable

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or

Organization)

(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)

(I.R.S. Employers
Identification No.)

Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

Unit 1 Camwal Court, Chapel Street,

Bristol BS2 0UW

United Kingdom

+44 117 457 2094

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

Cogency Global Inc.

122 East 42nd Street,

18th Floor

New York, New York 10168

Tel: +1 (800) 221-0102

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies of all correspondence to:

Robbie McLaren, Esq.

J. David Stewart, Esq.

Latham & Watkins (London) LLP

99 Bishopsgate London EC2M 3XF United Kingdom

Tel: (+44) (20) 7710-1000

Sanjay Verma

Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

Unit 1 Camwal Court, Chapel Street,

Bristol BS2 0UW

United Kingdom

+44 117 457 2094

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:

From time to time after the effectiveness of this registration statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933. Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

†	The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-262207) as amended, (the “Registration Statement”) of Vertical Aerospace Ltd. (the “Company”) as originally declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 27, 2022, is being filed (i) pursuant to the undertakings in Item 9 of the Registration Statement to include the information contained in the Company's Report on Form 6-K that was filed with the SEC on August 8, 2022, including the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements as of June 30, 2022 and for the six month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021; and (ii) to include an updated prospectus related to the offer of the Company's ordinary shares and warrants that were registered on the Registration Statement.

The information included in this filing amends the Registration Statement and the prospectus contained therein. No additional securities are being registered under this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2. All applicable registration fees were paid at the time of the original filing of the Registration Statement.

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

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Subject to Completion. Dated August 10, 2022.

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

240,154,769 ORDINARY SHARES

4,000,000 WARRANTS TO PURCHASE ORDINARY SHARES

This prospectus relates to the resale, from time to time, by the selling shareholders named herein (the “Selling Securityholders”), or their pledgees, donees, transferees, or other successors in interest, of up to (i) 240,154,769 of our ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, issued to certain of the Selling Securityholders, (ii) which includes 18,995,454 ordinary shares due upon the conversion of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes and 9,233,599 ordinary shares that are issuable as PIK Interest (as defined below) (collectively, the “Ordinary Shares”) and (ii) 4,000,000 warrants exercisable for one Ordinary Share each, with an exercise price of $11.50 per Ordinary Share, previously issued to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor, as described below (the “Convertible Notes Warrants”).

On December 16, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), we consummated the previously announced business combination (the “Business Combination”) pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, dated June 10, 2021, (as amended, the “Business Combination Agreement”) by and among Vertical Aerospace Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Vertical”), Broadstone Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Broadstone”), Broadstone Sponsor LLP, a limited liability partnership incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Sponsor”), Vertical Merger Sub Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd., a private limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“VAGL”), Vincent Casey (solely in his capacity as the representative of the shareholders of VAGL), and the shareholders of VAGL party thereto (“VAGL Shareholders”). On December 15, 2021, as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into Broadstone, as a result of which the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub ceased, and Broadstone continued as the surviving entity as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vertical. Following the Merger, on the Closing Date, Vertical acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of VAGL from the shareholders of VAGL in exchange for the payment, issuance and delivery of the Ordinary Shares to the shareholders of VAGL (the “Share Acquisition” and together with the Merger, the “Business Combination”). As a result of the Share Acquisition, VAGL became a wholly owned subsidiary of Vertical, and the shareholders of VAGL became shareholders of Vertical.

In addition, we entered into a subscription agreement dated October 26, 2021 (the “Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement”) with a certain third-party investor (the “Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor”), pursuant to which such investor purchased $200 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior secured notes, which bear interest at a rate of 7.00% per annum for cash interest or 9.00% per annum paid-in-kind (the “PIK Interest”), selected at our option, will be paid semi-annually and are convertible for Ordinary Shares (the “Convertible Senior Secured Notes”). In connection with the execution of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement, we issued 4,000,000 Convertible Notes Warrants, which are exercisable for one Ordinary Share each, with an exercise price of $11.50 per Ordinary Share (subject to adjustment) to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor. Pursuant to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement, we registered 18,181,820 Ordinary Shares underlying the Convertible Senior Secured Notes (the “Convertible Senior Secured Notes Shares”) outstanding as of the issue date of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes and registered up to 10,053,990 Ordinary Shares representing the total amount of PIK Interest that may be issued under the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor (the “Convertible Senior Secured PIK Shares”).

We are registering the offer and sale of these securities to satisfy certain registration rights we have granted. The Selling Securityholders may offer and sell any of the securities covered by this prospectus from time to time at fixed prices, at market prices or at negotiated prices, and may engage a broker, dealer or underwriter to sell the securities. In connection with any sales of securities offered hereunder, the Selling Securityholders, any underwriters, agents, brokers or dealers participating in such sales may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act. For additional information on the possible methods of sale that may be used by the Selling Securityholders, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” elsewhere in this prospectus. We do not know when or in what amounts the Selling Securityholders may offer the securities for sale. The Selling Securityholders may sell any, all or none of the securities offered by this prospectus. All of the Ordinary Shares offered by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the Selling Securityholders for their respective accounts.

We are registering these securities for resale by the Selling Securityholders named in this prospectus or their transferees, pledgees, donees or assignees or other successors-in-interest that receive any of the shares as a gift, distribution or other non-sale related transfer.

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of any securities by the Selling Securityholders. We will pay certain expenses associated with the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus, as described in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.”

Our Ordinary Shares and public warrants (“Public Warrants”) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “EVTL” and “EVTLW,” respectively. On August 9, 2022, the last reported sales price of our Ordinary Shares was $8.18 per share and the last reported sales price of our Public Warrants was $0.58 per warrant.

We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time by filing amendments or supplements as required. You should read this entire prospectus and any amendments or supplements carefully before you make your investment decision.

We are both an “emerging growth company” and a “foreign private issuer” as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced public company disclosure and reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary — Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Foreign Private Issuer.”

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus and other risk factors contained in the documents incorporated by reference herein for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission 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.

The date of this prospectus is , 2022.

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You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any supplement. Neither we nor the Selling Securityholders have authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. The securities offered by this prospectus are being offered only in jurisdictions where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

Except as otherwise set forth in this prospectus, neither we nor the Selling Securityholders have taken any action to permit a public offering of these securities outside the United States or to permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of these securities and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Selling Securityholders named in this prospectus may, from time to time, sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein include important information about us, the Ordinary Shares being issued by us, the securities being offered by the Selling Securityholders and other information you should know before investing. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information contained in that particular prospectus supplement. This prospectus does not contain all of the information provided in the registration statement that we filed with the SEC. You should read this prospectus together with the additional information about us described in the section below entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus. We have not, and the Selling Securityholders have not, authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of the prospectus and information we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference. You should not assume that the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus is accurate as of any other date.

We and the Selling Securityholders may offer and sell the securities directly to purchasers, through agents selected by us and/or the Selling Securityholders, or to or through underwriters or dealers. A prospectus supplement, if required, may describe the terms of the plan of distribution and set forth the names of any agents, underwriters or dealers involved in the sale of securities. See “Plan of Distribution.”

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT IFRS AND NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Our financial statements included in this prospectus are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and referred to in this prospectus as “IFRS.” Our interim financial statements are prepared in accordance with “IAS 34: Interim Financial Reporting” as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. We may refer in various places within this prospectus to non-IFRS financial measures. The presentation of this non- IFRS information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our consolidated financial results prepared in accordance with IFRS.

INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

This prospectus contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, including market size and growth of the market in which we participate that are based on industry publications and reports and forecasts prepared by our management. In some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which these estimates and information are derived. This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to these estimates.

Certain estimates of market opportunity, including internal estimates of our addressable market and forecasts of market growth included in this prospectus may prove inaccurate. Market opportunity estimates and growth forecasts, whether obtained from third-party sources or developed internally, are subject to significant uncertainty and are based on assumptions and estimates that may prove to be inaccurate. The estimates and forecasts in this prospectus relating to the size of our target market, market demand and adoption, capacity to address this demand and pricing may prove to be inaccurate. Our addressable market estimates may not materialize for many years, if ever, and even if the markets in which we compete meet the size estimates in this prospectus, our business could fail to successfully address or compete in such markets, if at all. We obtained certain information from the following sources:

Global Helicopter TAM — Worldwide; Fortune Business Insights; Statista; 2019 and 2020 (“Statista Helicopter Report”);

Global TAM Taxi, Commercial Airlines — Statista Mobility Market Outlook, 2020 (“Statista Taxi/ Commercial Airlines Report,” taken together with the Statista Helicopter Report, the “Statista Reports”); and

eVTOL/Urban Air Mobility TAM Update: A Slow Take-Off, But Sky’s the Limit — Morgan Stanley Research (“Morgan Stanley”).

Industry publications, research, studies and forecasts generally state that the information they contain has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed. Forecasts and other forward-looking information obtained from these sources are subject to the same qualifications and uncertainties as the other forward-looking statements in this prospectus. These forecasts and forward-looking information are subject to uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described under “Risk Factors.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in any forecasts or estimates.

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TRADEMARKS, TRADE NAMES AND SERVICE MARKS

This prospectus contains references to trademarks, trade names and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ^® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.

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FREQUENTLY USED TERMS

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “Vertical,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Vertical Aerospace Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company, after the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Closing,” and, such date of the consummation of the Business Combination, the “Closing Date”) and its consolidated subsidiaries following the Business Combination. References to “VAGL” and “Broadstone” refer to our predecessor companies, Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd., a private limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, and Broadstone Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company, respectively, prior to the consummation of the Business Combination.

In this document, unless otherwise stated in this prospectus or the context requires:

“2021 Incentive Plan” means the Vertical Aerospace Ltd. 2021 Incentive Award Plan filed as Exhibit 10.9 to this prospectus.

“AAM” means advanced air mobility, with reference to the advanced air mobility market.

“Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association” means the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of Vertical Aerospace Ltd. adopted on December 1, 2021, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this prospectus.

“American” means American Airlines Inc.

“American Commercial Warrant Shares” means the Ordinary Shares represented by Warrant B, Warrant C, Warrant D, Warrant E, Warrant F and Warrant G (as such terms are defined in the American Warrant Instrument) to be issued to American in accordance with the American Warrant Instrument.

“American Lock-Up Agreement” means the Lock-Up Agreement entered into by American at the Closing in connection with the Business Combination.

“American SPA” means the share purchase deed, dated as of June 10, 2021, providing for, among other things, the sale of 5,804 Class Z ordinary shares of VAGL to Vertical in consideration for the issuance by Vertical of 6,125,000 Ordinary Shares to American.

“American Warrant Instrument” means the warrant instrument entered into by Vertical immediately following the Closing, as amended and restated on July 15, 2022, pursuant to which, among other things, American received warrants exercisable for Ordinary Shares and shall receive additional warrants exercisable for Ordinary Shares upon placement of certain legally binding commitments for additional aircraft or payment of certain commitment fees. The amended American Warrant Instrument is attached as Exhibit 4.6 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

“Avolon” means Avolon e Limited, its shareholders or a member of the Avolon Group (as applicable). “Avolon Commercial Warrant Shares” means the Ordinary Shares represented by Warrant C1 and Warrant C2 (as such terms are defined in the Avolon Warrant Instrument) to be issued to the Avolon Warrantholders in accordance with the Avolon Warrant Instrument.

“Avolon Group” means Avolon Holdings Limited and each of its subsidiaries from time to time.

“Avolon Warrantholders” means the shareholders of Avolon e Limited.

“Avolon Lock-Up Agreements” means the Lock-Up Agreements entered into by the Avolon Warrantholders at the Share Acquisition Closing in connection with the Business Combination.

“Avolon Warrant Instrument” means the warrant instrument entered into by Vertical immediately following the Closing pursuant to which, among other things, the Avolon Warrantholders received warrants exercisable for Ordinary Shares.

“Bristow” means Bristow Group Inc.

“British pounds sterling” or “£” means the legal currency of the United Kingdom.

“Broadstone” means Broadstone Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company.

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“Broadstone Initial Public Offering” or “IPO” means the initial public offering of Units of Broadstone, consummated on September 15, 2020.

“Broadstone Ordinary Share” means each issued and outstanding Class A ordinary share of Broadstone, par value $0.0001 per share.

“Broadstone Private Placement Warrants” means the warrants sold by Broadstone privately to the Sponsor simultaneously with the consummation of the Broadstone Initial Public Offering (including the underwriters’ partial exercise of their over-allotment option).

“Business Combination Agreement” means the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2021, as amended, by and among, inter alia, Broadstone, Merger Sub, Vertical, VAGL and the VAGL Shareholders.

“Business Combination” means the Merger, the Share Acquisition, and any other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.

“Closing” means the closing of the Business Combination on December 16, 2021.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Companies Act” means the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced.

“Company Loan Note Shares” means the 12,893 Class A ordinary shares of VAGL issued and fully paid immediately prior to the Closing in accordance with the terms of the applicable Loan Notes and a separate deed of conversion dated June 10, 2021.

“constitutional documents” means the formation documents of any of the entities listed herein, including the memorandum and articles of association, as they may be amended.

“Convertible Loan Note Instrument” means the convertible loan note instrument of VAGL dated March 11, 2021.

“Convertible Notes Warrants” means the 4,000,000 warrants, which are exercisable for one Ordinary Share each, with an exercise price of $11.50 per Ordinary Share (subject to adjustment), and which were issued to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor immediately after Closing pursuant to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement.

“Convertible Senior Secured Notes” means the convertible senior secured notes due 2026 of Vertical with an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000, which bear interest at a rate of 7.00% per annum for cash interest or 9.00% per annum paid-in-kind at the election of Vertical that is paid semi-annually.

“Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor” means Mudrick Capital Management L.P., the third-party investor who subscribed for the Convertible Senior Secured Notes on behalf of certain funds, investors, entities or accounts that are managed, sponsored or advised by it or its affiliates.

“Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement” means the subscription agreement, dated October 26, 2021, entered into between Vertical, Broadstone and the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor, pursuant to which, among other things, Vertical agreed to issue and sell the Convertible Senior Secured Notes in a private placement that closed concurrently with the Business Combination.

“Convertible Senior Secured Shares” means the aggregate of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Shares and Convertible Senior Secured PIK Shares.

“Convertible Senior Secured Notes Shares” means the Ordinary Shares into which the Convertible Senior Secured Notes are convertible pursuant to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement.

“Convertible Senior Secured PIK Shares” means the Ordinary Shares representing the total amount of PIK Interest that may be issued to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor.

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“COVID-19” means the disease known as coronavirus disease or COVID-19, the virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and any evolutions or mutations thereof.

“DTC” means the Depository Trust Company.

“Earn Out Shares” means 35,000,000 Ordinary Shares issued at the Closing to the VAGL Shareholders and Loan Note Holders, which are held subject to restrictions and are subject to forfeiture until Vertical satisfies certain milestones.

“EMI Option Agreements” means certain option agreements entered into on March 15, 2022 between the Company and certain employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries as replacement option agreements for share options previously granted over shares in VAGL that were exchanged for options of equivalent value over ordinary shares in the Company, which options are intended to be tax qualifying enterprise management incentive options under Schedule 5 of the UK Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, a form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 to this prospectus.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Hanwha” means Hanwha Aerospace.

“IFRS” refers to International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

“Iberojet” means Evelop Airlines SL, a subsidiary of Avoris Corporacion Empresarial.

“Indenture” means the indenture governing the Convertible Senior Secured Notes as entered into between Vertical, Broadstone as guarantor, VAGL as guarantor and U.S. Bank National Association as trustee and collateral agent for the Convertible Senior Secured Notes.

“Initial Virgin Atlantic Warrant Shares” means the Ordinary Shares represented by Warrant A (as such term is defined in the Virgin Atlantic Warrant Instrument) issued to Virgin Atlantic immediately after Closing in accordance with the Virgin Atlantic Warrant Instrument.

“Investment Company Act” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

“IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

“JOBS Act” means the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act.

“Leonardo” means Leonardo S.p.A.

“Loan Notes” means $25,000,000 of convertible loan notes issued by VAGL to the Loan Note Holders pursuant to the Convertible Loan Note Instrument.

“Loan Note Holders” means Microsoft Corporation and Rocket Internet SE (each a Loan Note Holder).

“Lock-Up Agreements” means, collectively, the Vertical Shareholder Lock-Up Agreement, the Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement, the Avolon Lock-Up Agreements, the American Lock-Up Agreement, the LNH Lock-Up Agreement and the Virgin Atlantic Lock-Up Agreement (each a Lock-Up Agreement).

“LNH Lock-Up Agreement” means the Lock-Up Agreement entered into by the Loan Note Holders at the Closing in connection with the Business Combination.

“LNH SPA” means the share purchase deed, dated as of June 10, 2021, providing for, among other things, the sale by the Loan Note Holders at the Closing of the Company Loan Note Shares to Vertical in consideration for the issue by Vertical of 15,701,035 Ordinary Shares to such Loan Note Holders.

“Marubeni” means Marubeni Corporation.

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“Merger” means the merger of Merger Sub with Broadstone, with Broadstone surviving such merger, prior shareholders of Broadstone receiving securities of Vertical, and Broadstone becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Vertical.

“Merger Sub” means Vertical Merger Sub Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company.

“Molicel” means E-One Moli Energy Corp.

“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

“ordinary resolution” means an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued ordinary shares of the company that are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who vote at the general meeting.

“Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of Vertical Aerospace Ltd., unless otherwise specified.

“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

“PFIC” means passive foreign investment company.

“PIK Interest” means the 9.00% per annum paid-in-kind interest that can be paid semi-annually, at our option, and will be convertible for Ordinary Shares due under the Convertible Senior Secured Notes.

“PIPE” or “PIPE Financing” means the sale of 9,400,000 Ordinary Shares to the PIPE Investors at a purchase price of $10.00 per Ordinary Share.

“PIPE Investment Amount” or “PIPE Investment” means the aggregate cash consideration of ninety-four million dollars ($94,000,000).

“PIPE Investors” means those certain investors who are party to the Subscription Agreements in connection with the PIPE Financing, which is composed of the following: (i) American ($25,000,000); (ii) Avolon ($15,000,000); (iii) Rolls-Royce Plc ($14,000,000); (iv) Standard Latitude Master Fund Ltd. ($10,000,000); (v) Honeywell International Inc. ($10,000,000); (vi) Microsoft Corporation ($5,000,000); (vii) Stephen Fitzpatrick ($5,000,000); (viii) Kouros SA ($5,000,000); and (ix) the Sponsor ($5,000,000).

“PIPE Shares” means the Ordinary Shares received by PIPE Investors in the PIPE Financing.

“Public Warrant Agreement” means the warrant agreement governing the Public Warrants.

“Public Warrants” means the public warrants of Vertical Aerospace Ltd., each one (1) warrant of which entitles the holder thereof to purchase one (1) Ordinary Share.

“Public Warrant Shares” means the Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants.

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.

“Senior Management” and “Senior Managers” refer to those persons named as officers of Vertical in the section titled “Management.”

“Share Acquisition” means the acquisition by Vertical all of the issued share capital of VAGL in consideration for the issue to the VAGL Shareholders of Ordinary Shares, such that VAGL is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Vertical.

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“special resolution” means a special resolution under Cayman Islands law, being the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the issued ordinary shares of the company that are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who vote at the general meeting.

“Sponsor” means Broadstone Sponsor LLP, a United Kingdom limited liability partnership.

“Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement” means the Lock-Up Agreement entered into by the Sponsor at the Closing in connection with the Business Combination.

“Sponsor Shares” means the Ordinary Shares received by the Sponsor in exchange for the 7,632,575 Class B shares of Broadstone, which were issued to the Sponsor prior to the Broadstone Initial Public Offering, held by the Sponsor upon consummation of the Merger.

“Subscription Agreements” means the subscription agreements, each dated as of June 10, 2021, entered into by Broadstone, Vertical and the PIPE Investors, as amended and restated on October 26, 2021, pursuant to which the PIPE Investors have agreed to purchase an aggregate of 9,400,000 Ordinary Shares immediately before the Closing at a purchase price of $10.00 per share.

“Trust Account” means the trust account that holds a portion of the proceeds of Broadstone Initial Public Offering and the concurrent sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as applicable), and any over-allotment option exercised pursuant to Broadstone Initial Public Offering.

“Unit” or “Units” means a unit or the units issued in the Broadstone Initial Public Offering, each consisting of one ordinary share of Broadstone and one-half of one redeemable Broadstone Public Warrant.

“U.K.” means the United Kingdom.

“U.S.” means the United States of America.

“U.S. dollar,” “US$” and “$” mean the legal currency of the United States.

“U.S. GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

“VAGL” means Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd., a private limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

“VAGL Shareholders” means the shareholders of VAGL named as a party to the Business Combination Agreement.

“VAGL Shareholder Lock-Up Agreement” means the Lock-Up Agreement entered into by the VAGL Shareholders at the Closing in connection with the Business Combination.

“VAGL Shares” means the Ordinary Shares received by VAGL Shareholders in exchange for VAGL share capital as a result of the Share Acquisition.

“Vertical” means Vertical Aerospace Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company.

“Virgin Atlantic” means Virgin Atlantic Limited.

“Virgin Atlantic Lock-Up Agreement” means the Lock-Up Agreement entered into by Virgin Atlantic at the Closing in connection with the Business Combination.

“Virgin Atlantic Commercial Warrant Shares” means the Ordinary Shares represented by Warrant B, Warrant C and Warrant D (as such terms are defined in the Virgin Atlantic Warrant Instrument) to be issued to Virgin Atlantic in accordance with the Virgin Atlantic Warrant Instrument.

“Virgin Atlantic Warrant Instrument” means the warrant instrument by and between Vertical and Virgin Atlantic, dated October 29, 2021, pursuant to which, among other things, immediately after Closing, Virgin Atlantic received warrants exercisable for Ordinary Shares.

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“Warrant Shares” means the Initial American Warrant Shares, Initial Avolon Warrant Shares and Initial Virgin Atlantic Warrant Shares.

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our Ordinary Shares. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors,” “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward- Looking Statements” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections and our audited consolidated financial statements and notes to those audited consolidated financial statements before making an investment decision. Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “Vertical” and similar terms refer to Vertical Aerospace Ltd. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Overview

Our mission is to make air travel personal, on-demand and carbon free. We are a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero-emissions aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing and selling one of the world’s best zero operating emission electric vertical takeoff and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft for use in the advanced air mobility (“AAM”) market, using the most cutting-edge technology from the aerospace, automotive and energy industries.

Founded in 2016, we come from a deep aerospace and automotive mindset and have already designed, built and flown two prototype eVTOL aircraft in 2018 and 2019. We are currently developing, and are in the process of certifying, our flagship eVTOL, the VX4. Capable of transporting a pilot and up to four passengers, traveling distances of over 100 miles and achieving top speeds of over 200 miles per hour (“mph”), while producing minimal noise and zero operating emissions.

The VX4 aircraft was designed around existing and certifiable technology, using an experienced team that has previously certified and supported the development of over 30 aircraft and propulsion systems around the world. We are currently one of the only eVTOL designers and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) actively pursuing certification from the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (“CAA”) or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (“EASA”) with a winged vehicle using already-available technology. The EASA also confirmed that it will concurrently validate the CAA certificate for the VX4, which means the certification and validation processes will run simultaneously in both jurisdictions. By achieving certification for our VX4 eVTOL aircraft from the CAA and EASA, we will be able to leverage the work done with our home regulator in order to have the certification validated by the other regulators where we intend to operate, including the United States Federal Aviation Authority (“FAA”). We are focused on selling globally certified eVTOL aircraft to a variety of customers, including commercial airlines and in-country partners.

We have been researching and innovating for the last six years to bring our best-in-class electric aircraft to the global market. Using superior technology, we are creating aircraft that produce minimal noise and zero operating emissions, and we aim to have our aircraft certified to the same safety standards as commercial airlines, rather than the significantly lower threshold at which helicopters are currently certified. We are developing a sophisticated eVTOL ecosystem that allows us to focus on providing a high-quality experience. Our in-house expertise covers design, certification, assembly and manufacture, pilot experience, end-user experience and base platform performance.

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materials and composites are high-quality and sustainably sourced, as well as with a leading aerospace and automotive engineering business, GKN Aerospace, to provide the electrical wiring interconnection systems (“EWIS”) and wings for our aircraft. We partnered with Leonardo to design, test, manufacture and supply the carbon composite fuselage for our VX4 aircraft. Combined, these features provide a flexible design to address different markets and a scalable design to facilitate manufacturing. We are also working together with CAE Inc. (“CAE”), a market leader in flight simulation and training, to develop a best-in-class training program. CAE will be the exclusive training device provider, tailoring the high-fidelity, next-generation flight simulation training device for the VX4 aircraft. We believe these relationships will allow us to provide superior products at scale, while maintaining a lean cost structure and taking advantage of both internal and external research and development synergies.

Our ability to develop industry-leading aircraft is rooted in our team’s unique depth of talent, extensive experience and exceptional culture. Our senior team includes proven entrepreneurs and technical expertise handpicked from the aerospace and advanced automotive industries. As of December 31, 2021, we employed over 140 engineers who share over 1,700 total years of engineering experience where safety, efficiency and scale are paramount, together with more than 400 years of experience in Formula 1, automotive and technology sections, adding technological expertise, performance and agility to our team. The complementary skill sets of our handpicked, high-class team are critical to the success of the aircraft designs and our business.

We aim to be the leading eVTOL aircraft OEM for commercial airlines, aircraft leasing companies, business aviation, existing helicopter operators as well as new operators in the AAM market, providing both OEM sales and aftermarket services to our customers. We also believe there is a potential market to provide OEM sales to a variety of industries beyond traditional airline and helicopter customers, such as tourism, where there is an opportunity to replace existing transportation options like minibuses, and the cargo and logistics industry, where there is potential to partner with global logistics firms and large retail customers. There is a further opportunity to generate revenue from other sectors such as emergency services, as eVTOL aircraft can be used for emergency patient and supplies transport, particularly in densely populated areas, or military logistics transport, among other potential uses. We will explore the potential development of versions of the VX4 for such scenarios. Our strategy is to forge partnerships in key markets with partners that have existing demand and are local trusted brands with market-specific knowledge. We believe that by partnering with such market players, we can extend their business models and build a market ecosystem that will allow us to expand our proposition over time. Our focus on system integration and establishment of an industrial supply chain is expected to enable rapid scaling of production of our aircraft.

Corporate Information

We founded our business in 2016 and were incorporated as Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd., a private limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales on May 7, 2020 in the United Kingdom. Upon closing of the Business Combination on December 16, 2021, we merged with Broadstone Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and Vertical Aerospace Group Limited became a wholly owned subsidiary of Vertical Aerospace Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands on May 21, 2021. The mailing address of our principal executive office is Unit 1 Camwal Court, Chapel Street, Bristol BS2 0UW, United Kingdom, and our telephone number is +44-177 457 2094. Our website address is https://www.vertical-aerospace.com. Information contained on our website or connected thereto does not constitute part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely for informational purposes. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Cogency Global Inc.

Risk Factors Summary

Investing in our Ordinary Shares involves substantial risks, and our ability to successfully operate our business and execute our growth plan is subject to numerous risks. You should carefully consider the risks described in “Risk Factors” before making a decision to invest in our Ordinary Shares. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of our Ordinary Shares would likely decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. The following is a summary of some of the principal risks we face:

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We have a limited operating history and have not yet manufactured any non-prototype aircraft or sold any aircraft to eVTOL aircraft customers;

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We may not be able to produce or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines projected;

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We are an early-stage company with a history of losses, and we expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses in the foreseeable future;

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Our markets are still in relatively early stages of growth, and such markets may not continue to grow, grow more slowly than Vertical expects or fail to grow as large as it expects;

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We are dependent on our partners and suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for our operational needs;

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Any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL aircraft, us or our competitors could harm our business;

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Our eVTOL aircraft may not be certified by transportation authorities for production and operation within the timeline projected, or at all;

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All of the pre-orders we have received for our aircraft are not legally binding, conditional and may be terminated without penalty at any time by either party;

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Our business has grown rapidly and expects to continue to grow significantly, and any failure to manage that growth effectively could harm our business;

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Our suppliers and partners for the parts and components in our aircraft are an important part of our business model, and any interruptions, disagreements or delays could have a material adverse effect on our business;

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Certain of our strategic, development and deployment arrangements could be terminated or may not materialize into long-term contract partnership arrangements, which could restrict or limit us from developing our aircraft with or providing services to other strategic partners;

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We identified material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting and may be unable to remediate the material weaknesses;

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We are a foreign private issuer and are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of a U.S. domestic public company; and

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The other matters described in the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Foreign Private Issuer

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the “JOBS Act”). An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified exemptions from various requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to U.S. public companies. These provisions include:

an exemption that allows the inclusion in an initial public offering registration statement of only two years of audited financial statements and selected financial data and only two years of related disclosure;

reduced executive compensation disclosure;

exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and any golden parachute payments not previously approved;

an exemption from compliance with the requirement of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditor’s report on the financial statements; and

an exemption from the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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The JOBS Act also permits an emerging growth company such as us to delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards are applicable to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period to enable us to comply with certain new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced reporting burdens.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of:

the last day of our fiscal year during which we have total annual revenue of at least $1.07 billion;

the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the closing of the Business Combination;

the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non- convertible debt securities; or

the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which would occur if the market value of our Ordinary Shares that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

In addition, we report under the Exchange Act as a “foreign private issuer.” As a foreign private issuer, we may take advantage of certain provisions under the rules that allow us to follow Cayman law for certain corporate governance matters. Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, as long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we will be exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including:

the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act;

the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time;

the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specified information, or current reports on Form 8-K, upon the occurrence of specified significant events; and

Regulation Fair Disclosure (“Regulation FD”), which regulates selective disclosures of material information by issuers.

Foreign private issuers, like emerging growth companies, also are exempt from certain more stringent executive compensation disclosure rules. Thus, if we remain a foreign private issuer, even if we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we will continue to be exempt from the more stringent compensation disclosures required of public companies that are neither an emerging growth company nor a foreign private issuer.

We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time as we are no longer a foreign private issuer. We are required to determine our status as a foreign private issuer on an annual basis at the end of our second fiscal quarter. We would cease to be a foreign private issuer at such time as more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are held by U.S. residents and any of the following three circumstances applies:

the majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents;

more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States; or

our business is administered principally in the United States.

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Status as a “Controlled Company”

Stephen Fitzpatrick, our majority shareholder and chief executive officer, owns 150,552,510 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 71.9% of the voting power of our issued and outstanding shares as of July 26, 2022. As a result, we will remain a “controlled company” within the meaning of the listing rules and therefore is eligible for, and, in the event we no longer qualifies as a foreign private issuer, intends to rely on, certain exemptions from the corporate governance listing requirements of the NYSE. See “Management — Controlled Company Exemption.”

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THE OFFERING

Securities being Registered

We are registering for resale:

(1) by the Selling Securityholders of an aggregate of 240,154,769 Ordinary Shares, consisting of:

up to 7,900,000 PIPE Shares;

up to 6,869,318 Sponsor Shares;

up to 155,936,731 VAGL Shares;

up to 15,701,067 Ordinary Shares received by the Loan Note Holders pursuant to the LNH SPA;

up to 6,125,000 Ordinary Shares received by American pursuant to the American SPA;

up to 15,393,600 Warrant Shares;

up to 28,229,053 Convertible Senior Secured Shares;

up to 4,000,000 Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Convertible Note Warrants; and

(2) by the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor of up to 4,000,000 Convertible Notes Warrants, each warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per share. The Convertible Note Warrants expire on December 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

Terms of the Offering

The Selling Securityholders and the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor will determine when and how they will dispose of any securities registered under this prospectus for resale. See “Plan of Distribution.”

Use of Proceeds

All of the securities offered by the Selling Securityholders and the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the Selling Securityholders and the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor for their respective accounts. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Ordinary Shares to be offered by the Selling Securityholders or the sale of the Convertible Notes Warrants to be offered by the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor.

We will receive up to an aggregate of $46 million from the exercise of the Convertible Note Warrants, assuming the exercise in full of all of the Convertible Note Warrants for cash. If the Convertible Note Warrants are exercised pursuant to a cashless exercise feature, we will not receive any cash from these exercises. We expect to use the net proceeds from the exercise of the Convertible Note Warrants, if any, for general corporate purposes. Our management will have

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broad discretion over the use of proceeds from the exercise of the Convertible Note Warrants. See “Use of Proceeds.”

The Selling Securityholders and the Convertible Senoir Secured Notes Investor will pay any underwriting fees, discounts, selling commissions, stock transfer taxes and certain legal expenses incurred by such selling securityholders in disposing of their securities, and we will bear all other costs, fees, and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of such securities covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, NYSE listing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and our independent registered public accountants.

Dividend policy

We do not currently intend to pay cash dividends on our Ordinary Shares for the foreseeable future. Our board of directors has sole discretion regarding the declaration and payment of dividends. See “Dividend Policy.”

Risk factors

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our securities.

Trading Symbols

Our Ordinary Shares and Public Warrants are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “EVTL” and “EVTLW,” respectively.

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RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the risks described below before making an investment decision. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price and value of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks faced by us described below and elsewhere in this prospectus.

Risks Related to Our Business And Industry

We have a limited operating history and have not yet manufactured any non-prototype aircraft or sold any eVTOL aircraft to customers, and we may never develop or manufacture any eVTOL aircraft.

We have a limited operating history in the eVTOL aircraft industry, which is nascent and continuously evolving. eVTOL aircraft are currently in the developmental stage. If we are successful in commercially producing our first VX4, we do not expect to be able to do so until 2025 at the earliest, if at all. We have no experience as an organization in high volume manufacturing of eVTOL aircraft. We cannot assure you that we or our partners will be able to develop efficient, automated, cost-efficient manufacturing capabilities and processes and reliable sources of component supplies that will enable us to meet the quality, price, engineering, design and production standards, as well as the production volumes, required to successfully mass market our eVTOL aircraft. You should consider our business and prospects in light of the risks and significant challenges we face as a new entrant into our industry, including, among other things, with respect to our ability to:

design and produce safe, reliable and quality eVTOL aircraft on an ongoing basis;

obtain the necessary regulatory approvals in a timely manner;

build a well-recognized and respected brand;

establish and expand our customer base;

successfully service our aircraft after sales and maintain a good flow of spare parts and customer goodwill;

improve and maintain our operational efficiency;

predict our future revenues and appropriately budget for our expenses;

attract, retain and motivate talented employees;

anticipate trends that may emerge and affect our business;

anticipate and adapt to changing market conditions, including technological developments and changes in our competitive landscape; and

navigate an evolving and complex regulatory environment.

If we fail to adequately address any or all of these risks and challenges, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

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We may not be able to produce or launch aircraft in the volumes and on the timelines projected.

There are significant challenges associated with mass producing aircraft in the volumes that we are projecting. We have not yet developed a manufacturing facility and planning remains at the concept stage. The aerospace industry has traditionally been characterized by significant barriers to entry, including large capital requirements, investment costs of designing and manufacturing aircraft, long lead times to bring aircraft to market from the concept and design stage, the need for specialized design and development expertise, extensive regulatory requirements, creating a brand and the need to establish maintenance and service locations. As a manufacturer of eVTOL aircraft, we face a variety of added challenges to entry that a traditional aircraft manufacturer would not encounter, including additional costs of developing and producing an electric powertrain, complexity of developing, manufacturing and sourcing suitable materials for our batteries, regulations associated with the transport of lithium-ion batteries and unproven high-volume customer demand for a fully electric aerial mobility service. Additionally, we are developing assembly lines at volumes for which there is no precedent within the traditional aerospace industry. If we are not able to overcome these barriers, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition will be negatively impacted, and our ability to grow our business will be harmed.

We have not yet constructed a high-volume production facility in which to manufacture and assemble our aircraft. Our manufacturing facility plans are still in process, and various aspects of the component procurement and manufacturing plans have not yet been determined. We are currently evaluating, qualifying and selecting our suppliers for the planned production aircraft. However, we may not be able to engage suppliers for the remaining components in a timely manner, at an acceptable price or in the necessary quantities.

We also have to obtain all of the necessary regulatory approvals in each of our markets in order to sell our aircraft and for our customers to operate them. We will have to obtain aircraft type certification from the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (“CAA”), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (“EASA”) and the United States Federal Aviation Authority (“FAA”), as well as local regulators in other countries where we intend to sell aircraft, and there can be no assurance that we will obtain certification of our aircraft in the time frame that we currently expect, or at all, which would impact our overall timetable to produce our aircraft. Should there be any delays to our projected production timetables, this could have a material effect on our ability to deliver any orders to our customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our relationships with our current and existing customers and adversely affect our reputation. We also will be required to obtain and maintain a Design Organisation Approval (“DOA”) and a Production Organisation Approval (“POA”) from the CAA in order to be able to manufacture aircraft pursuant to an approved type design (e.g., type certificate). Securing and maintaining a DOA and POA will involve extensive ongoing oversight by the CAA of our team, company capabilities, processes and production facilities. If we are unable to obtain and maintain a DOA or POA, or the CAA imposes unanticipated restrictions as a condition of approval, our projected costs of production could increase substantially and ultimately we may be unable to commercialize our aircraft.

Securing our DOA and POA, and the timing of our production ramp up, are dependent upon finalizing certain aspects of the design, engineering, component procurement, testing, build out and manufacturing plans in a timely manner and upon our ability to execute these plans within the current timeline. We intend to fund the build out of this manufacturing facility using existing cash, cash from the Business Combination and future financing opportunities. If we are unable to obtain the funds required on the timeline that we anticipate, our plans for building our manufacturing plants could be delayed which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

While we are aiming to achieve certification during 2025, there can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve certification on our projected timeline or at all, which would have a material adverse effect on our ability to produce our aircraft and meet our customers’ demands, any of which would have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are a pre-revenue, early-stage company with a history of losses, and we expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future.

We are a pre-revenue, early-stage company that has incurred losses in the operation of our business related to research and development activities since inception. We anticipate that our expenses will increase and that we will continue to incur losses in the future until at least the time we begin commercial manufacturing of our aircraft, which is not expected to occur before 2025. Even if we are able to successfully develop and sell our aircraft, there can be no assurance that the aircraft will be commercially successful and achieve or sustain profitability.

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We expect the rate at which we will incur losses to be significantly higher in future periods as we, among other things, certify and assemble our aircraft, deploy our facilities, build up inventories of parts and components for our aircraft, increase our sales and marketing activities, develop our manufacturing infrastructure and increase our general and administrative functions to support our growing operations. We may find that these efforts are more expensive than we currently anticipate or that these efforts may not result in revenue, which would further increase our losses.

The markets for our offerings are still in relatively early stages of growth, and if such markets do not continue to grow, grow more slowly than we expect or fail to grow as large as we expect, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.

The market for eVTOL aircraft is still in a relatively early stage, and our success in these markets is dependent upon our ability to effectively market and sell advanced air mobility as a substitute for conventional methods of transportation and the effectiveness of our other marketing and growth strategies. If the public does not perceive advanced air mobility as beneficial, or chooses not to adopt advanced air mobility as a result of concerns regarding safety, affordability or for other reasons, then the market for our offerings may not further develop, may develop more slowly than we expect or may not achieve the growth potential we expect, any of which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our suppliers and partners, some of whom are currently single source suppliers for certain components, are a key part of our business model in order to manufacture our aircraft. Our supplier and partner base is located globally, and we strategically partnered with what we believe to be industry leaders in order to supply the highest quality components for our aircraft. Many of the components used in our aircraft are being custom made for us, including our flight controls systems, engine, avionics systems and software, all of which are currently being developed with our partners. This supply chain exposes us to multiple potential sources of delivery failure or component shortages for our aircraft, most of which are out of our control, including shortages of, or disruptions in the supply of, the raw materials used by our partners in the manufacture of components, disruptions to our partners’ workforce (such as strikes or labor shortfalls) and disruptions to, or capacity constraints affecting, shipping and logistics.

While we believe that we may be able to establish alternate supply relationships and can obtain replacement components, we may be unable to do so in the short term or at all at prices that are acceptable to us or may need to recertify components. We may experience source disruptions in our or our partners’ supply chains, which may cause delays in our overall production process for both prototype and commercial production aircraft. We are also, in some cases, subject to key suppliers for certain pieces of manufacturing equipment for which we rely on, or may be reliant on to achieve our projected high-volume production numbers. For example, we expect to procure electric motors primarily from Rolls-Royce, and our flight control system and avionics systems primarily from Honeywell. If we needed to find alternative suppliers for any of the key components of our aircraft, then this could increase our costs and adversely affect our ability to receive such components on a timely basis, or at all, which could cause significant delays in our overall projected timelines for the delivery of our aircraft and adversely affect our relationships with our customers.

In addition, if we experience a significant increase in demand, or need to replace our existing suppliers, there can be no assurance that additional suppliers of component parts will be available when required on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all, or that any supplier would allocate sufficient supplies to us in order to meet our requirements or fill our orders in a timely manner. Further, if we are unable to manage successfully our relationships with all of our suppliers and partners, the quality and availability of our aircraft may be harmed. Our suppliers or partners could, under some circumstances, decline to accept new purchase orders from, or otherwise reduce their business with, us. Any disruptions in the supply of components from our suppliers and partners could lead to delays in aircraft production, which would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

Further, if any conflicts arise between our suppliers or partners and us, the other party may act in a manner adverse to us and could limit our ability to implement our business strategies, which could impact our projected production timelines and number of aircraft produced. Our suppliers or partners may also develop, either alone or with others, products in related fields that are competitive with our products as a result of any conflicts or disagreements. Any disagreements or conflicts with our suppliers or partners could have an adverse effect on our reputation, which could also negatively impact our ability to source new suppliers or partners.

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Also, given the nascent state of the electric aviation industry in comparison to the relatively well established electric automotive industry, we, and the electric aviation industry as a whole, have limited influence over the specifications of certain components manufactured by our suppliers (in particular, certain components used to manufacture our batteries). If such suppliers change the specification of key components required for our aircraft, we may be required to renew our certification or redesign our aircraft. This could have a material adverse impact on our business, and there can be no guarantee that such redesign and re-certification could be achieved on a timely basis, or at all.

Any changes in business conditions, wars (including the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine), governmental changes, political intervention and other factors beyond our control or which we do not presently anticipate, could also affect our partners’ and suppliers’ abilities to deliver components to us on a timely basis, which could have a material adverse effect on our overall timelines to produce our aircraft. We do not control our suppliers or partners or such parties’ labor and other legal compliance practices, including their environmental, health and safety practices. If our current suppliers or partners, or any other suppliers or partners which we may use in the future, violates any specific laws or regulations, we may be subjected to extra duties, significant monetary penalties, adverse publicity, the seizure and forfeiture of products that we are attempting to import or the loss of our import privileges. The effects of these factors could render the conduct of our business in a particular country undesirable or impractical and have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Accidents or incidents involving eVTOL aircraft, us or our competitors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Test flying prototype aircraft is inherently risky, and accidents or incidents involving our aircraft are possible. Any such occurrence would negatively impact our development, testing and certification efforts, and could result in re-design, certification delay and/or postponements or delays to the sales of our aircraft.

The operation of aircraft is subject to various risks, and we expect demand for our aircraft to be impacted by accidents or other safety issues regardless of whether such accidents or issues involve our aircraft. Such accidents or incidents could also have a material impact on our ability to obtain certification from the CAA, EASA, and/or FAA for our aircraft, or to obtain such certification in a timely manner. Such events could impact confidence in a particular aircraft type or the air transportation services industry as a whole, particularly if such accidents or disasters were due to a safety fault. We believe that regulators and the general public are still forming their opinions about the safety and utility of aircraft that are highly reliant on lithium-ion batteries and/or advanced flight control software capabilities. An accident or incident involving either our aircraft or a competitor’s aircraft during these early stages of opinion formation could have a disproportionate impact on the longer-term view of the emerging AAM market.

There may be heightened public skepticism of this nascent technology and its adopters. In particular, there could be negative public perception surrounding eVTOL aircraft, including the overall safety and the potential for injuries or death occurring as a result of accidents involving eVTOL aircraft, regardless of whether any such safety incidents involve our aircraft. Any of the foregoing risks and challenges could adversely affect Vertical’s prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are at risk of adverse publicity stemming from any public incident involving our company, our people, our brand or other companies in our industry. Such an incident could involve the actual or alleged behavior of any of our employees or third-party contractors. Further, if our personnel, our aircraft or other types of aircraft are involved in a public incident, accident, catastrophe or regulatory enforcement action, we could be exposed to significant reputational harm and potential legal liability. The insurance we carry may be inapplicable or inadequate to cover any such incident, accident, catastrophe or action. In the event that our insurance is inapplicable or inadequate, we may be forced to bear substantial losses from an incident or accident. In addition, any such incident, accident, catastrophe or action involving our employees, our aircraft or other types of aircraft could create an adverse public perception, which could harm our reputation, result in passengers being reluctant to use our services and adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our eVTOL aircraft may not be certified by transportation authorities on the timeline projected, which could adversely affect our prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations.

eVTOL aircraft involve a complex set of technologies, which we and our partners and suppliers must continue to develop and rely on independent third-party aircraft operators to adopt. However, before eVTOL aircraft can fly passengers, the aircraft must receive requisite approvals from the relevant authorities. No eVTOL aircraft are currently certified by the CAA, EASA or FAA for commercial operations, and there is no assurance that our research and development will result in government-certified aircraft that

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are market-viable or commercially successful in a timely manner, or at all. In order to gain government certification, the safety of our eVTOL aircraft must be proven, which cannot be assured. Even if eVTOL aircraft are certified, individual operators must conform eVTOL aircraft to their licenses and air operator certificates, which requires CAA, EASA and FAA approval, and individual pilots also must be licensed and approved by the CAA, EASA and/or FAA, as applicable, to fly eVTOL aircraft, which could contribute to delays in any widespread use of eVTOL aircraft and potentially limit the number of eVTOL aircraft operators available to purchase our aircraft.

All of the pre-orders we have received for our aircraft are not legally binding, conditional and may be terminated without penalty at any time by either party. If these orders are cancelled, modified, delayed or not placed in accordance with the terms agreed with each party, our business, results of operations, liquidity and cash flow will be materially adversely affected.

All of the pre-orders we have received to date are conditional and are subject to the occurrence of certain agreed upon conditions with the respective parties, including that all such pre-orders may be terminated in writing without penalty by either party. We have received pre-orders for over 1,400 aircraft as of the date of this prospectus, which includes pre-orders from: American Airlines, with a pre-order of up to 250 aircraft and an option to purchase an additional 100 aircraft; Bristow, with a pre-order of 25 aircraft and an option for up to 25 additional aircraft; Iberojet, with a pre-order of 20 aircraft and an option for up to 80 additional aircraft; Marubeni, with a pre-order option to purchase up to 200 aircraft; Virgin Atlantic, with an option to purchase between 50 and 150 aircraft; and FLYINGGROUP, with a pre-order of 25 aircraft and an option for up to 25 additional aircraft. Within our indirect channel sales channel, Avolon, the world’s second largest aircraft leasing company, agreed to pre-order up to approximately 310 aircraft, with an option to pre-order a further 190 aircraft approximately, and as of March 2022, Avolon had agreed to lease approximately 550 aircraft to international airlines consisting of up to 250 aircraft to GOL and Grupo Comporte in Brazil, up to 100 aircraft to Japan Airlines, a minimum of 100 aircraft with AirAsia and up to 100 aircraft with Gözen Holding in Turkey.

Each of Avolon, American Airlines, Bristow, Iberojet, Marubeni, Virgin Atlantic and FLYINGGROUP have agreed to ordinary course terms and conditions contained in our memoranda of understanding with them, subject to specific agreed upon terms and conditions precedent with each party, including, among other things, certain deadlines to enter into a long-form master purchase agreement regarding the number of aircraft and, for certain of such purchasers, the potential creation of joint working groups to explore opportunities in the various jurisdictions in which our customers operate.

All of our pre-orders are not legally binding until we have executed a master purchase agreement between us and each party that contains the final terms for the purchase of our aircraft, including, but not limited to, the final number of aircraft to be purchased and the timing for delivery of the aircraft. We intend to execute such master purchase agreement prior to certain dates agreed upon with each party, and as of the date of this prospectus, we have begun negotiating such master purchase agreements covering the majority of our pre-orderbook.

In July 2022, we extended and amended our memorandum of understanding with American Airlines, pursuant to which we agreed to enter into a master purchase agreement that will contain the final terms for the purchase of our aircraft (the “AA Master Purchase Agreement”) by October 1, 2022, and American Airlines committed to pay a pre-delivery payment (the “Pre-Delivery Payment”) upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. We committed to reserve delivery slots for the first 50 VX4 aircraft of American Airlines’s conditional pre-order of up to 250 aircraft in exchange for the payment of the Pre-Delivery Payment. Subject to the final terms of the AA Master Purchase Agreement, the parties agreed that the Pre-Delivery Payment will be released to Vertical upon the satisfaction of certain conditions agreed by the parties, and later be used to set off against the purchase price for the number of aircraft ultimately purchased by American Airlines pursuant to the AA Master Purchase Agreement. Such Pre-Delivery Payment will be refundable in full to American Airlines under certain circumstances.

The obligations of each of Avolon, American Airlines, Bristow, Iberojet, Marubeni, Virgin Atlantic and FLYINGGROUP to consummate the order will arise only after all of such material terms are agreed in the discretion of each party. As a result, there can be no assurance that Avolon, American Airlines, Bristow, Iberojet, Marubeni, Virgin Atlantic and/or FLYINGGROUP will place a sufficient number of orders, if any at all, for our aircraft, which could adversely affect our business, prospects and results of operations. If any of these orders are cancelled, modified or delayed, or otherwise not consummated, or if we are otherwise unable to convert our strategic relationships into sales revenue, our business, results of operations, liquidity and cash flow will be affected.

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Our aircraft may not perform at the level we expect on the timelines projected and may have potential defects, such as higher than expected noise profile, lower payload than initially estimated, shorter range and/or shorter useful lives than we anticipate.

Our aircraft may not perform at the level we expect on the timelines projected or may contain defects in design and manufacture that may cause them not to perform as expected or that may require repair. For example, our aircraft may have a higher noise profile than we expect, carry a lower payload or have shorter maximum range than we estimate. Our aircraft will also use a substantial amount of software code to operate. Software products are inherently complex and often contain defects and errors when first introduced.

While we have performed, and will continue to perform, extensive testing, it is not possible to fully replicate every operating condition and validate the long-term durability of every aspect of our aircraft prior to its use in service. In some instances, we may need to continue to rely upon projections and models to validate the projected performance of our aircraft over their lifetime. Therefore, similar to most aerospace products, there is a risk that our aircraft may suffer unforeseen faults, defect or other issues in service. Such faults, defects and other issues may require significant additional research and development to rectify and could involve suspension of operation of our aircraft until any such defects can be cured. There can be no assurance that such research and development efforts would result in viable products or cure any such defects. Obtaining the necessary data and results may take longer than planned or may not be obtained at all. Any such delays or setbacks could have a material adverse effect on our reputation and our ability to achieve our projected timelines and financial goals.

We expect to introduce new and additional features and capabilities to the aircraft and our service over time. For example, while we intend for our aircraft to be capable of operating under instrument flight rules (“IFR”) from the date of their manufacture, they may initially operate either fully or partially under visual flight rules, as operation under IFR is likely to require further testing and certification and may potentially require revisions to the IFR to accommodate eVTOL technology. We may be unable to test and have the aircraft certified in a timely manner, or at all, and any necessary revisions to the IFR may not take place in a timely manner, or at all.

Further, some components of our aircraft may have a lower performance life than we initially expected, such as the life of our batteries, which could have a material adverse effect on our supply chain and our ability to provide aircraft to our customers on the projected timelines.

Any product defects or any other failure of our aircraft to perform as expected could harm our reputation and result in adverse publicity, delays in or inability to obtain certification, lost revenue, delivery delays, product recalls, product liability claims, harm to our brand and reputation, and significant warranty and other expenses and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Certain of our strategic, development and deployment arrangements could be terminated or may not materialize into long-term contract partnership arrangements and may restrict or limit us from developing our aircraft with or providing services to other strategic partners.

We have agreements with strategic, development and deployment partners and collaborators. Some of these arrangements are evidenced by memoranda of understanding, letters of intent, early stage agreements, some of which are non-binding, that are used for design and development purposes but will require further negotiation at later stages of development or production or master agreements that have yet to be implemented under separately negotiated statements of work, each of which could be terminated or may not materialize into next-stage contracts or long-term contract partnership arrangements. In addition, we do not currently have arrangements in place that will allow us to fully execute our business plan, including, without limitation, final supply and manufacturing agreements. Moreover, existing or future arrangements may contain limitations on our ability to enter into strategic, development and deployment arrangements with other partners. If we are unable to maintain such arrangements and agreements, or if such agreements or arrangements contain other restrictions from, or limitations on, developing aircraft with other strategic partners, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.

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We intend to grow our business rapidly and expect to expand our operations significantly. Any failure to manage our growth effectively could adversely affect our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition.

Any failure to manage our growth effectively could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. We intend to expand our operations significantly. We expect our future expansion to include:

expanding the management team;

hiring and training new personnel;

leveraging consultants to assist with our growth and development;

forecasting production and revenue;

controlling expenses and investments in anticipation of expanded operations;

establishing or expanding design, production, sales and service facilities; and

implementing and enhancing administrative infrastructure, systems and processes.

We intend to continue to hire a significant number of additional personnel, including software engineers, design and production personnel and service technicians for our aircraft. Because our eVTOL aircraft are based on a different technology platform from traditional internal combustion engines, individuals with sufficient training in eVTOL aircraft may not be available to hire, and as a result, we will need to expend significant time and expense training any newly hired employees. Competition for individuals with experience designing, producing and servicing electric aircraft and their software is intense, and we may not be able to attract, integrate, train, motivate or retain additional highly qualified personnel. The failure to attract, integrate, train, motivate and retain these additional employees could seriously harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

Our ability to effectively manage growth and expansion of our operations will also require us to enhance our operational systems, internal controls and infrastructure, human resources policies and reporting systems. These enhancements will require significant capital expenditures and allocation of valuable management and employee resources.

We are dependent on our senior management team and other highly skilled personnel, and if we are not successful in attracting or retaining highly qualified personnel, we may not be able to successfully implement our business strategy.

Our success depends, in significant part, on the continued services of our senior management team and on our ability to attract, motivate, develop and retain a sufficient number of other highly skilled personnel, including engineering, finance, marketing, sales, and technology and support personnel. The loss of any one or more members of our senior management team, for any reason, including resignation or retirement, could impair our ability to execute our business strategy and harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected if we are unable to attract and retain skilled employees to support our operations and growth.

If we are unable to establish and maintain confidence in our long-term business prospects among customers and analysts and within our industry, or if we are subject to negative publicity, then our financial condition, operating results, business prospects and access to capital may suffer materially.

Customers may be less likely to purchase our aircraft if they are not convinced that our business will succeed or that our service and support and other operations will continue in the long term. Similarly, partners, suppliers and other third parties will be less likely to invest time and resources in developing business relationships with us if they are not convinced that our business will succeed. Accordingly, in order to build and maintain our business, we must maintain confidence among customers, suppliers, analysts, ratings agencies and other parties in our aircraft, long-term financial viability and business prospects. Maintaining such confidence may be particularly complicated by certain factors including those that are largely outside of our control, such as our limited operating history, customer unfamiliarity with eVTOL aircraft, any delays in scaling production, delivery and service operations to meet demand, competition and uncertainty regarding the future of electric aircraft, including our electric aircraft and our production and sales performance compared with market expectations.

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Our aircraft utilization may be lower than expected, and our aircraft may be limited in its performance during certain weather conditions.

Our aircraft, when produced, may not be able to fly safely in poor weather conditions, including snowstorms, thunderstorms, lightning, hail, known icing conditions and/or fog. This inability to operate in these conditions could reduce our aircraft utilization and cause delays and disruptions in the services provided by our customers and partners. Aircraft utilization is reduced by delays and cancellations from various factors, many of which are beyond our control, including adverse weather conditions, security requirements, air traffic congestion and unscheduled maintenance events. The success of our business is dependent, in part, on the utilization rate of our aircraft by our customers and reductions in utilization may adversely impact the expected sales of our aircraft and aftermarket service revenue, therefore, our financial performance and results of operations.

Our aircraft may require maintenance at frequencies or at costs that are unexpected and could adversely impact the estimated prices for those maintenance services that we sell in connection with our aircraft.

Our aircraft, when they are produced, are anticipated to be highly technical products that will require maintenance and support. We are still developing our understanding of the long-term maintenance profile of the aircraft, and if useful lifetimes are shorter than expected, this may lead to greater maintenance costs than previously anticipated. If our aircraft and related equipment require maintenance more frequently than we plan for or at costs that exceed our estimates, that would have an impact on the sales of our aircraft and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our competitors may commercialize their technology before us, either in general or in specific markets.

While we expect to be one of the pioneering companies to market eVTOL aircraft, we expect this industry to be increasingly competitive, and it is possible that our competitors could get to market before us, either generally or in specific markets. Even if we are first to market, we may not fully realize the benefits we anticipate, and we may not receive any competitive advantage or may be overcome by other competitors. If new companies or existing aerospace companies launch competing solutions in the markets in which we intend to operate and/or obtain large scale capital investment, we may face increased competition.

Additionally, our competitors may benefit from our efforts in developing consumer and community acceptance for eVTOL aircraft, making it easier for them to obtain the permits and authorizations required to sell the aircraft in the markets in which we intend to sell or in other markets. In the event we do not capture the early-mover advantage that we anticipate, it may harm our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.

Many of our current and potential competitors are larger and have substantially greater resources than we have and expect to have in the future. They may also be able to devote greater resources to the development of their current and future technologies or the promotion and sale of their offerings, or offer lower prices. In particular, our competitors may be able to obtain the relevant certification and approvals for their aircraft before us. Our current and potential competitors may also establish cooperative or strategic relationships amongst themselves or with third parties that may further enhance their resources and offerings. Further, it is possible that domestic or foreign companies or governments, some with greater experience in the aerospace industry or greater financial resources than we possess, will seek to provide products that compete directly or indirectly with ours in the future.

We currently target many customers, suppliers and partners that are large corporations with substantial negotiating power and exacting product, quality and warranty standards. If we are unable to sell our products to these customers on satisfactory terms, our prospects and results of operations will be adversely affected.

Many of our potential customers, and current and potential suppliers and partners are large, multinational corporations with substantial negotiating power relative to us and, in some instances, may have internal solutions that are competitive to our products. These large, multinational corporations also have significant development resources, which may allow them to acquire or develop independently, or in partnership with others, competitive technologies.

Meeting the technical requirements and securing design wins with any of these companies will require a substantial investment of our time and resources. We cannot assure you that our products will secure design wins from these or other companies or that we will generate meaningful revenue from the sales of our aircraft to these key potential customers. If our aircraft are not selected by these large corporations or if these corporations develop or acquire competitive technology, this may have an adverse effect on our business.

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There may be a shortage of pilots and mechanics who meet the training standards required, which could reduce our ability to sell our aircraft at scale and on the timelines contemplated.

There is a shortage of pilots that is expected to exacerbate over time as more pilots in the industry approach mandatory retirement age. Similarly, trained and qualified aircraft and aviation mechanics with a variety of different skills, including battery maintenance and dealing with high voltage electrical systems, are also in short supply. This will affect the aviation industry, including AAM services and more specifically, our business.

Our service is dependent on recruiting mechanics qualified to perform the requisite maintenance activities, which may be difficult due to the corresponding personnel shortages. If we are unable to hire, train, and retain qualified mechanics, our business could be harmed, and we may be unable to implement our growth plans.

We may encounter obstacles outside of our control that slow market adoption of eVTOL aircraft or aerial rideshares, such as regulatory requirements or infrastructure limitations.

Our growth is highly dependent upon the adoption of electric aircraft by customers in the aviation industry, as well as consumers who will travel in the aircraft. The target demographics for our aircraft are highly competitive. If the market for electric aircraft does not develop at the rate or in the manner or to the extent that we expect, or if critical assumptions we have made regarding the efficiency of our electric aircraft are incorrect or incomplete, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results will be harmed. The fleet market for electric aircraft is new and untested and is characterized by rapidly changing technologies, price competition, numerous competitors, evolving government regulation and industry standards and uncertain customer demands and behaviors.

If we experience harm to our reputation and brand, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Continuing to increase the strength of our reputation and brand for high-performing, sustainable, safe and cost-effective advanced air mobility is critical to our ability to attract and retain customers and partners. In addition, our growth strategy includes international expansion through joint ventures or other partnerships with local companies that would benefit from our reputation and brand recognition. The successful development of our reputation and brand will depend on a number of factors, many of which are outside our control. Negative perception of our aircraft or company may harm our reputation and brand, including as a result of:

complaints or negative publicity or reviews about us, independent third-party aircraft operators, fliers or other brands or events that we associate with, even if factually incorrect or based on isolated incidents;

changes to our operations, safety and security or other policies that customers, end-users or others perceive as overly restrictive, unclear or inconsistent with our values;

illegal, negligent, reckless or otherwise inappropriate behavior by fliers, independent or other third parties involved in the operation of our business or by our management team or other employees;

actual or perceived disruptions or defects in our aircraft;

litigation over, or investigations by regulators into, our operations or those of our independent third-party aircraft operators;

a failure to operate our business in a way that is consistent with our values;

negative responses by independent third-party aircraft operators or fliers to new mobility offerings; or

any of the foregoing with respect to our competitors, to the extent such resulting negative perception affects the public’s perception of us or our industry as a whole.

Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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Customer and consumer perception of us and our reputation may be impacted by the broader industry, and customers may not differentiate our aircraft from our competitors.

Potential customers and consumers may not differentiate between us and the broader aviation industry or, more specifically, the AAM service industry. If our competitors or other participants in this market have problems in a wide range of issues, including safety, technology development, engagement with aircraft certification bodies or other regulators, engagement with communities, target demographics or other positioning in the market, security, data privacy, flight delays, or bad customer service, such problems could impact the public perception of the entire industry, including our business. We may fail to adequately differentiate our brand, our services and our aircraft from others in the market which could impact our ability to attract passengers or engage with other key stakeholders. The failure to differentiate ourselves and the impact of poor public perception of the industry could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Unstable market and economic conditions may have serious adverse consequences on our business, financial condition and share price.

The global economy, including credit and financial markets, has recently experienced extreme volatility and disruptions, including severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, rising interest and inflation rates, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in unemployment rates and uncertainty about economic stability. If the equity and credit markets continue to deteriorate or the United Kingdom or the United States enters a recession, it may make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult to obtain in a timely manner or on favorable terms, more costly or more dilutive. In addition, there is a risk that one or more of our partners or suppliers may not survive an economic downturn or recession. As a result, our business, our results of operations and the price of our ordinary shares may be adversely affected.

We are subject to risks related to health epidemics and pandemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.

We face various risks related to public health issues, including epidemics, pandemics and other outbreaks, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The effects and potential effects of COVID-19, including, but not limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, trade and financing markets, changes in customer behavior and continuity in business operations creates significant uncertainty. The spread of COVID-19 also disrupted the manufacturing, delivery and overall supply chain of aircraft manufacturers and suppliers, and has led to a global decrease in aircraft sales in markets around the world. In particular, the COVID-19 crisis may cause a decrease in demand for our aircraft if our customers delay purchases of aircraft generally, an increase in costs resulting from our efforts to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, delays in our schedule to full commercial production of electric aircraft and disruptions to our supply chain, among other negative effects.

The pandemic has resulted in government authorities implementing many measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, including travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns. These measures may be in place for a significant period of time and may be reinstituted if conditions deteriorate, which could adversely affect our start-up and manufacturing plans. Measures that have been relaxed may be re-implemented if COVID-19 continues to spread. If, as a result of these measures, we have to limit our number of employees at a given time, this could cause a delay in tooling efforts or in the production schedule of our electric aircraft. Further, our sales and marketing activities may be adversely affected due to the cancellation or reduction of in-person sales activities, meetings, events and conferences. If our workforce is unable to work effectively, including due to illness, quarantines, government actions or other restrictions in connection with COVID-19, our operations will be adversely affected.

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to affect our business (including our ability to test aircraft and the ability of regulators to certify our aircraft) will depend on continued developments, which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, we may continue to suffer an adverse effect to our business due to the global economic effects, including any economic recession.

In order to reach production for our aircraft, we need to develop complex software and technology systems in coordination with our partners and suppliers, and there can be no assurance such systems will be successfully developed.

We anticipate that our aircraft will use a substantial amount of sophisticated software and hardware to operate. The development of such advanced technologies is inherently complex, and we will need to coordinate with our partners and suppliers in order to reach

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production for our aircraft. Defects and errors may be revealed over time and our control over the performance of third-party services and systems may be limited. Thus, our potential inability to develop the necessary software and technology systems may harm our competitive position.

We are relying on third-party partners to develop a number of emerging technologies for use in our products. These technologies are not today, and may not ever be, commercially viable. There can be no assurances that our partners will be able to meet the technological requirements, production timing, and volume requirements to support our business plan. In addition, the technology may not comply with the cost, performance useful life and warranty characteristics that we anticipate in our business plan. As a result, our business plan could be significantly adversely impacted, and we may incur significant liabilities under warranty claims, which could adversely affect our business, prospects, and results of operations.

Any material disruption in our information systems could adversely affect our business.

We rely on information technology networks and systems to operate and manage our business. Our information technology networks and systems will process, transmit and store personal and financial information, proprietary information of our business, allow us to coordinate our business across our operation bases and allow us to communicate with our employees and externally with customers, suppliers, partners and other third parties. While we believe we take reasonable steps to secure these information technology networks and systems, and the data processed, transmitted and stored thereon, such networks, systems and data may be susceptible to cyberattacks, viruses, malware or other unauthorized access or damage (including by environmental, malicious, or negligent acts), which could result in unauthorized access to, or the release and public exposure of, our proprietary information. Our information technology systems may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from circumstances beyond our control, including fire, natural disasters, systems failures, computer viruses, external and internal security breaches or other security incidents and external factors, such as trade wars, political tensions or armed conflicts including the conflict between Russia and Ukraine that could make it more difficult for us to access information stored in other countries. Our third-party information technology providers are also subject to these risks, which could impact our ability to access these systems and any data outside of our physical control. Any of the foregoing could cause substantial harm to our business, require us to make notifications to governmental authorities, or the media, and could result in litigation, investigations or inquiries by government authorities, or subject us to penalties, fines and other losses relating to the investigation and remediation of such an attack or other unauthorized access or damage to our information technology systems and networks.

If we are unable to obtain and maintain adequate facilities and infrastructure, we may be unable to develop and manufacture the aircraft as expected.

In order to develop and manufacture our aircraft, we must be able to obtain and maintain adequate facilities and infrastructure. We intend to develop our initial final assembly facility in the United Kingdom. We may be unsuccessful in obtaining, developing and/or maintaining these facilities in a commercially viable manner. Even if we are able to begin assembly operations in these facilities, maintenance of these facilities will require considerable capital expenditure as we expand operations. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be successful in obtaining and maintaining adequate facilities and infrastructure, and any failure to do so may result in our inability to develop and manufacture our aircraft as expected or on the timelines projected, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our aircraft and the facilities that manufacture them may not be operable due to natural disaster, permitting or other external factors.

Natural disasters, including wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and earthquakes and severe weather conditions, such as heavy rains, strong winds, dense fog, blizzards or snowstorms, may damage our facilities or aircraft. Severe weather conditions, such as rainfall, snowfall, fog, mist, freezing conditions or extreme temperatures, may also impact the ability for flights to occur as planned, which could reduce our customers’ revenue and profitability and demand for our aircraft as a result, and cause passengers to view our aircraft as less reliable. Any of the foregoing could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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We are subject to risks associated with climate change, including the potential increased impacts of severe weather events on our operations and infrastructure.

The potential physical effects of climate change, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods, fires, fog, mist, freezing conditions, sea-level rise and other climate-related events, could affect the operations of third-party operators, and therefore, our operations and financial results. We could incur significant costs to improve the climate resiliency of our aircraft and otherwise prepare for, respond to and mitigate such physical effects of climate change. We are not able to accurately predict the materiality of any potential losses or costs associated with the physical effects of climate change.

Market and regulatory trends to reduce climate change may not evolve in the direction and within the timing expected, which could have a negative impact in our business plan.

A number of governments globally have introduced or are moving to introduce climate change legislation and treaties at the international, national, state/provincial and local levels. Regulation relating to emission levels and energy efficiency is becoming more stringent and is gaining more widespread market approval, as consumers expect companies to play a role in addressing climate change. Our aircraft operate on electricity and are designed to produce zero carbon emissions. We expect that market and regulatory trends favoring such “clean” energy and addressing climate change will continue to evolve in our favor. However, any change or reversal in such market and regulatory trends, such as less focus on climate-friendly solutions or less stringent legislation with respect to emissions, could result in lower demand for our eVTOL aircraft and have an adverse effect on our business.

As we expand into new territories, we may encounter stronger market resistance than we currently expect, including from incumbent competitors in those territories.

We may face risks associated with any potential international expansion of our operations into new territories, including possible unfavorable regulatory, political, tax and labor conditions, which could harm our business. In addition, in certain of these markets, we may encounter incumbent competitors with established technologies and customer bases, lower prices or costs and greater brand recognition. We anticipate having international operations and subsidiaries that are subject to the legal, political, regulatory and social requirements and economic conditions in these jurisdictions. However, we have no experience to date selling and servicing our aircraft internationally, and such expansion would require us to make significant expenditures, including the hiring of local employees and establishing facilities, in advance of generating any revenue. We will be subject to a number of risks associated with international business activities that may increase our costs, impact our ability to sell our electric aircraft and require significant management attention. If we fail to successfully address these risks, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results could be materially harmed.

The intended initial operations of our customers may be concentrated in a small number of metropolitan areas and airports, which could indirectly make our business particularly susceptible to natural disasters, outbreaks and pandemics, growth constraints, economic, social, weather and regulatory conditions or other circumstances affecting these metropolitan areas.

We intend to initially sell to customers that will service larger metropolitan areas, and these sales will be the primary source of the majority of our revenue. As a result, our business and financial results may be susceptible to natural disasters, wars, outbreaks and pandemics, growth constraints, economic, social, weather and regulatory conditions or other circumstances applicable to metropolitan areas. In addition, any changes to local laws or regulations within key metropolitan areas that affect our customers’ ability to operate our aircraft in these markets could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Disruption of operations at vertiports, whether caused by labor relations, utility or communications issues or power outages could cause our customers to reduce the number of aircrafts that they order or to cancel their orders entirely. Certain airports may regulate our flight operations, such as limiting the number of landings per year, which could reduce our customers’ ability to operate as many aircraft as they originally forecast, which in turn could lead to a reduction in orders of our aircraft. In addition, demand for our customers’ advanced air mobility services could be impacted if drop-offs or pick-ups of fliers become inconvenient because of airport rules or regulations, or more expensive for fliers because of airport- imposed fees, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

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We will rely on the existing vertiport network developed by third parties. The ability of such networks to support high-volume eVTOL service and our aircraft could have an adverse effect on the use of our aircraft and our expected growth potential.

In order to use our aircraft, our customers will require adequate landing infrastructure. As airports and heliports around the world become more congested, it may not be possible to ensure that our customers’ plans can be implemented in a commercially viable manner given infrastructure constraints, including those imposed by inadequate facilities at desirable locations. Access to airports, heliports and vertiports may be prohibitively expensive, not available at all, or may be inconsistent with our projections. Our customers’ advanced air mobility service will depend on the ability to develop and operate vertiports in desirable locations in metropolitan locations. Developing and operating vertiport locations will require permits and approvals from international, national and local regulatory authorities and government bodies and our customers’ ability to operate their service will depend on such permits and approvals. We cannot predict whether our customers will receive such permits and approvals or whether they will receive them in a timely manner. If any of our current or future customers are prohibited, restricted or delayed from developing and operating desirable vertiport locations, our business could be adversely affected.

The current conditional pre-orders and future sale orders of our aircraft may or may not be subject to indexed price escalation clauses, which could subject us to losses if we have cost overruns or if increases in costs exceed the applicable escalation rate.

Aircraft sales contracts are often entered into years before the aircraft are delivered. In order to help account for economic fluctuations between the contract date and delivery date, aircraft pricing in such master purchase agreements may or may not include price escalation clauses to account for cost increases from labor, commodity and other price indices. Our revenue estimates are based on current expectations with respect to these escalation formulas, but the actual escalation amounts are outside of our control. Escalation factors can fluctuate significantly from period to period and changes in escalation amounts can significantly impact revenues and operating margins in our eVTOL business. We can make no assurance that any customer, current or future, will exercise purchase options, fulfill existing purchase commitments or purchase additional products or services from us. The terms and conditions of the pre-orders regarding price escalation clauses are yet to be determined, and there is no assurance that they will be determined in a manner that will mitigate the risks described above.

We are subject to laws and regulations concerning our collection, processing, storage, sharing, disclosure and use of customer information and other sensitive data, and our actual or perceived failure to comply with data privacy and security laws and regulations could damage our reputation and brand and harm our business and operating results.

In the ordinary course of business, we collect, store, and transmit information, including personal information, in relation to our current, past or potential customers, business partners, employees and contractors. We therefore face particular privacy, data security, and data protection risks in connection with requirements of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (“GDPR”), national implementing legislation of the GDPR, the United Kingdom GDPR and U.K. Data Protection Act 2018 (which retains the GDPR in U.K. national law (the “U.K. GDPR”)) and other data protection regulations in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) and the U.K. Among other stringent requirements, the GDPR and U.K. GDPR restrict transfers of data outside of the EEA and U.K. to third countries deemed to lack adequate privacy protections (such as the U.S.), unless an appropriate safeguard specified is implemented. A July 16, 2020 decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union invalidated a key mechanism for lawful data transfer to the U.S. and called into question the viability of its primary alternative, the standard contractual clauses. While the European Commission has since then published revised standard contractual clauses and the United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office has published new data transfer standard contracts for transfers from the UK under the UK GDPR, each of which must be used for relevant new data and existing transfers (subject to grace periods), the ability of companies to lawfully transfer personal data from the EEA and the U.K. to the U.S. and other third countries is presently complex and uncertain. We currently rely on the standard contractual clauses to transfer personal data outside the EEA and the U.K., including to the U.S. among other data transfer mechanisms pursuant to the GDPR and U.K. GDPR. Other countries have enacted or are considering enacting similar cross-border data transfer rules or data localization requirements. As this area and the enforcement landscape relating to it further develop, we could: suffer additional costs, complaints and/or regulatory investigations or fines; have to stop using certain tools and vendors and make other operational changes; have to implement revised standard contractual clauses for existing intragroup, customer and vendor arrangements within required time frames; and/or it could otherwise affect our future ability to deliver our products in the EEA, the U.K. and other foreign markets.

Fines for certain breaches of the GDPR and the U.K. GDPR are significant e.g., fines for certain breaches of the GDPR or the U.K. GDPR are up to the greater of €20 million / £17.5 million or 4% of total global annual turnover. In addition to the foregoing, a breach of the GDPR or U.K. GDPR could result in regulatory investigations, reputational damage, orders to cease/ change our

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processing of our data, enforcement notices, and/ or assessment notices (for a compulsory audit). We may also face civil claims including representative actions and other class action type litigation (where individuals have suffered harm), potentially amounting to significant compensation or damages liabilities, as well as associated costs, diversion of internal resources, and reputational harm.

We are also subject to evolving EU and U.K. privacy laws on cookies and e-marketing. In the EU and U.K., informed consent is required for the placement of a cookie or similar technologies on a user’s device and for direct electronic marketing. The GDPR and the U.K. GDPR also impose conditions on obtaining valid consent, such as a prohibition on pre-checked consents and a requirement to ensure separate consents are sought for each type of cookie or similar technology. Recent European court and regulatory decisions, regulatory guidance and recent campaigns by a not-for-profit organization are driving increased attention to cookies and tracking technologies. If the trend of increasing enforcement by regulators of the strict approach to opt-in consent for all but essential use cases in recent guidance and decisions continues, this could lead to substantial costs, require significant systems changes, limit the effectiveness of our marketing activities, divert the attention of our technology personnel, adversely affect our margins, increase costs and subject us to additional liabilities.

In the U.S., there are numerous federal and state data privacy and protection laws and regulations governing the collection, use, disclosure, protection and other processing of personal information, including federal and state data privacy laws, data breach notification laws and consumer protection laws. We may become subject to these laws and regulations. For example, the FTC and many state attorneys general are interpreting federal and state consumer protection laws to impose standards for the online collection, use, dissemination, and security of data. Such standards require us to publish statements that describe how we handle personal data and choices individuals may have about the way we handle their personal data. If such information we publish is considered untrue or inaccurate, we may be subject to government claims of unfair or deceptive trade practices, which could lead to significant liabilities and consequences. Moreover, according to the FTC, violating consumers’ privacy rights or failing to take appropriate steps to keep consumers’ personal data secure may constitute unfair acts or practices in or affecting commerce in violation of Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act. State consumer protection laws provide similar causes of action for unfair or deceptive practices. Some states, such as California and Massachusetts, have passed specific laws mandating reasonable security measures for the handling of consumer data. Further, privacy advocates and industry groups have regularly proposed and sometimes approved, and may propose and approve in the future, self-regulatory standards with which we must legally comply or that contractually apply to us.

In addition, many state legislatures have adopted legislation that regulates how businesses operate online, including measures relating to privacy, data security, and data breaches. Such legislation includes the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”), which came into force in January 2020 and created new consumer rights, and imposes corresponding obligations on covered businesses, relating to the access to, deletion of, and sharing of personal information collected by covered businesses, including California residents’ right to access and delete their personal information, opt out of certain sharing and sales of their personal information, and receive detailed information about how their personal information is used. The CCPA prohibits discrimination against individuals who exercise their privacy rights, and provides for civil penalties for violations enforceable by the California Attorney General as well as a private right of action for certain data breaches that result in the loss of personal information. This private right of action is expected to increase the likelihood of, and risks associated with, data breach litigation. In addition, California voters also recently passed the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”), which will take effect on January 1, 2023. The CPRA significantly modifies the CCPA, including by imposing additional obligations on covered companies and expanding California consumers’ rights with respect to certain sensitive personal information, potentially resulting in further uncertainty and requiring us to incur additional costs and expenses in an effort to comply. Some observers have noted that the CCPA (and the CPRA) could mark the beginning of a trend toward more stringent privacy legislation in the United States, and multiple states have enacted, or are expected to enact, similar or more stringent laws. For example, Virginia, Colorado, Utah and Connecticut recently passed comprehensive privacy laws that take effect in 2023 and will impose obligations similar to or more stringent than those we may face under other data protection laws. There is also discussion in Congress of a new comprehensive federal data protection and privacy law to which we likely would be subject if it is enacted. Such new laws and proposed legislation, if passed, could have conflicting requirements that could make compliance challenging, require us to expend significant resources to come into compliance, and restrict our ability to process certain personal information.

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If we or our third-party service providers experience a security breach, or if unauthorized parties otherwise obtain access to our data, including our customers’ data, partners’ data or other personal data, our reputation may be harmed, demand for services may be reduced and we may incur significant liabilities.

Our services are expected to involve the storage, processing and transmission of data, including certain personal data and confidential and sensitive information. Any security breach, including those resulting from a cybersecurity attack, phishing attack or any unauthorized access, unauthorized usage, virus or similar breach or disruption could result in the loss or destruction of or unauthorized access to, or use, alteration, disclosure, or acquisition of, data, damage to our reputation, litigation, regulatory investigations or other liabilities. These attacks may come from individual hackers, criminal groups and state-sponsored organizations. In particular, ransomware attacks, including those from organized criminal threat actors, nation-states, and nation-state supported actors, are becoming increasingly prevalent and severe, and can lead to significant interruptions in our operations, loss of data and income, reputational loss, diversion of funds, and may result in fines, litigation and unwanted media attention. Extortion payments may alleviate the negative impact of a ransomware attack, but we may be unwilling or unable to make such payments due to, for example, applicable laws or regulations prohibiting payments.

If our security measures are breached as a result of third-party action, employee error, a defect or bug in our products or those of our third-party suppliers or partners, malfeasance or otherwise, and as a result, someone obtains unauthorized access to our data, including our confidential, sensitive, personal or other information about individuals, or any of these types of information is lost, destroyed or used, altered, disclosed or acquired without authorization, our reputation may be damaged, our business may suffer, and we could incur significant liability and regulatory enforcement. Even the perception of inadequate security may damage our reputation and negatively impact our ability to win new customers and retain and receive timely payments from existing customers. Further, we could be required to expend significant capital and other resources to address any data security incident or breach, which may not be covered or fully covered by our insurance and which may involve payments for investigations, forensic analyses, legal advice, public relations advice, system repair or replacement or other services.

We engage third-party service providers to store and otherwise process some of our data, including personal data and confidential and sensitive information. Our service providers may also be the targets of cyberattacks, malicious software, phishing schemes, and fraud. Our ability to monitor our vendors and service providers’ data security is limited, and, in any event, third parties may be able to circumvent those security measures, resulting in the unauthorized access to, misuse, acquisition, disclosure, loss, alteration, or destruction of our data, including confidential data and confidential and sensitive information.

Techniques used to sabotage or obtain unauthorized access to systems or networks are constantly evolving and, in some instances, are not identified until after they have been launched against a target. We and our service providers may be unable to anticipate these techniques, react in a timely manner, or implement adequate preventative and mitigating measures. If we are unable to efficiently and effectively maintain and upgrade our system safeguards, we may incur unexpected costs and certain of our systems may become more vulnerable to unauthorized access or disruption.

Our business plans require a significant amount of capital. In addition, our future capital needs may require us to sell additional equity or debt securities that may dilute our shareholders or introduce covenants that may restrict our operations or our ability to pay dividends.

We expect our capital expenditures to continue to be significant in the foreseeable future as we expand our business, and that our level of capital expenditures will remain uncertain and may be higher than anticipated. Overall, however, we expect to make significant investments in our business, including development of our aircraft, investments in our brand and developing assembly and manufacturing facilities. These efforts may prove more expensive than currently anticipated, and we may not succeed in acquiring sufficient capital to offset these higher expenses and achieve positive revenue generation. The fact that we have a limited operating history means we have limited historical data on the demand for our aircraft. As a result, our future capital requirements may be uncertain and actual capital requirements may be different from those we currently anticipate. We may need to seek equity or debt financing to finance a portion of our capital expenditures. Such financing might not be available to us in a timely manner or on terms that are acceptable, or at all.

Our ability to obtain the necessary financing to carry out our business plan is subject to a number of factors, including general market conditions and investor acceptance of our business model. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms and conditions of such financing unattractive or unavailable to us. If we are unable to raise sufficient funds, we will have to significantly reduce our spending, delay or cancel our planned activities or substantially change our corporate structure. We might not be able to obtain any

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funding, and we might not have sufficient resources to conduct our business as projected, both of which could mean we would be forced to curtail or discontinue our operations.

In addition, our future capital needs and other business reasons could require us to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain a credit facility. The sale of additional equity or equity-linked securities could dilute our shareholders. Any equity securities issued may also provide for rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of holders of our ordinary shares. If we raise funds by issuing debt securities, these debt securities may have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of preferred and common shareholders. The terms of debt securities or borrowings may impose significant restrictions on our operations. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations or our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders.

If we cannot raise additional funds when we need or want them, our operations and prospects could be negatively affected.

Our Convertible Senior Secured Notes issued and outstanding may impact our financial results, result in the dilution of our shareholders, create downward pressure on the price of our Ordinary Shares, and restrict our ability to raise additional capital or take advantage of future opportunities.

In connection with the Business Combination, we issued and sold an aggregate of $200 million principal amount of Convertible Senior Secured Notes to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor in a private placement. The Convertible Senior Secured Notes are convertible for Ordinary Shares at a conversion rate of 90.9091 Ordinary Shares per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Senior Secured Note, subject to adjustments to such rate as provided in the Indenture, and bear interest at a rate of 7.00% per annum for cash interest or 9.00% per annum for interest paid-in-kind, which is to be selected at our option and is paid semiannually. The sale of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes may affect our earnings per share figures, as accounting procedures may require that we include in our calculation of earnings per share the number of our Ordinary Shares into which the Convertible Senior Secured Notes are convertible. If our Ordinary Shares are issued to the holders of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes upon conversion, there will be dilution to our shareholders’ equity and the market price of our Ordinary Shares may decrease due to the additional selling pressure in the market. Any downward pressure on the price of our Ordinary Shares caused by the sale, or potential sale, of shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes could also encourage short sales by third parties, creating additional selling pressure on our Ordinary Share price.

In addition, pursuant to the Indenture, if we issue additional Ordinary Shares or additional securities convertible into Ordinary Shares at an average price per share (or in the case of convertible securities, the effective conversion price per share) (the “Issue Price”) lower than the last reported sale price of our Ordinary Shares on the issue date of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes, and if the number of additional Ordinary Shares (or the number of Ordinary Shares underlying any such additional convertible securities) in the aggregate (in one or a series of transactions) exceeds 2.5% of the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares as of the issue date of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes, then the conversion rate for the Convertible Senior Secured Notes will be increased to be equal to $1,000 divided by the Issue Price, subject to limited exceptions (the “Anti-Dilution Adjustment”). The Anti-Dilution Adjustment may limit our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities without triggering the Anti-Dilution Adjustment. If the Anti-Dilution Adjustment is triggered, there will be additional dilution to our shareholders’ equity and the market price of our Ordinary Shares may decrease more due to the additional Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes as a result of the Anti-Dilution Adjustment.

We may still incur substantially more debt or take other actions that would diminish our ability to make payments on the Convertible Senior Secured Notes when due.

We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional debt in the future, subject to the restrictions contained in our debt instruments. We are subject to certain restrictions under the terms of the Indenture, including limitations regarding incurring future indebtedness, subject to specific allowances in the Indenture. However, we will not be restricted from recapitalizing our debt or taking a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the Indenture that could have the effect of diminishing our ability to make payments on the Convertible Senior Secured Notes when due.

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As an international business, we are exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which could adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.

International markets are anticipated to contribute a substantial portion of our revenue, and we intend to expand our presence in these regions. The exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates takes on different forms. International revenue and costs are subject to the risk that fluctuations in exchange rates could adversely affect our reported revenue and profitability when translated into British pounds sterling for financial reporting purposes. The majority of our revenue is expected to be denominated in U.S. dollars, and our costs are primarily in British pounds sterling. These fluctuations could also adversely affect the demand for products and services provided by us. As an international business, our businesses may occasionally invoice third-party customers in currencies other than the one in which they primarily do business (the “functional currency”). Movements in the invoiced currency relative to the functional currency could adversely impact our cash flows and our results of operations. As our international sales commence and grow, exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates could have a larger effect on our financial results. Our management has used, and expects to continue to use, financial instruments to hedge against currency fluctuations, but such action may be ineffective or insufficient.

We may not be able to secure adequate insurance policies, or secure insurance policies at reasonable prices.

We maintain general liability insurance, aviation flight testing insurance, aircraft liability coverage, directors and officers insurance and other insurance policies, and we believe our level of coverage is customary in our industry and adequate to protect against claims. However, there can be no assurance that it will be sufficient to cover potential claims or that present levels of coverage will be available in the future at reasonable cost. The eVTOL market is currently a nascent market for insurers, and as such, insurers may be unwilling to cover the risks associated with eVTOL technology, either partially or at all. Further, we expect our insurance needs and costs to increase as we build production facilities, manufacture aircraft, establish commercial operations and expand into new markets, and it is too early to determine what impact, if any, the commercial operation of eVTOLs will have on our insurance costs.

Changes in our tax rates, unavailability of certain tax credits or reliefs or exposure to additional tax liabilities, clawbacks or assessments could affect our profitability, and audits by tax authorities could result in additional tax payments for prior periods.

We expect to be affected by various domestic and international taxes, including direct and indirect taxes imposed on our activities, such as corporate income, withholding, customs, excise, value-added, sales and other taxes. Significant judgment is required in determining our provisions for taxes, and there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain.

The amount of tax we expect to pay may be subject to audits by international, domestic and local tax authorities. If audits result in payments or assessments different from our reserves, our future results may include unfavorable adjustments to our tax liabilities, and our financial statements could be adversely affected. Any significant changes to the tax system in the United Kingdom, United States, Cayman Islands or in other jurisdictions (including changes in the taxation of international income as further described below) could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to U.K. corporation tax, which is levied on profits generated in the U.K. and abroad. The U.K. corporation tax rate is currently 19% for the 2022/23 tax year, but the U.K. government has announced that from April 1, 2023 the main U.K. corporation tax rate shall rise to 25%, which will affect our post-tax profits.

We carry out extensive research and development activities, and as a result, we expect to benefit in the United Kingdom from HM Revenue & Customs’ (“HMRC”) research and development expenditure credit (“RDEC”), which provides relief against U.K. corporation tax. Broadly, RDECs provide a tax credit currently equal to 13% of “qualifying research and development expenditure” made from April 1, 2020 (the rate was previously 12% of qualifying research and development expenditure made from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020) by certain companies where certain criteria are met. Based on criteria established by HMRC, a portion of expenditures incurred in relation to our research and development and manufacturing development activities are eligible for RDEC relief. Our qualifying research and development expenditures largely consist of employment costs for research staff, consumables and certain internal overhead costs incurred as part of research projects for which we do not receive revenue and are loss generating. To the extent a company cannot utilize the RDEC against U.K. corporation tax, then certain rules apply that allow the RDEC to reduce the tax liability of certain specified taxes, and to the extent it is not possible to utilize the RDEC in full, then the net tax credit is repaid to the company by HMRC. If, however, there are unexpected adverse changes to the RDEC scheme or for any reason we are unable to

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qualify for such advantageous tax legislation, then our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

We may be subject to a tax charge as a result of the issuance of warrants.

We have issued, and intend to issue in the future, a number of warrants to the public and to certain business partners which, at the time of their issuance, may be treated as a disposal of an asset for the purposes of U.K. corporation tax. Any chargeable gain arising on such a disposal may, depending on the circumstances and subject to any available exemptions or reliefs (such as loss relief), be subject to U.K. corporation tax at the prevailing rate. The U.K. tax rules provide that once the warrants are exercised, the issuance and exercise of the warrants should be treated as the same transaction, which should not be treated as a taxable event. In this instance, we should be able to reclaim any tax paid in respect of the original issuance of the warrants. There is no certainty that the warrants will be exercised or, in the event that the warrants are exercised, when such exercise will take place.

We may incur tax liabilities in relation to share options held by employees.

We have in place certain arrangements to attract talent and to motivate and incentivize our employees.

A number of our employees have been issued share options, which are intended to qualify for certain tax relief in the United Kingdom as enterprise management incentive (“EMI”) options. To qualify for tax relief, a number of strict statutory criteria must be complied with. It is possible that one or more of the relevant criteria have not been complied with. The U.K. tax rules provide that if an option does not qualify for EMI tax relief when it is exercised, Vertical would need to withhold income tax and social security contributions and remit these to the tax authority, and Vertical would need to pay employer’s social security contributions. The tax authority can seek to recover unpaid amounts and impose penalties if we did not comply with these obligations.

Our business may be adversely affected by union activities.

Although none of our employees is currently represented by a labor union, it is common throughout the aerospace and airline industries generally for many employees to belong to a union, which can result in higher employee costs and increased risk of work stoppages. As we expand our business, there can be no assurances that our employees will not join or form a labor union or that we will not be required to become a union signatory. We are also directly or indirectly dependent upon companies with unionized work forces, such as parts suppliers, and work stoppages or strikes organized by such unions could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or operating results. If a work stoppage occurs, it could delay the manufacture and sale of our performance electric vehicles and have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.

We are subject to many hazards and operational risks that can disrupt our business, including interruptions or disruptions in service at our facilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our operations are subject to many hazards and operational risks inherent to our business, including general business risks, product liability and damage to third parties, our infrastructure or properties that may be caused by fires, floods and other natural disasters, power losses, telecommunications failures, terrorist attacks (including hijacking, use of the aircraft as a weapon, or use of the aircraft to disperse a chemical or biological agent), catastrophic loss due to security related incidents, human errors and similar events. Additionally, our manufacturing operations are hazardous at times and may expose us to safety risks, including environmental risks and health and safety hazards to our employees or third parties.

Any legal proceedings, investigations or claims against us could be costly and time-consuming to defend and could harm our reputation regardless of the outcome.

We may in the future become subject to legal proceedings, investigations and claims, including claims that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as claims brought by our customers or partners in connection with commercial disputes, claims by end-users, claims or investigations brought by regulators or employment claims made by our current or former employees. Any litigation, investigation or claim, whether meritorious or not, could harm our reputation, will increase our costs and may divert management’s attention, time and resources, which may in turn harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Insurance might not cover such claims, might not provide sufficient payments to cover all the costs to resolve one or more such claims, and might not continue to be available on terms acceptable to us. A claim brought against us that is uninsured or underinsured could result in unanticipated costs, potentially harming our business, financial position and results of operations.

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Risks Related to Our Regulatory Environment

The international nature of our business subjects us to additional risks.

We are subject to a number of risks related to doing business internationally, any of which could significantly harm our business. These risks include:

restrictions on the transfer of funds to and from foreign countries, including potentially negative tax consequences;

unfavorable changes in tariffs, quotas, trade barriers or other export or import restrictions, including navigating the changing relationships between countries globally such as the United States, Russia and China;

unfavorable foreign exchange controls and currency exchange rates;

increased exposure to general international market and economic conditions;

political and economic uncertainty and volatility;

the potential for substantial penalties and litigation related to violations of a wide variety of laws, treaties and regulations, including anti-corruption regulations (including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act 1977 (as amended, the “FCPA”) and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 (the “Bribery Act”)) and privacy laws and regulations (including the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation);

significant differences in regulations across international markets and the regulatory impacts on a globally integrated supply chain;

the difficulty and costs of designing and implementing an effective control environment across diverse regions and employee bases;

the difficulty and costs of maintaining effective data security;

global pricing pressures; and

unfavorable and/or changing foreign tax treaties and policies.

In addition, our financial performance on a British pounds sterling denominated basis is subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates, as our principal funding and sales exposure is to the U.S. dollar. See Note 26 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

We are subject to laws and regulations worldwide, many of which are unsettled and still developing and which could increase our costs or materially and adversely affect our business.

We are subject to a variety of laws internationally that affect our business, including, but not limited to, laws regarding employment, safety, anti-money laundering and taxation, all of which are continuously evolving and developing. The scope and interpretation of the laws that are or may be applicable to us are often uncertain and may be conflicting and compliance with laws, regulations and similar requirements may be burdensome and expensive. Laws and regulations may be inconsistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, which may increase the cost of compliance and doing business. Any such costs, which may rise in the future as a result of changes in these laws and regulations or in their interpretation, could make our aircraft less attractive to our customers or cause us to change or limit our ability to sell our aircraft. We expect to put in place policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, but we cannot assure you that our employees, contractors or agents will not violate such laws and regulations or our policies and procedures.

It is difficult to predict how existing or new laws may be applied. If we become liable, directly or indirectly, under these laws or regulations, we could be harmed, and we may be forced to implement new measures to reduce our exposure to this liability. This may require us to expend substantial resources or to modify our aircraft, which would harm our business, financial condition and results of

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operations. In addition, the increased attention focused upon liability issues as a result of lawsuits and legislative proposals could harm our reputation or otherwise impact the growth of our business. Any costs incurred as a result of this potential liability could harm our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our aircraft might not comply with all the requirements to operate according to Instrument Flight Rules.

We are subject to a variety of certification requirements in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including those relating to IFRs. While we are working to ensure that our aircraft is certified to operate under IFRs, including at low levels and in an urban environment, there can be no assurance that we will be successful.

Existing IFRs were designed based on the capabilities of traditional aircraft. Electric aircraft have different capabilities, in particular, with respect to loiter time and diversion range. Aviation regulators acknowledge and are working towards making the appropriate revisions to accommodate these new types of aircraft, but there can be no assurance that these changes will be made in a timely manner or at all, or that globally consistent standards will be promulgated. Further, there can be no assurance that our aircraft will be capable of meeting any newly defined IFR or other similar requirements in the future.

If we are unable, either fully or partially, to certify our aircraft in accordance with the IFRs, then this could limit the ability of our aircraft to fly under certain conditions, which could impair our ability to meet our customers’ requirements and as a result, harm our sales to our customers and potential new customers. In turn, this could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We may be unable to obtain the relevant regulatory approvals needed to produce and sell the aircraft and prospective operators of our aircraft may not be able to obtain the relevant regulatory approvals to operate our aircraft.

The commercialization of new aircraft and the operation of an aerial mobility service requires certain regulatory authorizations and certifications. We will need to obtain a DOA and POA from the CAA. We then need to obtain a type certificate for the aircraft from the CAA and EASA (which we expect to occur concurrently as EASA has agreed to concurrently validate the CAA’s certification) and then undergo successful foreign validation approvals to operate in other jurisdictions, for example with the FAA. While we anticipate being able to achieve these regulatory approvals, should we fail to do so, or fail to do so in a timely manner, or if these approvals or certifications are modified, suspended or revoked after we obtain them, we may be unable to provide our aircraft on the timelines projected, which could have a material adverse effect on the relationships that we have with our customers and negatively impact our reputation, which could harm our ability to attract new customers.

In addition, our customers will need to obtain regulatory approval to operate the aircraft. This will include either obtaining an air (carrier) operator’s certificate from their National Authority or amending an existing certificate to include our aircraft. If obtaining such approvals is significantly more difficult, costly or time-consuming than envisaged, this may affect demand for our aircraft. Any of the foregoing would have adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Regulatory and planning authorities may introduce regulatory, procedural or policy changes to reflect the novel aspects of eVTOL aircraft, including in relation to pilot training, aircraft operation and maintenance. If changes are introduced, they may have a detrimental impact on our ability to successfully deploy and commercialize our aircraft, or to do so in a timely manner.

There are a number of existing laws, regulations and standards that may apply to our aircraft, including standards that were not originally intended to apply to electric aircraft. While our aircraft and our service are designed, at launch, to operate as far as possible within the existing CAA, EASA, FAA or other regulatory frameworks in which we intend to operate, we anticipate national authorities may introduce changes to those frameworks, which may prohibit, restrict or delay our ability to launch in the relevant market. Regulatory authorities may introduce changes specifically to address electric aircraft or high-volume flights, which could have a negative impact on the sales of our aircraft or services.

In addition, the increased volume of flights resulting from AAM and AAM services may result in regulatory changes for integration into the airspace systems applicable to our operations. We may be unable to comply with such regulatory changes at all or do so in a timely manner, thereby interrupting our operations. Such regulatory changes could also result in increased costs and pricing of our services, reducing demand and adversely impacting our financial performance.

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If current airspace and zoning regulations are not modified to increase air traffic capacity, our business could be subject to considerable capacity limitations.

A failure to increase air traffic capacity at and in the airspace serving key markets, including around major airports in the United States, Europe or overseas, could create capacity limitations for the future operations of the third-party operators and could have an indirect material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In particular, delays and disruptions to customers’ services (especially during peak travel periods or adverse weather conditions in certain markets) could be caused by capacity constraints resulting from weaknesses in the relevant airspace systems and air traffic control systems, such as legacy procedures and technologies, or from zoning restrictions that limit flight volumes at existing airports or prevent the construction of new air traffic infrastructure.

Changes in government regulations imposing additional requirements and restrictions on our manufacturing operations could increase costs and result in delays and disruptions.

Aerospace manufacturers are subject to extensive regulatory and legal requirements that involve significant compliance costs. The CAA, EASA or FAA may issue regulations relating to the operation of aircraft that could require significant expenditures in the design, production or operation of the aircraft. Implementation of the requirements created by such regulations may result in increased costs for us. Additional laws, regulations, taxes, and airport rates and charges have been proposed from time to time that could significantly increase the cost of our operations, impact our customers’ services or generally reduce the demand for air travel. If adopted, these measures could reduce revenue and increase costs. We cannot assure you that these and other laws or regulations enacted in the future will not harm our business.

We are subject to stringent export and import control laws and regulations. Unfavorable changes in these laws and regulations or licensing policies, our failure to secure timely government authorizations under these laws and regulations, or our failure to comply with these laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operation.

Our business may be subject to stringent U.K., U.S. and other applicable import, export and re-export control laws. We, and our suppliers, are required to import and export our products, software, technology and services, as well as run our operations in full compliance with such laws and regulations. Similar laws that impact our business exist in other jurisdictions. Pursuant to these trade control laws and regulations, we are required, among other things, to (i) determine the proper licensing jurisdiction and export classification of products, software, and technology, and (ii) where necessary, obtain licenses or other forms of government authorization to engage in the conduct of our business. The authorization requirements may include the need to obtain export licenses or similar permissions from the relevant governmental regulators in order to export or re-export controlled products, software or technology, including to release such controlled goods to foreign person employees and other foreign persons, and to ensure compliance with the terms of such licenses or permissions. These foreign trade controls may prohibit, restrict or regulate our ability to, directly or indirectly, export, deemed export, re-export, deemed re-export or transfer certain hardware, technical data, technology, software or services to certain countries and territories, entities and individuals and for end uses. U.K., U.S. or other applicable trade control laws and regulations may also change or lead to reclassifications of our products or technologies. A number of our key suppliers, including Honeywell, Leonardo, Rolls-Royce and GKN, are based in, or have substantial engineering resources located in, the U.S. and are also actively involved in the defense industry. Due to the cutting-edge nature of our industry and aircraft, the U.S., U.K. or other governments, could make key technologies that we, or our suppliers, are developing or are intending to use, subject to export control legislation, including the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations or the Export Administration Regulations (the “EAR”).

The inability to secure and maintain necessary export licenses and other authorizations, or the failure to comply with the terms of licenses that we have obtained, could negatively impact our ability to compete successfully or to operate our business as planned. In February 2022, we determined that we inadvertently released certain technology controlled under the EAR to up to four individual employees of a third party without appropriate authorization under the EAR. Such access was terminated immediately upon discovery, an internal review was commenced and, acting on advice of specialist legal counsel, we submitted an initial voluntary self-disclosure to the U.S. Commerce Department’s Office of Export Enforcement (“OEE”) in April 2022. We will submit the results of our internal review in a final voluntary self-disclosure to OEE. Should OEE identify apparent violations of the EAR and determine an enforcement response is warranted, we do not expect a monetary penalty and, if a monetary penalty is received, we do not expect that it would be material to the business. There can be no assurance we will be successful in our future efforts to secure and maintain necessary licenses, registrations, or other U.K., U.S. or other relevant government regulatory approvals. If we, or our suppliers, are found to be

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in violation of these laws and regulations, it could result in civil and criminal, monetary and non-monetary penalties, the loss of export or import privileges, debarment and reputational harm.

We are subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, economic and trade sanctions and similar laws, and non-compliance with such laws can subject us to criminal or civil liability and harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be subject to certain anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money-laundering, and economic and trade sanctions laws, including those that are administered by the U.K., EU, U.S. and United Nations Security Council, and other relevant governmental authorities.

We are also subject to the Bribery Act, FCPA and the U.S. PATRIOT Act, as well as the laws of the other countries in which we conduct our activities. The FCPA prohibits us and our officers, directors, employees, and agents and business partners acting on our behalf, from corruptly offering, promising, authorizing or providing anything of value to a “foreign official” for the purposes of influencing official decisions or otherwise securing an improper advantage to obtain or retain business. The FCPA further requires companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges to make and keep books and records that accurately reflect transactions and dispositions of assets and to maintain a system of internal accounting controls. The Bribery Act also prohibits:

(i)

“commercial bribery” of private parties, in addition to bribery involving domestic or foreign officials;

(ii)

the acceptance of bribes, as well as the giving of bribes, and

(iii)

“facilitation payments”, meaning generally low-level payments designed to secure or expedite routine governmental actions or other conduct to which persons are already under obligations to perform. The Bribery Act also creates an offence applicable corporate entities for failure to prevent bribery by our employees, officers, directors and other third parties acting on our behalf, to which the only defense is to maintain “adequate procedures” designed to prevent such acts of bribery.

We also are subject to the jurisdiction of various governments and regulatory agencies around the world, which may bring our personnel and agents into contact with public officials responsible for issuing or renewing permits, licenses or approvals or for enforcing other governmental regulations. As we increase our global sales and business, we may engage with partners and third-party intermediaries to market our aircraft and obtain necessary permits, licenses and other regulatory approvals. In addition, we or our third-party intermediaries may have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or state-owned or affiliated entities (in addition to private customers). We can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of these third-party intermediaries, our employees, representatives, contractors, partners and agents, even if we do not authorize such activities.

Our customers may be subject to sanction laws of the U.K., EU, and U.S., and other applicable jurisdictions, such as those administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, Her Majesty’s Treasury and other relevant sanctions authorities, which may prohibit the sale of products or provision of services to embargoed jurisdictions (“Sanctioned Countries”) or to individuals and entities targeted by such sanctions (“Sanctioned Parties”). If we are found to be in violation of any applicable sanctions regulations, it can result in significant fines or penalties and possible incarceration for responsible employees and managers, as well as reputational harm and loss of business.

We have in place internal controls commensurate with our stage of development, and as our business matures and evolves, we intend to implement further necessary controls, policies, procedures and systems to promote compliance with anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, export control, economic and trade sanctions and other trade laws. Despite our compliance efforts and activities, there can be no assurance that our employees or representatives will comply with the relevant laws or with our policies, procedures, systems and controls, or that our internal controls will effectively detect and prevent all violations of applicable law by our employees, consultants, agents or other third-parties acting on our behalf, and we may be held responsible. Non-compliance or even suspected non-compliance with anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, export control, economic and trade sanctions and other trade laws could subject us to whistleblower complaints, investigations, prosecution, or other enforcement actions, which could lead to disclosures, sanctions, settlements, disgorgement of profits, significant fines, damages, other civil and criminal penalties or injunctions, suspension and/or debarment from contracting with certain persons, the loss of export privileges, reputational harm, adverse media coverage and other collateral consequences. If any subpoenas or investigations are initiated, or governmental or other sanctions are imposed, or if we do not prevail in any possible civil or criminal litigation, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be

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materially harmed. Responding to any action will likely result in a materially significant diversion of management’s attention and resources and significant defense and compliance costs and other professional fees. As a general matter, enforcement actions and sanctions could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may need to initiate or defend against intellectual property infringement or misappropriation claims, which may be time-consuming and expensive and, if adversely determined, could limit our ability to sell our aircraft or otherwise operate our business.

Companies, organizations or individuals, including our competitors, may own or obtain patents, trademarks or other proprietary rights that could prevent or limit our ability to make, use, develop or deploy our aircraft, which could make it more difficult for us to operate our business.

We, or our partners and/or suppliers, may receive inquiries and claims from patent, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property owners or holders inquiring whether, or alleging that, we, our partners and/or suppliers infringe upon their proprietary rights or have misappropriated their confidential information or trade secrets. For example, companies owning patents or other intellectual property rights or holding confidential information or trade secrets, in particular relating to battery packs, electric motors, aircraft configurations, fly-by-wire flight control software or electronic power management systems, may allege infringement or misappropriation of such rights. Dealing with these inquiries or claims, even if unsuccessful or unsubstantiated, could result in substantial costs, demand on management resources and damage to our reputation.

As a result of any court determination that we have infringed upon or misappropriated a third-party’s intellectual property rights, or as a result of settlement of such claims, we and our partners and/or suppliers may be required to do one or more of the following:

cease development, sales or use of our products that incorporate the asserted intellectual property;

pay substantial damages and/or indemnities;

divert significant resources towards litigation or dispute resolution;

obtain a license from the owner of the asserted intellectual property right, which license may not be available on reasonable terms (including royalties) or available at all; or

re-design one or more aspects or systems of our aircraft or other offerings.

Any inquiry, allegation or claim of intellectual property infringement or misappropriation against us or any of our partners and/or suppliers, whether or not successful, could harm our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.

We may be unable to protect our proprietary information and intellectual property rights from unauthorized use by third parties.

Our success depends, in part, on our ability to protect our proprietary information and intellectual property rights, including in or in relation to certain technologies deployed in our aircraft. To date, we have relied primarily on trade secrets and confidentiality to protect our proprietary technology, and have applied for a number of patents (currently pending) in the United Kingdom. The agreements that we enter into, or will enter into in the future, with our partners, suppliers, consultants and other third parties include relevant provisions to protect our intellectual property rights and proprietary information including non-disclosure, assignment or license terms, as well as take other measures such as limiting access to our trade secrets and other confidential information and including confidentiality clauses in our employment contracts. We intend to continue to rely on these and other means, including patent protection, in the future. However, the steps we take to protect our intellectual property and proprietary information may be inadequate comprehensively to protect our technologies, and unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our intellectual property or obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary and, if successful, may harm our ability to compete, accelerate the development programs of our competitors, and/or result in a deteriorated competitive position in the market. Moreover, our non-disclosure agreements do not prevent our competitors from independently developing technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to ours, and there can be no assurance that our competitors or third parties will comply with the terms of these agreements, or that we will be able to successfully enforce such agreements or obtain sufficient remedies if they are breached. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the intellectual property rights we own or license will provide competitive advantages or will not be challenged, revoked, invalidated, opposed or circumvented by our competitors.

Further, obtaining and maintaining patent, copyright and trademark protection can be costly, and we may choose not to, or may fail to, pursue or maintain such forms of protection for our technology in the United Kingdom or other jurisdictions, which could harm

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our ability to maintain our competitive advantage in such jurisdictions. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our technology before it is too late to obtain patent protection, that we will be unable to devote the resources to file and prosecute all patent applications for such technology, or that we will inadvertently lose protection for failing to comply with all procedural, documentary, payment and similar obligations during the patent prosecution process. The laws of some countries do not protect proprietary rights or confidential information to the same extent as the laws of the United States or the United Kingdom, and mechanisms for enforcement of intellectual property rights and breaches of confidence in some foreign countries may be inadequate to prevent other parties from infringing our proprietary technology or misappropriating our proprietary information. To the extent we expand our international activities, our exposure to unauthorized use of our technologies and proprietary information, and the limitations to our ability to prevent this, may increase. We may also fail to detect unauthorized use of our intellectual property, or be required to expend significant resources to monitor and protect our intellectual property rights and third party uses thereof, including engaging in litigation, which may be costly, time- consuming, and divert the attention of management and resources, and may not ultimately be successful. If we fail to meaningfully establish, maintain, protect our proprietary information and enforce our intellectual property rights, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Securities and This Offering

Sales of a substantial number of our securities in the public market by the Selling Securityholders and/or by our existing securityholders could cause the price of our Ordinary Shares and Public Warrants to fall.

The Selling Securityholders can sell, under this prospectus, (i) up to 240,154,769 Ordinary Shares constituting (on a post-exercise basis and assuming the exercise of all of our warrants) and (ii) up to 4,000,000 Convertible Notes Warrants constituting (on a post-exercise basis). Sales of a substantial number of Ordinary Shares and/or warrants in the public market by the Selling Securityholders and/or by our other existing securityholders, or the perception that those sales might occur, could depress the market price of our Ordinary Shares and warrants and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We are unable to predict the effect that such sales may have on the prevailing market price of our Ordinary Shares and warrants.

The price of our securities may be volatile, and the value of our securities may decline.

We cannot predict the prices at which our Ordinary Shares and our warrants will trade. The market price of our Ordinary Shares and our warrants may fluctuate substantially and may be lower than the current market price. In addition, the trading price of our Ordinary Shares and our warrants is likely to be volatile and could be subject to fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our Ordinary Shares and/or warrants as you might be unable to sell your securities at or above the price you paid. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading price of our securities include the following:

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition or results of operations;

variance in our financial performance from expectations of securities analysts;

changes in the pricing of our solutions;

changes in our projected operating and financial results;

changes in laws or regulations applicable to our platform;

announcements by us or our competitors of significant business developments, acquisitions or new offerings;

significant data breaches, disruptions to or other incidents involving our platform;

our involvement in litigation;

delays in the certification or production of our aircraft;

conditions or developments affecting the eVTOL industry;

future sales of our Ordinary Shares by us or our shareholders, as well as the anticipation of lock-up releases;

changes in senior management or key personnel;

the trading volume of securities;

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changes in the anticipated future size and growth rate of our markets;

sales and short-selling of our ordinary shares;

publication of research reports or news stories about us, our competitors or our industry, or positive or negative recommendations or withdrawal of research coverage by securities analysts;

general economic and market conditions; and

other events or factors, including those resulting from war (including the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine), incidents of terrorism, global pandemics or responses to these events.

Broad market and industry fluctuations, as well as general economic, political, regulatory and market conditions, may also negatively impact the market price of our securities. In addition, technology stocks have historically experienced high levels of volatility. In the past, companies who have experienced volatility in the market price of their securities have been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future, which could result in substantial expenses and divert our management’s attention.

A market for our Ordinary Shares, the Public Warrants and/or the Convertible Notes Warrants may not develop or be sustained, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our Ordinary Shares, the Public Warrants and/or the Convertible Notes Warrants.

An active trading market for our Ordinary Shares, the Public Warrants and/or the Convertible Notes Warrants may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. In addition, the price of our Ordinary Shares, the Public Warrants and the Convertible Notes Warrants can vary due to general economic conditions and forecasts, our general business condition and the release of our financial reports. Additionally, if our Ordinary Shares, the Public Warrants and/or the Convertible Notes Warrants become delisted from NYSE and are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (an inter-dealer automated quotation system for equity securities that is not a national securities exchange), the liquidity and price of our Ordinary Shares, the Public Warrants and/or the Convertible Notes Warrants may be more limited than if we were quoted or listed on the NYSE, Nasdaq or another national securities exchange. You may be unable to sell your Ordinary Shares, the Public Warrants and/or the Convertible Notes Warrants unless a market can be established or sustained.

If we do not meet the expectations of equity research analysts, if they do not publish research or reports about our business or if they issue unfavorable commentary or downgrade our Ordinary Shares, the price of our Ordinary Shares could decline.

The trading market for our Ordinary Shares will rely in part on the research and reports that equity research analysts publish about us and our business. The analysts’ estimates are based upon their own opinions and are often different from our estimates or expectations. If our results of operations are below the estimates or expectations of public market analysts and investors, the price of our Ordinary Shares could decline. Moreover, the price of our Ordinary Shares could decline if one or more securities analysts downgrade our Ordinary Shares or if those analysts issue other unfavorable commentary or cease publishing reports about us or our business.

Our issuance of additional share capital in connection with financings, acquisitions, investments, our equity incentive plans or otherwise will dilute all other shareholders.

We expect to issue additional share capital in the future that will result in dilution to all other shareholders. We expect to grant equity awards to employees and directors under our equity incentive plans. We may also raise capital through equity financings in the future. For example, on August 5, 2022, we entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) and a registration rights agreement (the “Nomura Registration Rights Agreement”), with Nomura Securities International, Inc. (“Nomura”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we have the right to sell to Nomura up to $100 million in aggregate gross purchase price of our newly issued Ordinary Shares, from time to time during the three-year term of the Purchase Agreement (the “Equity Subscription Line”). As part of our business strategy, we may make or receive investments in companies, solutions or technologies and issue equity securities to pay for any such acquisition or investment. Any such issuances of additional share capital, including any issuances pursuant to the Purchase Agreement to Nomura in connection with the Equity Subscription Line, may cause shareholders to experience significant dilution of their ownership interests and the per share value of our Ordinary Shares to decline.

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We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future and, as a result, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our Ordinary Shares.

We do not intend to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future, and any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors. Accordingly, you may need to rely on sales of our Ordinary Shares after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains on your investment.

We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting and disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our securities less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies,” including the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“Section 404”), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the closing of the Business Combination; (2) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenue is $1.07 billion or more; (3) the date on which we have, during the previous rolling three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt securities; and (4) the date we qualify as a “large accelerated filer,” with at least $700 million of equity securities held by non-affiliates.

We cannot predict if investors will find our securities less attractive if we choose to rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities, and the price of our securities may be more volatile.

We are a foreign private issuer and, as a result, we are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and are subject to Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of a U.S. domestic public company.

We report under the Exchange Act as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. Because we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including (1) the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act, (2) the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time and (3) the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specified information, although we are subject to Israeli laws and regulations with regard to certain of these matters and intend to furnish certain comparable quarterly information on Form 6-K. In addition, foreign private issuers are not required to file their annual report on Form 20-F until 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, while U.S. domestic issuers that are accelerated filers are required to file their annual report on Form 10-K within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year and U.S. domestic issuers that are large accelerated filers are required to file their annual report on Form 10-K within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year. As a result of all of the above, you may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of a company that is not a foreign private issuer.

We may lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in significant additional costs and expenses.

As discussed above, we are a foreign private issuer, and therefore, we are not required to comply with all of the periodic disclosure and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. The determination of foreign private issuer status is made annually on the last business day of an issuer’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, and, accordingly, the next determination will be made with respect to us on June 30, 2023. In the future, we would lose our foreign private issuer status if (1) more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are owned by U.S. residents and (2) a majority of our directors or executive officers are U.S. citizens or residents, or we fail to meet additional requirements necessary to avoid loss of foreign private issuer status. If we lose our foreign private issuer status, we will be required to file with the SEC periodic reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms, which are more detailed and extensive than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. We will also have to mandatorily comply with U.S. federal proxy requirements, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders will become subject to the short-swing profit disclosure and recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will lose our ability to rely upon

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exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements under the listing rules of the NYSE. As a U.S. listed public company that is not a foreign private issuer, we will incur significant additional legal, accounting and other expenses that we will not incur as a foreign private issuer.

As we are a “foreign private issuer” and intend to follow certain home country corporate governance practices, our shareholders may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all NYSE corporate governance requirements.

The NYSE’s corporate governance rules require listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of independent board members, meetings of independent board members without executive management present, and independent director oversight of executive compensation, nomination of directors and corporate governance matters, and the audit committee is required to have at least three members. Additionally, the NYSE’s rules require that a listed company obtain, in specified circumstances, shareholder approval to adopt and materially revise equity compensation plans, as well as shareholder approval prior to an issuance (a) of more than 1% of its ordinary shares (including derivative securities thereof) in either number or voting power to related parties, (b) of more than 20% of its outstanding ordinary shares (including derivative securities thereof) in either number or voting power or (c) that would result in a change of control. As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted, and we intend, to follow certain home country corporate governance practices in lieu of the foregoing NYSE requirements, provided that we disclose the requirements we are not following and describe the corporate governance practices of the Cayman Islands that we are following.

As long as we rely on the foreign private issuer exemptions under the rules of the NYSE, a majority of the directors on our board of directors are not required to be independent directors, our compensation committee is not required to be comprised entirely of independent directors, we are not required to have a nominating and corporate governance committee composed of entirely independent directors, our audit committee is not required to have at least three members, our independent directors are not required to meet without executive management present, and shareholder approval is neither required for equity compensation plans and material revisions to those plans nor the issuance of more than 1% of our outstanding ordinary shares (including derivative securities thereof) in either number or voting power, the issuance of 20% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares (including derivative securities thereof) in either number or voting power or an issuance that would result in a change of control. Therefore, our board of directors’ approach to governance and securities issuances may be different from that of a board of directors consisting of a majority of independent directors, and, as a result, the management oversight of our Company may be more limited than if we were subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance standards and shareholder approval requirements.

We may in the future elect to follow home country practices with regard to other matters. As a result, our shareholders may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all NYSE corporate governance requirements.

As a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE’s corporate governance rules, we are permitted to, and we intend to, rely on exemptions from certain of the NYSE corporate governance standards, including the requirement that a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors.

In the event we no longer qualify as a foreign private issuer, we intend to rely on the “controlled company” exemption under the NYSE corporate governance rules. A “controlled company” under the NYSE corporate governance rules is a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company. Following the Business Combination, our principal shareholder controls a majority of the voting power of our outstanding Ordinary Shares, making us a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE corporate governance rules. As a controlled company, we would be eligible to, and, in the event we no longer qualify as a foreign private issuer, we intend to, elect not to comply with certain of the NYSE corporate governance standards, including the requirement that a majority of directors on our board of directors are independent directors and the requirement that our compensation committee and our nominating and corporate governance committee consist entirely of independent directors.

Accordingly, our shareholders may not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of the NYSE corporate governance standards, and the ability of our independent directors to influence our business policies and affairs may be reduced.

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We will incur increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to compliance with our public company responsibilities and corporate governance practices.

As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company, which we expect to further increase after we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of the NYSE, and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies. Our management and other personnel are not experienced in managing a public company and are required to devote a substantial amount of time to compliance with these requirements. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we will continue to incur as a public company or the specific timing of such costs.

We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If our remediation of these material weaknesses is not effective, or if we experience additional material weaknesses or otherwise fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls in the future, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately, prevent fraud or file our periodic reports as a public company in a timely manner.

Prior to the Business Combination, we were a private company with limited accounting and financial reporting personnel and other supervisory resources, including a lack of an established audit committee to oversee the financial reporting process and our internal control over financial reporting.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with the applicable accounting standards, which for us, is IFRS. As a result of becoming a public company, we are required, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to furnish a report by our management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting beginning with our second annual report on Form 20-F. This assessment will need to include disclosures of any material weaknesses identified by our management in our internal control over financial reporting. In connection with the preparation and audit of our consolidated financial statements, we identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

We identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting environment driven by the lack of a sufficient number of trained professionals with an appropriate level of accounting knowledge, training and experience, which lead to our inability to: (i) design and maintain controls over the segregation of duties between the creation and posting of journal entries and review of account reconciliations; (ii) design and maintain formal accounting policies, procedures and controls across multiple processes; and (iii) analyze, record and disclose complex accounting matters timely and accurately.

Each of the material weaknesses described above may result in a misstatement of one or more account balances or disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected, and accordingly, we determined that these control deficiencies constitute material weaknesses.

We made the following changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting:

We have hired additional employees dedicated to accounting, reporting and control procedures;

We have utilized external specialists to assist with complex or judgmental accounting matters.

Further, subsequent to the year end:

We have established an audit committee comprising of two independent directors;

We have started implementing an enterprise resource planning system that is specifically designed to meet the needs of a project based manufacturing business;

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We are in the process of developing formal accounting policies, process flows and implementing formalized controls including segregation of duties across various business processes to improve our internal controls over financial reporting.

While progress has been made to enhance our internal control over financial reporting, we are still in the process of implementing, documenting and testing these processes, procedures and controls. The process of implementing an effective financial reporting system is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments and to expend significant resources to maintain a financial reporting system that is adequate to satisfy our reporting obligations. Additional time is required to complete implementation as well as to assess and ensure the sustainability of these procedures.

Our remediation efforts may not enable us to avoid material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting in the future. In addition, our reporting obligations may place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may be unable to timely complete our evaluation testing and any required remediation. We anticipate investing significant resources to enhance and maintain our financial controls, reporting system and procedures over the coming years. We cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date, and actions we may take in the future, will be sufficient to remediate the control deficiencies that led to these material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting nor that they will prevent or avoid potential future material weaknesses. We cannot assure you that all of our existing material weaknesses have been identified, or that we will not in the future identify additional material weaknesses. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, as these standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404.

If we fail to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment, we may not be able to prepare and disclose, in a timely manner, our financial statements and other required disclosures, or comply with existing or new reporting requirements. Any failure to report our financial results on an accurate and timely basis could result in material misstatements in our financial statements and could also impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and related regulatory filings on a timely basis. As a result, our businesses, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Ordinary Shares may be materially and adversely affected. Additionally, ineffective internal control over financial reporting could expose us to increased risk of fraud or misuse of corporate assets and subject us to potential delisting from the stock exchange, regulatory investigations and civil or criminal sanctions. We may also be required to restate our financial statements from prior periods.

As a result of being a public company, we are obligated to develop and maintain proper and effective internal controls over financial reporting, and any failure to maintain the adequacy of these internal controls may adversely affect investor confidence in our company and, as a result, the value of our securities.

We will be required, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, to furnish a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the fiscal year that coincides with the filing of our second annual report on Form 20-F. This assessment will need to include disclosure of any material weaknesses identified by our management in our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm will be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC following the date we are no longer an “emerging growth company.”

As discussed above in “— We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If our remediation of these material weaknesses is not effective, or if we experience additional material weaknesses or otherwise fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls in the future, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately, prevent fraud or file our periodic reports as a public company in a timely manner,” we identified certain material weaknesses in connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021. The continued presence of these or other material weaknesses and/or significant deficiencies in any future financial reporting periods could result in financial statement errors that, in turn, could lead to errors in our financial reports, delays in our financial reporting, and that could require us to restate our operating result. Investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our securities could be materially and adversely affected. We might also not identify one or more material weaknesses in our internal controls in connection with evaluating our compliance with Section 404. In order to achieve and maintain compliance with the requirements of Section 404, we will need to expend significant resources and provide significant management oversight.

Our current controls and any new controls that we develop may become inadequate because of changes in conditions in our business. In addition, changes in accounting principles or interpretations could also challenge our internal controls and require that we

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establish new business processes, systems and controls to accommodate such changes. Additionally, if these new systems, controls or standards and the associated process changes do not give rise to the benefits that we expect or do not operate as intended, it could materially and adversely affect our financial reporting systems and processes, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial reports or the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Moreover, our business may be harmed if we experience problems with any new systems and controls that result in delays in their implementation or increased costs to correct any post-implementation issues that may arise.

We cannot assure you that there will not be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting in the future. Any failure to maintain internal control over financial reporting could severely inhibit our ability to accurately report our financial condition or results of operations. If we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective and identify material weaknesses, or if our independent registered public accounting firm determines we have a material weakness or significant deficiency in our internal control over financial reporting, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of our securities could decline, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Failure to remedy any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, or to implement or maintain other effective control systems required of public companies could also restrict our future access to the capital markets.

The growth and expansion of our business places a continuous, significant strain on our operational and financial resources. Further growth of our operations to support our customer base, our information technology systems and our internal controls and procedures may not be adequate to support our operations. As we continue to grow, we may not be able to successfully implement requisite improvements to these systems, controls and processes, such as system access and change management controls, in a timely or efficient manner. Our failure to improve our systems and processes, or their failure to operate in the intended manner, whether as a result of the growth of our business or otherwise, may result in our inability to accurately forecast our revenue and expenses, or to prevent certain losses. Moreover, the failure of our systems and processes could undermine our ability to provide accurate, timely and reliable reports on our financial and operating results and could impact the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, our systems and processes may not prevent or detect all errors, omissions or fraud.

We are a holding company with no operations of our own and, as such, depend on our subsidiaries for cash to fund our operations and expenses, including future dividend payments, if any.

As a holding company, our principal source of cash flow will be distributions or payments from our operating subsidiaries. Therefore, our ability to fund and conduct our business, service our debt and pay dividends, if any, in the future will depend on the ability of our subsidiaries and intermediate holding companies to make upstream cash distributions or payments to us, which may be impacted, for example, by their ability to generate sufficient cash flow or limitations on the ability to repatriate funds whether as a result of currency liquidity restrictions, monetary or exchange controls or otherwise. Our operating subsidiaries and intermediate holding companies are separate legal entities, and although they are directly or indirectly wholly owned and controlled by us, they have no obligation to make any funds available to us, whether in the form of loans, dividends or otherwise. To the extent the ability of any of our subsidiaries to distribute dividends or other payments to us is limited in any way, our ability to fund and conduct our business, service our debt and pay dividends, if any, could be harmed.

We may be characterized as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which may cause adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. investors.

A non-U.S. corporation generally will be treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in any taxable year if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income for such year is passive income or (2) at least 50% of the value of its assets (generally based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets) during such year is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder (as defined in under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”) of Ordinary Shares or Convertible Notes Warrants, such U.S. Holder may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and may be subject to additional reporting requirements. We are an early stage company and do not expect to realize revenue from our manufacturing operations before 2025. Until we generate revenue, our PFIC status would largely depend on whether we earn non-passive income, such as government grants, and whether the amount of such non-passive income exceeds 25% of our gross income for the relevant taxable year.

Even after we start generating revenue, our PFIC status would depend on, among other things, the composition of the income, assets and operations of us and our subsidiaries, and there can be no assurances that we will not be treated as a PFIC in any future

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taxable year. In addition, our PFIC status may be impacted by our market capitalization, which may fluctuate significantly. Moreover, the application of the PFIC rules is subject to uncertainty in several respects, and we cannot assure you that the IRS will not take a contrary position or that a court will not sustain such a challenge by the IRS. Furthermore, if a U.S. Holder holds our Ordinary Shares, Public Warrants and/or Convertible Notes Warrants and we are a PFIC during such U.S. Holder’s holding period, unless the U.S. Holder makes certain elections, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such U.S. Holder, even if we cease to be a PFIC in future taxable years.

For a further discussion, see “Material Tax Considerations — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Holders — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.” U.S. Holders of our Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants are strongly encouraged to consult their own advisors regarding the potential application of these rules to us and the ownership of our Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants.

Certain of our shareholders control us following the Business Combination, and their interests may conflict with ours or yours in the future.

Immediately following the Business Combination, the VAGL Shareholders, collectively owned approximately 75% of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares as of December 31, 2021. Even if and when these shareholders cease to own a majority of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, for so long as they continue to own a significant percentage of Ordinary Shares, these shareholders will still be able to significantly influence or effectively control the composition of the our board of directors and the approval of actions requiring shareholder approval through their voting power. Accordingly, for such period of time, these shareholders may have significant influence with respect to our management, business plans and policies, including the appointment and removal of our officers. In particular, for so long as these shareholders continue to own a significant percentage of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, these shareholders may be able to cause or prevent a change of control of us or a change in the composition of our board of directors and could preclude any unsolicited acquisition of us. The concentration of ownership could deprive you of an opportunity to receive a premium for your Ordinary Shares as part of a sale of us and ultimately might affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares.

We will be able to issue additional Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of outstanding Public Warrants and the Convertible Notes Warrants, and upon the exercise of the options granted pursuant to the 2021 Incentive Plan and the EMI Option Agreements, all of which would increase the number of shares eligible for future resale in the public market and result in dilution to our shareholders.

As of July 26, 2022, 15,265,136 Public Warrants were issued and outstanding, with each warrant entitling the registered holder to purchase one Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment). The Public Warrants became exercisable 30 days after the completion of the Business Combination and will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, five years after the completion of the Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. We have also adopted the 2021 Incentive Plan and entered into the EMI Option Agreements with certain of our employees, pursuant to which 10,456,769 ordinary shares have been authorized to be issued. The number of ordinary shares authorized to be issued will be increased on January 1 of each calendar year from 2022 through 2032, by an amount equal to the lesser of (A) 5% of the ordinary shares outstanding (on an as-converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of ordinary shares as determined by our board of directors. The Convertible Senior Secured Notes also may be converted at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes, which would result in the issuance of additional Ordinary Shares. The Convertible Notes Warrants issued to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor immediately after the Closing of the Business Combination are also exercisable for up to 4,000,000 Ordinary Shares, with an exercise price of $11.50 per share (subject to adjustment). To the extent the warrants or options are exercised, the Convertible Senior Secured Notes are converted, or awards are made under the 2021 Incentive Plan, additional Ordinary Shares will be issued, which will result in dilution to our shareholders and increase the number of Ordinary Shares eligible for resale in the public market. Sales of substantial numbers of such securities in the public market or the fact that such securities may be exercised could adversely affect the market price of our securities.

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The Public Warrant Agreement and Convertible Notes Warrant Agreement designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of the Public Warrants and the Convertible Notes Warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with Vertical.

The Public Warrant Agreement and the agreement governing the Convertible Notes Warrants (the “Convertible Notes Warrant Agreement”) provide that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.

We note, however, that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision and that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for state and federal courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the Public Warrant Agreement and Convertible Notes Warrant Agreement will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of the Public Warrants and/or Convertible Notes Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our warrant agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope of the forum provisions of the Public Warrant Agreement or the Convertible Notes Warrant Agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of the Public Warrants or Convertible Notes Warrants, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.

This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of the Convertible Notes Warrant Agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.

If Vertical does not maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and there is a conversion right under the terms of the Public Warrant Agreement, then holders will only be able to exercise the Public Warrants on a “cashless basis.”

If Vertical does not maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to our ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and there is a conversion right under the terms of the Public Warrant Agreement, at the time that holders wish to exercise such Public Warrants, then they will only be able to exercise them on a “cashless basis.” As a result, the number of ordinary shares that holders will receive upon exercise of the Public Warrants will be fewer than it would have been had such holders exercised their Public Warrants for cash. Under the terms of the Public Warrant Agreement, Vertical has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants until the expiration of the Public Warrants. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so in a timely manner or at all. If we are unable to continue to maintain a current and effective prospectus, and there is a conversion right existing under the terms of the Public Warrant Agreement, the potential “upside” of the holder’s investment in Vertical may be reduced.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains estimated and forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus may be forward-looking statements. Statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including, among others, statements regarding the offering and guidance for 2022 as described under the headings “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” liquidity, growth and profitability strategies and factors and trends affecting our business are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results or events may differ materially from those projected or implied in those statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to:

●

Our limited operating history and that we have not yet manufactured any non-prototype aircraft or sold any aircraft to eVTOL aircraft customers;

●

If we are unable to produce or launch aircraft in the volumes or timelines projected;

●

Being a pre-revenue, early-stage company with a history of losses, we expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses in the foreseeable future;

●

Our markets are still in relatively early stages of growth, and such markets may not continue to grow, grow more slowly than we expect or fail to grow as large as we expect;

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Our dependence on our partners and suppliers for the components in our aircraft and for our operational needs;

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Any accidents or incidents involving eVTOL aircraft, we or our competitors could harm our business;

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Our eVTOL aircraft may not be certified by transportation authorities for production and operation within the timeline projected, or at all;

●

All of the pre-orders we have received for our aircraft are not legally binding, conditional and may be terminated at any time without penalty by either party;

●

Our business has grown rapidly and expects to continue to grow significantly, and any failure to manage that growth effectively could harm our business;

●

We are dependent on our suppliers and partners for the parts and components in our aircraft, and any interruptions, disagreements or delays could have a material adverse effect on our business;

●

We identified material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting and may be unable to remediate the material weaknesses;

●

the other matters described in the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8.

We caution you against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect current beliefs and are based on information currently available as of the date a forward-looking statement is made. Forward-looking statements set forth herein speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances or changes in beliefs. In the event that any forward-looking statement is updated, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters or any other forward-looking statements. Any corrections or revisions and other important assumptions and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from

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forward-looking statements, including discussions of significant risk factors, may appear in our public filings with the SEC, which are accessible at www.sec.gov, and which you are advised to consult.

You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect. For additional information, please see the section titled “Where You Can Find Additional Information” beginning on page 123.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

All of the Ordinary Shares and Convertible Notes Warrants offered pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the Selling Securityholders or the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor for their respective accounts. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Ordinary Shares to be offered by the Selling Securityholders, or the sale of Convertible Notes Warrants to be offered by the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor.

The Selling Securityholders and/or the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor will pay any underwriting fees, discounts, selling commissions, stock transfer taxes and certain legal expenses incurred by such selling securityholders in disposing of their securities, and we will bear all other costs, fees, and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of such securities covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, NYSE listing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and our independent registered public accountants.

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DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE

The offering price of the Ordinary Shares underlying the Convertible Notes Warrants offered hereby is determined by reference to the exercise price of the Convertible Notes Warrants of $11.50 per share. The Ordinary Shares and the Public Warrants are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “EVTL” and “EVTLW,” respectively.

We cannot currently determine the price or prices at which our Ordinary Shares or the Convertible Notes Warrants may be sold by the Selling Securityholders under this prospectus.

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid any cash dividend and do not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance operations and expand our business. Our board of directors has sole discretion whether to pay dividends. If our board of directors decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that our directors may deem relevant.

For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, we did not pay any dividends.

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and total capitalization as of June 30, 2022.

You should read this information in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing at the end of this prospectus, the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section and the other financial information contained in this prospectus.


		As of June 30, 2022
		(in £ 000)
Cash and cash equivalents		£ 157,552
Equity:
Share capital		16
Share premium		249,103
Other reserves		80,271
Accumulated deficit		(267,064)
Total equity:		62,326
Debt:
Derivative financial liabilities		92,450
Long term lease liabilities		1,683
Short term lease liabilities		426
Total capitalization		£ 314,437

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of Vertical Aerospace Ltd.’s (“our,” “we” or “the Company”) financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. Certain of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this prospectus, including information with respect to plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. You should carefully read the section entitled “Risk Factors” to gain an understanding of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. Please also see the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Overview

Our mission is to make air travel personal, on-demand and carbon free. We are a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero-emissions aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing and selling one of the world’s best zero operating emission eVTOL aircraft for use in the AAM market, using the most cutting-edge technology from the aerospace, automotive and energy industries.

Founded in 2016, we come from a deep aerospace and automotive mindset and have already designed, built and flown two prototype eVTOL aircraft in 2018 and 2019. We are currently developing, and are in the process of certifying, our flagship eVTOL, the VX4. Capable of transporting a pilot and up to four passengers, traveling distances of over 100 miles and achieving top speeds of over 200 mph, while producing minimal noise and zero operating emissions.

By achieving certification for our VX4 eVTOL aircraft from the CAA and EASA, we will be able to leverage the work done with our home regulator in order to have the certification validated by the other regulators where we intend to operate, including the FAA. We are focused on selling globally certified eVTOL aircraft to a variety of customers, including commercial airlines and in-country partners.

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Our Business Model

We aim to be the leading eVTOL aircraft OEM for commercial airlines, aircraft leasing companies and business aviation. We believe we will be well positioned to provide OEM sales to the cargo and logistics industry where there is potential to partner with global logistics firms and large retail customers. There is a further opportunity to generate revenue from emergency services, as eVTOL aircraft can be used for critical patient and supplies transport, particularly in densely populated areas. Our focus on systems integration and establishment of an industrial supply chain is expected to enable rapid scaling of production of our aircraft.

We intend to leverage our expertise and position as a leading eVTOL aircraft OEM to generate revenue by providing services ancillary to our aircraft. Our Services business will include battery management, pilot training and licensing and aircraft maintenance. Vertical aircraft will use our proprietary battery systems, and we will be able to service battery systems and maintain an inventory of spares to support our aircraft around the world, providing redundancy at scale. In addition, our aircraft are highly digital and will provide significant amounts of operational data that we can use to generate additional revenue for our Services business. With our OEM knowledge and high-quality cloud services, we are positioning ourselves to provide significant value-added services around aircraft equipment health monitoring, vehicle and fleet operation and maintenance and optimization of aftermarket services. We are also well advanced in developing pilot simulators as part of our ongoing aircraft certification program, which we intend to roll-out into pilot training services.

While we initially expect the majority of our revenue to come from OEM sales and services, the opportunity remains to operate our own aircraft, building a vertically integrated eVTOL transportation company. We would expect to use this structure to deliver a ridesharing service directly to consumers in the future. We would partner with existing infrastructure players and deliver our eVTOL flight services in addition to our existing OEM sales and services operations, and these operations would generate synergies for our ridesharing services. We believe this hybrid approach would allow us to efficiently capture more of the total addressable market while providing us with end-to-end control over the customer experience to optimize for customer safety, comfort and value.

Our go-to-market approach will be through two channels — a direct sales force that leverages relationships with aircraft operators, combined with indirect distribution through our strategic alliance with Avolon, an established global aircraft leasing company.

The Business Combination

On June 10, 2021, we entered into a business combination agreement with Broadstone Acquisition Corp. (“Broadstone”), which was consummated on December 16, 2021 (the “Business Combination”). The Business Combination had a significant impact on our capital structure and operating results, helping to facilitate our product development, manufacturing and commercialization. The most significant change in our reported financial positions was a net increase in cash (as compared to our consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2021) of approximately $286 million. As a result of the Business Combination, we became a U.S. public company listed on the NYSE, which required us to hire additional personnel and implement procedures and processes to address public company regulatory requirements and customary practices. We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, additional annual expenses as a public company for, among other things, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, director fees and additional internal and external accounting, legal and administrative resources.

Recent Developments

On August 5, 2022, we entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) and a registration rights agreement (the “Nomura Registration Rights Agreement”), with Nomura Securities International, Inc. (“Nomura”). Please see “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Equity Subscription Line” below for more information.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The effects and potential effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, its impact on general economic conditions, trade and financing markets, changes in customer behavior and continuity in business operations creates significant uncertainty. The spread of COVID-19 has also disrupted the manufacturing, delivery and overall supply chain of aircraft manufacturers and suppliers and has led to a global decrease in aircraft sales in markets around the world. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic may cause a decrease in demand for our aircraft if our customers delay purchases of aircraft, an increase in costs results from the increase in cost of raw materials or our efforts to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, delays in our schedule to

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full commercial production of electric aircraft, disruptions to our supply chain and the implementation or reinstatement of government restrictions, among other negative effects.

The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. As such, the extent to which the pandemic and related global events and market impacts will affect our financial condition, liquidity, and future results of operations is uncertain. Our management continues to actively monitor our financial condition, liquidity, operations, suppliers, industry and workforce.

Impact of the War in Ukraine

Although we do not have any operations or direct suppliers located in Ukraine or Russia and have not yet experienced any direct impacts from the conflict, we believe our continuing design and development activities, regulatory certification processes and ability to contract with prospective customers, suppliers and other counterparties, as well as to progress to the production, manufacturing and commercialization of the VX4, could be adversely affected by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. For example, the continuance or any escalation of the conflict could result in disruptions to our business and operations, increased inflationary pressures, increased raw material costs, disruptions to supply chains, increased cyberattacks or data security incidents and other adverse impacts on our anticipated costs and commercialization timeline. Russia provides most of the titanium used globally in the manufacture of aircraft, which we expect to require for certain components in our aircraft. Existing or additional government actions, including sanctions, taken in response to the conflict could also adversely impact the commercial and regulatory environment in which we operate.

We continue to closely monitor the possible effects of the conflict in Europe and general economic factors on our business and planning. These factors put pressure on our costs for employees and materials and services we procure from our suppliers, as well as affect other stakeholders and regulatory agencies.

For additional information on risks posed by the conflict in Europe and general economic factors, see “Risk Factors.”

Key Factors Affecting Our Performance

Commercialization

We are targeting to complete certification of our VX4 aircraft and commence manufacturing during 2025, with our first deliveries being made in that year. We believe that we are currently on target to achieve full certification and validation of our VX4 aircraft with the CAA and EASA during 2025, which is essential to launching the sales of our aircraft. The full-scale VX4 prototype has now been built and completed a series of rigorous ground-based tests, including lift, vibration and propeller thrust. Once we receive our piloted permit to fly from the CAA (which we expect them to provide upon being satisfied with our design and process documentation, test data and the of the air-worthiness of the aircraft), we intend to conduct the tethered hover demonstration, which we expect to take place in the summer of 2022, and will thereafter continue the various stages in our flight test program for the VX4 aircraft, including full wing-borne flight capability.

We have deployed a sales strategy engaging in direct sales to operator customers and third-party distribution networks, with an extended timeframe to further develop our existing sales pipeline in the period up to the release of our aircraft in 2025. Our salesforce is targeting prospects from a pool of over 5,000 airlines with ICAO codes worldwide that are seeking to capitalize on the growth of the AAM market. As part of this approach, we have entered into arrangements with several commercial partners for multiple pre-orders and pre-order options for our aircraft. In the period since the filing of our Annual Report, FLYINGGROUP has agreed to pre-order 25 aircraft, with an option for up to 25 additional aircraft. We partnered with Babcock International to explore the VX4 aircraft’s application in aerial emergency medical services and cargo transportation, intended for dual use. American Airlines committed to pay a pre-delivery payment upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. We committed to reserve delivery slots for the first 50 VX4 aircraft of American Airlines’ conditional pre-order of up to 250 aircraft, with an option to purchase an additional 100 aircraft, in exchange for the pre-delivery payment. All such pre-orders, options and commitments are not legally binding, conditional and may be terminated without penalty at any time by either party. Together with our existing pre-orders, we have what is believed to be the market-leading pre-order book by value for more than 1,400 VX4 electric aircraft, estimated to be valued at $5.6 billion. Customers include American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Avolon, Bristow, Marubeni and Iberojet, as well as (through Avolon’s VX4 placements) Japan Airlines (JAL), Gol, Gözen Holdings and AirAsia.

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Development of the Advanced Air Mobility Market

Our long-term financial performance ultimately depends on the demand for short distance (less than 200 miles) aerial transportation and the growth of the AAM market. We believe that we have a significant opportunity to meet untapped demand in the AAM market, with the urban air mobility market currently projected to grow to a total addressable market size of $1 trillion by 2040, according to Morgan Stanley. We, and the eVTOL sector more generally, seek to displace the current incumbents by taking market-share and/or benefitting from the incremental growth in demand.

There are two critical factors that will enable us to secure a prominent position in the AAM market: firstly, our ability to develop, certify and manufacture our aircraft, and secondly, the adoption of eVTOL as an alternative mode of transport by both operators and consumers. Our success in development and manufacturing will be dependent on overcoming several challenges around key manufacturing considerations, such as wing borne capability and battery efficacy. We plan to continue to invest in our infrastructure, research and development efforts and workforce to ensure that we will be able to deliver our aircraft to our customers in a timely manner.

While we believe that there will be a significant market for AAM in the future, there is a possibility that consumer resistance may be significant, as there may be misconceptions about eVTOL safety, performance and reliability. Additional factors impacting the pace of adoption of AAM and aerial transportation include but are not limited to: perceptions about eVTOL quality and cost; perceptions about the limited range over which eVTOL may be flown on a single battery charge; the evolution and availability of competing forms of transportation, such as ground or air taxi or ride-hailing services; the development of adequate infrastructure; consumers’ perception about the convenience and cost of transportation using eVTOL relative to ground-based alternatives; and, in particular, improvements in fuel efficiency, autonomy, or electrification of cars. In addition, macroeconomic factors could impact demand for AAM services, particularly if end-user pricing is at a premium to ground-based transportation alternatives. If the market for AAM does not develop as expected, this would impact our ability to generate revenue or grow our business.

Competition

We face immediate competition from other eVTOL manufacturers, suppliers and operators, as well as ground-based mobility solutions and local and regional incumbent helicopter and aircraft charter services. While we believe that we will be positioned to attain full certification and validation with the CAA and EASA during 2025, it is possible that our competitors could get to the market before us, either generally or in specific markets. Even if we are one of the first to market, any anticipated advantages may not crystallize if new companies or existing aerospace companies launch competing solutions in the markets in which we intend to operate and/or if any of our competitors obtain large-scale capital investment to speedily scale up their distribution capability. Existing AAM operators may also take actions to protect their customer base, which could prevent us from gaining market share in markets in which we intend to operate. For a more comprehensive discussion, please see the section entitled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry.”

Regulatory Landscape

We are, and will be, subject to significant regulation relating to aircraft safety and testing, accessibility, battery safety and testing and environmental regulation in the United Kingdom, European Union, the United States and other markets. These requirements create additional costs and possibly production delay in connection with design, testing and manufacturing of our aircraft. For more information, see the section entitled “Business — Our Regulatory Strategy” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Regulatory Environment” in this prospectus.

Components of Results of Operations

The following briefly describes the components of revenue and expenses as presented in our consolidated statements of operations.

Revenue

We are currently in the research and development phase of our journey to commercialization of eVTOL technology. We have not generated any revenue from design, development, manufacturing, engineering and sale or distribution of our aircraft. We generated revenue in 2021 from the performance of engineering consultancy services; however, these services are ad-hoc and generally

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undertaken where we can strategically gain knowledge enhancement and skill development. No revenue has been generated during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales for planned manufacturing operations will consist primarily of the cost of vehicle components and parts, including batteries, raw materials, direct labor costs, warranty costs and costs related to the operation of manufacturing facilities, including plant and equipment depreciation and amortization. We expect our cost of goods sold to increase in absolute dollars to support our growth. However, we expect that, over time, cost of goods sold will decrease as a percentage of net revenue, as a result of the scaling of our business.

Operating Expenses

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses consist of relevant staff costs, including salary and benefits, third-party engineering consultants, materials, equipment, components and tooling, and program consumables and testing. Costs associated with development projects such as aircraft programs, component programs and software products are expensed rather than capitalized as intangible assets under construction. We expect research and development expenses to increase as we continue to develop our aircraft technology. The accounting policies we adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year and corresponding interim reporting period. For more information about our accounting policies, refer to Note 2 in our financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Administrative Expenses

Administrative expenses consist of the costs associated with employment of our non-engineering staff, including salary and benefits, the costs associated with our premises, and the depreciation of our fixed assets, including depreciation of “right of use” assets in relation to our leased property. We expect administrative expenses to increase as our overall activity levels increase due to the construction and operation of our final assembly facility and as we hire additional personnel and consultants to support our compliance with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other SEC rules and regulations.

Administrative expenses also include share-based payment expenses in connection with the EMI Option Agreements entered into on March 15, 2022 between the Company and certain employees of the Company and its subsidiaries as replacement option agreements for share options previously granted over shares in VAGL, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, that were exchanged for options of equivalent value over Ordinary Shares in the Company in connection with the Business Combination, which options are intended to be tax qualifying enterprise management incentive options under Schedule 5 of the UK Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003.

Related Party Administrative Expenses

Related party administrative expenses consists of costs from Imagination Industries Incubator Ltd. (“Incubator”), which is an entity controlled by Stephen Fitzpatrick, our majority shareholder and CEO. The nature of these costs is the provision of finance and payroll services and other back office services as required.

Other Operating Income

Other operating income consists of government grants to support our development activities and the research and development credit related to the United Kingdom research and development tax credit scheme.

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Total Finance Costs

Finance Costs

Finance costs consist primarily of fair value movements on our warrants, interest calculated on lease liabilities and both realized and unrealized foreign exchange losses that have been created due to the fluctuation of exchange rates between the US dollar, euro and the other currencies that we use for our operations.

Related Party Finance Costs

Related party finance costs comprises interest on loans from Imagination Industries Ltd. (“Imagination”), an entity which is controlled by Stephen Fitzpatrick, our majority shareholder and CEO.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth the unaudited condensed consolidated interim statements of operations in British pounds sterling and as a percentage of revenue for the periods presented.

Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021



	6 months ended June 30,
	2022	2021	Change
	(in £ thousands)	(in £ thousands)	(%)
Revenue	—	66	(66)
Cost of sales	—	(25)	25
Gross profit	—	41	(41)
Research and development expenses	(19,396)	(7,747)	(11,649)
Administrative expenses	(23,466)	(23,890)	424
Related party administrative expenses	—	(127)	127
Other operating income	3,407	9,686	(6,279)
Operating loss	(39,455)	(22,037)	(17,418)
Finance income	42,497	—	42,497
Finance costs	(20,063)	(37)	(20,026)
Related party finance costs	—	(483)	483
Net finance income/(costs)	22,434	(520)	22,954
Loss before tax	(17,021)	(22,557)	5,536
Income tax expense	—	—	—
Net loss for the period	(17,021)	(22,557)	5,536
Foreign exchange translation differences	9,482	—	9,482
Total comprehensive loss for the period	(7,539)	(22,557)	15,018

Revenue

Revenue decreased by £66 thousand, or 100%, from £66 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2021 to nil during the six months ended June 30, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to the disposal of the share capital of Vertical Advanced Engineering Ltd. (“VAEL”) on October 31, 2021 for nominal consideration. The net assets of VAEL were £102 thousand as at that date. All revenue to date has been generated from providing engineering consultancy services to customers, which was conducted through VAEL.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales decreased by £25 thousand, or 100%, from £25 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2021 to nil during the six months ended June 30, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to the disposal of VAEL in October 2021. All cost of sales to date were incurred through providing engineering consultancy services to customers, which was conducted through VAEL.

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Gross Profit

Gross profit decreased by £41 thousand, or 100%, from £41 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2021 to nil during the six months ended June 30, 2022. Engineering consultancy services provided were ancillary and not core to our business. These services were ad-hoc and generally undertaken where we could strategically gain knowledge and develop skills. Consequently, the absolute monetary amounts were small in comparison to our overall cost base, and the margins could vary significantly.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased by £11,649 thousand, or 150%, from £7,747 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2021 to £19,396 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2022. This increase was primarily due to increased researching and testing activity in relation to our aircraft.

Administrative Expenses

Administrative expenses decreased by £424 thousand, or 2%, from £23,890 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2021 to £23,466 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to the differing nature of the share-based payment expense incurred. For the six months ended June 30, 2022 this charge related primarily to the modification of EMI Option Agreements, whereas during the six months ended June 30, 2021 this related to the issuance of shares to American Airlines. Administrative expenses also reflect the costs of being a U.S. public company listed on the NYSE, including the cost of additional personnel and the implementation of procedures and processes to address public company regulatory requirements and customary practices. Please see Note 5 to our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information.

Related Party Administrative Expenses

Related party administrative expenses decreased by £127 thousand, or 100%, from £127 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2021 to nil during the six months ended June 30, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to the expiration of the Intercompany Services Agreement with Incubator on December 31, 2021.

Other Operating Income

Operating income decreased by £6,279 thousand, or 65%, from £9,686 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2021 to £3,407 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2022. In 2020, we were awarded a government grant from the United Kingdom’s Aerospace Technology Institute, administered by Innovate U.K. The grant period commenced on October 1, 2020. The receivable installments are recognized in other operating income as the matching sanctioned expenditure is incurred, with a retrospective claim process. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, income from government grants totalled £1,214 thousand and R&D tax credits totalled £2,193 thousand compared to £8,999 thousand and £687 thousand, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2021. This reflects the timing of matching sanctioned expenditure, with the grant period scheduled to end by December 31, 2022.

Finance Income

Finance income increased by £42,497 thousand, from nil during the six months ended June 30, 2021 to £42,497 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2022. This reflects fair value gains relating to the market value of warrants and Convertible Senior Secured Notes.

Finance Costs

Finance costs increased by £20,026 thousand, from £37 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2021 to £20,063 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2022. This reflects interest payments on the Convertible Senior Secured Notes in addition to foreign exchange movements.

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Related Party Finance Costs

Related party finance costs decreased by £483 thousand, or 100%, from £483 thousand during the six months ended June 30, 2021 to nil during the six months ended June 30, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to the repayment of borrowings from Imagination.

Comparison of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020


	Year Ended
	December 31,
	2021	2020	Change

	(in £ thousands)		(%)
Revenue	132	87	52
Cost of sales	(64)	(44)	45
Gross profit	68	43	58
Research and development expenses	(24,291)	(9,971)	144
Administrative expenses	(264,260)	(3,760)	6,928
Related party administrative expenses	(108)	(144)	(25)
Other operating income	11,352	2,317	390
Operating loss	(277,239)	(11,515)	2,308
Finance costs	32,498	(98)	(33,261)
Related party finance costs	(483)	(709)	(32)
Total finance costs	32,015	(807)	(4,067)
Loss before tax	(245,224)	(12,322)	1,890
Income tax (expense)/benefit	—	(4)	(100)
Net income/(loss)	(245,224)	(12,326)	1,889

Revenue

Revenue increased by £45 thousand, or 52%, from £87 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020 to £132 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to increased activity by VAEL. All revenue to date is generated from providing engineering consultancy services to customers.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales increased by £20 thousand, or 45%, from £44 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020 to £64 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to increased activity by VAEL. All revenue to date is generated from providing engineering consultancy services to customers.

Gross Profit

Gross profit increased by £25 thousand, or 58%, from £43 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020 to £68 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2021. Engineering consultancy services were provided that are ancillary and not core to our business. These services are ad-hoc and generally undertaken where we can strategically gain knowledge enhancement and skills development. Consequently, the absolute monetary amounts are small in comparison to our overall cost base, and the margins can vary significantly.

Engineering consultancy services provided are ancillary and not core to our business. These services are ad-hoc and generally undertaken where we can strategically gain knowledge and develop skills. Consequently, the absolute monetary amounts are small in comparison to our overall cost base, and the margins can vary significantly.

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Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased by £14,320 thousand, or 144%, from £9,971 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020 to £24,291 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to increased researching and testing activity in relation to our aircraft.

Administrative Expenses

Administrative expenses increased by £260,500 thousand, or 6,928%, from £3,760 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020 to £264,260 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to share-based payment expense incurred in relation to the Business Combination. A total share-based payment expense of £111,996 thousand was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2021, which includes £84,712 thousand in relation the capital reorganization. Administrative expenses also includes an expense of £111,611 thousand relating to the issuance of warrants. Please see note 7 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information.

Related party Party Administrative Expenses

Related party administrative expenses decreased by £36 thousand, or 25%, from £144 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020 to £108 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2021. This decrease was primarily due to a lower reliance on services provided by Incubator.

Other Operating Income

Operating income increased by £9,035 thousand, or 390%, from £2,317 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020 to £11,352 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2021. In 2020, we applied for a government grant with the United Kingdom’s Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate U.K. The grant period commenced on October 1, 2020. The receivable installments are recognized in other operating income as the matching sanctioned expenditure is incurred, with a retrospective claim process. For the year ended December 31, 2021, income from government grants totalled £8,829 thousand and R&D tax credits totalled £2,388 thousand compared to £1,989 thousand and £328 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2020 respectively.

Finance Costs (Net of Finance Income)

Finance costs decreased by £6 thousand, or 6%, from £98 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020 to £92 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2021. Finance income increased by £32,590 thousand, from £0 during the year ended December 31, 2020. This reflects fair value gains relating to warrants and Convertible Senior Secured Notes.

Related Party Finance Costs

Related party finance costs decreased by £226 thousand, or 32%, from £709 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020 to £483 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2021. This decrease was primarily due to lower levels of borrowings from Incubator.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense decreased by £4 thousand, from £4 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020 to £0 during the year ended December 31, 2021.

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Comparison of years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

The following table summarizes our historical results of operations for the periods indicated.


	Year Ended December 31,
	2020	2019	Change

	(in £ thousands)		(%)
Revenue	87	70	24
Cost of sales	(44)	(66)	(33)
Gross profit	43	4	975
Research and development expenses	(9,971)	(5,153)	93
Administrative expenses	(3,760)	(2,554)	47
Related party administrative expenses	(144)	(144)	—
Other operating income	2,317	399	481
Operating loss	(11,515)	(7,448)	55
Finance costs	(98)	(66)	48
Related party finance costs	(709)	—	—
Total finance costs	(807)	(66)	1,123
Loss before tax	(12,322)	(7,514)	64
Income tax (expense)/benefit	(4)	30	(113)
Net income/(loss)	(12,326)	(7,484)	65

Revenue

Revenue increased by £17 thousand, or 24%, from £70 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2019 to £87 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020. All revenue to date is generated from providing engineering consultancy services to customers.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales decreased by £22 thousand, or 33%, from £66 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2019 to £44 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020. This decrease was primarily due to fewer staff engaged on engineering consultancy projects.

Gross Profit

Gross profit increased by £39 thousand, or 975%, from £4 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2019 to £43 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020. We currently provide engineering consultancy services that are ancillary and not core to our business. These services are ad-hoc and generally undertaken where we can strategically gain knowledge enhancement and skills development. Consequently, the absolute monetary amounts are small in comparison to our overall cost base, and the margins can vary significantly.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased by £4,818 thousand, or 93%, from £5,153 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2019 to £9,971 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily due to an increase in staff costs of £4,223 thousand as we expanded our headcount of engineering staff to work on research and development programs and increased consumable costs in relation to these programs.

Administrative Expenses

Administrative expenses increased by £1,206 thousand, or 47%, from £2,554 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2019 to £3,760 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily due to an increase in staff costs of £580 thousand, as we expanded our headcount to support our expanding research and development programs, and an increase in software

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license costs of £376 thousand and software amortization of £193 thousand. In addition, we saw general growth in activity, which led to higher costs due to increases in professional fees and depreciation expense.

Related Party Administrative Expenses

Related party administrative expenses remained the same year on year at £144 thousand in each of the year ended December 31, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2020.

Other Operating Income

Operating income increased by £1,918 thousand, or 481%, from £399 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2019 to £2,317 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020. In 2020, we applied for a government grant with the United Kingdom’s Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate U.K. The grant period commenced on October 1, 2020. The receivable installments are recognized in other operating income as the matching sanctioned expenditure is incurred, with a retrospective claim process. We did not receive any government grants in the year ended December 31, 2019, the £399 thousand represents research and development tax credits.

Finance Costs

Finance costs increased by £32 thousand, from £66 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2019 to £98 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the lease liability in late 2019, which led to a subsequent increase in the interest recognized in 2020. This was partly offset by a lower discount unwind on deferred consideration payable in connection with the accounting for the Reorganization.

Related Party Finance Costs

Related party finance costs increased by £709 thousand, from £nil during the year ended December 31, 2019 to £709 thousand during the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase was due to receiving loan funds from Imagination Industries Ltd. in the latter half of 2020, which were settled in March 2021. We did not recognize the loan before July 1, 2020. Please see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense increased by £34 thousand, or 113%, from a £30 thousand benefit during the year ended December 31, 2019 to a £4 thousand expense during the year ended December 31, 2020. The tax movements were the result of movements in our deferred tax position in one of our subsidiaries, thereby derecognizing the deferred tax liability due to offset losses within our group.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The functional currency of the Company is USD and the functional currency of VAGL is GBP. The financial statements are presented in GBP, which is the Company and VAGL’s presentation currency. Note that in this section certain narrative financial information is shown in GBP and other information is shown in USD; typically, this is because we have incurred the majority of our costs in the UK and in GBP, while we expect customer payments and any external funding to be raised in USD.

We have incurred net losses since inception and to date have not generated any revenue from the design, development, manufacturing, engineering and sale or distribution of electric aircraft.

As of June 30, 2022, we had cash at bank of £158 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, we incurred a net loss of £17 million. Our management has prepared a cash flow forecast for our consolidated group showing our ability to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future, being at least 12 months from the date of this prospectus. Please refer to Note 2 to our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2022 included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Within the next 12 months following the date of this prospectus, we expect our funding requirements to be approximately $130 million, which will be used to fund the creation and testing of our prototype aircraft, support the certification process and invest in additional personnel across both engineering and support functions required as a public company.

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Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

research and development expenses as we continue to develop our eVTOL aircraft;

capital expenditures in the creation and expansion of our manufacturing capacities;

additional operating costs and expenses for production ramp-up and raw material procurement costs;

general and administrative expenses as we scale our operations;

interest expense from any debt financing activities; and

selling and distribution expenses as we build, brand and market our electric aircraft.

We received approximately $253 million in connection with the Business Combination, which includes $94 million in proceeds from the PIPE Investment and $192 million from the Convertible Senior Secured Notes, which consummated substantially simultaneously with the Business Combination, net of transaction costs. In addition, we expect to receive up to approximately $95 million, net of transaction costs, in connection with the Equity Subscription Line, which will further support our capital requirements towards our business milestones.

We have also received conditional pre-orders and pre-order options, including from American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, Iberojet, Virgin Atlantic and Marubeni, among others. Certain of these pre-orders require that the purchaser pay a pre-delivery payment, which is credited against any future amount due and payable. While the customer’s obligation to pay such pre-delivery payments is subject to various conditions, and they are expected to be refundable in certain circumstances, we expect to receive them prior to delivering aircraft to each customer.

Until we generate sufficient operating cash flow to cover our operating expenses, working capital needs and planned capital expenditures, or if circumstances evolve differently than anticipated, we expect to utilize a combination of available pre-delivery payments, plus equity and debt financing, to fund any future capital needs. If we raise funds by issuing equity securities, there may be dilution to our shareholders. Any equity securities issued may also provide for rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of holders of Ordinary Shares. If we raise funds by issuing debt securities, these debt securities may have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of preferred and common shareholders. The terms of debt securities or borrowings may impose significant restrictions on our operations. Adequate additional financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. The capital markets have in the past, and may in the future, experience periods of upheaval and the availability and cost of equity and debt financing may be impacted by global macroeconomic conditions, including as a result of international political conflict, supply chain issues and rising inflation and interest rates.

Our principal uses of cash in recent periods have been funding our research and development activities and other personnel costs. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including our revenue growth rate, the timing and the amount of cash received from our customers, the expansion of sales and marketing activities, the timing and extent of spending to support our development efforts. In the future, we may enter into arrangements to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, products and technologies. We may be required to seek additional equity or debt financing. In the event that we require additional financing we may not be able to raise such financing on acceptable terms or at all. If we are unable to raise additional capital or generate cash flows necessary to continue our research and development and invest in continued innovation, we may not be able to compete successfully, which would harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition. If adequate funds are not available, we may need to reconsider our expansion plans or limit our research and development activities, which could have a material adverse impact on our business prospects and results of operations.

Convertible Senior Secured Notes

On October 26, 2021, we entered into a convertible note subscription agreement (the “Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement”) by and among the Company, Broadstone and Mudrick Capital Management L.P. (the “Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor”). Concurrently with the consummation of the Business Combination, pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement, (i) the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor purchased Convertible Senior Secured Notes of and from the Company in an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000 for an aggregate purchase price of

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$192,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”), and the Company issued and sold to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor the Convertible Senior Secured Notes in consideration for the payment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) the Company issued to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor 4,000,000 warrants, each representing the right to purchase one Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per share (the “Convertible Notes Warrants”).

The Convertible Senior Secured Notes are initially convertible into up to 18,181,820 Ordinary Shares (excluding any interest, and subject to adjustments as provided in the Indenture) at an initial conversion rate of 90.9091 Ordinary Shares per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Senior Secured Note, subject to adjustments to such rate as provided in the Indenture, at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes.

Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change (as defined in the Indenture), then the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor has the right, at its option, to require us to repurchase for cash all or any portion of its Convertible Senior Secured Notes in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes to be repurchased plus, if repurchased before the second anniversary of issuance, certain make-whole premiums, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

The Convertible Senior Secured Notes bear interest at the rate of 7.00% per annum if we elect to pay interest in cash or 9.00% per annum if we elect to pay interest in-kind, and interest is paid semi-annually in arrears. Upon the occurrence, and during the continuation, of an event of default, an additional 2.00% will be added to the stated interest rate. The Convertible Senior Secured Notes will mature on the fifth anniversary of issuance and will be redeemable at any time by us, in whole but not in part, for cash, at par plus, if redeemed before the second anniversary of issuance, certain make-whole premiums as specified in the indenture governing the Convertible Senior Secured Notes. Subject to the terms of the indenture governing the Convertible Senior Secured Notes, Broadstone and VAGL provided full and unconditional guarantees under the Convertible Senior Secured Notes upon consummation of the Business Combination. The Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement also contains other customary representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties thereto.

Equity Subscription Line

On August 5, 2022, we entered into the Purchase Agreement and the Nomura Registration Rights Agreement, with Nomura. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we have the right to sell to Nomura up to $100 million in aggregate gross purchase price of our newly issued Ordinary Shares, from time to time during the three-year term of the Purchase Agreement (the “Equity Subscription Line”). The purchase price of the Ordinary Shares that we elect to sell Nomura pursuant to the Purchase Agreement will generally be determined by reference to the volume-weighted average price during an applicable purchase period on the day of the applicable purchase date for which we have timely delivered written notice to Nomura directing it to purchase Ordinary Shares under the Purchase Agreement, less a fixed 4.25% discount to such volume-weighted average price. Sales of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and the timing of any sales, are solely at our option, and we are under no obligation to sell any securities to Nomura under the Purchase Agreement. In accordance with the Nomura Registration Rights Agreement, we have filed a registration statement on Form F-1 with the SEC on August 8, 2022, which registered 20,000,000 Ordinary Shares that we may elect to sell to Nomura under the Purchase Agreement, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement and the Nomura Registration Rights Agreement. As of the date of this prospectus, there was up to $100.0 million in aggregate gross purchase price of Ordinary Shares remaining available for sale under the Purchase Agreement.

UK Future of Flight Funding

Subsequent to the six months ended June 30, 2022, we were awarded £2.3 million of funding from the UK Government under its Future of Flight Challenge to help build the UK’s AAM ecosystem.

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Cash Flows

The following table presents the summary consolidated cash flow information for the periods presented.


	Six months ended June 30,
	2022	2021	Change

	(in £ thousands)
Net cash flows used in operating activities	(58,387)	(10,320)	(48,067)
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(560)	(496)	(64)
Net cash flows (used)/generated from financing activities	(235)	27,121	(27,356)
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(59,182)	16,305	(75,487)
Cash at bank, beginning of the period	212,660	839	211,821
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes	4,074	—	4,074
Cash at bank, end of the period	157,552	17,144	140,408

Net cash used in operating activities

Net cash used in operating activities increased by £48,067 thousand, or 466%, from £10,320 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to £58,387 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2022. This increase was primarily due to additional spend on research and development activities.

Net cash used in operating activities increased by £15,538 thousand, or 129%, from £12,012 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2020 to £27,550 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to additional spend on research and development activities.

Net cash used in operating activities increased by £4,729 thousand, or 65%, from £7,283 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019 to £12,012 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily due to increases in costs related to the purchase of eVTOL prototype parts and staff costs. We expect to see an increase in our costs related to our headcount leading up to the commencement of our commercial operations and expect that cash used in operating activities will increase significantly before the business begins to generate cash inflows.

Net cash used in investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities increased by £64 thousand, or 13%, from £496 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to £560 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2022. This increase was primarily due to the acquisition of intangible assets.

Net cash used in investing activities increased by £2,666 thousand, or 388%, from £688 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2020 to £3,354 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to the acquisition of intangible assets.

Net cash used from investing activities decreased by £2,145 thousand, or 76%, from £2,833 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019 to £688 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily due to a decrease in acquisition of subsidiaries and a decrease in the acquisition of property plant and equipment. The acquisition of Vertical Advanced Engineering Ltd. occurred in 2019, resulting in a net cash outflow of £741 thousand in 2019 and a net cash outflow of £300 thousand in 2020. The refurbishment of certain of our premises resulted in a net cash outflow of £1,307 thousand and £47 thousand during the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

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Net cash from (used in) financing activities

Net cash generated from financing activities decreased by £27,356 thousand, or 101%, from £27,121 thousand generated from financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2021 to £235 thousand used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to proceeds from the issuance of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes in the prior period.

Net cash used from financing activities increased by £232,203 thousand, or 1,856%, from £12,550 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2020 to £244,713 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was primarily due to proceeds from the Business Combination including proceeds from the PIPE Financing and from the issuance of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes.

Net cash used from financing activities increased by £1,637 thousand, or 15%, from £10,873 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019 to £12,550 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase was primarily due to funds provided by related parties. In the year ended December 31, 2020, borrowing amounted to £5,600 thousand with a net parent investment of £7,130 thousand. In the year ended December 31, 2019, there was no borrowing and there was a net parent investment of £11,003 thousand. The loans from related parties were settled in March 2021 through conversion to additional share capital, which had no impact on our cash.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have during the period presented, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet financing arrangements or any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, including entities sometimes referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, that were established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements are prepared in conformity with IFRS, as issued by the IASB. In preparing our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements, we make assumptions, judgments and estimates that can have a significant impact on amounts reported in our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements. We base our assumptions, judgments and estimates on historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We regularly reevaluate our assumptions, judgments and estimates. Our critical accounting estimates and judgments are described in Note 3, Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty, to our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

A number of amended accounting standards and interpretations became applicable during the six months ended June 30, 2022, which did not have a material impact on us. We did not have to change our accounting policies or make retrospective adjustments as a result of adopting these amended standards. Please refer to Note 2 to our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2022 included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

In connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for each of the years covered by this report, we identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

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We have hired additional employees dedicated to accounting, reporting and control procedures;

We have utilized external specialists to assist with complex or judgmental accounting matters.

Further, subsequent to the year end:

We have established an audit committee comprising of two independent directors;

We have started implementing an enterprise resource planning system that is specifically designed to meet the needs of a project based manufacturing business;

Please see “Risk Factors—We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If our remediation of these material weaknesses is not effective, or if we experience additional material weaknesses or otherwise fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls in the future, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately, prevent fraud or file our periodic reports as a public company in a timely manner.”

JOBS Act

We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act. We intend to rely on certain reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. As an emerging growth company, we are not required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which would otherwise be required beginning with our second annual report on Form 20-F, and (ii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis).

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BUSINESS

Overview

Our mission is to make air travel personal, on-demand and carbon free. We are a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero-emissions aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing and selling one of the world’s best zero operating emission eVTOL aircraft for use in the AAM market, using the most cutting-edge technology from the aerospace, automotive and energy industries.

Founded in 2016, we come from a deep aerospace and automotive mindset and have already designed, built and flown two prototype eVTOL aircraft in 2018 and 2019. We are currently developing, and are in the process of certifying, our flagship eVTOL, the VX4. Capable of transporting a pilot and up to four passengers, traveling distances of over 100 miles and achieving top speeds of over 200 miles per hour, while producing minimal noise and zero operating emissions.

The VX4 aircraft was designed around existing and certifiable technology, using an experienced team that has previously certified and supported the development of over 30 aircraft and propulsion systems around the world. We are currently one of the only eVTOL designers and original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”) actively pursuing certification from the United Kingdom’s CAA or the EASA with a winged vehicle using already-available technology. The EASA also confirmed that it will concurrently validate the CAA certificate for the VX4, which means the certification and validation processes will run simultaneously in both jurisdictions. By achieving certification for our VX4 eVTOL aircraft from the CAA and EASA, we will be able to leverage the work done with our home regulator in order to have the certification validated by the other regulators where we intend to operate, including the United States Federal Aviation Authority (“FAA”). We are focused on selling globally certified eVTOL aircraft to a variety of customers, including commercial airlines and in-country partners.

We have forged strong relationships with industry-leading players to develop the various components of our aircraft. We are co-developing our powertrain and flight controls systems with Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, respectively, to unlock maximum performance with safe and simple to operate controls, reducing pilot workload and thereby reducing pilot training and operating costs. We are collaborating with Microsoft to create our digital systems for both our manufacturing facilities and our aircraft, which will provide rich data sets as well as deliver a truly cloud-connected aircraft. This capability will enable us to further streamline and create more efficiencies across our manufacturing processes, aircraft operations and maintenance. Our proprietary battery system utilizes small-format cylindrical cells to provide high power density while at the same time, being low-cost, highly reliable and use a sustainable supply chain, as well as utilizing safety features to ensure safety across all operations. We are collaborating with Molicel to supply high power cylindrical cells for our VX4, as Molicel specializes in demanding, high-performance application of its batteries, with its technology already in use across space, advanced automotive and power tool applications. We are collaborating with Hanwha on the development and supply of electric actuator systems tailored for the VX4, as Hanwha has a long-established expertise in aerospace technology and flight critical actuator systems development across a broad portfolio of civil and defense aerospace and space applications. Our advanced rotor system uses four tilting rotors at the front of the aircraft and four stowable rotors at the rear to enable high efficiency in all phases of flight and support a vehicle noise signature that we believe will be less than 70dBA in hover, equivalent to 30 times quieter than a helicopter in take-off and approach, and less than 50dBA, or 100 times quieter than a helicopter, in cruise. We are working with Solvay, one of the world’s leading chemical and advanced materials companies, to ensure that our materials and composites are high-quality and sustainably sourced, as well as with a leading aerospace and automotive engineering business, GKN Aerospace, to provide the electrical wiring interconnection systems (“EWIS”) and wings for our aircraft. We partnered with Leonardo to design, test, manufacture and supply the carbon composite fuselage for our VX4 aircraft. Combined, these features provide a flexible design to address different markets and a scalable design to facilitate manufacturing. We are also working together with CAE, a market leader in flight simulation and training, to develop a best-in-class training program. CAE will be the exclusive training device provider, tailoring the high-fidelity, next-generation flight simulation training device for the VX4 aircraft. We believe these relationships will allow us to provide superior products at scale, while maintaining a lean cost structure and taking advantage of both internal and external research and development synergies.

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Market Opportunity and Marketing Strategy

We believe that deploying a new type of aerial mobility network in cities represents an extensive market opportunity that we expect to expand over time. We intend to seize on the untapped demand for getting into and out of city centers globally, as certain existing travel methods can be impractical, inconvenient or unaffordable. We believe that we have a significant opportunity to meet this untapped demand in the AAM market, with the urban air mobility market currently projected to grow to a total addressable market size of $1 trillion by 2040, according to Morgan Stanley.

We believe that our aircraft will be competitive in several existing sectors, including helicopters, which had a total addressable market of $50 billion in 2019 and the ride hailing and taxi sector, which had a total addressable market of $302 billion in 2019, according to Statista Reports. We also see longer term future potential in the commercial airlines sector, which had a total addressable market of $538 billion in 2019, and that of private jets, which had a total addressable market of $24 billion in 2019, according to the Statista Reports, through providing an opportunity to improve the door-to-door journey time and overall experience.

With high population densities and transit activities, intercity markets will be one of the key growth drivers in the AAM market in the upcoming years. According to our analysis, in Europe there are 240 viable journeys between cities with a population of more than 300,000 people within the 100 mile range of the VX4, representing a significant opportunity to capitalize on intercity travel, such as travel from London to Bristol or Nice to Monaco. In 2019, Eurostar had 11 million passengers annually, with EU rail having 8 billion passengers in 2018, representing the high amount of transit opportunities among European cities.

In addition to inter-city opportunities, we see a number of very attractive hub-spoke markets such as the United Kingdom, where there are 37 towns and cities with populations over 100,000 inhabitants within 100 miles of Heathrow Airport. These towns and cities represent a target population of 7.7 million (excluding London), based on our internal analysis, that could be connected into the Heathrow hub. In addition to high- frequency central business district hub shuttle services such as JFK to Manhattan and Heathrow to London city center, there are a number of high gross domestic product per capita target markets for fast, zero operating emission air taxi services to and from similar airports, representing an attractive market for first and business class propositions.

Our marketing and communications strategy is based upon a three-pronged approach: build awareness of the Vertical brand, communicate our business narrative, and build a trusted and credible reputation with our customers, partners and wider audience. The short-term focus is to solidify our industry credibility and success with talent recruitment, with the intent of establishing Vertical as a leading OEM in electric aerospace. Critical to our success so far has been the establishment of a globally-recognized partner ecosystem which has been developed through focusing on the goal of technological and design superiority of the VX4, our pathway to certification and unique business model. The intent is to position Vertical as the most attractive OEM to partner with, and that we are building the ecosystem required to make electric aviation a reality.

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We also recognize that pioneering electric aviation requires social and political support. Hence, we are intending to inspire advocacy within opinion leaders, aerospace industry and regulators with a purpose-based product marketing approach. For our marketing approach this includes showing powerfully effective use case applications of the VX4 with our partners to demonstrate the difference our eVTOL will make to everyday travel, alongside an appealing design approach of our product and customer journey.

To position Vertical as the leading OEM brand we are focused on amplifying our message across earned, paid and owned channels as well as industry events. The intelligent deployment of campaigns, digital content, thought leadership and events will activate our owned channels including social media with the goal establishing followership and engagement. Our communications function will play a major role in articulating, persuading and inspiring our audiences of the opportunities within eVTOL travel and our business model, while we continue to inform the market of our company progress via media outreach, podcasts, blog, social media and keynote speeches at industry-leading conferences and events. By collaborating and synergizing our marketing with our network of renowned international partners, we intend to continue developing our company reputation through combined marketing activities. Ultimately, the marketing strategy supports delivery of the Vertical message of brand purpose, mission focus and business progress to deliver a cohesive, transparent and fact-based company profile to our external stakeholders.

Our Business and Strategy

Focus on Certification

Safety is our highest priority. We are working to meet the most stringent aircraft certifications around the world, and our aircraft has been designed with certification in mind from the beginning. We are currently one of the only eVTOL designers and OEMs actively pursuing certification from the CAA or EASA with a winged vehicle using already-available technology. We expect to achieve concurrent type certification from the CAA and EASA for our VX4 aircraft during 2025, with validation from the FAA expected to follow thereafter.

We have successfully flown two full-scale prototype eVTOL aircraft in the United Kingdom. The VA-X1, our first prototype, was flown in 2018 as our proof-of-concept aircraft. This was a single seater eVTOL with four electric engines, each inside a ducted fan. The VA-X2 flew in 2019 and successfully demonstrated safe flight with a deliberate “motor-out,” which is a critical step in obtaining EASA certification. The VA-X2 was a two seater aircraft with six rotor units and was capable of carrying up to 250 kg at speeds of up to 50 mph. We have successfully tested our aircraft prototypes under CAA approvals.

To achieve type certification, new aircraft designs are required to undergo a rigorous assessment of the design where we demonstrate compliance against the strict airworthiness requirements. A type certificate for the aircraft’s design is an essential pre-requisite for any individual aircraft of that design to be issued with a Certificate of Airworthiness from the relevant local airworthiness authority, which, in turn, allows the owner to fly that aircraft. This is a time-consuming and intense process, often extending over several years, which requires extensive ground and in-flight testing with authorities, engineers and flight test pilots across a fleet of multiple aircraft. We believe that we are better placed than our direct competitors to meet EASA Validation of the Type Certificate, since from the initial design phase, we designed our aircraft around meeting the criteria of the EASA. We believe that we are currently on track to obtain our type certification from the CAA and EASA on our expected timetable.

We have been working with the CAA, EASA and European Organization for Civil Aviation Equipment (“EUROCAE”) to establish the specific design criteria (certification specifications) and means of compliance that apply to eVTOL aircraft. We and our partners participate on several working groups with the EUROCAE, including chairing the EUROCAE eVTOL Working Group Electrical Panel, participating on the electrical, lift/thrust, safety, flight and avionics working groups and having one-on-one discussions with the CAA and EASA to assist with tailoring and creating the requirements for eVTOL aircraft. By working closely with the CAA and EASA to obtain certification in our home markets of the United Kingdom and European Union, we believe that the knowledge and expertise that we will gain from obtaining certification in these areas can give us a competitive advantage that we can leverage to assist us with obtaining similar certifications in other global markets.

Many airworthiness authorities around the world have not yet declared their specific certification requirements for VTOLs; however, it is likely that they will broadly align with either the CAA, EASA or FAA’s requirements. Given the stringent and rigorous safety requirements of CAA and EASA certifications, we believe that our design will meet the certification needs for any jurisdiction of our customers. We believe that our strong strategic partnerships with our technology partners, in particular, Honeywell and Rolls-Royce, who have deep experience and pedigree in certifying against these standards, will give us a competitive advantage over our competitors. We have carefully and intentionally designed our aircraft with these standards in mind.

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The VX4: One of the Most Advanced eVTOL Aircraft Globally

The VX4 is our eVTOL aircraft at the center of our go-to-market strategy. After designing, building, testing and flying two earlier prototypes, the VA-X1 and the VA-X2, we unveiled the four passenger VX4 in 2020, which we believe is one of the most advanced eVTOLs globally. The VX4 is designed to provide for a capacity of up to five people (one pilot, four passengers) and travel distances of over 100 miles, achieving top speeds of over 200 mph. In line with our mission to be carbon free, the VX4 is fully electric and will produce zero operating emissions in flight. The VX4 has four tilting frontal rotors allowing it to take off vertically. The rotors rotate after takeoff and into flight mode. Based on our internal calculations, its noise levels are expected to be 100 times quieter in cruise compared to a helicopter in cruise. The VX4 is also is expected to be up to 100 times safer than a helicopter in line with what we expect from the CAA and EASA regulations for eVTOL aircraft.

The interior of VX4 has been designed to create an outstanding passenger experience with doors on both sides of the aircraft allowing passengers to enter and exit with ease. There will be a separate luggage compartment that we expect will be capable of taking approximately 45 pounds (or 20 kilograms) of luggage per passenger plus additional room for small luggage under each passenger seat, with a total payload of approximately 990 pounds (or 450 kilograms). The VX4 has large side windows, providing spectacular views for the passengers.

Develop Strong eVTOL Ecosystem

Our business model is asset light. We have focused on creating an ecosystem that is a combination of key proprietary components that we have developed internally and strong strategic partnerships with industry leaders in order to design and manufacture the best eVTOL aircraft. We believe that this model will allow us to be more agile, flexible and reactive to future technologies and opportunities, as well as provide competitive user economics, which we expect will allow us to more rapidly scale our production once we have obtained certification. Based on our current projections, we expect to achieve break-even profitability at around 100 aircraft per year.

Creating and Investing in Proprietary Designs and Superior Technology

We have invested and will continue to invest in certain proprietary features of our aircraft, including our battery system and rotor design. Our proprietary battery system utilizes small-format cylindrical cells to provide a high-performance, low-cost, highly reliable and sustainable supply chain while ingraining safety features to make them resistant to unsafe operation. Our advanced rotor system uses four tilting rotors at the front of the aircraft and four stowable rotors at the rear to enable high efficiency in all phases of flight, with an impact tolerant and redundant rotor structure that enables commercial aviation safety levels while supporting a vehicle noise signature that we believe will be less than 70dBA in hover, equivalent to 30 times quieter than a helicopter in take-off and approach, and less than 50dBA, or 100 times quieter than a helicopter, in cruise.

Combining Proprietary Systems with Strategic Partners with Industry-Leading Expertise

We believe that our strategic partnerships create a sophisticated eVTOL ecosystem that allows us to focus on creating value for our customers throughout the process. We sought out partnerships with industry leaders across critical components required to successfully design, develop and operate our aircraft. We have established strong collaborations and relationships with Rolls-Royce, Honeywell, Microsoft, Solvay, GKN Aerospace, Leonardo, Molicel and CAE on the industrial side to develop components and support the manufacture our aircraft.

Powertrain — Rolls-Royce

Together with Rolls-Royce, one of the world’s leading industrial technology companies, we plan to co-develop our electrical propulsion unit or powertrain system to be one of the world’s lightest and safest eVTOL powertrains in order to unlock the maximum performance from our VX4. Rolls-Royce has extensive experience in the development and certification of high-criticality aerospace products and an established supply chain that is certified to deliver airworthy components globally and at scale. In connection with our collaboration with Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce invested $14 million as an investor in the PIPE Financing in connection with the Business Combination.

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Flight Controls — Honeywell

We have partnered with Honeywell, a leading technology and manufacturing company, to develop our next-generation avionics and flight controls that significantly reduce pilot workload. We believe the combination of our advanced flight control systems that have a high level of automation and state-of-the-art cockpit human machine interface will be key to reducing pilot workload, minimizing pilot training and operating costs. Our VX4 uses an advanced control system that is based on the system created for the Lockheed Martin F-35, and the triple-redundant architecture safety features of this system are expected to be certified to the same safety standards as commercial airlines. Our partnership with Honeywell provides us with globally recognized services that encompass the design, development and provision of avionics, fly-by-wire navigation and connectivity solution for eVTOL. In connection with our collaboration, Honeywell invested $10 million as an investor in the PIPE Financing in connection with the Business Combination.

Digital Systems — Microsoft

We are collaborating with Microsoft in two key areas: the co-development of cloud architecture and high-performance computing. We are co-developing state-of-the-art cloud architecture that will enable enterprise digital services and operational optimization. The combination of the electrification of aviation with advanced flight controls and avionics results in a significant amount of digital information to be collected and transmitted by our aircraft. We believe our partnership with Microsoft will enable highly differentiated service offerings to end-customers and vehicle operators, as well as our own industrial optimization. This includes state-of-the-art aircraft health monitoring, predictive maintenance and smart battery charging systems with advanced diagnostics, aircraft integration with the air traffic management and customer services ecosystems and the ability to fully leverage industry 4.0 across our assembly lines and supply chain. As part of this partnership, we will be working with Microsoft to jointly demonstrate a sustainable end-to-end computer system capability for designing our aircraft.

In the area of high-performance computing, Microsoft is using Vertical as a pathfinder to further enhance and optimize its cloud computing systems to support a wide range of advanced engineering simulations. This will extend the work we are already conducting on whole-aircraft aerodynamics, noise and structural analysis into increasingly sophisticated multi-physics simulations that enable a highly optimized aircraft and significant reduction in design and test iterations. In connection with our collaboration, Microsoft invested a total of $26 million into our business, which includes a $5 million investment in the PIPE Financing in connection with the Business Combination.

Composites — Solvay

We partnered with Solvay, a global leader in materials, solutions and chemicals, to create the full suite of composite materials and adhesives for our aircraft. Solvay brings extensive expertise across aerospace, motorsport and automotive, and Solvay is pioneering the development of advanced composite materials and manufacturing technologies that bring the benefits of lightweight solutions that can be manufactured with a high degree of automation, using the minimum amounts of materials to enable high production rates and low costs. Working closely with Solvay has ensured that our aircraft structure and battery containment system are not only composed of high quality materials, but also that we are sourcing our materials in a sustainable and innovative way.

Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems and Wings — GKN Aerospace

We are working together with GKN Aerospace, a provider of cutting-edge components for some of the world’s leading aircraft and helicopters, to create the EWIS and wings for our aircraft. GKN Aerospace designs and manufactures aerospace systems and components for a variety of aircraft and engine manufacturers around the world, and its high-volume production capabilities are expected to help drive the global production of the VX4. We expect that the EWIS and wings provided by GKN Aerospace will contribute to lower costs, weight and emissions of the VX4, as well as help improve the overall performance of our aircraft.

Carbon composite fuselage — Leonardo

Leonardo SpA (“Leonardo”) is a recent tier-one aerospace company to join our industrial partnership ecosystem. Leonardo is a world leader in advanced composite aerospace structures, producing one-piece barrel sections and horizontal stabilizers for aircraft such as the Boeing 787. Leonardo will bring its technology and scale manufacturing experience to bear in the manufacture of the fuselage for the VX4.

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Battery Cells — Molicel

Molicel is a leading manufacturer of lithium-ion cells with more than 40 years of experience in energy research and development. By partnering with Molicel, we have secured supply of high power cylindrical cells for the VX4 through to certification and entry into service. We intend to work with Molicel to increase supply as the VX4 is brought into mass production. Having reviewed the capabilities of many other cell manufacturers before selecting Molicel as our battery partner, we believe Molicel is uniquely placed to meet the performance and safety requirements of the VX4 and to continue to deliver innovation and improved performance over time. We will work with Molicel to ensure its battery cells contribute to the safety, reliability and performance of the VX4, and we expect to have this battery system certified concurrently with the EASA and the CAA.

Flight Simulation and Pilot Training — CAE

We are working together with CAE, a market leader in flight simulation and training, to develop a best-in-class training program. CAE will be the exclusive training device provider, tailoring the high-fidelity, next-generation flight simulation training device for the VX4 aircraft. The innovative pilot training program is expected to leverage advanced technologies, including mixed reality and artificial intelligence to enhance the learning experience, and is expected to help shift the training paradigm toward cost-effectiveness and scalability, while ensuring safety, which is paramount to us and our operators.

Building Commercial Partnerships for the Future

We have entered into strategic and commercial arrangements with American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Marubeni, Iberojet, Avolon, Bristow, Babcock International and FLYINGGROUP in order to further our global route to market strategy.

American Airlines

We launched a partnership with the world’s largest airline, American Airlines, as a cornerstone for our go-to-market deployment in the United States. American Airlines has agreed to pre-order, subject to certain conditions precedent, up to 250 of our aircraft, with an option to order an additional 100 aircraft, which has an aircraft order value of approximately $1 billion to $1.4 billion. Please see “Risk Factors – Risks related to Our Business and Industry – All of the pre-orders we have received for our aircraft are not legally binding, conditional and may be terminated without penalty at any time by either party. If these orders are cancelled, modified, delayed or not placed in accordance with the terms agreed with each party, our business, results of operations, liquidity and cash flow will be materially adversely affected” for more information. Beyond aircraft sales, we expect to work together with American Airlines on creating an ecosystem to bring AAM to the United States including the necessary infrastructure, route planning, propositions, pricing, certification and regulation. As part of this partnership, American Airlines will benefit from certain equity incentives upon the fulfilment of the commitment to purchase aircraft.

Virgin Atlantic

We also are partnering with Virgin Atlantic to explore a joint venture for eVTOL ridesharing operations in the United Kingdom. The joint venture will look to develop a short-haul eVTOL network, including customer and aircraft operations and infrastructure development. We believe our partnership with Virgin Atlantic will create the blueprint for bringing eVTOL operations to other key global markets in an effort to bring ridesharing through short-haul eVTOL to other intercity opportunities around the world. As part of our agreement, Virgin Atlantic has a pre-order option for up to 50 of our aircraft, with an option to order an additional 100 aircraft, which has an aircraft order value of between $0.2 billion and $0.6 billion.

We will use our partnership with Virgin Atlantic to explore providing a ridesharing service directly to consumers. We intend to partner with other existing operators and infrastructure players in other markets to deliver our eVTOL flight services in addition to our existing OEM sales and services operations. We believe this flexible hybrid approach will allow us to access and efficiently capture more of the total addressable market while providing us with end-to-end control over the customer experience to optimize for customer safety, comfort and value.

Marubeni

We are partnering with Marubeni, a leading Japanese integrated trading and investment business conglomerate, to explore sustainable, emissions-free AAM travel solutions in Japan. Marubeni has agreed to pre-order, subject to certain conditions, up to 200

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of our aircraft, with an aircraft order value of approximately $800 million. We and Marubeni will create a joint venture that will evaluate the requirements for eVTOL operations in Japan, which includes other commercial considerations such as route and network planning, infrastructure requirements and capacity, as well as engaging with other parties interested in launching AAM travel solutions in Japan.

Together with Marubeni, we expect to accelerate our entry into the Japanese market and offer Japanese consumers a safer, faster, cheaper and greener alternative to current short haul options in the country. We believe that with its regulatory and technological advantages, such as its capacity to operate high frequency eVTOL traffic in a safe environment, Japan has great potential in terms of commercializing the AAM market, and that eVTOLs have a number of use cases in Japan, such as inter-city, intra-city, airport shuttle and life support operations, that will benefit both customers and communities.

Iberojet

We launched a partnership with Iberojet, which is part of the Avoris Group, a leading travel group in the Spanish and Caribbean markets, in order to explore business collaboration opportunities in AAM, focusing on inter-island travel in the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, airport passenger feeder operations and the distribution of long haul customers to touristic destinations to/from resorts and airports. Iberojet has agreed to pre-order, subject to certain conditions, up to 100 aircraft, with an aircraft order value of approximately $400 million. We agreed to create a joint working group with Iberojet to evaluate the foregoing AAM opportunities, as well as collaborate on identifying key regulatory bodies in key markets of anticipated operation; analyzing demand, fleet size, infrastructure and storing requirements; identifying potential infrastructure partners, investors and developers; analyzing public acceptance and environmental requirements.

Avolon

We are partnering with Avolon, the world’s second largest aircraft lessor with an extensive global network of airline and OEM relationships, to further expand our customer base in the AAM market. Avolon has existing, long-standing relationships with over 140 airlines globally and a track record of investing in new, innovative aerospace technology. Avolon will be our global go-to-market partner packaging aircraft, asset financing and services to enable forward thinking, entrepreneurial operators to establish AAM operations in new markets. Pursuant to its partnership agreement with us, Avolon has agreed to pre-order approximately 310 of our aircraft, with an option to purchase up to approximately 190 additional aircraft, with an aircraft order value of between $1.25 billion and $2 billion. On March 29, 2022, Avolon announced that it had leased its entire 500 aircraft pre-ordered from us, with the order book being oversubscribed by 50 aircraft, including 250 aircraft with GOL and Grupo Comporte in Brazil, up to 100 aircraft with Japan Airlines in Japan, a minimum of 100 aircraft with AirAsia and up to 100 aircraft with Gözen Holding in Turkey. In connection with our partnership, Avolon invested a total of $15 million in the PIPE Financing and we also issued certain equity warrants to Avolon in connection with the Business Combination.

Bristow

We launched a partnership with Bristow, a leading global provider of vertical flight solutions to government and civil organizations, to develop a joint working group to collaborate on identifying key regulatory bodies in key markets of anticipated operation; analyzing demand, fleet size, infrastructure and storing requirements; identifying potential key customers and markets; analyzing public acceptance and environmental requirements. Bristow has agreed to pre-order, subject to certain conditions, up to 50 of our aircraft, with an aircraft order value of up to $200 million. We believe that partnering with Bristow will enable us to accelerate the commercial operation of eVTOLs and effectively disrupt the helicopter market with our zero operating emissions, low operating cost VX4 as an alternative to traditional helicopters.

Babcock International

We launched a partnership with Babcock International, an aerospace, defense and security company, to explore new applications for the VX4. Babcock International has over 35 years of experience in emergency medical services, performing thousands of missions every year globally, and is the largest single operator delivering helicopter emergency services in the U.K. We will work with Babcock International to explore how to use the VX4 in new applications such as aerial emergency medical services and cargo transportation. The VX4 has the potential to transform these types of operations and reduce their carbon impact at a lower overall cost. As part of this partnership, we will also work with Babcock International to develop modular maintenance, repair and overhaul (“MRO”) capabilities to enable cost-effective maintenance of the aircraft in both remote and challenging environments and to

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maximize availability of the VX4 in service. Leveraging Babcock International’s experience in the defense industry, this partnership will also explore how the eVTOL concept may be expended in the future to support the armed forces with medium-range logistics delivery and casualty evacuation services.

FLYINGGROUP

We are partnering with FLYINGGROUP, one of Europe’s leading business jet operators, to explore the use of the VX4 in the business aviation market. FLYINGGROUP has agreed to pre-order, subject to certain conditions, up to 50 of our aircraft, with an aircraft order value of approximately $200 million. We and FLYINGGROUP plan to create a joint working group to explore FLYGGROUP’s application of using the VX4 in the business avaiation market, including individual owernship, low volume operation and fractional ownership. The joint working group will also explore the terms and conditions of an MRO service center, potentially granting FLYINGGROUP the right to perform MRO services for their fleet and to support their private sales.

All of the pre-orders held by American Airlines, Virgin and Avolon are treated separately from their investments in our company through the PIPE. As of the date of this prospectus, there have been no deposits made for any pre-orders of our aircraft. For more information about the conditions for each of the pre-orders from Avolon, American Airlines, Bristow, Iberojet, Marubeni, Virgin Atlantic and FLYINGGROUP, please see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — All of the pre-orders we have received for our aircraft are not legally binding, conditional and may be terminated without penalty at any time by either party. If these orders are cancelled, modified, delayed or not placed in accordance with the terms agreed with each party, our business, results of operations, liquidity and cash flow will be materially adversely affected.”

Targeted Sales Approach

As an OEM, we plan to address a very extensive and diverse customer base: (i) airlines that want to extend the passenger experience into their main hubs, creating micro feeders and catchment networks, and transit to city centers and urban areas; (ii) regional airlines that will develop point-to-point routes; (iii) business aviation companies that will complement their offerings with a last-hop service to end destination; (iv) aircraft lessors that will financially support the delivery of business opportunities; and (v) existing helicopter operators that will progressively replace their light segment by our new generation of safer, cheaper and more sustainable aircraft, enabling new operations.

In order to ensure customer and market proximity, we aim to have a global commercial presence. Our regional teams will help us be local, understand regulatory frameworks, co-create business opportunities with our customer base and develop the required ecosystem to achieve success in each market.

We are developing standards and methodologies that will helps us scale and replicate efficiently while remaining lean and agile. We will capture lessons learned and improvements for future deployments.

Because we are not selling a traditional aircraft, we will actively enable the creation of an ecosystem, seeking out local partnerships with our customers and other key industry players in certain strategic markets, with the goal of expanding beyond those particular markets once we have gained the relevant experience.

We will work with local transport and aviation authorities, airspace, infrastructure, energy and mobility providers, together with our partners, to comply with local requirements and ensure that there will be the necessary infrastructure and regulations in place for our aircraft and for our partners’ expected operations. A collective effort will be required of both us and our ecosystem partners in order to develop policies and ensure public acceptance, prepare infrastructure and airspace integration for future operations. We plan to undertake demand analysis and network simulation to allow us to anticipate societal and economical value. Our mission and concepts of operation, together with our strategic partnerships across key markets, will help us to ensure the effective integration of our aircraft and ecosystem with other existing transport means and networks.

We have already started executing our sales strategy through our partnerships with American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow, Iberojet, Marubeni,Virgin Atlantic, Babcock International and FLYINGGROUP. We also launched a partnership with Heathrow Airport, the United Kingdom’s only hub airport and one of the world’s top international aviation hubs, to explore how the VX4 could operate at Heathrow Airport. Together with Heathrow Airport, we will collaborate on identifying key regulatory challenges, identifying demand, fleet size and infrastructure requirements for eVTOL to fit into existing airport operations and identify key potential customers and stakeholders. We expect this partnership with Heathrow will help create an ecosystem for sustainable air travel in the United

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Kingdom. We are working together with all our commercial partners to define the roadmap for the upcoming years that will enable safe entry into service in 2025.

We intend to continue sales both through strategic partners that are involved in our business and to other third parties.

We will listen to the voices of our customers and analyze potential market opportunities in tourism, cargo, medical and other public services, and eventually develop specific mission variants. We will explore the scaling of our vehicle into increased range and payload.

Provide Fulsome After Sales Services

After we begin sales of our aircraft, we expect to be able to provide significant additional value through our “Aircraft Services” business. Where required, we plan to partner with our customers to operate our aircraft; the expertise and knowledge we gain through the design, development, certification, manufacture and assembly of our aircraft will be critical to ongoing maintenance of our aircraft. We plan to develop global clusters, aligned to our OEM markets, to support pilot training, battery management and aircraft maintenance. We plan to partner with existing infrastructure players and deliver our eVTOL flight services over the top of existing operations.

Aircraft Services will be defined as an integrated package that will include services such as battery management, pilot training and licensing and general aircraft maintenance. Our aircraft are highly digital and will generate significant amounts of operational data. With our OEM knowledge and state-of-the-art Vertical Cloud Services that we are co-creating with Microsoft, our Aircraft Services segment will benefit from aircraft equipment health monitoring, vehicle and fleet operational and maintenance optimization and additional aftermarket services. By the time we launch our Aircraft Services, we expect to also be well- advanced in developing pilot simulators as part of our ongoing aircraft certification program, which we will be able to roll out as pilot training services.

One of the most critical components of the VX4 is our battery system, which is designed and manufactured in-house, given the unique requirements for eVTOL battery systems. The battery will be certified as part of the aircraft, and therefore, we believe that our OEM sales will drive an aftermarket revenue stream for battery replacements and upgrades. We intend to optimize battery utilization and replacement timing by leveraging the leading smart charging and advanced battery health diagnostics research we are currently undertaking. Furthermore, our battery is designed for re-use, taking out deteriorated cell packs for second life use in grid energy storage, while reusing the valuable aerospace grade electronics and composite battery packs. This is a key driver in achieving highly competitive vehicle operating costs and in the demand for our Aircraft Services. Once we have mastered this technology, we may expand these services into other industries that use similar battery systems, such as the wider electrification of transportation and stationary storage for grid applications.

Carefully Selected Team with Leading Aerospace and Automotive Expertise

We have an exceptional senior team that includes individuals handpicked from the aerospace and advanced automotive industries. Led by our Chief Executive Officer and founder, Stephen Fitzpatrick, a leading energy entrepreneur and founder of OVO Energy, Europe’s largest independent energy retailer, Harry Holt, our Deputy Chief Executive Officer, who previously served on the Executive Team at Rolls-Royce, and our President, Michael Cervenka, who previously served as Head of Future Technologies, among other key roles, at Rolls-Royce, our team consisted of over 140 engineers as of December 31, 2021, who share over 1,700 total years of engineering experience where safety, efficiency and scale are paramount, as well as more than 400 years of experience in Formula 1, automotive and technology industries, adding technological expertise, performance and agility to our team. We believe that our management team is crucial to our success, including our ability to create proprietary systems and work closely with our strategic partners to bring what we believe will be the best eVTOL aircraft to market.

The complementary skill sets of our handpicked, high-class team are critical to the success of the aircraft designs and our business. We are headquartered in Bristol, the United Kingdom, which is at the center of the United Kingdom’s aerospace cluster, where there are 3,000 companies in the United Kingdom alone, with the aerospace sector having the largest number of small and medium enterprises in Europe, providing over 282,000 jobs directly and indirectly. We also have an office in Oxford, the heart of the global Formula 1 cluster. Our strategic location provides us with a unique access to talent, and this depth of talent places us at the epicenter of the aerospace and Formula 1 technical and supply chain ecosystems, which we believe differentiates us from our competitors and increases the barriers to entry.

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Designed for Scalable Manufacturing

We designed our aircraft with a focus on manufacturing and the fastest route to scale from day one. After receiving CAA and EASA certification, we anticipate rapid scaling as a result of the ecosystem we have built with the combination of our proprietary systems and strategic partnerships. We will be responsible for the overall manufacture and assembly of the aircraft and battery system and will leverage our partnerships with Honeywell, Rolls-Royce, Microsoft, Solvay, GKN Aerospace and Leonardo in order to deliver our aircraft as quickly as possible. Our strategy is to work with major aerospace suppliers to enable production ramp-up, which we believe is a significant differentiator for us.

We aim to begin with staged production that will align with pre-orders from our strategic partners. While the components and sub-systems will be manufactured by our supply chain partners, we will carry out final assembly of the battery systems and the overall aircraft in our purpose-built facilities. By integrating our partners and suppliers into our manufacturing line, we expect to reduce operating costs while simultaneously spreading risk across the supply chain. This strategic partnership approach leverages the significant industrialization capabilities in our supply chain ecosystem, allowing us to focus on the assembly of our aircraft and avoid having to make significant investments in individual component and sub-system manufacturing.

We expect that in the near term, there will be significant market demand for eVTOL aircraft as a replacement to helicopters, which we believe will propel further market growth and help to grow new transportation opportunities. We anticipate scaling and growing our production capacity more quickly than our competitors due to the partnership-based ecosystem that we are creating, which we believe will allow us to meet this market demand quickly and efficiently.

We expect to initially produce lower volumes in the early years of production, while continuing to plan for higher volume manufacturing in the future.

Our Focus on Sustainable Manufacturing and Safety

We are designing our facilities and manufacturing processes to be efficient, safe and sustainable in order to minimize our carbon footprint and encourage us to be leaders in creating environmentally friendly manufacturing practices and aircraft. We have partnered with Solvay and Leonardo, global leaders in the future of composite materials in aerospace, to incorporate lightweight composite materials that allow our aircraft to be lighter, and therefore, more fuel efficient, while also providing a high-quality experience that exceeds that of metal parts.

Attractive Aircraft Unit Economics Driving Adoption

Our VX4 aircraft offers compelling operating costs across a wide range of potential missions. At a cost of approximately $1 per seat mile, our low operating costs will enable ridesharing operators to offer prices at only a small premium to taxi travel and at approximately one-fifth of the cost of existing helicopter ride-sharing services, which we believe are comparable to European premium rail fares, ensuring affordability for passengers and enabling mass adoption. VX4 design will allow flexibility in operators running both intra-city and inter-city missions not just for passenger operations but also cargo, medivac and sightseeing. Compared to helicopters, we believe some of the key cost advantages of the VX4 will be: a reduced part count and complexity, lowering maintenance costs; cheaper energy costs from increased aircraft efficiency; simplified aircraft operations through simpler training and greater accessibility, which can ultimately lead to lower costs; and an expected greater utilization of the aircraft as a result of greater landing site utilization due to reduced noise and lower costs as demand for the aircraft increases over time and they gain more popularity. Benchmarking against existing helicopter ride-sharing operations and engaging in dialogue with our key strategic partners provides us with clearer visibility on operational costs.

We believe our low production costs and ability to rapidly scale production to meet customer demands will also help to drive our future OEM sales. Through our collaborative industrial partnerships with key component providers such as Honeywell, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, Leonardo and Solvay, we have strong confidence in our bottom-up component by component projected cost structure for the VX4. We have a number of production contracts both signed and under negotiation that include global aftermarket support and other services to support our production process. These cover an extensive proportion of the cost base of the aircraft and gives us strong certainty of what we can deliver in the future. Moreover, we believe our access through strategic partners to vast aerospace supply chains will allow us to rapidly increase production while maintaining our cost structure. Our strategic aerospace partners have the capabilities to manufacture at scale while meeting stringent aviation technical requirements, which gives us a

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competitive advantage against competitors with lower-specification automotive partnerships or start-up companies that have chosen to predominately vertically integrate their manufacturing activities.

Future Market Opportunities

We intend to leverage our expertise and position as a leading eVTOL aircraft OEM to generate revenue by providing services ancillary to our aircraft. We believe there are opportunities to address sectors that are adjacent to our core business, including delivery and logistics as well as emergency services and military applications, as well as selling and servicing battery systems and battery packs in other sectors such as automotive and stationary grid storage. Through our Aircraft Services business, we intend to leverage developments in our battery technologies and alternative methods of energy storage for use in other applications as well as other sectors in the future after we begin manufacturing our aircraft at scale.

Our Aircraft Services will include battery management, pilot training and licensing and aircraft maintenance. Our aircraft will use our proprietary battery systems, and we will be able to service battery systems by providing replacement hardware and smart diagnostics that we expect will enable optimum battery charging, operation and maintenance, as well as maintain an inventory of spares to support our aircraft around the world, providing redundancy at scale. In addition, our aircraft are highly digital and will provide significant amounts of operational data that we can use to generate additional revenue for our “Vertical Cloud Services” business.

We may also make forward investments to better address these market adjacencies over time. We are investing and will continue to invest strategically in these areas to ensure that we are well positioned to capture the benefits offered by these new technical developments. In certain cases, we expect that we may lead development and deployment efforts within our industry.

Government Regulation and Compliance

In the near term, our priorities include working with the CAA, EASA, FAA and other regulators such as the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil and the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau in connection with the certification and validation processes of VX4, and working on policy engagements with regulators, decision makers and communities within our key markets.

Certification Processes

Design Certification

The purpose of the aircraft design certification process, known as “type certification,” is to ensure that aircraft are designed and maintained at the highest and most meticulous safety and performance standards. Since 2018, we have engaged with the CAA and the EASA to ensure that our design and our organization will meet each regulator’s requirements for type certification as early as possible in the process. Our path to certification leverages many existing technologies, processes and procedures in order to meet both existing and evolving regulatory standards. Our certification team works on defining tests and analyses that will be utilized to prove compliance to the CAA, EASA, FAA and other regulators based on the agreed certification basis.

To date, two of our prototypes have been flown under a CAA’s experimental permit to fly. We believe we are one of only eight companies in the world to have successfully flown two full-scale eVTOL prototype aircraft as of July 15, 2022. With respect to the VX4, we have both unpiloted and piloted tests planned for 2022, which we will conduct under a Permit to Fly from the CAA. The CAA has determined that the certification standards for the VX4 will be based on the Special Conditions for Small Category Vertical Take Off and Landing, the standards applied by the EASA, and these Special Conditions establish the safety requirements the VX4 needs to meet. In addition, we will also be required to obtain and maintain a DOA from the CAA in order to be able to hold a type certification. We expect to receive our DOA during 2022, which we believe will cover the full scope required to hold a type certification for a commercial passenger carrying winged eVTOL. We intend to continue working side-by-side with the CAA and EASA as we design and develop our aircraft and create the manufacturing phases for our aircraft, and we expect to receive concurrent certification from the CAA and EASA in 2025, with validation from the FAA and other regulators expected to follow thereafter.

Production Certification

Aircraft manufacturing is heavily regulated in most markets. As we begin production, we expect to continue to interact with numerous government agencies and entities with respect to our production and quality systems. We are developing the systems and

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processes needed to obtain the required production organization approval from the CAA and intend to obtain this approval as part of the process of manufacturing conforming aircraft in the lead-up to obtaining a type certificate for the aircraft.

Airspace Integration

Our aircraft are designed to be operated under current flight rules and regulations with a qualified pilot in command onboard the aircraft. As such, fixed wing and rotary commercial pilots initially will be able to fly our aircraft once they have secured the necessary aircraft type rating approvals. As the eVTOL industry expands, we will work with pilots and regulators to explore opportunities to tailor the types of training required to fly eVTOL aircraft in a safe, effective manner and widen the pool of pilots qualified to safely fly the aircraft.

We also believe there are opportunities to expand ground infrastructure and create air traffic efficiencies, and we expect to work with local authorities and other stakeholders to identify and develop procedures along high-demand routes to support increased scale and operational tempo. In the long term, digital clearance deliveries, airspace authorizations and automated coordination between service providers and operators may be required to further increase airspace scalability. We expect to continue to be involved in the long-term activities to develop community-based concepts and technologies to further enable scaling towards mature and autonomous operations in order to ensure that our aircraft can provide the necessary benefits to our customers, regulators and the communities in which we operate.

Joint Working Group and Policy Engagements with Decision Makers

EASA regulations have significantly matured over the last two years, and our team has been at the forefront of shaping these regulations. For example, our Head of Battery, Dr. Limhi Somerville, chairs the EUROCAE VTOL Working Group Electrical Panel. In addition, we have established joint working groups with our commercial and strategic partners. Through these groups, we have an ecosystem of partners with expertise or decision-making responsibility in all the key areas needed to bring the VX4 to market, including regulation, infrastructure, air traffic control, finance and operations. This ecosystem provides us with access to deep experience of flight operations and existing networks and local relationships that have been built over decades. This allows us to model the specific requirements in our various markets, including mission routes, developing network mapping, infrastructure needs and services such as pilot training and MRO. We believe these joint working groups are a key component of bringing the VX4 to market and a key differentiator, and we expect to continue engaging with them in the medium to long term.

Noise Regulations

Our aircraft has been designed to minimize noise to enable access not only to existing aviation infrastructure, but to also allow for operations in and out of proposed new vertiports that are nearer to where people want to live and work. We believe our aircraft will have a noise profile of less than 70dBA in hover.

Research and Development

We conduct extensive research and development to reduce technical risks associated with manufacturing our aircraft. The testing of this aircraft helps us to evaluate candidate system architectures and components for the certified production aircraft. Additionally, we are performing research and development on battery systems and other electric powertrain components in order to maximize the performance of our aircraft.

Intellectual Property

Our success depends, in part, upon our ability to protect our core technology and intellectual property.

To establish and protect our proprietary rights, we rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, such as trade secrets, patents, patent applications, trademarks and copyrights, including know-how and expertise, and contracts, such as license agreements, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with third parties, employee and contractor disclosure and invention assignment agreements and other similar contractual rights. In particular, unpatented trade secrets in the fields of aerospace and automotive engineering are an important aspect of our business to ensure that our technology remains confidential. We also pursue patent protection when we believe we have developed a patentable invention and the benefits of obtaining a patent outweigh the risks of making the invention public through patent filings.

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As of August 1, 2022, we have four pending patent applications (all of which have been filed with the U.K. Intellectual Property Office), of which three are International (PCT) applications and one is a British patent application. Our patents relate to our vehicle, propulsion systems, thermal management, rotor arrangements and rotor assemblies.

We regularly review our development efforts to assess the existence and patentability of new inventions, and we are prepared to file additional patent applications when we determine it would benefit our business to do so.

Our Employees

As of December 31, 2021, we had 232 full-time employees (including two apprentice employees) and nine part-time employees. We are actively recruiting new employees as we continue to scale our operations. Our hiring strategy has been to acquire top talent across various disciplines to help us to build our high-quality eVTOL aircraft. As a result, we have assembled a world-class engineering team with extensive experience in certification, aircraft design, systems integration, aerodynamics, noise, electric propulsion, batteries, lightweight composite structures, mechanical systems and manufacturing.

None of our employees is represented by a labor union. We believe we have good relationships with our employees and have not experienced any interruptions of operations due to labor disagreements.

Our Competition

We believe that the primary sources of competition for our service are ground-based mobility solutions, other eVTOL developers/operators and local/regional incumbent aircraft charter services.

We believe the primary factors that will drive success in the AAM market include:

the performance of our eVTOL aircraft relative to both competitive eVTOL aircraft and traditional aircraft,

the ability to certify the aircraft and service operation in a timely manner,

the ability to manufacture efficiently at scale,

the ability to develop or otherwise capture the benefits of next generation technologies and

the ability to deliver products and services to a high-level of quality, reliability and safety.

While there are differentiated approaches to vehicle designs and business models, we believe that our aircraft and business model offer the highest chance for success on a global scale. Our differentiated aircraft and advancement in certification position us well to be successful in the global markets.

Our Facilities

We are headquartered in Bristol, England, which is known as one of the largest aerospace areas in the United Kingdom, where we have our research and development facility. Our facility in Bristol is leased for a term of ten years expiring in 2028. The lease covers an aggregate of approximately 35 thousand square feet. We also have a dedicated flight test facility located at Cotswold Airport, Kemble, England, United Kingdom. Our facility in Kemble is leased for a term of five years expiring in 2026. The lease covers an aggregate of approximately 50 thousand square feet. All of our facilities are leased from third parties. Additionally, we are beginning the search for specialist facilities for the assembly, testing and production of our aircraft.

Legal Proceedings

There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such.

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MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of our executive officers and board directors as of the date of this prospectus:


Name	Age	Position
Executive Officers
Stephen Fitzpatrick	44	Chief Executive Officer and Board Member
Vincent Casey	39	Chief Financial Officer and Board Member
Michael Cervenka	47	President and Board Member
Harry Holt	54	Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Board Member
Directors
Dómhnal Slattery	55	Chairman
Kathy Cassidy	68	Board Member

Michael Flewitt

Board Member

Gur Kimchi

Board Member

Marcus Waley-Cohen

Board Member

Unless otherwise indicated, the current business addresses for our executive officers and the members of our board of directors is c/o Vertical Aerospace Ltd., Unit 1 Camwal Court, Chapel Street, Bristol BS2 0UW, United Kingdom.

Executive Officers

The following is a brief summary of the business experience of our executive officers.

Stephen Fitzpatrick has served as our Chief Executive Officer since our founding in 2016, and as a member of our board of directors since May 2021. Prior to founding the Company, Mr. Fitzpatrick founded OVO Group Ltd., a leading energy supply group that includes Europe’s largest independent energy retailer, and has served as the Group Chief Executive Officer of OVO Group Ltd. since 2008. Mr. Fitzpatrick sits on the board of directors for a number of privately held companies, including Imagination Industries Incubator Limited and Imagination Industries Aero Ltd. Mr. Fitzpatrick holds a Master’s degree in Business and Finance from the University of Edinburgh.

Vincent Casey has served as our Chief Financial Officer since November 2020 and has served as a member of our board of directors since May 2021. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Casey has served in a number of roles at OVO Group Ltd., a leading energy supply group that includes Europe’s largest independent energy retailer, and now serves as Chief Investment Officer, which he has done since June 2020. Mr. Casey sits on the board of directors for a number of privately held companies, including Imagination Industries Incubator Limited and Imagination Industries Aero Ltd. Mr. Casey holds a Master of Engineering (First Class Honors) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southampton. Mr. Casey is a Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Alterative Investment Analyst.

Michael Cervenka has served as our President since June 2019, and has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2021. Prior to joining the Company, from September 2015 to June 2019, Mr. Cervenka served as the Head of Future Business Technologies at Rolls-Royce, a leading aerospace and defense company. Mr. Cervenka also served in a number of different roles at Rolls-Royce, including as Program Lead (Civil Large Engine Cost Transformation Program) from March 2014 to August 2018 and Chief Development Engineer (Civil Large Fleet Engines) from November 2010 to February 2014. Mr. Cervenka has over 20 years of civil and military aerospace experience at Rolls-Royce. Mr. Cervenka participated in the Executive Leadership Program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth from 2018 to 2019. Mr. Cervenka also holds a Bachelor of Engineering (First Honors) in Aeronautical Engineering from Bristol University. Mr. Cervenka is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

Harry Holt has served as our Deputy Chief Executive Officer since March 2022 and served as our Chief Operating Officer from January 2022 to March 2022, and has served as a member of our board of directors since April 2022. Since 2011, Mr. Holt has spent over 10 years in a number of senior executive roles at Rolls-Royce, including spending the last seven as a member of the Executive Team as President Nuclear and more recently, as Chief People Officer since 2018. Mr. Holt holds a Master’s degree in Defence Technology and Management from Cranfield University, and a Bachelor’s degree from University of Bristol.

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Board Members

The following is a brief summary of the business experience of our non-executive board members.

Dómhnal Slattery has served as the chairman of our board of directors since January 2022. Mr. Slattery is one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing pioneers and has over 30 years of experience in the aircraft leasing industry. Since 2010, Mr. Slattery served as the Chief Executive Officer of Avolon, a global leader in aircraft leasing. Mr. Slattery has a track record of establishing and scaling industry leading leasing businesses, rapidly building market-leading aircraft leasing platform including the successful establishment of IAMG, RBS Aviation Capital (now SMBC Aviation) and Avolon through three business cycles – from the early 1990s to today. Mr. Slattery has received multiple awards that honor his achievement and contribution to the aviation industry, including the award for “Outstanding Contribution to the Aviation Industry” at the Aviation Industry Awards and the Lewis L Glucksman Award for Ethical Leadership for his contribution to aviation, entrepreneurship and the arts from Glucksman Ireland House NYU. Mr. Slattery holds a Bachelor’s degree from University College Galway and completed the Accelerated Development Program from the London Business School.

Kathy Cassidy has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2021. Since 2015, Ms. Cassidy has been a board member for the Goldman Sachs Mutual Funds Complex, where she oversees more than 100 of Goldman’s registered funds. She also sits on the Audit, Governance and Compliance Committees for the Goldman Sachs Mutual Funds Complex. Ms. Cassidy previously served for thirty years at General Electric in a variety of executive positions, including serving as Senior Vice President and Treasurer for both GE and GE Capital prior to her retirement in 2015. Prior to her time at GE Treasury, Ms. Cassidy held executive leadership positions in Strategic Ventures & Mexico in GE Capital Real Estate, and prior to this, she built the Real Estate Capital Markets Business. Earlier in her career, she served as the CFO for several of GECapital’s Business Divisions. Ms. Cassidy also served on the GE Capital Board and the GE Corporate Executive Council for ten years. Ms. Cassidy previously served on the University of Connecticut Foundation Board and the S&P Corporate Advisory Board, and she has been a noted speaker at numerous events, symposiums and forums. Since 2017, Ms. Cassidy also serves on the board of BuildOn, a not-for-profit, global organization focused on building schools in seven of the most impoverished nations in the world and working with numerous large cities on after-school youth leadership programs in some of the most challenging school districts in the United States. Ms. Cassidy holds both an MBA from Fordham University as well as a B.A. in Economics from the University of Connecticut.

Michael Flewitt has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2022. Mr. Flewitt previously served as the CEO of McLaren Automotive for eight years until October 2021 and was instrumental in driving McLaren Automotive’s growth to become one of the world’s leading luxury supercar brands. Prior to joining McLaren, Mr. Flewitt spent nine years at Ford as both Vice President, Manufacturing, Ford Europe, and Corporate Officer, Ford Motor Company. Before joining Ford, he held senior manufacturing and operations roles at TWR Group Limited, AutoNova AB (Volvo) and Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars Limited. Mr. Flewitt an alumnus of Salford University having qualified in Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering in 1987, completed a post-graduate qualification in Management and Project Management in 1996 and received an Honorary Doctorate from University of Salford in 2017.

Gur Kimchi has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2021. Mr. Kimchi currently sits on the board of directors for several privately held companies, including Ascent Aerosystems since November 2020. Mr. Kimchi served as Vice President at Amazon.com, Inc. from 2012 to 2020, where he co-founded the Amazon Prime Air delivery-by-drone project and led the organization to its FAA certification as a Part 135 commercial airline. Prior to Amazon, Mr. Kimchi served in a number of different roles at Microsoft where he was integral in the development of key technologies including Virtual Earth & Bing Maps, Contextual & Geosocial search, Cloud Infrastructure, Augmented and Virtual Reality, and Enterprise Communications. Mr. Kimchi is a founding member of the Federal Aviation Administration Drone Advisory Committee and worked in collaboration with the FAA, SESAR, NASA, and ICAO on the development of the Federated Airspace Management Architecture, enabling the safe integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Urban Air Mobility into the airspace around the world.

Marcus Waley-Cohen has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2021. Mr. Waley-Cohen has served as a Director of SunCap Ltd. since September 2019. Mr. Waley-Cohen currently sits on the board of directors for several privately held companies, and is a member of Broadstone Sponsor LLP. Mr. Waley-Cohen holds a Master’s degree in Politics from the University of Edinburgh.

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Foreign Private Issuer Status

We are a “foreign private issuer.” As a “foreign private issuer,” as defined by the SEC, we are permitted to follow home country corporate governance practices, instead of certain corporate governance practices required by the NYSE for domestic issuers. We believe the following to be the significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those applicable to U.S. companies under the NYSE listing standards.

We intend to follow corporate governance practices as contained in the Companies Act and other Cayman Islands laws and regulations in lieu of NYSE corporate governance rules as follows, none of which is required under the laws of the Cayman Islands:

We do not intend to follow Section 303A.01 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual (“NYSE Rules”), which requires that a listed company must have a majority of independent directors;

We do not intend to follow Section 303A.03 of the NYSE Rules, which requires that non-management directors of a listed company must meet a regularly scheduled executive sessions without management; our non-management directors may choose to meet in executive sessions at their discretion;

We do not intend to follow Section 303A.04 of the NYSE Rules, which requires that a listed company must have a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors;

We do not intend to follow Section 303.A05 of the NYSE Rules, which requires that a listed company have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors and that they satisfy the additional independence requirements specific to compensation committee membership set for in Rule 303A.02(a)(ii); and

We do not intend to follow Section 303A.07(a) of the NYSE Rules, which requires that a listed company have an audit committee that is composed of at least three members.

Section 312.03 of the NYSE Rules also requires that a listed company obtain, in specified circumstances, (1) shareholder approval to adopt or materially revise equity compensation plans, as well as (2) shareholder approval prior to an issuance (a) of more than 1% of its Ordinary Share (including derivative securities thereof) in either number or voting power to related parties, (b) of more than 20% of its outstanding Ordinary Share (including derivative securities thereof) in either number or voting power or (c) that would result in a change of control, none of which requires shareholder approval under the laws of the Cayman Islands. We intend to follow home country law in determining whether shareholder approval is required.

Section 302 of the NYSE Rules also requires that a listed company hold an annual shareholders’ meeting for holders of securities during each fiscal year. We may follow home country law in determining whether and when such shareholders’ meetings are required.

We may in the future decide to use other foreign private issuer exemptions with respect to some or all of the other requirements under the NYSE Rules. Following our home country governance practices may provide less protection than is accorded to investors under the NYSE listing requirements applicable to domestic issuers.

We intend to take all actions necessary for us to maintain compliance as a foreign private issuer under the applicable corporate governance requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules adopted by the SEC and NYSE listing standards. Because we are a foreign private issuer, our directors and senior management are not subject to short-swing profit and insider trading reporting obligations under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. They will, however, be subject to the obligations to report changes in share ownership under Section 13 of the Exchange Act and related SEC rules.

Controlled Company Exemption

As of July 26, 2022, Stephen Fitzpatrick, our majority shareholder and CEO, beneficially owns approximately 71.9% of the voting power of our shares eligible to vote in the election of directors, and as a result, we are a “controlled company” under NYSE rules. As a “controlled company,” we are able to elect to take certain exemptions from the corporate governance rules of NYSE requiring: (i) that a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors; (ii) to have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and (iii) that our director nominations be made or recommended to the full board of directors, by our independent directors or by a nominations committee that is composed entirely of independent directors and that we adopt a written charter or board resolution addressing the nominations process.

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In the event that we cease to be a “controlled company,” and to the extent we may not rely on similar exemptions as a foreign private issuer, we will be required to comply with these provisions within the applicable transition periods so long as our Ordinary Shares continue to be listed on the NYSE.

Board of Directors

Our board of directors consists of nine directors, three of whom: Kathy Cassidy, Michael Flewitt and Gur Kimchi, qualify as independent directors as defined in the NYSE listing requirements. Mr. Slattery serves as the Chairman of the board of directors. Directors can be elected by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders. In addition, directors may be appointed either to fill a vacancy arising from the resignation of a former director or as an addition to the existing board by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the directors present and voting at a board meeting. A director may be removed by a special resolution of the shareholders (i) for cause (as such term is defined in the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association), or (ii) where the board of directors makes a determination that removal of a director is in the best interests of the Company. Each of our directors holds office until he or she resigns from office.

A director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract or arrangement notwithstanding that he/she may be interested therein and if he/she does so, his/her vote shall be counted and he/she may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of the directors at which any such contract or proposed contract or arrangement is considered. Our board of directors may exercise all of the powers to borrow money, to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, or any part thereof, and to issue debentures, debenture stock or other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any of our debt, liability or obligation or of any third party. None of our directors has a service contract with us that provides for benefits upon termination of service as a director.

Duties of Board Members and Conflicts of Interest

Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe the following fiduciary duties:

duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole;

duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose;

directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion;

duty to exercise powers fairly as between different sections of shareholders;

duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests; and

duty to exercise independent judgment.

In addition to the above, directors also owe a duty of care which is not fiduciary in nature. This duty has been defined as a requirement to act as a reasonably diligent person having both the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and the general knowledge skill and experience of that director.

As set out above, directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position of conflict and this includes a duty not to engage in self-dealing, or to otherwise benefit as a result of their position. However, in some instances what would otherwise be a breach of this duty can be forgiven and/or authorized in advance by the shareholders provided that there is full disclosure by the directors. This can be done by way of permission granted in the Articles or alternatively by shareholder approval at general meetings.

Committees of the Board of Directors

We have established an audit committee, a nominating and corporate governance committee, a compensation committee and a certification committee.

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Audit Committee

The audit committee, which consists of Kathy Cassidy, Michael Flewitt and Gur Kimchi, assists the board in overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements. Kathy Cassidy serves as Chairman of the committee. The audit committee consists exclusively of members of our board who are financially literate, and Kathy Cassidy is considered an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC. Our board has determined that Kathy Cassidy, Michael Flewitt and Gur Kimchi satisfy the “independence” requirements set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The audit committee is governed by a charter that complies with NYSE rules.

The audit committee is responsible for:

retaining and terminating our independent auditors;

pre-approving audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors and related fees and terms;

overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes;

overseeing audits of financial statements;

preparing report with respect to the audited financial statements for inclusion in our annual reports;

reviewing with management and the independent auditor its annual audited financial statements prior to filing to the SEC;

assessing annually the independence of the auditor and the auditor’s internal quality-control procedures;

Discussing with the independent auditor any audit problems or difficulties and resolving disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting;

discussing our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management;

establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters; and

designing and implementing our internal audit function and overseeing the internal audit function after its establishment.

The audit committee meets at least once during each fiscal quarter. The audit committee meets separately, periodically, with management, with the independent auditor, with the personnel primarily responsible for the design and implementation of the internal audit function, and with the internal auditor after the internal audit function has been established.

Compensation Committee

The compensation committee, which consists of Kathy Cassidy and Vincent Casey, assists the board in determining executive officer compensation. Kathy Cassidy serves as Chairman of the committee. Our board of directors has adopted a compensation committee charter setting forth the responsibilities of the committee. The purpose of the compensation committee is to review and approve compensation paid to our officers and directors and to review, approve or make recommendations to the board of directors regarding our incentive compensation plans.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The nominating and corporate governance committee, which consists of Dómhnal Slattery and Stephen Fitzpatrick, assists our board of directors in identifying individuals qualified to become members of our board consistent with criteria established by our board and in developing our corporate governance principles. Dómhnal Slattery serves as Chairman of the committee.

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The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for:

identifying and recommending to the board of directors for its approval nominees for election of directors;

reviewing annually the board committee structure and recommending to the board of directors for its approval directors to serve as members of each committee;

overseeing annual self-evaluations of the board of directors and management; and

reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of corporate governance guidelines and recommending proposed changes to the board of directors for approval.

Certification Committee

The certification committee, which consists of Gur Kimchi, Michael Cervenka, Michael Flewitt and Kathy Cassidy, assists our board of directors in its oversight of the successful and timely achievement of regulatory certification of the VX4 aircraft. Gur Kimchi serves as the Chairman of the committee. Our board of directors has adopted a certification committee charter setting forth the responsibilities of the committee. The members of the certification committee are appointed, and may be removed, by the board of directors with or without cause.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive, principal financial and principal accounting officers. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics addresses, among other things, conflicts of interest, corporate opportunity requirements, confidentiality, competition and fair dealing, financial matters and external reporting, our funds and assets, as well as the process for reporting violations of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and employee misconduct. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is intended to meet the definition of "code of ethics" under Item 16B of Form 20-F under the Exchange Act.

We intend to disclose on our website any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Conduct and Ethics that applies to our directors or executive officers to the extent required under the rules of the SEC or NYSE. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our website at investor.vertical-aerospace.com. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide for indemnification of our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law, including for any liability incurred in their capacities as such. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors. The indemnification agreements provide the indemnitees with contractual rights to indemnification, and expense advancement and reimbursement, to the fullest extent permitted under Cayman Islands law, subject to certain exceptions contained in those agreements. We have also purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.

These indemnification obligations may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. Furthermore, a shareholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.

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Incentive Plans

EMI Option Agreements

Overview

Certain employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries have been granted options under option agreements which, where permitted, are intended to be tax qualifying enterprise management incentive options under Schedule 5 of the UK Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (the “EMI Option Agreements”). The purpose of the EMI Option Agreements is to grant options to recruit or retain eligible employees.

Summary of the EMI Option Agreements

This section summarizes certain principal features of the EMI Option Agreements. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the form of EMI Option Agreement attached as Exhibit 10.6 to this prospectus.

Authorized Shares. 21,656,655 Ordinary Shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to options granted under the EMI Option Agreements. To the extent that any options granted under the EMI Option Agreements would cause the individual limit specified in paragraph 5 or 6 of Schedule 5 ITEPA to be exceeded, the number of Ordinary Shares which exceeds the individual limit will form part of a non-qualifying stock option.

Awards. The EMI Option Agreements provide for options to be granted over Ordinary Shares. Share options are rights to purchase Ordinary Shares at a specified price (the exercise price). Share options will be either non-qualified share options or be tax qualifying enterprise management incentive options under Schedule 5 ITEPA “EMI Options.” The options granted are intended to be EMI Options and are subject to specific restrictions and limitations set out in Schedule 5 ITEPA. Among such restrictions, EMI Options must have an exercise price of not less than the fair market value of an ordinary share on the date of grant. EMI Options will only be granted to eligible employees, and will not be exercisable after a period of ten (10) years measured from the date of grant. EMI Options are also subject to individual and aggregate limits under paragraphs 5 to 7 (inclusive) of Schedule 5 ITEPA. The options granted under the EMI Option Agreements have been granted pursuant to certain time and performance based vesting conditions.

Transferability of Awards. Subject to any rights of the participant to exercise the option following the participant’s death, the options granted pursuant to the EMI Option Agreements are personal to the participant and will not be capable of being transferred, assigned or charged.

Amendment and Termination. Our board of directors may amend the EMI Option Agreements by resolution provided that (i) no alteration will be effective to cancel or alter adversely any subsisting rights of the participant unless such alteration is made with the prior written consent of the participant; and (ii) no amendment will have effect if it would prevent an option from satisfying the provisions of Schedule 5 ITEPA. Our board of directors may amend the EMI Option Agreements without participant consent, as they consider necessary or desirable in order to make them more effective or easier to administer, comply with or take account of the provisions of any proposed or existing legislation, to take account of any takeover, listing or sale of the Company or to maintain favorable tax or regulatory treatment for the Company or the participant.

Adjustment of Awards. In the event of any variation of the Company’s share capital (which includes any variation in the share capital of the Company arising from any reduction, sub-division, consolidation of capital or issue of shares by way of capitalization of profits or reserves or by way of rights or demerger or any other variation of share capital of the Company on any distribution in specie or any special dividend) the EMI Agreements provide that the number or nominal value of the Shares comprised in the Option and/or the exercise price may be adjusted in such manner as the board of directors may deem appropriate provided that no material increase will be made to the aggregate exercise price in respect of the option. Notice of any adjustments will be given in writing to the participants.

Administration. The compensation committee of our board of directors will administer the options granted under the EMI Option Agreements. The decision of the board of directors in relation to any dispute or question affecting the participant or as to any rights or obligations pursuant to the EMI Option Agreements or in relation to their construction or effect will be final and conclusive.

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Options Granted Under the EMI Option Agreements

The following executive officers and directors of the Company held EMI Options (both vested and unvested) as of July 26, 2022:


	Total						Number of
	Number of				Exercise		Options
Participant	Options		Grant Date⁽¹⁾	Vesting Date	Price		Outstanding
Vincent Casey	7,501,407	⁽²⁾	March 15, 2022	• 100% vested on March 15, 2022	$	0.04	7,501,407
Michael Cervenka	5,740,525	⁽³⁾	March 15, 2022	• Quarterly vesting from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025; 100% vested on June 30, 2025	$	0.23	5,740,525

(1)

During the year ended December 31, 2021, each of Mr. Casey and Mr. Cervenka held share options granted over shares in VAGL. On March 15, 2022, each of Mr. Casey and Mr. Cervenka entered into an option agreement with the Company as a replacement option agreement for share options previously granted over shares in VAGL that were exchanged for options of equivalent value over Ordinary Shares in the Company. The share amounts and exercise price information in the above table have been adjusted and represent the replacement values.

(2)	1,347,295 of the shares subject to the option are subject to certain transfer and other restrictions as set forth in form of EMI Option Agreement attached as Exhibit 10.6 to this prospectus.

(3)	1,031,031 of the shares subject to the option are subject to certain transfer and other restrictions as set forth in form of EMI Option Agreement attached as Exhibit 10.6 to this prospectus.

As of July 26, 2022, no EMI Options granted to our executive officers and directors were exercised.

2021 Incentive Award Plan

Overview

In connection with the Business Combination, our board of directors adopted, and our shareholders approved, the 2021 Incentive Award Plan (the “2021 Incentive Plan”) in order to facilitate the grant of cash and equity incentives to its directors, employees (including executive officers) and consultants and its affiliates and to enable it and certain of its affiliates to obtain and retain services of these individuals, which is essential to our long-term success.

Purpose of the 2021 Incentive Plan

The purpose of the 2021 Incentive Plan is to assist us in attracting and retaining selected individuals who will serve as its directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors, whose judgment, interest and special effort is critical to the successful conduct of our operation. We believe that the awards to be issued under the 2021 Incentive Plan will strengthen these individuals’ commitment to our welfare and align their interests with the interests of our shareholders following the completion of the Business Combination. We believe that grants of incentive awards are necessary to enable us to attract and retain top talent.

Summary of the 2021 Incentive Plan

This section summarizes certain principal features of the 2021 Incentive Plan. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the 2021 Incentive Plan.

Authorized Shares. The aggregate number of Ordinary Shares initially reserved for issuance under the 2021 Incentive Plan is 10,456,769, or approximately 5% of the sum total number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares as of the completion of the Business Combination. The number of shares initially reserved for issuance will be increased on January 1 of each calendar year beginning in 2022 and ending in 2032, by an amount equal to the lesser of (A) 5% of the Ordinary Shares outstanding (on an as-converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of Ordinary Shares as determined by our board of directors.

Administration. Our board of directors or the compensation committee of our board of directors have authority to interpret the terms of the our 2021 Incentive Plan and determine eligibility of participants. If any right granted under the 2021 Incentive Plan shall for any reason terminate without having been exercised, the shares not purchased under such right shall again become available for issuance under the 2021 Incentive Plan. The compensation committee of our board of directors is the initial administrator of the 2021

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Incentive Plan (the “Committee”). Under the 2021 Incentive Plan, our board of directors may delegate administration of the 2021 Incentive Plan to another committee or a subcommittee of our board.

Eligibility. Our employees (and directors) are generally eligible to participate in the 2021 Incentive Plan. However, the plan administrator may provide that other groups of employees, including without limitation those who do not meet designated service requirements or those whose participation would be in violation of applicable foreign laws, will not be eligible to participate in the 2021 Incentive Plan.

Awards Available for Grant. The Committee may grant awards of nonqualified share options, ISOs, share appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted share awards, restricted share units, other share-based awards, other cash-based awards, dividend equivalents, and/or performance compensation awards or any combination of the foregoing.

Options. The Committee is authorized to grant options to purchase Ordinary Shares that are either “qualified,” meaning they are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code for ISOs, or “nonqualified,” meaning they are not intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Options granted under the 2021 Incentive Plan will be subject to such terms, including the exercise price and the conditions and timing of exercise, as may be determined by the Committee and specified in the applicable award agreement. The maximum aggregate number of 2021 Ordinary Shares that may be issued through the exercise of ISOs granted under the 2021 Incentive Plan is 5% of the Ordinary Shares outstanding (on an as-converted basis) on the date the 2021 Incentive Plan is adopted by the board of directors. In general, the exercise price per share of Ordinary Shares for each option granted under the 2021 Incentive Plan will not be less than the fair market value of such share at the time of grant or, for purposes of ISOs, if granted to an employee who owns or is deemed to own more than 10% of the combined voting power of all of our classes of shares, or of any parent or subsidiary (a “10% Shareholder”), less than 110% of the fair market value of such share at the time of grant. The maximum term of an option granted under the 2021 Incentive Plan will be 10 years from the date of grant (or five years in the case of ISOs granted to a 10% Shareholder). However, if the option would expire at a time when the exercise of the option by means of a cashless exercise or net exercise method (to the extent such method is otherwise then permitted by the Committee for purposes of payment of the exercise price and/or applicable withholding taxes) would violate applicable securities laws, the expiration date applicable to the option will be automatically extended to a date that is 30 calendar days following the date such cashless exercise or net exercise would no longer violate applicable securities laws (so long as such extension does not violate Section 409A of the Code), but not later than the expiration of the original exercise period. Payment in respect of the exercise of an option may be made in cash, by check or other cash equivalent, by surrender of unrestricted shares (at their fair market value on the date of exercise) that have been held by the participant for any period deemed necessary by our accountants to avoid an additional compensation charge or have been purchased on the open market, or the Committee may, in its discretion and to the extent permitted by law, allow such payment to be made through a broker-assisted cashless exercise mechanism, a net exercise method, the surrender of other property having a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price or by such other method as the Committee may determine to be appropriate.

Share Appreciation Rights. The Committee is authorized to award SARs under the 2021 Incentive Plan. SARs will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the Committee and reflected in the award agreement. A SAR is a contractual right that allows a participant to receive, either in the form of cash, Ordinary Shares or any combination of cash and Ordinary Shares, the appreciation, if any, in the value of an Ordinary Share over a certain period of time. An option granted under the 2021 Incentive Plan may include SARs, and SARs may also be awarded to a participant independent of the grant of an option. SARs granted in connection with an option will be subject to terms similar to the option corresponding to such SARs. The exercise price of SARs cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of Ordinary Share at the time of grant.

Restricted Shares. The Committee is authorized to award restricted shares under the 2021 Incentive Plan. Restricted share awards are Ordinary Shares that generally are non-transferable and subject to other restrictions determined by the Committee for a specified period. Each award of restricted shares will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the Committee, including any dividend or voting rights. Unless the Committee determines otherwise or specifies otherwise in an award agreement, if the participant terminates employment or services during the restricted period, then any unvested restricted share will be forfeited. Dividends, if any, that may have been withheld by the Committee will be distributed to the participant in cash or, at the sole discretion of the Committee, in Ordinary Shares having a fair market value equal to the amount of such dividends, upon the release of any applicable restrictions, and if the applicable share is forfeited, the participant will have no right to such dividends (except as otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement).

Restricted Share Unit Awards. The Committee is authorized to award restricted share unit awards under the 2021 Incentive Plan. The Committee will determine the terms of such restricted share unit awards. Unless the Committee determines otherwise or specifies

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otherwise in an award agreement, if the participant terminates employment or services during the period of time over which all or a portion of the units are to be earned, then any unvested units will be forfeited. At the election of the Committee, the participant will receive a number of Ordinary Shares equal to the number of units earned or an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of that number of Ordinary Shares at the expiration of the period over which the units are to be earned or at a later date selected by the Committee.

Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may grant to participants other share-based awards under the 2021 Incentive Plan, which are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Ordinary Shares. The form of any other stock-based awards will be determined by the Committee and may include a grant or sale of unrestricted Ordinary Shares. The number of Ordinary Shares related to other share-based awards and the terms and conditions, including vesting conditions, of such other share-based awards will be determined by the Committee when the award is made. Other share-based awards will be paid in cash, Ordinary Shares, or a combination of cash and shares, as determined by the Committee, and the Committee will determine the effect of a termination of employment or service on a participant’s other share-based awards.

Other Cash-Based Awards. The Committee may grant to participants a cash award that is not otherwise described by the terms of the 2021 Incentive Plan, including cash awarded as a bonus or upon the attainment of performance goals or otherwise as permitted under the 2021 Incentive Plan. The form, terms, and conditions, including vesting conditions, of any other cash-based awards will be established by the Committee when the award is made, and any other cash-based awards will be paid to participants in cash. The Committee will determine the effect of a termination of employment or service on a participant’s other cash-based awards.

Dividend Equivalents. The Committee may provide for the payment of dividend equivalents with respect to Ordinary Shares subject to an award, such as restricted share units, but not on awards of share options or SARs. However, no dividend equivalents will be paid prior to the issuance of shares. Dividend equivalents may be credited as of the dividend payment dates, during the period between the grant date and the date the award becomes payable or terminates or expires, as determined by the Committee; however, dividend equivalents will not be payable unless and until the issuance of shares underlying the award and will be subject to forfeiture to the same extent as the underlying award. Dividend equivalents may be paid on a current or deferred basis, in cash, additional Ordinary Shares, or converted to full-value awards, calculated and subject to such limitations and restrictions as the Committee may determine.

Performance Compensation Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant any award, including in the form of cash, under the 2021 Incentive Plan in the form of a performance compensation award by conditioning the vesting of the award on the satisfaction of certain performance goals, measured on an absolute or relative basis, for a particular performance period. The Committee may establish performance criteria that will be used to establish these performance goals with reference to one or more of the following, without limitation:

net earnings or losses (either before or after one or more of the following: (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation, (D) amortization and (E) non-cash equity-based compensation expense);

gross or net sales or revenue or sales or revenue growth;

net income (either before or after taxes);

adjusted net income;

operating earnings or profit (either before or after taxes);

cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow);

return on assets;

return on capital (or invested capital) and cost of capital;

return on shareholders’ equity;

total shareholder return;

return on sales;

gross or net profit or operating margin;

costs, reductions in costs and cost control measures;

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expenses;

working capital;

earnings or loss per share;

adjusted earnings or loss per share;

price per share or dividends per share (or appreciation in and/or maintenance of such price or dividends);

regulatory achievements or compliance (including, without limitation, regulatory body approval for commercialization of a product);

implementation or completion of critical projects;

market share;

economic value;

individual employee performance, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or other employees or to market performance indicators or indices; or

any combination of the foregoing.

Transferability. Each award may be exercised during the participant’s lifetime only by the participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the participant’s guardian or legal representative and may not be otherwise assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee, however, may permit awards (other than ISOs) to be transferred to family members, a trust for the benefit of such family members, a partnership or limited liability company whose partners or shareholders are the participant and his or her family members or anyone else approved by it.

Amendment and Termination; Repricing. In general, our board of directors may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the 2021 Incentive Plan at any time. However, shareholder approval to amend the 2021 Incentive Plan may be necessary if the law or the 2021 Incentive Plan so requires. No amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination will materially impair the rights of any participant or recipient of any award without the consent of the participant or recipient, unless the terms of an award expressly provide otherwise. Shareholder approval will generally be required for any amendment that reduces the exercise price of any share option or SAR, or cancels any share option or SAR that has an exercise price that is greater than the then-current fair market value of Ordinary Shares in exchange for cash, other awards or share options or SARs with an exercise price per share that is less than the exercise price per share of the original share options or SARs.

Change in Control. In the event of a “Change in Control” (as defined in the 2021 Incentive Plan), unless the Committee elects to terminate an award in exchange for cash, rights or property, or cause an award to become fully exercisable and no longer subject to any forfeiture restrictions (see below). Otherwise, awards under the 2021 Incentive Plan (other than any portion subject to performance-based vesting) shall continue in effect or be assumed or an equivalent award may be substituted, and the portion of such award subject to performance-based vesting shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable award agreement and, in the absence thereof, the Committee’s discretion.

Adjustments for certain corporate events. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or certain other corporate events, in general the Committee may adjust the number of shares of Ordinary Shares or our other securities (or number and kind of other securities or other property) subject to an award, the exercise or strike price of an award, or any applicable performance measure or other terms and conditions, and may provide for the substitution or assumption of outstanding awards in a manner that substantially preserves the terms of such awards, the acceleration of the exercisability or lapse of restrictions applicable to outstanding awards or the termination of outstanding awards in exchange for an amount of cash and/or other property with a value equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of the award or realization of the holder’s rights (which may include the consideration received by holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with such Change in Control transaction).

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New Plan Benefits

Grants of awards under the 2021 Incentive Plan are subject to the discretion of the Committee and are not currently determinable. The value of the awards granted under the 2021 Incentive Plan will depend on a number of factors, including the fair market value of our Ordinary Shares on future dates, the exercise decisions made by the participants and the extent to which any applicable performance goals necessary for vesting or payment are achieved.

Options Granted Under the 2021 Incentive Plan

The following executive officers and directors of the Company held Options (both vested and unvested) as of July 26, 2022:


						Number of
	Total Number of			Exercise		Options
Participant	Options	Grant Date	Vesting Date	Price		Outstanding
Marcus Waley-Cohen	2,000,000	December 16, 2021	• 100% vested on December 16, 2021	$	11.50	2,000,000

As of July 26, 2022, no options granted to our executive officers and directors were exercised.

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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

The following table sets forth information known to us regarding the beneficial ownership of our Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of July 26, 2022 by:

●

each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of our outstanding Ordinary Shares;

●

each of our executive officers and our board of directors; and

●

all of our executive officers and our board of directors as a group.

The number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by each entity, person, executive officer or board member is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares over which the individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power as well as any shares that the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days of July 26, 2022 through the exercise of any option, warrant or other right. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Ordinary Shares held by that person.

Unless otherwise indicated below, the address for each beneficial owner listed is Vertical Aerospace Ltd., Unit 1 Camwal Court, Chapel Street, Bristol BS2 0UW, United Kingdom.


Name of beneficial owner⁽¹⁾	Number	%⁽²⁾
5% or Greater Shareholders
Mudrick Capital Management L.P. ⁽³⁾	22,995,454	9.9	%
American Airlines Inc.⁽⁴⁾	11,250,000	5.4	%
Executive Officers and Board Members
Stephen Fitzpatrick⁽⁵⁾	150,552,510	71.9	%
Vincent Casey⁽⁶⁾	7,501,407	3.5	%
Michael Cervenka⁽⁷⁾	1,793,914	*
Kathy Cassidy	—	—
Michael Flewitt	—	—
Harry Holt	—	—
Gur Kimchi	—	—
Dómhnal Slattery⁽⁸⁾	3,213,415	1.5	%
Marcus Waley-Cohen⁽⁹⁾	2,660,630	1.3	%
All executive officers and board members as a group (9 persons)⁽¹⁰⁾	165,482,513	75.0	%

*	Indicates beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the total outstanding Ordinary Shares.

(1)	Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property laws, we believe based on the information provided to us that the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by them.

(2)	Percentage of outstanding shares is based on 209,285,392 of our Ordinary Shares, issued and outstanding as of July 26, 2022.

(3)

Consists of: (a) 18,995,454 Ordinary Shares representing Convertible Senior Secured Notes Shares, and (b) the 4,000,000 Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes Warrants. The table above excludes 9,233,599 Ordinary Shares representing the maximum number of Convertible Senior Secured PIK Shares that may be issuable to certain funds, investors, entities or accounts that are managed, sponsored or advised by Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. or its affiliates pursuant to the Convertible Senior Secured Subscription Agreement. Jason Mudrick is the founder, general partner and Chief Investment Officer of Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. Mr. Mudrick, through Mudrick Capital Management, L.P., is responsible for the voting and investment decisions relating to such Ordinary Shares. Each of the aforementioned entities and individuals disclaims beneficial ownership of the Ordinary Shares held of record by any other entity or individual explicitly named in this footnote except to the extent of such entity or individual’s pecuniary interest therein, if any. The address of each of

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the entities and individuals explicitly named in this footnote is c/o Mudrick Capital Management, L.P., 527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

(4)

Based on information reported in a Schedule 13G filed on December 21, 2021, American Airlines Inc. and American Airlines Group Inc. have shared voting and dispositive power over 11,250,000 of our Ordinary Shares. American Airlines Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group Inc. As a result, American Airlines Group Inc. may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the Shares held of record by American Airlines, Inc. The business address of both entities is 1 Skyview Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76155.

(5)

Consists of 150,552,510 Ordinary Shares held directly by Mr. Fitzpatrick. This number includes 1,175,000 outstanding Ordinary Shares that are subject to an option to purchase such Ordinary Shares granted by Mr. Fitzpatrick to Dómhnal Slattery, none of which options had been exercised by Mr. Slattery as of July 26, 2022.

(6)	Consists of options to purchase 7,501,407 Ordinary Shares held by Mr. Casey that are exercisable within 60 days of July 26, 2022.

(7)	Consists of options to purchase 1,793,914 Ordinary Shares held by Mr. Cervenka that are exercisable within 60 days of July 26, 2022.

(8)

Consists of (i) 3,095,915 Ordinary Shares held by Maples Trustee Services (Cayman) Limited as the trustee of Avolon e Trust II, for which Mr. Slattery controls the voting and disposition of the Ordinary Shares, and (ii) an option to purchase 117,500 Ordinary Shares granted to Mr. Slattery by Stephen Fitzpatrick, which shares are currently held directly by Mr. Fitzpatrick, that are exercisable within 60 days of July 26, 2022.

(9)

Consists of (i) 121,863 Ordinary Shares held directly by Mr. Waley-Cohen, (ii) Ordinary Shares representing a 7.8431% membership interest in the 6,869,318 Sponsor Shares held by Broadstone Sponsor LLP, and (iii) options to purchase 2,000,000 Ordinary Shares held by Mr. Waley-Cohen that are exercisable within 60 days of July 26, 2022.

(10)

Includes (i) 154,187,192 Ordinary Shares, and (ii) 11,295,321 Ordinary Shares underlying options that are exercisable within 60 days of July 26, 2022, which excludes the 117,500 Ordinary Shares underlying the option granted to Mr. Slattery by Mr. Fitzpatrick that are exercisable within 60 days of July 26, 2022, which had not been exercised by Mr. Slattery as of July 26, 2022, and were held directly by Mr. Fitzpatrick as of such date.

The table above does not include the Ordinary Shares underlying the Virgin Atlantic Commercial Warrant Shares, the American Commercial Warrant Shares and the Avolon Commercial Warrant Shares because these securities are not exercisable within 60 days of this prospectus.

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SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

The Selling Securityholders may offer and sell, from time to time, any or all of the Ordinary Shares being offered for resale by this prospectus, which consists of:

●

up to 7,900,000 PIPE Shares;

●

up to 155,936,731 VAGL Shares;

●

up to 6,869,318 Sponsor Shares;

●

up to 15,701,067 Ordinary Shares received by the Loan Note Holders pursuant to the LNH SPA;

●

up to 6,125,000 Ordinary Shares received by American pursuant to the American SPA;

●

up to 15,393,600 Warrant Shares;

●

up to 28,229,053 Convertible Senior Secured Shares; and

●

up to 4,000,000 Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Convertible Note Warrants.

With respect to the Convertible Senior Secured Shares, we have assumed the maximum aggregate principal amount of PIK Interest will be issued as paid-in-kind interest payments on the currently outstanding Convertible Senior Secured Notes.

The table below sets forth, as of the date of this prospectus, the name of the Selling Securityholders for which we are registering Ordinary Shares for resale to the public and the aggregate principal amount that the Selling Securityholders may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The individuals and entities listed below have beneficial ownership over their respective securities. The SEC has defined “beneficial ownership” of a security to mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of voting power and/or investment power over such security. A shareholder is also deemed to be, as of any date, the beneficial owner of all securities that such shareholder has the right to acquire within 60 days after that date through (i) the exercise of any option, warrant or right, (ii) the conversion of a security, (iii) the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement, or (iv) the automatic termination of a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, Ordinary Shares subject to options or other rights (as set forth above) held by that person that are currently exercisable, or will become exercisable within 60 days thereafter, are deemed outstanding, while such shares are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing percentage ownership of any other person.

We cannot advise you as to whether the Selling Securityholders will in fact sell any or all of such securities. In addition, the Selling Securityholders may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, at any time and from time to time, the Ordinary Shares in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act after the date of this prospectus, subject to applicable law.

Selling Securityholder information for each additional selling securityholder, if any, will be set forth by prospectus supplement to the extent required prior to the time of any offer or sale of such Selling Securityholder’s securities pursuant to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may add, update, substitute, or change the information contained in this prospectus, including the identity of each selling securityholder and the number of Ordinary Shares registered on its behalf. A selling securityholder may sell all, some or none of such securities in this offering. See the section titled “Plan of Distribution.”

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The information in the table below is based upon information provided by the Selling Securityholders. The securities owned by the Selling Securityholders named below do not have voting rights different from the securities owned by other securityholders. Unless otherwise noted below, each Selling Securityholder’s address is: 140-142 Kensington Church Street, London, W8 4BN, United Kingdom.


	Number of
	Ordinary
	Shares	Number of	Number of	Percentage of
	Beneficially	Ordinary	Ordinary	Outstanding
	Owned	Shares	Shares	Ordinary Shares
	Prior to	Being	After	Owned Before
Name of Selling Securityholders	Offering	Offered⁽¹⁾	Offering	Offering⁽²⁾
BROADSTONE SPONSOR LLP⁽³⁾	6,869,318	6,869,318	—	2.8	%
AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.⁽⁴⁾	11,250,000	11,250,000	—	4.6	%
MICROSOFT CORPORATION⁽⁵⁾	9,920,640	9,920,640	—	4.1	%
ROCKET INTERNET SE⁽⁶⁾	6,280,427	6,280,427	—	2.6	%
KOUROS SA⁽⁷⁾	500,000	500,000	—	*
ROLLS ROYCE PLC⁽⁸⁾	1,400,000	1,400,000	—	*
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.⁽⁹⁾	1,000,000	1,000,000	—	*
CHATSWORTH AVIATION LIMITED⁽¹⁰⁾	5,557,600	5,557,600	—	2.3	%
MAPLES TRUSTEE SERVICES (CAYMAN) LIMITED⁽¹¹⁾	6,086,000	6,086,000	—	2.5	%
AFFILIATES OF MUDRICK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P.⁽¹²⁾	32,229,053	32,229,053	—	13.2	%
VIRGIN ATLANTIC LIMITED⁽¹³⁾	2,625,000	2,625,000	—	1.1	%
STEPHEN FITZPATRICK	150,552,510	150,552,510	—	61.7	%
MARK NICHOLAS YEMM	5,740,525	5,740,525	—	2.4	%
WILLIAM SAMUEL SUGDEN	143,696	143,696	—	*

*	Less than 1%.

(1)	The amounts set forth in this column are the number of Ordinary Shares that may be offered by such Selling Securityholder using this prospectus. These amounts do not represent any other of our Ordinary Shares that the Selling Securityholder may own beneficially or otherwise.

(2)

The percentage of Ordinary Shares to be beneficially owned before completion of the offering is calculated on the basis of 244,139,445 Ordinary Shares (on a post-exercise basis and assuming the exercise of the Convertible Notes Warrants and the Initial Virgin Atlantic Warrants, and the conversion of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes and the issuance of the Convertible Senior Secured PIK Shares), which represents all Ordinary Shares to be offered by the Selling Securityholders hereby.

(3)

The Management Committee of Broadstone Sponsor LLP may only vote or dispose of the shares with the unanimous consent of Broadstone Sponsor LLP’s members, which consists of Hugh Osmond (for Xercise2 Ltd), Marc Jonas, Edward Hawkes (for Overway Capital Ltd), Marcus Waley-Cohen, Matthew Allen (for Molly and the Band Ltd), Stephen Farrugia, Jamie Mount, Tiffany Sword, Rory Cullinan, Philip Bassett and Ian Cormack. The address for Broadstone Sponsor LLP is 2^nd floor, 7 Portman Mews South, London W1H 6AY, United Kingdom.

(4)

American Airlines, Inc. is the direct holder of these Ordinary Shares. The three members of the board of directors of American Airlines, Inc. have voting and dispositive power over the Ordinary Shares held of record by American Airlines, Inc. and approval of a majority of directors is required to approve an action. However, under the so-called “rule of three,” if voting and dispositive decisions regarding an entity’s securities are made by three or more individuals, and voting and dispositive decisions require approval of a majority of those individuals, then none of the individuals is deemed a beneficial owner of the entity’s securities. Therefore, none of the individual members of the board of directors of American Airlines, Inc. is a beneficial owner of the Ordinary Shares and each such member disclaims beneficial ownership of all Ordinary Shares held directly by American Airlines, Inc. American Airlines, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group Inc. As a result, American Airlines Group Inc. may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the Ordinary Shares held of record by American Airlines, Inc. American Airlines Group Inc. is a publicly traded company with common stock listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The address for each of American Airlines, Inc. and American Airlines Group Inc. is 1 Skyview Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76155 United States.

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(5)

The Ordinary Shares held by Microsoft Corporation are beneficially owned by Microsoft Corporation, a publicly traded company with common stock listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The Board of Directors of Microsoft Corporation has investment and voting control over such Ordinary Shares. The address for Microsoft Corporation is One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052 United States.

(6)	The Ordinary Shares are held directly by Rocket Internet SE, and its address is Rocket Internet SE, Charlottenstrasse 4, 10969 Berlin, Germany.

(7)	Represents 500,000 Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Joost Anton Mees. The address for Joost Anton Mees is Kouros SA 17, Boulevard F.W. Raiffeisen, L-2411 Luxembourg (Luxembourg).

(8)

The board of directors of Rolls-Royce Plc from time to time has voting and dispositive power over the Ordinary Shares held by Rolls-Royce Plc. However, under the so-called “rule of three,” if voting and dispositive decisions regarding an entity’s securities are made by three or more individuals, and a voting and dispositive decision requires the approval of a majority of those individuals, then none of the individuals is deemed a beneficial owner of the entity’s securities. As a result, none of the individual directors on the board of directors of Rolls-Royce Plc is deemed to have beneficial ownership of such shares. The address of Rolls-Royce Plc is Kings Place 90 York Way, London, United Kingdom, N1 9FX.

(9)	The Ordinary Shares are held directly by Honeywell International Inc., and the address for Honeywell International Inc. is 855 S. Mint Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 United States.

(10)

Chatsworth Aviation Limited (“Chatsworth”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited (“AALL”), which, in turn, is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Avolon Holdings Limited. Chatsworth is controlled by a board of directors consisting of five directors appointed by AALL. The board of directors of Chatsworth from time to time has voting and dispositive power over the Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by Chatsworth, and the approval of a majority of the directors is required to approve an action. Under the so-called “rule of three,” if voting and dispositive decisions regarding an entity’s securities are made by three or more individuals, and a voting and dispositive decision requires the approval of a majority of those individuals, then none of the individuals is deemed a beneficial owner of the entity’s securities. As a result, none of the individual directors on the board of directors of Chatsworth is deemed to have beneficial ownership of such shares. The address of Chatsworth is Number One Ballsbridge, Building 1, Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland.

(11)

Maples Trustee Services (Cayman) Limited (“Holder”) is the trustee of Avolon e Trust II (the “Trust”), and the shares form part of the property of the Trust. In its capacity as trustee of the Trust, Holder holds the Ordinary Shares pursuant to arrangements under which Domhnal Slattery and Andy Cronin jointly, and not severally, control the voting of the relevant Ordinary Shares, while the disposition of the relevant Ordinary Shares is controlled by 16 individuals associated with Avolon, each of whom controls disposition of the Shares in which he or she has a beneficial interest in the Trust. The address for Maples Trustee Services (Cayman) Limited is PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.

(12)

Represents 32,235,809 Ordinary Shares that consist of: (a) 18,995,454 Convertible Senior Secured Notes Shares, (b) 9,233,599 Ordinary Shares, which represents the maximum number of Convertible Senior Secured PIK Shares that are issuable to certain funds, investors, entities or accounts that are managed, sponsored or advised by Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. or its affiliates pursuant to the Convertible Senior Secured Subscription Agreement and (c) the 4,000,000 Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes Warrants. Jason Mudrick is the founder, general partner and Chief Investment Officer of Mudrick Capital Management, L.P. Mr. Mudrick, through Mudrick Capital Management, L.P., is responsible for the voting and investment decisions relating to such Ordinary Shares. Each of the aforementioned entities and individuals disclaims beneficial ownership of the Ordinary Shares held of record by any other entity or individual explicitly named in this footnote except to the extent of such entity or individual’s pecuniary interest therein, if any. The address of each of the entities and individuals explicitly named in this footnote is c/o Mudrick Capital Management, L.P., 527 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

(13)

The board of directors of Virgin Atlantic Limited from time to time has voting and dispositive power over the Ordinary Shares heldby Virgin Atlantic Limited. However, under the “rule of three,” if voting and dispositive decisions regarding an entity’s securities are made by three or more individuals, and a voting and dispositive decision requires the approval of a majority of those individuals,then none of the individuals is deemed a beneficial owner of the entity’s securities. As a result, none of the individual directors on the board of directors of Virgin Atlantic Limited is deemed to have beneficial ownership of such shares. The address of VirginAtlantic Limited is The Vhq, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex, United Kingdom, RH10 9DF.

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The following is a description of our related party transactions entered into since January 1, 2019 with any of our members of our board or executive officers and the holders of more than 5% of our Ordinary Shares.

Intercompany Loan Facility with Imagination Industries Limited

VAGL entered into an intercompany loan facility agreement with Imagination Industries Limited (“IIL”) on July 1, 2020 (the “Intercompany Loan Facility”). The terms of the Intercompany Loan Facility provide that Vertical may borrow from IIL such amounts in British pounds sterling as may be agreed from time to time. Interest on the outstanding balance of any loans under the Intercompany Facility accrue at a rate of 7% per annum. On December 31, 2020, the outstanding amount under the Intercompany Loan Facility was £6,309,000. On March 10, 2021, the Intercompany Loan Facility was amended to provide for interest to accrue at a rate of 30% per annum for all amounts advanced by IIL under the Intercompany Loan Facility, including past amounts. At the same time, VAGL agreed to repay £737,000 of the loan and reallocate the remaining amount due under the Intercompany Loan Facility, or £9,000,000, to Mr. Fitzpatrick. VAGL settled the loan by issuing 23,220 newly issued class A ordinary shares in the share capital of VAGL to Mr. Fitzpatrick. As of December 31, 2021, there were no amounts outstanding under the Intercompany Loan Facility. Imagination Industries Limited is wholly owned by Mr. Fitzpatrick.

Intercompany Services Agreement with Imagination Industries Incubator Limited

VAGL entered into an intercompany services agreement with Incubator on July 1, 2020 (the “Intercompany Services Agreement”), which was subsequently amended. Pursuant to the Intercompany Services Agreement, Incubator provides finance department services and monthly payroll services to Vertical for approximately £9,000 per month. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, VAGL paid £108,000 and £144,000, respectively, to Incubator for services provided under the Intercompany Services Agreement. The Intercompany Services Agreement expired on December 31, 2021. Incubator is indirectly owned by Mr. Fitzpatrick.

Relationship with Stephen Fitzpatrick

On October 22, 2021, VAGL entered into an agreement with Mr. Fitzpatrick (the “October Loan Agreement”) pursuant to which Mr. Fitzpatrick agreed to provide an aggregate amount of $5 million. Pursuant to the terms of the October Loan Agreement, VAGL agreed to repay Mr. Fitzpatrick, in whole, through the issuance of 500,000 Ordinary Shares at a price of $10.00 per Ordinary Share, which repayment was settled on December 15, 2021.

Relationship with OVO Group Ltd.

OVO Group Ltd. (“OVO”) is controlled by Mr. Fitzpatrick. Mr. Fitzpatrick, our CEO and a member of our board of directors, currently serves as the Group Chief Executive Officer of OVO, and Vinny Casey, our CFO and a member of our board of directors, currently serves as the Chief Investment Officer of OVO. During 2021, we and OVO had an informal arrangement in which we received certain services from OVO, which primarily included sharing an office space in London. We did not pay any fees to OVO under this arrangement. The arrangement was terminated as of December 31, 2021.

PIPE Investment

The Company and Broadstone previously entered into Subscription Agreements with certain PIPE Investors (including American, Avolon, Stephen Fitzpatrick and the Sponsor) pursuant to which, among other things, the PIPE Investors agreed to purchase on the Closing Date an aggregate of 9,400,000 Ordinary Shares at a price equal to $10.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $94,000,000 on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (the “PIPE Financing”). The PIPE Financing closed concurrently with the Business Combination.

American currently owns more than 5% of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. Mr. Slattery, the chairman of our board of directors, also serves as a director of Avolon. Mr. Waley-Cohen, a director of our board of directors, is a member of the Sponsor and holds approximately 7.8% membership interest in the Sponsor.

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Registration Rights Agreement

At the closing of the Business Combination, the Company entered into the Registration Rights Agreement with American, Avolon Warrantholders, the Sponsor and the VAGL Shareholders (collectively, the “Holders”), pursuant to which, subject to certain requirements and customary conditions, the Holders may demand at any time or from time to time, that the Company file a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to register certain securities of the Company held by such Holders.

The VAGL Shareholders include Mr. Fitzpatrick and Mr. Casey, directors and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, respectively.

American SPA

At the closing of the Business Combination, pursuant to the terms of the American SPA in connection with the Business Combination Agreement, American sold its 5,804 Class Z ordinary shares of Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary, to the Company in consideration for 6,125,000 Ordinary Shares.

Lock-Up Agreements

At the closing of the Business Combination, each of (i) the VAGL Shareholders, (ii) the Sponsor, (iii) the Avolon Warrantholders and (iv) American entered into lock-up agreements with the Company.

The VAGL Shareholder Lock-Up Agreement

The VAGL Shareholder Lock-Up Agreement contains certain restrictions on transfer with respect to 90% of the Ordinary Shares received by the VAGL Shareholders pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and excludes shares purchased in the public market or in the PIPE Financing. Such restrictions begin at the Closing and end on the third anniversary of the Closing, with 30% of such Ordinary Shares being released from such restrictions on each anniversary of the Closing, subject to the earlier release of such restrictions if at any time the closing price of Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $15.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing on or after the two-year anniversary of Closing.

The VAGL Shareholder Lock-Up Agreement also contains restrictions on voting rights, pre-emption rights, dividends and other rights as our shareholder, over Earn Out Shares, being 20% of the Ordinary Shares held by the VAGL Shareholders immediately following the Closing. Such restrictions in respect of the Earn Out Shares are released as to 50% on the date the closing price of Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $15.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period and as to 50% on the date the closing price of Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $20.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period. If such dates do not occur prior to the fifth-year anniversary of the Closing then such Ordinary Shares will be forfeited and surrendered to us for cancellation and for nil consideration.

The Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement

The Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement contains certain restrictions on transfer with respect to 90% of the Ordinary Shares received by the Sponsor pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and excludes shares purchased in the public market or in the PIPE Financing. Such restrictions begin at the Closing and end on the third anniversary of the Closing, with 30% of such Ordinary Shares being released from such restrictions on each anniversary of the Closing, subject to the earlier release of such restrictions if at any time the closing price of Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $15.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing on the two-year anniversary of Closing.

The American Lock-Up Agreement

The American Lock-Up Agreement contains certain restrictions on transfer with respect to 90% of the Ordinary Shares received by American pursuant to the American SPA, and excludes shares purchased in the public market or in the PIPE Financing. Such restrictions begin at the Closing and end on the third anniversary of the Closing, with 30% of such Ordinary Shares being released from such restrictions on each anniversary of the Closing, subject to the earlier release of such restrictions if at any time the closing

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price of Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $15.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing on or after the two-year anniversary of the Closing.

The Avolon Lock-Up Agreements

The Avolon Lock-Up Agreements contain certain restrictions on transfer with respect to 90% of the Ordinary Shares represented by Warrant A1 and Warrant A2 (as defined in the Avolon Warrant Instrument) received by the Avolon Warrantholders pursuant to the Avolon Warrant Instrument. Such restrictions begin at the Closing and end on the third anniversary of the Closing, with 30% of the Ordinary Shares held by the Avolon Warrantholders being released from such restrictions on each anniversary of the Closing, subject to the earlier release of such restrictions if at any time the closing price of Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $15.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing on the two-year anniversary of Closing.

Convertible Senior Secured Notes

On October 26, 2021, we entered into the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement with Mudrick Capital Management L.P. (“Mudrick”), pursuant to which, concurrently with the consummation of the Business Combination, (i) Mudrick purchased Convertible Senior Secured Notes of and from the Company in an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000 for an aggregate Purchase Price of $192,000,000, and the Company issued and sold to Mudrick the Convertible Senior Secured Notes in consideration for the payment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) the Company issued to Mudrick 4,000,000 Convertible Notes Warrants.

Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change (as defined in the Indenture), then Mudrick has the right, at its option, to require us to repurchase for cash all or any portion of its Convertible Senior Secured Notes in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes to be repurchased plus, if repurchased before the second anniversary of issuance, certain make-whole premiums, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

The Convertible Senior Secured Notes bears interest at the rate of 7.00% per annum if we elect to pay interest in cash or 9.00% per annum if we elect to pay interest in-kind, and interest is paid semi-annually in arrears. Upon the occurrence, and during the continuation, of an event of default, an additional 2.00% will be added to the stated interest rate. The Convertible Senior Secured Notes will mature on the fifth anniversary of issuance and will be redeemable at any time by us, in whole but not in part, for cash, at par plus, if redeemed before the second anniversary of issuance, certain make-whole premiums as specified in the indenture governing the Convertible Senior Secured Notes. Subject to the terms of the indenture governing the Convertible Senior Secured Notes, Broadstone and VAGL provided full and unconditional guarantees under the Convertible Senior Secured Notes upon consummation of the Business Combination. The Convertible Senior Secured Notes Subscription Agreement also contains other customary representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties thereto.

Relationship with Dómhnal Slattery

On January 27, 2022, the Company and Mr. Fitzpatrick entered into an option agreement with Mr. Slattery, the chairman of our board of directors, pursuant to which, subject to Mr. Slattery’s continued service as Chairman of the Company’s board of directors throughout the vesting period and other terms set out therein, Mr. Fitzpatrick granted Mr. Slattery options to require Mr. Fitzpatrick to sell and Mr. Slattery to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,175,000 Ordinary Shares of the Company for an exercise price of $0.0001 per share, with the option to expire on January 25, 2029.

Director and Officer Indemnification

Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides for indemnification and advancement of expenses for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under Cayman Islands laws, subject to certain limited exceptions.

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We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors. See also “Management — Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors.”

Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions

Our board of directors adopted a written related person transaction policy that sets forth the following policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions. A “related person transaction” is a transaction, arrangement or relationship in which we or any of our subsidiaries was, is or will be a participant, the amount of which involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. A “related person” means:

any person who is, or at any time during the applicable period was, one of our executive officers or directors;

any person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our voting shares;

any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother in- law or sister-in-law of a director, executive officer or a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our voting shares, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer or beneficial owner of more than 5% of our voting shares; and

any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is a partner or principal, or in a similar position, or in which such person has a 10% or greater beneficial ownership interest.

We have policies and procedures designed to minimize potential conflicts of interest arising from any dealings we may have with our affiliates and to provide appropriate procedures for the disclosure of any real or potential conflicts of interest that may exist from time to time. Specifically, pursuant to our audit committee charter, the audit committee will have the responsibility to review related party transactions.

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

The following summary of the material terms of our securities is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of such securities, and is qualified by reference to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (for purposes of this section, the “Articles”), a copy of which is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge to you read the Articles in its entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of our securities.

General

We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability (company number 376116). Our affairs are governed by our Articles and the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands, as amended and restated from time to time (the “Companies Act”).

Our objects are unrestricted, and Section 3 of our Articles provides that we shall have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law.

Our register of members is maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

Ordinary Shares

General

We are authorized to issue 500,000,000 Ordinary Shares. All of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares are generally not issued and legal title to our issued shares is recorded in registered form in the register of members. Holders of Ordinary Shares do not have any conversion, preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to the Ordinary Shares.

We currently have only one class of issued Ordinary Shares, which have identical rights in all respects and rank equally with one another. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.

Our board of directors (“Board”) may provide for other classes of shares, including classes of preferred shares, out of our authorized but unissued share capital, which could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise capital for corporate purposes or for use in employee benefit plans. Such additional classes of shares shall have such rights, restrictions, preferences, privileges and payment obligations as determined by our Board. If we issue any preferred shares, the rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our Ordinary Shares will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of such preferred shares. See “—Variations of Rights of Shares.”

As of July 26, 2022, there were 209,285,392 Ordinary Shares outstanding.

Dividends

The holders of our Ordinary Shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our Board subject to the Companies Act and our Articles. Dividends and other distributions on issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares may be paid out of the funds of the Company lawfully available for such purpose, subject to any preference of any outstanding preferred shares. Dividends and other distributions will be distributed among the holders of our Ordinary Shares on a pro rata basis. Subject to the foregoing, the payment of cash dividends in the future, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board and will depend upon such factors as earnings levels, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, our overall financial condition, available distributable reserves and any other factors deemed relevant by our Board.

Voting Rights

Holders of Ordinary Shares are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of members holding at least a simple majority of all voting share capital in issue at any such general meeting of the Company. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by poll and not on a show of hands.

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A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a merger or consolidation of the Company, change of name or making changes to our Articles or the voluntary winding up of the Company.

The adoption of any ordinary resolution by our shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes permitted to be cast by persons present and voting at a general meeting at which a quorum is present, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes permitted to be cast by persons present and voting at any such meeting, or, in each case, a unanimous resolution in writing.

Variations of Rights of Shares

Under the Articles, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, the rights attached to any such class may, whether or not the Company is being wound up, be varied without the consent of the holders of the issued shares of that class where such variation is considered by our directors not to have a material adverse effect upon such rights; otherwise, any such variation shall be made only with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than two thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the approval of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

Transfer of Ordinary Shares

Any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of their Ordinary Shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form prescribed by the stock exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under applicable law, or approved by our Board, subject to the applicable restrictions of our Articles, such as the determination by the directors that a proposed transfer is not eligible.

Ownership Threshold

There are no provisions under Cayman Islands law applicable to us, or under the Articles, that require us to disclose shareholder ownership above any particular ownership threshold.

Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders

There are no limitations imposed by the Articles on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in the Articles governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.

Anti-Takeover Provisions in the Articles

Some provisions of the Articles may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including a provision that authorizes our Board to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders.

Liquidation

On a winding-up or other return of capital, subject to any special rights attaching to any other class of shares, holders of Ordinary Shares will be entitled to participate in any surplus assets in proportion to their shareholdings.

Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares

Our Board may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 days prior to the specified time of payment. The shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.

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Directors

Our management is vested in our Board. Our Articles provide that questions arising at any meeting of directors shall be decided by the votes of a majority of the directors presented at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present, or by unanimous written resolution of the Board. The quorum necessary for any Board meeting shall consist of at least a majority of the members of our Board.

Each Director shall hold office until the expiration of his or her term, until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

There is no cumulative voting with respect to the appointment of directors.

Directors may be appointed either to fill a vacancy arising from the resignation of a former director or as an addition to the existing Board by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the directors present and voting at a Board meeting. A vacancy on the Board created by the removal of a director may be filled by the election or appointment by an ordinary resolution at the general meeting at which such director is removed or by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the remaining directors present and voting at a Board meeting. A director may be removed from office by a special resolution for cause at the general meeting of the shareholders, or by a special resolution where the Board makes a determination that removal of a director is in the best interests of the Company.

Indemnity of Directors and Officers

Our Articles provide that our Board and officers shall be indemnified from and against all liability which they incur in execution of their duty in their respective offices to the fullest extent permitted under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

Differences in Company Law

Cayman Islands companies are governed by the Companies Act. The Companies Act is modeled on English Law but does not follow recent English Law statutory enactments, and differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the material differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.

Mergers and Similar Arrangements

In certain circumstances, the Companies Act allows for mergers or consolidations between two Cayman Islands companies, or between a Cayman Islands exempted company and a company incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is facilitated by the laws of that other jurisdiction).

Where the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies, the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation containing certain prescribed information. That plan of merger or consolidation must then be authorized by either (a) a special resolution (usually the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the issued Ordinary Shares of the company that are present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon and who vote at the general meeting) of the shareholders of each company; and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that owns at least 90% of the issued shares of each class in a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company.

The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement. If the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands is satisfied that the requirements of the Companies Act (which includes certain other formalities) have been complied with, the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands will register the plan of merger or consolidation.

Where the merger or consolidation involves a foreign company, the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any requirements of those constitutional documents have been or will be

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complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding or order made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the foreign company in any jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee, administrator or other similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs or its property or any part thereof; and (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or other similar arrangement has been entered into or made in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted.

Where the surviving company is the Cayman Islands exempted company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are further required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger or consolidated is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the foreign company; (ii) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company to the surviving or consolidated company (a) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived; (b) the transfer is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company; and (c) the laws of the jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; (iii) that the foreign company will, upon the merger or consolidation becoming effective, cease to be incorporated, registered or exist under the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction; and (iv) that there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation.

Where the above procedures are adopted, the Companies Act provides for a right of dissenting shareholders to be paid a payment of the fair value of his shares upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, that procedure is as follows: (a) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (b) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice of such approval to each shareholder who made a written objection; (c) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his intention to dissent including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (d) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (b) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; and (e) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree a price within such 30 day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30 day period expires, the company (and any dissenting shareholder) must file a petition with the Cayman Islands courts to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached. These rights of a dissenting shareholder are not available in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenters holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date or where the consideration for such shares to be contributed are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.

Moreover, Cayman Islands law has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies in certain circumstances, that will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies. Such transactions, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a “scheme of arrangement,” may be tantamount to a merger. In the event that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedures for which are more rigorous and take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at an annual general meeting, or extraordinary general meeting summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Cayman Islands courts. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:

the company is not proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of its corporate authority and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with;

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the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question;

the arrangement is such as a businessman would reasonably approve; and

the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act or that would amount to a “fraud on the minority.”

If a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights (providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares), which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations.

Squeeze-out Provisions

When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares to whom the offer relates within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Cayman Islands courts, but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, collusion or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.

Further, transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through means other than these statutory provisions, such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, or through contractual arrangements of an operating business.

Shareholders’ Suits

Walkers (Cayman) LLP, our Cayman Islands legal counsel, is not aware of any reported class action having been brought in a Cayman Islands court. Derivative actions have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts, and the Cayman Islands courts have confirmed the availability for such actions. In most cases, we will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to us, and a claim against (for example) our officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based both on Cayman Islands authorities and on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:

a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority;

the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained; or

those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.”

A shareholder may have a direct right of action against us where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.

Enforcement of Civil Liabilities

The Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides less protection to investors. Additionally, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the Federal courts of the United States.

We have been advised by Walkers (Cayman) LLP, our Cayman Islands legal counsel, that the courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive

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and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, and or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.

Special Considerations for Exempted Companies

We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary resident company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:

an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands;

an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection;

an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;

an exempted company may issue shares with no par value;

an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 30 years in the first instance);

an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;

an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and

an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.

“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).

Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability

Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our Articles permit indemnification of officers and directors, to the fullest extent permitted under the laws of the Cayman Islands, for any liability and loss suffered and expenses, including legal expenses, incurred in their capacities as such in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, where civil, administrative or investigative. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors that will provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our Articles.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Directors’ Fiduciary Duties

Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself or herself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty

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of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. A director must not use his or her corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, a director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.

Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe the following fiduciary duties:

duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole;

duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose;

directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion;

duty to exercise powers fairly as between different sections of shareholders;

duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests; and

duty to exercise independent judgment.

Shareholder Action by Written Consent

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. The Articles provide that shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held.

Shareholder Proposals

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.

The Companies Act provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. The Articles do not permit our shareholders to requisition either an annual general meeting or an extraordinary general meeting. However, if an annual general meeting or an extraordinary general meeting is called by the Directors, shareholders who are entitled to vote at the meeting and who comply with the notice provisions in the Articles may put forth a proposal. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings.

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Cumulative Voting

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. As permitted under Cayman Islands law, the Articles do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.

Removal of Directors

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation may be removed for cause with the approval of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under the Articles, directors may be removed by the shareholders only for “Cause” (i.e., a conviction of a felony, the willful misconduct in the performance of director’s duties to the Company in a matter of substantial importance, or mental incompetency that directly affects such director’s ability to perform his or her obligations as a director) by a special resolution (except if the Board makes a determination that removal of a director by the shareholders by special resolution is in the best interests of the Company, then the definition of “Cause” shall not apply). A director will also cease to be a director if he or she (i) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (ii) dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; (iii) resigns his office by notice in writing; (iv) is prohibited by applicable law from being a director; or (v) the director absents himself or herself (for the avoidance of doubt, without being represented by proxy) from meetings of the Board for six consecutive months without special leave of absence from the directors, and the directors pass a resolution that he or she has by reason of such absence vacated office.

Transactions with Interested Shareholders

The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute under its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting stock within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.

Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and for a proper corporate purpose and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.

Dissolution; Winding Up

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board.

Under Cayman Islands law, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its members. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so.

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Under the Articles, if the Company is wound up, the liquidator of our company may distribute the assets with the sanction of an ordinary resolution of the shareholders and any other sanction required by law.

Variation of Rights of Shares

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise.

Amendment of Governing Documents

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the matter, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. As permitted by Cayman Islands law, the Articles may only be amended by a special resolution of the shareholders.

Directors’ Power to Issue Shares

Subject to applicable law, our board of directors is empowered to issue or allot shares or grant options and warrants with or without preferred, deferred, or other rights or restrictions.

Inspection of Books and Records

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, any shareholder of a corporation may for any proper purpose inspect or make copies of the corporation’s stock ledger, list of shareholders and other books and records.

Holders of our shares have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records.

Waiver of Certain Corporate Opportunities

Under the Articles, the Company has renounced any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, certain opportunities where such opportunities come into the possession of one of our directors other than in his or her capacity as a director (as more particularly described in the Articles). This is subject to applicable law and may be waived by the relevant director.

Warrants

As of July 26, 2022, there were 15,265,136 Public Warrants outstanding.

Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below. The warrants will expire on December 16, 2026, five years after the date on which the Business Combination was completed, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

We will not be obligated to deliver any Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Ordinary Shares underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration, or a valid exemption from registration is available. No warrant will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue an ordinary share upon exercise of a warrant unless the ordinary share issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants.

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In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant.

We have agreed to use our commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of a registration statement filed with the SEC and a current prospectus relating to those Ordinary Shares until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement; provided that if our Ordinary Shares are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement. Warrant holders may exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, but we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.361 per whole warrant. The “fair market value” as used in this paragraph shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Ordinary Shares for the 10 trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent.

No fractional Ordinary Shares will be issued upon exercise. If, upon exercise, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the holder.

A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (as specified by the holder) of the Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.

Redemption of warrants for cash when the price per ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00. Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants:

in whole and not in part;

at a price of $0.01 per warrant;

upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrantholder; and

if, and only if, the closing price of the Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described below) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three trading days before we send the notice of redemption to the warrantholders.

We will not redeem the warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those Ordinary Shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.

Redemption of warrants for Ordinary Shares when the price per ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00. Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants:

in whole and not in part;

at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Ordinary Shares (as defined below) except as otherwise described below;

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if, and only if, the closing price of our Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described below) for any 20 trading days within the 30-trading day period ending three trading days before we send the notice of redemption to the warrantholders; and

if the closing price of the Ordinary Shares for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrantholders is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described below).

Beginning on the date the notice of redemption is given until the warrants are redeemed or exercised, holders may elect to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. In such event, each holder of the warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering the whole warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares determined based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Ordinary Shares. The “fair market value” is determined for these purposes based on volume weighted average price of our Ordinary Shares during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, and the number of months that the corresponding redemption date precedes the expiration date of the warrants. We will provide our warrantholders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the 10-trading day period described above ends. In addition, we may, at our option, require all holders of warrants to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis” if our Ordinary Shares are at the time of exercise of a public warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act (or any successor rule).

The exercise price and number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, share split-up, extraordinary dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation.

The warrants are 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 for the purpose of curing any ambiguity or correct any mistake, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding warrants in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders.

The warrantholders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Ordinary Shares and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive Ordinary Shares. After the issuance of Ordinary Shares upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by shareholders.

If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the warrantholder.

We have agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim.

Listing

Our Ordinary Shares and warrants are listed on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “EVTL” and “EVTLW,” respectively.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our Ordinary Shares and warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

We have 500,000,000 Ordinary Shares authorized and 209,285,392 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding as of July 26, 2022.

All of the Ordinary Shares that were issued in connection with the Business Combination are freely transferable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, other than any Ordinary Shares issued to our “affiliates.” The PIPE Shares were registered on a registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-262207) initially filed with the SEC on January 18, 2022, as subsequently amended. The shares issued to our “affiliates” are “restricted securities” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and may be sold publicly in the United States only if they are subject to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirement, such as those provided by Rule 144 and Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act (see description below).

The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part has been filed to satisfy our obligations to register the offer and sale of the Ordinary Shares by us to the PIPE Investors and the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor. We cannot make any prediction as to the effect, if any, that sales of our Ordinary Shares or the availability of our Ordinary Shares for sale will have on the market price of our Ordinary Shares. Sales of substantial amounts of our Ordinary Shares in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market price of our Ordinary Shares.

Rule 144

Pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), a person who has beneficially owned restricted Ordinary Shares for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities, provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and have filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months (or such shorter period as we were required to file reports) preceding the sale.

Persons who have beneficially owned restricted Ordinary Shares for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:

1% of the total number of Ordinary Shares then issued and outstanding; or

the average weekly reported trading volume of the Ordinary Shares during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.

Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

Regulation S

Regulation S under the Securities Act provides an exemption from registration requirements in the United States for offers and sales of securities that occur outside the United States. Rule 903 of Regulation S provides the conditions to the exemption for a sale by an issuer, a distributor, their respective affiliates or anyone acting on their behalf, while Rule 904 of Regulation S provides the conditions to the exemption for a resale by persons other than those covered by Rule 903. In each case, any sale must be completed in an offshore transaction, as that term is defined in Regulation S, and no directed selling efforts, as that term is defined in Regulation S, may be made in the United States.

We are a foreign issuer as defined in Regulation S. As a foreign issuer, securities that we sell outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S are not considered to be restricted securities under the Securities Act, and, subject to the offering restrictions imposed by Rule 903, are freely tradable without registration or restrictions under the Securities Act, unless the securities are held by our affiliates. Generally, subject to certain limitations, holders of our restricted shares who are not affiliates of our company or who are affiliates of our company by virtue of their status as an officer or director may, under Regulation S, resell their restricted shares in an “offshore transaction” if none of the seller, its affiliate nor any person acting on their behalf engages in directed selling efforts in the United States and, in the case of a sale of our restricted shares by an officer or director who is an affiliate of ours solely by virtue of holding such position, no selling commission, fee or other remuneration is paid in connection with the offer or sale other than the usual and

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customary broker’s commission that would be received by a person executing such transaction as agent. Additional restrictions are applicable to a holder of our restricted shares who will be an affiliate of our company other than by virtue of his or her status as an officer or director of our company.

Rule 701

In general, under Rule 701 of the Securities Act as currently in effect, each of our employees, consultants or advisors who purchases equity shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock plan or other written agreement that was executed prior to the completion of the Business Combination is eligible to resell those equity shares in reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with some of the restrictions, including the holding period, contained in Rule 144. However, the Rule 701 shares would remain subject to lock-up arrangements and would only become eligible for sale when the lock-up period expires.

Lock-up Agreements

At the closing of the Business Combination, each of (i) the VAGL Shareholders, (ii) the Sponsor, (iii) the Avolon Warrantholders, (iv) American, (v) the Loan Note Holders and (vii) Virgin Atlantic, entered into lock-up agreements with us, each as described below.

VAGL Shareholder Lock-Up Agreement

The Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement

The American Lock-Up Agreement

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The LNH Lock-Up Agreement

The LNH Lock-Up Agreement contains certain restrictions on transfer with respect to 90% of the Ordinary Shares received by the Loan Note Holders pursuant to the LNH SPA, and excludes shares purchased in the public market or in the PIPE Financing. Such restrictions begin at the Closing and end on the third anniversary of the Closing, with 30% of such Ordinary Shares being released from such restrictions on each anniversary of the Closing, subject to the earlier release of such restrictions if at any time the closing price of Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $15.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing on or after the two-year anniversary of the Closing.

The LNH Lock-Up Agreement also contains restrictions on voting rights, pre-emption rights, dividends and other rights as our shareholder, over Earn Out Shares, being 20% of the Ordinary Shares held by the Loan Note Holders immediately following the Closing. Such restrictions in respect of the Earn Out Shares are released as to 50% on the date the closing price of Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $15.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period and as to 50% on the date the closing price of Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $20.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period. If such dates do not occur prior to the five-year anniversary of the Closing then such Ordinary Shares will be forfeited and surrendered to us for cancellation and for nil consideration.

The Avolon Lock-Up Agreements

The Virgin Atlantic Lock-Up Agreement

The Virgin Atlantic Lock-Up Agreement contains certain restrictions on transfer with respect to 90% of the Initial Virgin Atlantic Warrant Shares and excludes shares purchased in the public market or in the PIPE Financing. Such restrictions begin at the Closing and end on the third anniversary of the Closing, with 30% of such Ordinary Shares being released from such restrictions on each anniversary of the Closing, subject to the earlier release of such restrictions if at any time the closing price of Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $15.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing on or after the two-year anniversary of the Closing.

Registration Rights

At the Closing of the Business Combination, we entered into a registration right agreement with American, the Avolon Warrantholders, the Sponsor and the VAGL Shareholders (collectively, the “Holders”), pursuant to which, subject to certain requirements and customary conditions, the Holders may demand at any time or from time to time, that we file a registration statement with the SEC to register certain of our securities held by such Holders.

In connection with the Equity Subscription Line, we entered into the Nomura Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to which we filed a registration statement on Form F-1 with the SEC on August 8, 2022, which registered 20,000,000 Ordinary Shares that we may elect to sell to Nomura under the Purchase Agreement, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement and the Nomura Registration Rights Agreement.

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MATERIAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following summary contains a description of certain Cayman Islands, United Kingdom and U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares and/or warrants, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase Ordinary Shares and/or warrants. The summary is based upon the tax laws of the Cayman Islands, United Kingdom and United States, and regulations thereunder as of the date hereof, which are subject to change.

Material Cayman Islands Tax Considerations

The following discussion is a summary of the material Cayman Islands tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares. There is, at present, no direct taxation in the Cayman Islands and interest, dividends and gains payable to us will be received free of all Cayman Islands taxes. We have received an undertaking from the Financial Secretary of the Cayman Islands to the effect that, for a period of twenty years from the date of the undertaking, no law that thereafter is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax or duty to be levied on profits, income or on gains or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, will apply to any property comprised in or any income arising under the Company, or to the shareholders thereof, in respect of any such property or income.

No stamp duty in the Cayman Islands is payable in respect of the issue of any Ordinary Shares or an instrument of transfer in respect of an Ordinary Share.

Material United Kingdom Tax Considerations

The following discussion is a summary of the material United Kingdom tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares.

The following statements are of a general nature and do not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential UK tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of Ordinary Shares. They are based on current UK tax law and on the current published practice of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) (which may not be binding on HMRC), as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retrospective effect. They are intended to address only certain UK tax consequences for holders of Ordinary Shares who are tax resident in (and only in) the UK (or, in the case of corporate holders, who are not residents but carry on business in the UK through a branch, agency or permanent establishment with which their investment in the Company is connected), and in the case of individuals, domiciled in (and only in) the UK (except where expressly stated otherwise) who are the absolute beneficial owners of the Ordinary Shares and any dividends paid on them and who hold the Ordinary Shares as investments (other than in an individual savings account or a self-invested personal pension). They do not address the UK tax consequences which may be relevant to certain classes of holders of Ordinary Shares such as traders, brokers, dealers, banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, investment companies, collective investment schemes, tax-exempt organizations, trustees, persons connected with us or our group, persons holding their Ordinary Shares as part of hedging or conversion transactions, holders of Ordinary Shares who have (or are deemed to have) acquired their Ordinary Shares by virtue of an office or employment, and holders of Ordinary Shares who are or have been our officers or employees or a company forming part of our group. The statements do not apply to any holder of Ordinary Shares who either directly or indirectly holds or controls 10% or more of our share capital (or class thereof), voting power or profits.

The following is intended only as a general guide and is not intended to be, nor should it be considered to be, legal or tax advice to any particular prospective subscriber for, or purchaser of, Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, prospective subscribers for, or purchasers of, Ordinary Shares who are in any doubt as to their tax position regarding the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Ordinary Shares or who are subject to tax in a jurisdiction other than the UK should consult their own tax advisers.

The following discussion does not consider the United Kingdom tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership or disposition of the Convertible Notes Warrants.

It is the intention of the directors to conduct our affairs so that our central management and control is exercised in the UK. As a result, we are expected to be treated as resident in the UK for UK tax purposes. Accordingly, we expect to be subject to UK taxation on our income and gains, except where an exemption applies.

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Taxation of Dividends

Withholding Tax

We will not be required to withhold UK tax at source when paying dividends. The amount of any liability to UK tax on dividends paid by us will depend on the individual circumstances of a holder of Ordinary Shares.

Income Tax

An individual holder of Ordinary Shares who is resident for tax purposes in the UK may, depending on his or her particular circumstances, be subject to UK tax on dividends received from the Company. Dividend income is treated as the top slice of the total income chargeable to UK income tax. An individual holder of Ordinary Shares who is not resident for tax purposes in the UK should not be chargeable to UK income tax on dividends received from us unless he or she carries on (whether solely or in partnership) any trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a branch or agency to which the Ordinary Shares are attributable. There are certain exceptions for trading in the UK through independent agents, such as some brokers and investment managers.

All dividends received by a UK resident individual holder of Ordinary Shares from us or from other sources will form part of the holder’s total income for income tax purposes and will constitute the top slice of that income. For the tax year 2022/23, a nil rate of income tax will apply to the first £2,000 of taxable dividend income received by the holder of Ordinary Shares in a tax year. Income within the nil rate band will be taken into account in determining whether income in excess of the nil rate band falls within the basic rate, higher rate or additional rate tax bands. Where the dividend income is above the £2,000 dividend allowance, the first £2,000 of the dividend income will be charged at the nil rate and any excess amount will be taxed at 8.75% to the extent that the excess amount falls within the basic rate tax band, 33.75% to the extent that the excess amount falls within the higher rate tax band and 39.35% to the extent that the excess amount falls within the additional rate tax band.

Corporation Tax

Corporate holders of Ordinary Shares which are resident for tax purposes in the UK should not be subject to UK corporation tax on any dividend received from us so long as the dividends qualify for exemption (as is likely) and certain conditions are met (including anti-avoidance conditions). Corporate holders of Ordinary Shares who are not resident in the UK will not generally be subject to UK corporation tax on dividends unless they are carrying on a trade, profession or vocation in the UK through a permanent establishment in connection with which the Ordinary Shares are used, held, or acquired.

A holder of Ordinary Share who is resident outside the UK may be subject to non-UK taxation on dividend income under local law.

Taxation of Capital Gains

UK Resident Holders of Ordinary Shares

A disposal or deemed disposal of Ordinary Shares by an individual or corporate holder of Ordinary Shares who is tax resident in the UK may, depending on the holder’s circumstances and subject to any available exemptions or reliefs, give rise to a chargeable gain or allowable loss for the purposes of UK taxation of chargeable gains.

Any chargeable gain (or allowable loss) will generally be calculated by reference to the consideration received for the disposal of Ordinary Shares less the allowable cost to the holder of acquiring such Ordinary Shares.

The applicable tax rates for individual holders of Ordinary Shares realizing a gain on the disposal of Ordinary Shares for the tax year 2022/23 is, broadly, 10% for basic rate taxpayers and 20% for higher and additional rate taxpayers. The applicable tax rates for corporate holders of Ordinary Shares realizing a gain on the disposal of Ordinary Shares for the tax year 2022/23 is, broadly, 19%.

Non-UK Resident Holders of Ordinary Shares

Holders of Ordinary Shares who are not resident in the UK and, in the case of an individual holder, not temporarily non-resident, should not be liable for UK tax on capital gains realized on a sale or other disposal of Ordinary Shares unless such shares are used,

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held or acquired for the purposes of a trade, profession or vocation carried on in the UK through a branch or agency or, in the case of a corporate holder, through a permanent establishment. Holders of Ordinary Shares who are not resident in the UK may be subject to non-UK taxation on any gain under local law.

Generally, an individual holder of Ordinary Shares who has ceased to be resident in the UK for tax purposes for a period of five years or less and who disposes of Ordinary Shares during that period may be liable on their return to the UK to UK taxation on any capital gain realized (subject to any available exemption or relief).

UK Stamp Duty (“stamp duty”) and UK Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (“SDRT”)

The following statements are intended as a general guide to the current position relating to stamp duty and SDRT and apply to any holders of Ordinary Shares irrespective of their place of tax residence.

No stamp duty will be payable on the issue of Ordinary Shares.

Stamp duty will in principle be payable on any instrument of transfer of Ordinary Shares that is executed in the UK or that relates to any property situated, or to any matter or thing done or to be done, in the UK. An exemption from stamp duty is available on an instrument transferring Ordinary Shares where the amount or value of the consideration is £1,000 or less and it is certified on the instrument that the transaction effected by the instrument does not form part of a larger transaction or series of transactions in respect of which the aggregate amount or value of the consideration exceeds £1,000. Holders of Ordinary Shares should be aware that, even where an instrument of transfer is in principle subject to stamp duty, stamp duty is not required to be paid unless it is necessary to rely on the instrument for legal purposes, for example to register a change of ownership or in litigation in a UK court.

Provided that Ordinary Shares are not registered in any register maintained in the UK by or on behalf of us and are not paired with any shares issued by a UK incorporated company, the issue or transfer of (or agreement to transfer) Ordinary Shares will not be subject to SDRT. We currently do not intend that any register of Ordinary Shares will be maintained in the UK.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations for U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the ownership and disposition of our Ordinary Shares and Convertible Notes Warrants. This discussion applies only to our Ordinary Shares and Convertible Notes Warrants that are held as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment).

The following does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax considerations arising in connection with the ownership and disposal of our Ordinary Shares and Convertible Notes Warrants. The effects and considerations of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, alternative minimum or Medicare contribution tax consequences and any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the Code, Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the IRS, in each case in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect the tax consequences discussed below. We have neither sought nor will seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS will not take or a court will not sustain a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences discussed below.

This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a holder’s particular circumstances. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

banks, insurance companies, and certain other financial institutions;

regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts;

brokers, dealers or traders in securities;

traders in securities that elect to mark to market;

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

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U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

persons holding our Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale, or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;

persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to our Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants being taken into account in an applicable financial statement;

persons that actually or constructively own 5% or more (by vote or value) of the outstanding issued Ordinary Shares;

“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

S corporations, partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships or other flow-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);

U.S. Holders having a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar;

persons who hold or received our Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants, as the case may be, pursuant to the exercise of any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; and

tax-qualified retirement plans.

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of our Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a “United States person” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants, the tax treatment of an owner of such entity will depend on the status of the owners, the activities of the entity or arrangement and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.

THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCE OF OWNING OUR ORDINARY SHARES AND/OR CONVERTIBLE NOTES WARRANTS TO ANY PARTICULAR HOLDER WILL DEPEND ON THE HOLDER’S PARTICULAR TAX CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU ARE URGED TO CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. INCOME AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU, IN LIGHT OF YOUR PARTICULAR INVESTMENT OR TAX CIRCUMSTANCES, OF ACQUIRING, HOLDING, AND DISPOSING OF OUR ORDINARY SHARES AND/OR CONVERTIBLE NOTES WARRANTS.

Distributions on Ordinary Shares

Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, the gross amount of distributions made by us with respect to the Ordinary Shares generally will be includable in a U.S. Holder’s gross income as foreign-source dividend income in the year actually or constructively received by such U.S. Holder, but only to the extent that such distributions are paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions to a U.S. Holder in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s basis in the Ordinary Shares and thereafter as capital gain. In the event we make distributions to U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares, we may or may not calculate our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles. We currently do not intend to calculate our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles. U.S. Holders should therefore assume that all cash distributions will be reported as ordinary

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dividend income, even if that distribution would otherwise be treated as a non-taxable return of capital or as capital gain. The amount of any distribution of property other than cash will be the fair market value of that property on the date of distribution. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors to determine whether and to what extent they will be entitled to foreign tax credits in respect of any dividend income received.

With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals, estates, and trusts), dividends received with respect to our Ordinary Shares may be considered “qualified dividend income” subject to lower capital gains rates, provided that (1) the Ordinary Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States or we are eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom, (2) we are not a PFIC (as discussed below) for either our taxable year in which the dividend was paid or the preceding taxable year and (3) certain holding period requirements are met. In this regard, the Ordinary Shares will generally be considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States if they are listed on the NYSE, as we intend the Ordinary Shares will be. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for the dividends paid with respect to the Ordinary Shares.

Subject to certain exceptions, dividends paid by us with respect to the Ordinary Shares will generally constitute foreign-source “passive category income” and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to corporate U.S. Holders in respect of dividends received from U.S. corporations.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Ordinary Shares and Convertible Notes Warrants

Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, upon a sale or other disposition of the Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize a capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants generally will be such U.S. Holder’s purchase price for the Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants. Any such gain or loss generally will be U.S.-source gain or loss and will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period in the Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants exceeds one year. Non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gain at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations.

Any such gain or loss recognized generally will be treated as U.S. source gain or loss. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisor regarding the ability to claim a foreign tax credit and the application of the income tax treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom to such U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances.

Exercise or Lapse of a Convertible Notes Warrant

Except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a warrant, a U.S. Holder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the acquisition of an Ordinary Share on the exercise of a Convertible Notes Warrant for cash. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in Ordinary Shares received upon exercise of the warrant generally should be an amount equal to the sum of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Convertible Notes Warrant exercised therefore and the exercise price. The U.S. Holder’s holding period for an Ordinary Share received upon exercise of the Convertible Notes Warrant will begin on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the warrant and will generally not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrant. If a Convertible Notes Warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. Holder that has otherwise received no proceeds with respect to such warrant generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such warrant.

The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a Convertible Notes Warrant are not clear under current U.S. federal income tax law. A cashless exercise may be tax-deferred, either because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either situation, a U.S. Holder’s basis in the Ordinary Shares received would equal the U.S. Holder’s basis in the warrants exercised therefor. If the cashless exercise is not treated as a realization event, a U.S. Holder’s holding period in the Ordinary Shares would be treated as commencing on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the warrants. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the Ordinary Shares would include the holding period of the warrants exercised therefor.

It is also possible that a cashless exercise of a Convertible Notes Warrant could be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized in the manner set forth above under “— Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Ordinary Shares and

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Convertible Notes Warrants.” In such event, a U.S. Holder could be deemed to have surrendered warrants equal to the number of Ordinary Shares having an aggregate fair market value equal to the exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised. The U.S. Holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount generally equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value of the Convertible Notes Warrants deemed surrendered and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such warrants deemed surrendered. In this case, a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Ordinary Shares received would equal the sum of (i) U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Convertible Notes Warrants deemed exercised and (ii) the exercise price of such warrants. A U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Ordinary Shares received in such case generally would commence on the date following the date of exercise (or possibly the date of exercise) of the warrants.

Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise of warrants, there can be no assurance which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise of Convertible Notes Warrants.

Possible Constructive Distributions

The terms of each Convertible Notes Warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of ordinary shares for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed under “Description of Securities — Warrants — Anti-dilution Adjustments.” An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. A U.S. Holder of a Convertible Notes Warrant would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the holder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (for instance, through an increase in the number of Ordinary Shares that would be obtained upon exercise of such warrant) as a result of a distribution of cash or other property such as other securities to the holders of the Ordinary Shares which is taxable to the holders of such shares as described under “— Distributions on Ordinary Shares” above. Such constructive distribution would generally be subject to tax as described under that section in the same manner as if the U.S. Holder of such warrant received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest. However, it is unclear whether a distribution treated as a dividend deemed paid to a non-corporate U.S. Holder would be eligible for the lower applicable long-term capital gains rates as described above under “— Distributions on Ordinary Shares.”

Passive Foreign Investment Company

We will be classified as a PFIC within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code, for any taxable year if either: (1) at least 75% of the gross income of the Company is “passive income” for purposes of the PFIC rules or (2) at least 50% of the value of our assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, we will be treated as owning the proportionate share of the assets, and earning the proportionate share of the income, of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more measured by value of the stock. We are an early stage company and do not expect to realize revenue from our manufacturing operations before 2025. Until we generate revenue, our PFIC status would largely depend on whether we earn non-passive income, such as government grants, and whether the amount of such non-passive income exceeds 25% of our gross income for the relevant taxable year. Moreover, although goodwill relating to our active business is generally characterized as a non-passive asset, the value of goodwill may fluctuate significantly as our market capitalization fluctuates. It is not clear whether our current income, assets and market capitalization could cause us to be or become a PFIC for the current or subsequent taxable years. Even after we start generating revenue, our PFIC status would depend on, among other things, the composition of the income, assets and operations of us and our subsidiaries and there can be no assurances that we will not be treated as a PFIC again in any future taxable year. Moreover, the application of the PFIC rules is subject to uncertainty in several respects, and we cannot assure you that the IRS will not take a contrary position or that a court will not sustain such a challenge by the IRS.

If we are considered a PFIC for any taxable year that a U.S. Holder holds Ordinary Shares or Convertibles Notes Warrants, we would continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such U.S. Holder’s investment unless (i) we ceased to be a PFIC and (ii) the U.S. Holder made a “deemed sale” election under the PFIC rules. If such election is made, a U.S. Holder will be deemed to have sold its Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants at their fair market value on the last day of the last taxable year in which we are classified as a PFIC, and any gain from such deemed sale would be subject to the consequences described below. After the deemed sale election, the Ordinary Shares or Convertible Notes Warrants with respect to which the deemed sale election was made will not be treated as shares or warrants in a PFIC unless we subsequently become a PFIC.

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For each taxable year that we are treated as a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder’s Ordinary Shares or Convertible Notes Warrants, the U.S. Holder will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” (as defined below) received and any gain realized from a sale or disposition (including a pledge) of its Ordinary Shares or warrants (collectively the “Excess Distribution Rules”), unless the U.S. Holder makes a valid QEF election or mark-to-market election as discussed below. Distributions received by a U.S. Holder in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Ordinary Shares will be treated as excess distributions. Under the Excess Distribution Rules:

the excess distribution or gain (including gain on a sale of disposition of warrants) will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Ordinary Shares or warrants;

the amount allocated to the current taxable year, and any taxable years in the U.S. Holder’s holding period prior to the first taxable year in which we are a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary income; and

the amount allocated to each other taxable year will be subject to the highest tax rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as applicable, for each such year and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each such year.

Under the Excess Distribution Rules, the tax liability for amounts allocated to taxable years prior to the year of disposition or excess distribution cannot be offset by any net operating losses, and gains (but not losses) realized on the sale of the Ordinary Shares or warrants cannot be treated as capital gains, even though the U.S. Holder holds the Ordinary Shares or warrants as capital assets.

Once we are a PFIC, U.S. Holders may also be subject to the Excess Distribution Rules with respect to subsidiaries and other entities which we may hold, directly or indirectly, that are PFICs (collectively, “Lower-Tier PFICs”). There can be no assurance that we do not own, or will not in the future acquire, an interest in a subsidiary or other entity that is or would be treated as a Lower-Tier PFIC. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.

If we are a PFIC, a U.S. Holder of Ordinary Shares (but generally not warrants) may avoid taxation under the Excess Distribution Rules described above by making a “qualified electing fund” (“QEF”) election. However, a U.S. Holder may make a QEF election with respect to its Ordinary Shares only if we provide U.S. Holders on an annual basis with certain financial information specified under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. Because we do not intend to provide such information, however, the QEF Election will not be available to U.S. Holders with respect to our Ordinary Shares and a QEF election is not available with respect to warrants.

Alternatively, a U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” (as defined below) may make a mark-to-market election for its Ordinary Shares to elect out of the Excess Distribution Rules discussed above if we are treated as a PFIC. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election with respect to its Ordinary Shares, such U.S. Holder will include in income for each year that we are treated as a PFIC with respect to such Ordinary Shares an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Ordinary Shares as of the close of the U.S. Holder’s taxable year over the adjusted basis in the Ordinary Shares. A U.S. Holder will be allowed a deduction for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the Ordinary Shares over their fair market value as of the close of the taxable year. However, deductions will be allowed only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains on the Ordinary Shares included in the U.S. Holder’s income for prior taxable years. Amounts included in income under a mark-to-market election, as well as gain on the actual sale or other disposition of the Ordinary Shares, will be treated as ordinary income. Ordinary loss treatment will also apply to the deductible portion of any mark-to-market loss on the Ordinary Shares, as well as to any loss realized on the actual sale or disposition of the Ordinary Shares, to the extent the amount of such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains for such Ordinary Shares previously included in income. A U.S. Holder’s basis in the Ordinary Shares will be adjusted to reflect any mark-to-market income or loss. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election, any distributions we make would generally be subject to the rules discussed above under “— Distributions on Ordinary Shares,” except the lower rates applicable to qualified dividend income would not apply. U.S. Holders of Convertible Notes Warrants will not be able to make a mark-to-market election with respect to their Convertible Notes Warrants.

The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is regularly traded on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. The Ordinary Shares, which are listed on NYSE, are expected to qualify as marketable stock for purposes of the PFIC rules, but there can be no assurance that Ordinary Shares will be “regularly traded” for purposes of these rules. Because a mark-to-market election is generally not available for equity interests in any Lower-Tier PFICs, a U.S. Holder will continue to be subject to the Excess Distribution Rules with respect to its indirect interest in any Lower-Tier PFICs as described above, even if a mark-to-market election is made for the Ordinary Shares.

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If a U.S. Holder does not make a mark-to-market election (or a QEF election) effective from the first taxable year of a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Ordinary Shares in which we are a PFIC, then the U.S. Holder generally will remain subject to the Excess Distribution Rules. A U.S. Holder that first makes a mark-to-market election with respect to the Ordinary Shares in a later year will continue to be subject to the Excess Distribution Rules during the taxable year for which the mark-to-market election becomes effective, including with respect to any mark-to-market gain recognized at the end of that year. In subsequent years for which a valid mark-to-mark election remains in effect, the Excess Distribution Rules generally will not apply. A U.S. Holder that is eligible to make a mark-to-market election with respect to its Ordinary Shares may do so by providing the appropriate information on IRS Form 8621 and timely filing that form with the U.S. Holder’s tax return for the year in which the election becomes effective. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors as to the availability and desirability of a mark-to-market election, as well as the impact of such election on interests in any Lower-Tier PFICs.

A U.S. Holder of a PFIC may be required to file an IRS Form 8621 on an annual basis. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding any reporting requirements that may apply to them if we are a PFIC.

U.S. Holders are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to their particular circumstances.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information reporting requirements may apply to distributions received by U.S. Holders of Ordinary Shares, and the proceeds received on sale or other taxable the disposition of Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants effected within the United States (and, in certain cases, outside the United States), in each case other than U.S. Holders that are exempt recipients (such as corporations). Backup withholding may apply to such amounts if the U.S. Holder fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number (generally on an IRS Form W-9 provided to the paying agent of the U.S. Holder’s broker) or is otherwise subject to backup withholding. Any distributions with respect to Ordinary Shares and proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition of Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and possible U.S. backup withholding. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules.

Information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with, and Non-U.S. Holders may be subject to backup withholding on amounts received in respect of, a Non-U.S. Holder’s disposition of their Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants, unless the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes to the applicable withholding agent the required certification as to its non-U.S. status, such as by providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or IRS Form W-8ECI, as applicable, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Distributions paid with respect to Ordinary Shares and proceeds from the sale of other disposition of Ordinary Shares and/or Convertible Notes Warrants received in the United States by a Non-U.S. Holder through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless such Non-U.S. Holder provides proof an applicable exemption or complies with certain certification procedures described above, and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding generally may be credited against the taxpayer’s U.S. federal income tax liability, and a taxpayer may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing the appropriate claim for a refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Defined terms included below have the same meaning as terms defined and included elsewhere in this prospectus, unless defined below. As used in this “Plan of Distribution,” unless specified otherwise, “Selling Securityholders” include the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor for the resale of the Convertible Notes Warrants.

We are registering the resale of (i) 240,154,769 Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share, issued to certain of the Selling Securityholders, which includes 18,995,454 Ordinary Shares due upon the conversion of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes as of the date of this registration statement of which the prospectus forms a part, and 9,233,599 Ordinary Shares that are issuable as PIK Interest and (ii) 4,000,000 Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Convertible Notes Warrants.

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale by the Selling Securityholders of the Ordinary Shares registered hereunder, or any sale by the Convertible Senior Secured Investor of the Convertible Notes Warrants. However, we will receive cash proceeds equal to the total exercise price of the Convertible Notes Warrants that are exercised for cash, or up to $46 million. See “Use of Proceeds.” We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the securities offered by this prospectus, whereas the Selling Securityholders and the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor will bear all incremental selling expenses, including commissions, brokerage fees and other similar selling expenses.

The Selling Securityholders may offer and sell, from time to time, some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus. As used herein, “Selling Securityholders” includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling securities received after the date of this prospectus from the Selling Securityholders as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other non-sale related transfer. We have registered the securities covered by this prospectus for offer and sale so that those securities may be freely sold to the public by the Selling Securityholders. Registration of the securities covered by this prospectus does not mean, however, that those securities necessarily will be offered or resold by the Selling Securityholders.

Sales of the securities offered hereby may be effected by the Selling Securityholders from time to time in one or more types of transactions (which may include block transactions) on NYSE at prevailing market prices, in negotiated transactions, through put or call options transactions relating to the securities offered hereby, through short sales of the securities offered hereby, or a combination of such methods of sale. Such transactions may or may not involve brokers or dealers. In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by the Selling Securityholder may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Broker-dealer transactions may include purchases of the securities by a broker-dealer as principal and resales of the securities by the broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus, ordinary brokerage transactions or transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers. Such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the Selling Securityholders and/or the purchasers of the securities offered hereby for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they sell as principal, or both (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). Any broker-dealers participating in the distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commissions received by any of those broker-dealers may be deemed to be underwriting commissions under the Securities Act. The Selling Securityholders have advised us that they have not entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any broker-dealers regarding the sale of the securities covered by this prospectus.

In addition, a Selling Securityholder that is an entity may elect to make a pro rata in-kind distribution of securities to its members, partners or shareholders pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part by delivering a prospectus with a plan of distribution. Such members, partners or shareholders would thereby receive freely tradeable securities pursuant to the distribution through a registration statement. To the extent a distributee is an affiliate of ours (or to the extent otherwise required by law), we may file a prospectus supplement in order to permit the distributees to use the prospectus to resell the securities acquired in the distribution.

There can be no assurance that the Selling Securityholders will sell all or any of the securities offered by this prospectus. In addition, the Selling Securityholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, or in other transactions exempt from registration, rather than under this prospectus. The Selling Securityholders have the sole and absolute discretion not to accept any purchase offer or make any sale of securities if they deem the purchase price to be unsatisfactory at any particular time.

The Selling Securityholders also may transfer the securities in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors-in-interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus. Upon being notified by a Selling

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Securityholder that a donee, pledgee, transferee, other successor- in-interest intends to sell our securities, we will, to the extent required, promptly file a supplement to this prospectus to name specifically such person as a Selling Securityholder.

Upon our being notified by any Selling Securityholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of securities offered hereby through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing:

the name of the participating broker-dealer(s);

the specific securities involved;

the initial price at which such securities are to be sold;

the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable; and

other facts material to the transaction.

The Selling Securityholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions. In connection with such transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of the securities offered hereby or of securities convertible into or exchangeable for such securities in the course of hedging positions they assume with the Selling Securityholders. The Selling Securityholders may also enter into options or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions which require the delivery to such broker-dealers or other financial institutions of the securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as amended or supplemented to reflect such transaction).

To the extent required, we will use our best efforts to file one or more supplements to this prospectus to describe any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this prospectus or any material change to such information.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission, fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of the gross proceeds of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

We have agreed to indemnify the Selling Securityholders against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The Selling Securityholders have agreed to indemnify us in certain circumstances against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act. The Selling Securityholders may indemnify any broker or underwriter that participates in transactions involving the sale of the securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

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EXPENSES

We estimate that our expenses in connection with the offer and sale of our Ordinary Shares by the Selling Securityholders and the Convertible Notes Warrants by the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor will be as follows:


Expenses	Amount
SEC registration fee	$	204,132.49
FINRA filing fee		*
Transfer agent’s fee		*
Printing and engraving expenses		*
Legal fees and expenses		*
Accounting fees and expenses		*
Miscellaneous costs		*
Total	$	*

*	To be filed by amendment.

All amounts in the table are estimates except the SEC registration fee, the stock exchange listing fee and the FINRA filing fee. Under agreements to which we are party with the Selling Securityholders and the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor, we have agreed to bear all expenses relating to the registration of the resale of the securities pursuant to this prospectus.

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of our Ordinary Shares and certain other matters of Cayman law will be passed upon for us by Walkers (Cayman) LLP. Certain matters of U.S. federal law will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP.

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EXPERTS

The financial statements of Vertical Aerospace Ltd. as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021 included in this prospectus, have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. The registered address of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is 1 Embankment Place, London WC2N 6RH, United Kingdom.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) completed an independence assessment to evaluate the services and relationships with Vertical and its affiliates that may bear on PwC’s independence under the SEC and the PCAOB (United States) independence rules for an audit period commencing January 1, 2019. PwC informed us that it had been engaged to perform non-audit services by entities that were under common control by Stephen Fitzpatrick. These non-audit services are not in accordance with the auditor independence standards of Regulation S-X and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and are described below.

Commencing in June 2020 and continuing through February 2021, PwC provided certain human resources advisory services to an entity under common control by Stephen Fitzpatrick. The fees for these services were approximately £431,000 (approximately $589,000). As part of this arrangement, PwC provided some project management support, which resulted in the provision of a management function. These services had ceased prior to the point at which PCAOB independence had been contemplated or any procedures were performed. The PwC staff members who provided the services are not associated with the audit of the Vertical Aerospace Group Limited financial statements and were not part of the audit engagement team. The total fees received by PwC in connection with the services provided to the entity under common control were immaterial to the entity to which the services were provided.

Commencing in February 2020 and continuing through January 2021, PwC provided permissible pension advisory services to an entity under common control by Stephen Fitzpatrick. The fees for these services were approximately £180,000 (approximately $246,000). The fee arrangement was originally set up as a contingent fee arrangement, which is prohibited under SEC and PCAOB rules, but was changed to a fixed fee and the fee paid was not contingent. These services had ceased prior to the point at which PCAOB independence had been contemplated or any procedures were performed.

PwC noted the non-audit services were entered into with an affiliate under common control with the Company and not to the Company itself and when the entities were not considered affiliates of the Company pursuant to the standards under which the audit engagement was performed (ISAs (U.K.)). SEC independence was not contemplated at the time, and it is only the filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part that necessitates compliance with the SEC’s independence rules from January 1, 2019. Vertical’s board and management and PwC have separately considered the impact that the non-audit services may have had on PwC’s independence with respect to Vertical.

After consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances, management, Vertical’s Board and PwC have concluded that PwC is capable of exercising objective and impartial judgment in connection with their audits of Vertical’s financial statements for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021 and that no reasonable investor would conclude otherwise.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement (including amendments and exhibits to the registration statement) on Form F-1 under the Securities Act. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit certain information from this prospectus that is included in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as part of the registration statement.

Statements made in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document are not complete descriptions of all terms of these documents. If a document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, we refer you to the copy of the document that has been filed for a complete description of its terms. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part completely.

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we will be required to file reports and other information with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K. The SEC maintains an internet website that contains reports and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.

We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about their companies that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this prospectus or in any of the materials that have been incorporated in this prospectus. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to exchange or sell, or solicitations of offers to exchange or purchase, the securities offered by this prospectus or the solicitation of proxies is unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this prospectus does not extend to you. The information contained in this prospectus speaks only as of the date of this prospectus unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.

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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Service of process upon us and upon our directors and officers and the Cayman experts named in this prospectus, substantially all of whom reside outside the United States, may be difficult to obtain within the United States. Furthermore, because substantially all of our assets and substantially all of our directors and officers are located outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or any of our directors and officers may not be collectible within the United States.

We have irrevocably appointed Cogency Global Inc. as our agent to receive service of process in any action against us in any U.S. federal or state court arising out of this offering or any purchase or sale of securities in connection with this offering. The address of our agent is 122 E 42nd St., 18th Floor, New York, New York 10168.

We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel, Walkers (Cayman) LLP, that the courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, and or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.

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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Vertical Aerospace Ltd.


Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021		F-2
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021		F-3
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021		F-4
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021		F-5
Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information		F-6

Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 876)		F-19
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019		F-20
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020		F-21
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019		F-22
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the Year Ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019		F-23
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements		F-24

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income


		6 months ended	6 months ended
		June 30,	June 30,
	Note	2022	2021
		£ 000	£ 000
Revenue		—	66
Cost of sales		—	(25)
Gross profit		—	41
Research and development expenses	5	(19,396)	(7,747)
Administrative expenses	5	(23,466)	(23,890)
Related party administrative expenses	5	—	(127)
Other operating income	4	3,407	9,686
Operating loss		(39,455)	(22,037)
Finance income	6	42,497	—
Finance costs	6	(20,063)	(37)
Related party finance costs		—	(483)
Net finance income/ (costs)		22,434	(520)
Loss before tax		(17,021)	(22,557)
Income tax expense		—	—
Net loss for the period		(17,021)	(22,557)
Foreign exchange translation differences		9,482	—
Total comprehensive loss for the period		(7,539)	(22,557)

		£	£
Basic and diluted loss per share	7	(0.10)	(0.20)

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Items of other comprehensive income may be reclassified to profit or loss.

F-2

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position


		June 30,	December 31,
	Note	2022	2021
		£ 000	£ 000
Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment		1,738	1,834
Right of use assets		2,112	1,969
Intangible assets		4,028	4,208
		7,878	8,011
Current assets
Trade and other receivables	8	14,157	12,658
Cash at bank		157,552	212,660
		171,709	225,318
Total assets		179,587	233,329
Equity
Share capital	9	16	16
Other reserve	9	80,271	63,314
Share premium	9	249,103	248,354
Accumulated deficit		(267,064)	(250,123)
Total equity		62,326	61,561
Non-current liabilities
Long term lease liabilities		1,683	1,580
Provisions		98	95
Derivative financial liabilities	13	92,450	112,799
Trade and other payables	10	6,632	5,975
		100,863	120,449
Current liabilities
Short term lease liabilities		426	362
Warrant liabilities	11	6,187	10,730
Trade and other payables	10	9,785	40,227
		16,398	51,319
Total liabilities		117,261	171,768
Total equity and liabilities		179,587	233,329

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows


			6 months
		6 months ended	ended
		June 30,	June 30,
	Note	2022	2021
		£ 000	£ 000
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss for the period		(17,021)	(22,557)
Adjustments to cash flows from non-cash items
Depreciation and amortization	5	832	330
Depreciation on right of use assets	5	189	70
Finance (income)/costs	6	(22,434)	37
Related party finance costs	6	—	483
Share based payment transactions	12, 6	7,294	16,815
Net exchange rate differences		4,694	—
Income tax expense/(benefit)		—	(4)
		(26,446)	(4,826)
Working capital adjustments
(Increase) in trade and other receivables	8	(1,499)	(7,654)
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables	10	(30,442)	2,160
Net cash flows used in operating activities		(58,387)	(10,320)
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions of property plant and equipment		(167)	(147)
Acquisition of intangible assets		(393)	(349)
Net cash flows used in investing activities		(560)	(496)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from secured convertible notes	13	—	25,000
Proceeds from related party borrowings		—	2,208
Payments to lease creditors		(235)	(87)
Net cash flows (used)/generated from financing activities		(235)	27,121
Net (decrease)/increase in cash at bank		(59,182)	16,305
Cash at bank, beginning of the period		212,660	839
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes		4,074	—
Cash at bank, end of the period		157,552	17,144

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity


		Share	Share	Net parent	Other	Accumulated
	Note	capital	premium	investment	reserves	deficit	Total
		£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
At January 1, 2021		—	—	—	4,117	(5,055)	(938)
Loss for the period		—	—	—	—	(22,557)	(22,557)
New share capital subscribed	9	—	9,000	—	—	—	9,000
Share based payment transactions	9	—	16,739	—	—	76	16,815
At June 30, 2021		—	25,739	—	4,117	(27,536)	2,320


		Share	Share	Other	Accumulated
	Note	capital	premium	reserves	deficit	Total
		£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
At January 1, 2022		16	248,354	63,314	(250,123)	61,561
Loss for the period		—	—		(17,021)	(17,021)
Translation differences		—	—	9,482	—	9,482
Total comprehensive loss		—	—	9,482	(17,021)	(7,539)
Share based payment transactions	9,12	—	749	6,465	80	7,294
Reclassification of warrants	11	—	—	1,010	—	1,010
At June 30, 2022		16	249,103	80,271	(267,064)	62,326

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-5

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021

1General information

Vertical Aerospace Ltd (the “Company”, or the “Group” if together with its subsidiaries) is incorporated under the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Island.

The address of its principal executive office is: Unit 1 Camwal Court, Bristol, United Kingdom. The Company’s shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The ultimate controlling party is Stephen Fitzpatrick.

These financial statements are presented in pounds sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (£’000) except when otherwise indicated. These financial statements were approved by the board of directors on August 4, 2022.

Principal activities

The principal activity of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd (“VAGL”), is the development and commercialization of vertical take-off and landing electrically powered aircraft (“eVTOL”). The Group’s main operations are in the United Kingdom.

2Significant accounting policies

Basis of preparation

This unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial report for the half-year reporting period ended 30 June 2022 has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) applicable to the preparation of interim financial statements, IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

The interim report does not include all the notes of the type normally included in an annual financial report. Accordingly, this report is to be read in conjunction with the annual report for the year ended 31 December 2021.

The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year.

The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial report has been prepared on a historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities (including derivative financial instruments) which are recognized at fair value through profit and loss.

Items included in the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial report are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity and its subsidiaries operate (‘the functional currency’). The financial information is presented in pounds sterling (‘£’ or ‘GBP’), which is the Group’s functional and presentation currency, and all amounts are presented in and rounded to the nearest thousand unless otherwise indicated.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

Basis of consolidation

Vertical Aerospace Ltd is the parent of the Group. Details of the material subsidiaries are as follows:


Name of subsidiary	Principal activity	Registered office	Proportion of ownership interest and voting rights held 2022		2021
Vertical Aerospace Group Limited (“VAGL”)	Development and commercialisation of eVTOL technologies.	Unit 1, Camwal Court, Bristol, United Kingdom BS2 0UW	100	%	100	%

All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous financial year, with the exception of newly adopted policies as discussed below.

Going concern

Management has prepared a cashflow forecast for the Group and have demonstrated the ability for the Group to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future, being at least 12 months after approving this report. Therefore, management has prepared the financial information on a going concern basis.

The Group is currently in the research and development phase of its journey to commercialization of eVTOL technology. It is generating minimal revenue.

Management has prepared a cash flow model detailing the cash inflows and outflows of the Group. There are inherent risks in producing a forecast given the complexities of working in an emerging industry. For example, components needed for the development of the eVTOL prototypes may prove more costly than anticipated. As such, there can be no assurance that the timing and costs necessary to complete the development of eVTOL vehicles will prove accurate.

It is evident that future cash is required for the Group to reach the point where it is due to start generating revenues in its business plan. The cashflow forecast for the Group demonstrates that the Group has sufficient cash to fund its activity for a period of 12 months from the date of approval of this report.

Management has assessed the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern for 12 months by modelling several scenarios of varying activity going forward. Given the level of cash invested into the company and the current trajectory, management has concluded that the Group can continue as a going concern for at least 12 months from the date of approving this report.

Changes in accounting policy

A number of amended standards became applicable for the current reporting period. The group did not have to change its accounting policies or make retrospective adjustments as a result of adopting these amended standards

Property, Plant and Equipment: Proceeds before Intended Use – Amendments to IAS 16

Onerous Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a Contract – Amendments to IAS 37

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018-2020

Reference to the Conceptual Framework – Amendments to IFRS 3.

3Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial information in conformity with IFRS requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial information and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.

The Company’s most significant estimates and judgments involve valuation of the Company’s stock-based compensation or consideration, including the fair value of common stock and market-based restricted stock units, derivative liabilities. This includes the modification of employee option plans as discussed in note 12.

These estimates are based on historical data and experience, as well as various other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Such estimates often require the selection of appropriate valuation methodologies and models and may involve significant judgment in evaluating ranges of assumptions and financial inputs. Actual results may differ from those estimates under different assumptions, financial inputs, or circumstances.

4Other operating income

The analysis of the Group’s other operating income for the period is as follows:


	6 months ended	6 months ended
	June 30,	June 30,
	2022	2021
	£ 000	£ 000
Government grants	1,214	8,999
R&D tax credit	2,193	687
	3,407	9,686

Government grants

At June 30, 2022, the Group had a receivable of £1,241 thousand (June 30, 2021: £8,943 thousand) from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) relating to the research and development of eVTOL technologies. The grant is made to fund research and development expenditure and is recognised in the period to which the expense it is intended to fund relates.

R&D tax credit scheme

The R&D tax credit relates to the UK’s research and development expenditure credit scheme.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

5Expenses by nature

Included within administrative expenses, research and development expenses and related party administrative expenses are the following expenses.


	6 months ended	6 months ended
	June 30,	June 30,
	2022	2021
	£ 000	£ 000
Staff costs excluding share-based payment expenses	12,425	5,546
Share based payment expenses	7,294	16,815
Research and development components, parts and tooling	4,771	2,478
Research and development consultancy	7,936	625
Consultancy costs	990	1,501
Legal and financial advisory costs	1,476	2,060
Software costs	1,438	497
Related party administrative expenses	—	127
Insurance expenses	1,729	15
Other administrative expenses	3,774	1,670
Expense on short term leases	8	30
Depreciation expense	260	162
Amortisation expense	572	168
Depreciation on right of use assets - Property	189	70
Total administrative and research and development expenses	42,862	31,764

Staff costs excluding share-based payment expenses relates primarily to salary and salary related expenses, including social security and pension contributions. Included within staff costs is £6,689 thousand directly and wholly attributable to research and development activity (June 30, 2021: £3,979 thousand).

Certain amounts in the prior period have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

6Finance income/(costs)


	6 months ended	6 months ended
	June 30,	June 30,
	2022	2021
	£ 000	£ 000
Interest paid on convertible loan notes	(7,005)	—
Interest on loans from related parties	—	(483)
Foreign exchange loss	(12,981)	—
Fair value movements	—	(3)
Interest expense on leases	(67)	(34)
Other	(10)	—
Total finance costs	(20,063)	(520)

F-9

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

6Finance income/(costs) (continued)


	6 months ended	6 months ended
	June 30,	June 30,
	2022	2021
	£ 000	£ 000
Fair value movements on convertible loan notes (note 13)	38,124	—
Fair value movements on warrant liabilities (note 11)	4,373	—
Total finance income	42,497	—

Interest on loans from related parties represented the interest charges by Imagination Industries Ltd, a company wholly owned by Stephen Fitzpatrick.

7Loss per share

Basic earnings per share, in this case a loss per share, is calculated by dividing the loss for the period attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the number of ordinary shares outstanding.

Because a net loss for all period presented has been reported, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share. Therefore, all potentially dilutive common stock equivalents are antidilutive and have been excluded from the calculation of net loss per share.

The calculation of loss per share is based on the following data:


	6 months ended	6 months ended
	June 30,	June 30,
	2022	2021
	£ 000	£ 000
Net loss for the period	(17,021)	(22,557)
	£	£
Basic and diluted loss per share	(0.10)	(0.20)

	No. of shares	No. of shares
Weighted average issued shares	178,329,218	115,155,683

8Trade and other receivables


	June 30,	December 31,
	2022	2021
	£ 000	£ 000
Government receivables	7,440	5,415
Prepayments	4,203	6,571
Other receivables	2,514	672
	14,157	12,658

Included within Government receivables is £4,909 thousand for the R&D tax credit receivable (December 31, 2021: £2,716 thousand).

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

9Share capital and reserves

Allotted, called up and fully paid shares


	June 30,		December 31,
	2022		2021
	No.	£	No.	£
Ordinary of $0.0001 each	209,285,392	15,814	209,135,382	15,804
	209,285,392	15,814	209,135,382	15,804

In addition 101,350,565 shares had been authorised for allotment at June 30, 2022.

Other reserves

During the period other reserves increased by £1,010 thousand as a result of the reclassification of warrants (note 11) and £6,465 thousand as a result of the modification of the EMI scheme (note 12); and £9,482 thousand reflecting cumulative translation differences.

Share Premium

On June 5, 2022 a total of 150,000 shares were issued resulting in increase in share premium of £749 thousand.

10Trade and other payables

Amounts falling due within one year:


	June 30,	December 31,
	2022	2021
	£ 000	£ 000
Trade payables	1,861	6,715
Accrued expenses	7,145	26,358
Social security and other taxes	602	7,145
Outstanding defined contribution pension costs	177	9
	9,785	40,227

Amounts falling due after more than one year:


	June 30,	December 31,
	2022	2021
	£ 000	£ 000
Deferred transaction fee payable	6,632	5,975

The Group’s exposure to market and liquidity risks, including maturity analysis, related to trade and other payables is disclosed in note 15 Financial risk management and impairment of financial assets.

F-11

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

11Warrant Liability

As at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 the following warrants were issued but not exercised and therefore recorded as a liability:


	June 30,	December 31,
	2022	2021
	Number	Number
Public Warrants	15,265,136	15,265,146
Mudrick Warrants	4,000,000	4,000,000
MWC Options	—	2,000,000
Outstanding, end of period	19,265,136	21,265,146

Recorded as a liability, the following shows the change in fair value during the period ended June 30, 2022:


		£ 000
December 31, 2021		10,730
Addition/(Disposal) of private placement warrants		—
Reclassification of MWC Options to equity		(1,010)
Change in fair value		(4,373)
Exchange differences on translation		840
June 30, 2022		6,187

Each public warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase 1 share of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. Once the public warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the public warrants at a price of $0.01 per public warrant if the closing price of the common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period.

12Share-based payments

Scheme details and movements

On September 11, 2020, the VAGL implemented an Enterprise Management Incentive (“EMI”) scheme. An EMI scheme is a tax advantaged share scheme that can be operated by qualifying companies. The scheme comprised options over B ordinary shares which are exercisable over a set period, dependent upon when the employee joined the scheme.

On March 15, 2022 the scheme was modified. This modification reflects the revised capital structure of the Company following completion of the Business Combination transaction. As part of this modification, all option holders exchanged their options held in VAGL for newly issued options in the Company. This modification resulted in a charge of £6,545 thousand, which is reflected in this financial information.

F-12

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

12Share-based payments (continued)

The movements in the number of EMI share options during the period were as follows:


	June 30,	December 31,
	2022	2021
	Number	Number
Outstanding, start of period	19,670	16,817
Granted during the period	—	3,147
Grant arising due to scheme modification	23,213,933	—
Forfeited during the period	(1,576,948)	(294)
Outstanding, end of period	21,656,655	19,670

In addition, Marcus Waley-Cohen (MWC) was granted 2,000,000 options during the period ending December 31, 2021.

The original EMI share options granted were all granted prior to March 31, 2021. The modification that occurred on March 15, 2022 resulted in 23,213,933 additional replacement options being granted.

The movements in the weighted average exercise price of share options during the period were as follows:


	June 30,	December 31,
	2022	2021
	£	£
Outstanding, start of period	308.06	143.28
Granted during the period	—	1,178.94
Grant arising due to scheme modification	0.23	—
Forfeited during the period	0.83	204.00
Outstanding, end of period	0.19	308.06

The exercise price of share options granted during the period is based upon the modification of the scheme to reflect the revised capital structure of the Company.

Outstanding share options

Details of share options outstanding at the end of the period are as follows:


	June 30,	December 31,
	2022	2021
Weighted average exercise price (£)	0.19	308.06
Number of share options outstanding	21,656,655	19,670
Expected weighted average remaining vesting period (years)	2.64	1.12

The number of options which were exercisable at June 30, 2022 were 9,594,507 (December 31, 2021: 7,715) with exercise prices ranging from £0.03 to £1.18.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

12Share-based payments (continued)

Fair value of options granted

The weighted average fair value per option of options granted during the period at measurement date was £0.52 (December 31, 2021: £31.97).

The option pricing model used was Black Scholes and the main inputs are set out in the table below.


	June 30,	December 31,
	2022	2021
Average share price at date of grant (£)	5.38	492.42
Expected volatility (%)	50.00	50.00
Vesting period in years	2.75	4.00
Risk-free interest rate (%)	1.25	0.28

Volatility

Given the lack of share price history, volatility has been estimated with reference to other industry competitors, on a listed stock market, with a premium attached for various uncertainties.

Share based payments charge

During the period, a charge of £6,465 thousand was recognised within other reserves and £80 thousand within retained earnings for equity settled share-based payment transactions in relation to employees (June 30, 2021: £76 thousand). An additional £749 thousand was recognised with respect to third parties. Refer to note 5 Expenses by nature.

13Derivative financial liabilities

Convertible Senior Secured Notes consists of the following:


		Mudrick
		£ 000
As at December 31, 2021		112,799
Fair value movements		(38,124)
Interest paid		7,005
Exchange differences on translation		10,770
As at June 30, 2022		92,450

On December 16, 2021 Mudrick Capital Management purchased Convertible Senior Secured Notes of an aggregate principal amount of £151,000 thousand ($200,000 thousand) for an aggregate purchase price of £145,000 thousand ($192,000 thousand). The Convertible Senior Secured Notes are initially convertible into up to 18,181,820 ordinary shares at an initial conversion rate of 90.9091 ordinary shares per £824 ($1,000).

In accordance with IFRS 9, this is treated as a hybrid instrument and is designated it in entirety as fair value through profit or loss. The valuation methods and assumptions are shown in note 14.

F-14

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

13Derivative financial liabilities (continued)

The Company has elected pay interest in-kind at 9% per annum. Interest is paid semi-annually in arrears and on June 15, 2022 the Company authorised the payment of interest by increasing the nominal amount of the outstanding Convertible Senior Secured Notes by £7,005 thousand ($8,950 thousand).

Several covenants exist including retention of $10 million cash. Accordingly, cash at bank includes £8,235 thousand deemed to be restricted as at June 30, 2022.

14Financial instruments

To provide an indication about the reliability of the inputs used in determining fair value, the Company classifies its financial instruments into the three levels prescribed under the accounting standards.

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit and loss:


	June 30, 2022			December 31, 2021
	£000			£000
	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Convertible Senior Secured Notes	—	—	92,450	—	—	112,799
Warrant liabilities	6,187	—	—	10,730	—	—
	6,187	—	92,450	10,730	—	112,799

The fair value of financial instruments is deemed to be equivalent to the carrying value.

Level 1: The fair value of financial instruments traded in active is based on quoted market prices at the end of the reporting period. As such, warrants issued but not exercised are valued with reference to the observable market price as at the period end date ($0.39 per warrant).

Level 3: If one or more of the significant inputs is not based on observable market data, the instrument is included in level 3. This is the case for the issued Convertible Senior Secured Notes.

The fair value of the convertible senior secured notes has been estimated using a binomial lattice framework. The following inputs have been used:


	June 30, 2022		December 31, 2021
Risk-free rate	3.00	%	1.25	%
Dividend yield	0		0
Volatility	52.5	%	52.5	%
Credit spread	21.8	%	21.8	%

No changes were made during the period ended June 30, 2022 to the valuation techniques applied as at December 31, 2021.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

15Financial risk management and impairment of financial assets

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks including market risk, credit risk, foreign exchange risk and liquidity risk.

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations, arising principally from prepayments to suppliers and deposits with the Group’s bank.

Also included in Cash at bank is £8,235 thousand deemed to be restricted as at June 30, 2022.

The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. Therefore, the maximum exposure to credit risk at the balance sheet date was £9,248 thousand (December 31, 2021: £672 thousand) being the total of the carrying amount of financial assets, including contractual receivables but excluding R&D tax credits receivables and cash.

The allowance account of trade receivables is used to record impairment losses unless the Group is satisfied that no recovery of the amount owing is possible; at that point the amounts considered irrecoverable are written off against the trade receivables directly. The Group provides for impairment losses based on estimated irrecoverable amounts determined by reference to specific circumstances and the experience of management of debtor default in the industry.

On that basis, the loss allowance as at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was determined as £NaN for trade receivables.

Market risk

Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates, interest rates and equity prices will affect the Group’s financial position. The Group’s principal exposure to market risk is exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations. There are currently no currency forwards, options, or swaps to hedge this exposure.

Foreign exchange risk

The Group is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from exposure to various currencies in the ordinary course of business. The Group received funding in USD, and subsequently holds cash in both USD and GBP. The majority of the Group’s trading costs are in GBP. The Group also has supply contracts denominated in USD and EUR. The Group holds sufficient cash in both USD and GBP to satisfy its trading costs in each of these currencies. The Company may be exposed to material foreign exchange risk in subsequent period as a result of the significance of the USD denominated Convertible Senior Secured Notes in particular relative to USD cash deposits held (which were $47,999 thousand at June 30, 2022) and which are expected to decline as expenses are incurred until future funding is secured.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Group’s management uses short and long-term cash flow forecasts to manage liquidity risk. Forecasts are supplemented by sensitivity analysis which is used to assess funding adequacy for at least a 12-month period. The Company manages its cash resources to ensure it has sufficient funds to meet all expected demands as they fall due.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

15 Financial risk management and impairment of financial assets (continued)

Maturity analysis


		Between 2 and 5	After more than
	Within 1 year	years	5 years	Total
30 June 2022	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Trade and other payables	9,785	6,730	—	16,515
Lease liabilities	426	1,515	168	2,109
Convertible senior secured notes	—	92,450	—	92,450
	10,211	100,695	168	111,074

31 December 2021
Trade and other payables	40,227	5,975	—	46,202
Lease liabilities	362	1,343	237	1,942
Convertible senior secured notes	—	112,799	—	112,799
	40,589	120,117	237	160,943

Capital management

The Group’s objective when managing capital is to ensure the Group continues as a going concern; and grows in a sustainable manner. Given the ongoing development of eVTOL aircraft with minimal revenues, the Group relies on funding raised from the Business Combination transaction and other equity investors. Cash flow forecasting is performed on a regular basis which includes rolling forecasts of the Group’s liquidity requirements to ensure that the Group has sufficient cash to meet operational needs.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Information for the six months ended

June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 (continued)

16Related party transactions

Key management personnel compensation

Key management personnel are the members of the Board.


	June 30,	June 30,
	2022	2021
	£ 000	£ 000
Salaries and other short term employee benefits	629	140
Payments to defined contribution pension schemes	8	7
Share-based payments	79	76
	716	223

On September 11, 2020, the Group implemented an Enterprise Management Incentive scheme. The scheme comprises options over ordinary shares which are exercisable over a set period, dependent upon when the employee joined the scheme.

Reflecting the Company structure at the time, the individuals eligible and included within this scheme were key employees at the time of option granting. Therefore, the charge recognised upon the vesting of these options is included within key management personal compensation.

The impact of the modification to this scheme on March 15, 2022 is not included within key management personnel compensation.

The total charge recognised in relation to this modification is £6,545 thousand, of which £4,434 thousand relates to individuals who are members of the Board as at the date of the modification.

Summary of transactions with other related parties

During the period ending June 30, 2022 Imagination Industries Ltd did not pay compensation to any Directors (2021: NaN) on behalf of the Group; did not advance any loan funds (June 30, 2021: £2,945,000) to the Group; and did not charge the Group any management fees (June 30, 2021: £127,000).

On 1 January, 2022 Domhnal Slattery was appointed chairman of the board of directors since January 2022. Domhnal Slattery is also the Chief Executive Officer of Avolon.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of financial position of Vertical Aerospace Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, of changes in equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Bristol, United Kingdom

April 28, 2022

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2017.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019


	Note	2021	2020	2019
		£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Revenue	5	132	87	70
Cost of sales		(64)	(44)	(66)
Gross profit		68	43	4
Research and development expenses	7	(24,291)	(9,971)	(5,153)
Administrative expenses	7	(264,260)	(3,760)	(2,554)
Related party administrative expenses	7	(108)	(144)	(144)
Other operating income	6	11,352	2,317	399
Operating loss		(277,239)	(11,515)	(7,448)
Finance income/(costs)	8	32,498	(98)	(66)
Related party finance costs	8	(483)	(709)	—
Total finance income/(cost)	8	32,015	(807)	(66)
Loss before tax		(245,224)	(12,322)	(7,514)
Income tax expense	10	—	(4)	30
Net loss for the period		(245,224)	(12,326)	(7,484)
Foreign exchange translation differences		(85)	—	—
Total comprehensive loss for the year		(245,309)	(12,326)	(7,484)

		£	£	£
Basic and diluted loss per share	9	(1.98)	(0.12)	(0.07)

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020


		December 31,	December 31,
	Note	2021	2020
		£ 000	£ 000
Current Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment	11	1,834	1,422
Right of use assets	12	1,969	1,062
Intangible assets	13	4,208	2,030
		8,011	4,514
Current assets
Trade and other receivables	15	12,658	3,532
Cash at bank		212,660	839
		225,318	4,371
Total assets		233,329	8,885
Equity
Share capital	16	16	—
Other reserve	16	63,314	4,117
Share premium	16	248,354	—
Accumulated deficit		(250,123)	(5,055)
Total equity		61,561	(938)
Non-current liabilities
Lease liabilities	18	1,580	846
Provisions	19	95	88
Derivative financial liabilities	24	112,799	—
Trade and other payables	20	5,975	—
		120,449	934
Current liabilities
Lease liabilities	18	362	175
Warrant liabilities	21	10,730	—
Trade and other payables	20	40,227	2,401
Loans from related parties	17	—	6,309
Income tax liability		—	4
		51,319	8,889
Total liabilities		171,768	9,823
Total equity and liabilities		233,329	8,885

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-21

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019


	Note	2021	2020	2019
		£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss for the period		(245,224)	(12,326)	(7,484)
Adjustments to cash flows from non-cash items
Depreciation and amortization	11,13	765	542	159
Depreciation on right of use assets	12	177	140	171
Finance (income)/costs	8	(32,498)	98	66
Related party finance costs	8	483	709	—
Share based payment transactions	7	101,608	96	—
Warrant expense	7	111,611	—	—
Net exchange differences		853	—	—
Income tax expense	10	—	4	(30)
		(62,225)	(10,737)	(7,118)
Working capital adjustments
Increase in trade and other receivables	15	(9,126)	(2,062)	(848)
Increase in trade and other payables	20	43,801	787	683
Net cash flows used in operating activities		(27,550)	(12,012)	(7,283)
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of subsidiaries net of cash		—	—	(731)
Acquisitions of property plant and equipment	11	(790)	(155)	(1,527)
Acquisition of intangible assets	13	(2,565)	(233)	(575)
Deferred consideration payments		1	(300)	—
Net cash flows used in investing activities		(3,354)	(688)	(2,833)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from convertible loan notes	24	166,981	—	—
Proceeds from related party borrowings	27	2,945	5,600	—
Repayment of related party borrowings	27	(737)	—	—
Payments to lease creditors	18	(240)	(220)	(130)
Proceeds from related party investment	27	3,779	—	—
Cash acquired as part of Business Combination	7	4,728	—	—
Proceeds from PIPE		67,257	—	—
Movement in net parent investment		—	7,130	11,003
Net cash flows generated from financing activities		244,713	12,510	10,873
Net increase/(decrease) in cash at bank		213,809	(190)	757
Cash at bank as at January 1		839	1,029	272
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes		(1,988)	—	—
Cash at bank as at December 31		212,660	839	1,029

Non-cash financing activities disclosed in other notes relate to the capital reorganisation. For more information see notes 2, 3 and 7. The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the Year Ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019


		Share	Other	Net parent	Accumulated
	Note	capital	reserves	investment	deficit	Total
		£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
At January 1, 2019		0	0	643	0	643
Total comprehensive loss		0	0	(7,484)	0	(7,484)
Movement in net parent investment		0	0	11,003	0	11,003
At December 31, 2019		0	0	4,162	0	4,162


		Share	Other	Net parent	Accumulated
	Note	capital	reserves	investment	deficit	Total
		£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
At January 1, 2020		0	0	4,162	0	4,162
Total comprehensive loss		0	0	(7,175)	(5,151)	(12,326)
Share based payment transactions		0	0	0	96	96
Movement in net parent investment		—	0	7,130	0	7,130
Transfer to Other reserves		0	4,117	(4,117)	0	—
At December 31, 2020		0	4,117	0	(5,055)	(938)


		Share	Share	Other	Accumulated	Total
	Note	capital	premium	reserves	deficit	£ 000
		£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
At January 1, 2021		—	—	4,117	(5,055)	(938)
Loss for the year		—	—	—	(245,224)	(245,224)
Translation differences		—	—	(85)	—	(85)
Total comprehensive loss		—	—	(85)	(245,224)	(245,309)
Share based payment transactions	23	—	—	—	156	156
Share acquisition	16	16	—	50,724	—	50,740
PIPE investment	16	—	71,036	—	—	71,036
Capital reorganization	7	—	74,265	—	—	74,265
Issuance of warrants	21	—	103,053	8,558	—	111,611
At December 31, 2021		16	248,354	63,314	(250,123)	61,561

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021

1General information

Vertical Aerospace Ltd (the “Company”, or the “Group” if together with its subsidiaries) is incorporated under the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Island.

The address of its principal executive office is: Unit 1 Camwal Court, Bristol, United Kingdom.

The Company’s shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The Group’s main operations are in the United Kingdom.

These financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (£’000) except where otherwise indicated.

These financial statements were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on April 28, 2022.

Principal activities

The principal activity of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd (“VAGL”), is the development and commercialization of vertical take-off and landing electrically powered aircraft (“eVTOL”). VAGL became a subsidiary of the Company on December 15, 2021 as part of the reorganization (as described below).

Prior to December 15, 2021, the Company was a shell company with no active trade or business, and all relevant assets and liabilities, as well as income and expenses, were borne by VAGL. Therefore, the comparatives of 2020 and 2019 in these consolidated financial statements reflects the financial position and results of operations of VAGL.

2Significant accounting policies

Presentation of these financial statements

The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).

The capital reorganization

On December 15, 2021 the Company consummated the capital reorganization pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement dated June 10, 2021.

On the closing date the Company acquired all of the ordinary shares of VAGL, from VAGL shareholders, in consideration for the issuance of ordinary shares in the Company, by way of a share for share exchange (the “share acquisition”), such that VAGL became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

At the same time Broadstone (Broadstone Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company), a special purpose acquisition company, merged with and into Merger Sub (Vertical Merger Sub Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company).

As a result of which (a) the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub ceased and Broadstone continued as the surviving company, (b) each issued and outstanding security of Broadstone was cancelled, in exchange for an equivalent security of the Company, (c) each issued and outstanding founder share was transferred to the Company, in consideration for 1 Company ordinary share.

Additionally, certain investors concurrently subscribed for and purchased £71,594 thousand of ordinary shares of the Company (“PIPE Financing”).

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

The Business Combination is accounted for as a capital reorganization in accordance with IFRS. Under this method of accounting, Broadstone is treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Business Combination is treated as the equivalent of the VAGL issuing shares at the closing of the Business Combination for the net assets of Broadstone as of the closing date, accompanied by a recapitalization.

The reorganization, which was not within the scope of IFRS 3 since Broadstone did not meet the definition of a business, was accounted for within the scope of IFRS 2. Accordingly, the Company recorded a one-time non-cash expense of £84,712 thousand, recognized as a share listing expense, based on the excess of the fair value of Company shares issued considering a fair value of a share, at $10.68 per share over the fair value of Broadstone’s identifiable net assets (see note 7).

The Business Combination generated gross cash proceeds of approximately £218,303 thousand, including £71,594 thousand proceeds from the PIPE Financing. This also included £141,981 thousand from Convertible Senior Secured Notes, consummated simultaneously with the Business Combination.

Basis of preparation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities (including derivative financial instruments) which are recognized at fair value through profit or loss.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the company’s accounting policies.

The functional currency of the Company is US Dollars (‘$’ or ‘USD’) and the functional currency of VAGL is pounds sterling (‘£’ or ‘GBP’). The financial statements are presented in pounds sterling (‘£’ or ‘GBP’), which is the Group’s presentation currency. Items included in the financial statements are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity and its subsidiaries operate (“the functional currency”). Cumulative translation adjustments resulting from translating foreign functional currency financial statements into GBP are reported within other reserves. All amounts are presented in and rounded to the nearest thousand unless otherwise indicated.

Basis of consolidation

Vertical Aerospace Ltd is the parent of the Group. Details of the material subsidiaries are as follows:


			Proportion of
			ownership
			interest and
			voting rights held
Name of subsidiary	Principal activity	Registered office	2021		2020
Vertical Aerospace Group Limited (“VAGL”)	Development and commercialization of eVTOL technologies.	Unit 1, Camwal Court, Bristol, United Kingdom BS2 0UW	100	%	—	%

On October 31, 2021 the VAGL disposed of its 100% investment in Vertical Aerospace Engineering Limited for nominal consideration.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial positions and the results of operations of the Group. Control is achieved when the Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the Company using consistent accounting policies. Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealized gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated.

COVID-19 Pandemic

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a global pandemic. The rapid spread of COVID-19 caused volatility and disruption in financial markets and prompted governments and businesses to take unprecedented measures such as travel restrictions, quarantines, shelter-in-place orders, and business shutdowns. These measures resulted in the majority of the Group’s workforce working from home with a small number of teams remaining onsite. We continue to take actions as may be recommended by government authorities or in the best interests of our employees.

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Going concern

The Group is currently in the research and development phase of its journey to commercialization of eVTOL technology. It is generating minimal revenue.

Several scenarios have been modelled and it is evident that future cash is required for the Group to reach the point where it is due to start generating revenues in its business plan. However, given the level of cash invested into the company and the current trajectory, management has concluded that no material uncertainties exist about the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern for at least 12 months from the date of approving these financial statements.

Changes in accounting policy

The Group adopted the following standards and amendments for the first time from the annual reporting period commencing January 1, 2021:

Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – phase 2

The amendments listed above did not have any impact on the amounts recognised in prior periods and are not expected to significantly affect the current or future periods.

No new accounting standards and interpretations that have been published and are not mandatory for December 31, 2022 reporting periods have been early adopted by the Group or are expected to have a material impact on the Group in current or future reporting periods.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

Revenue recognition

Revenues are minimal to the Group and are generated from the performance of engineering consultancy services to customers.

IFRS 15 deals with revenue recognition and establishes principles for reporting useful information to users of financial statements about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers.

IFRS principles are applied using the following 5 step model:

Identify the contracts with the customer

Identify the performance obligations in the contract

Determine the transaction price

Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract

Recognise revenue when or as the entity satisfies its performance obligations

The revenue for the Group relates solely to engineering consultancy services and revenue is recognised once the Group has satisfied the performance conditions. The contracts that the Group enters into comprise payments when certain milestones are met. Revenue is recognised at each milestone event and only if the milestone is met.

Government grants

Government grants are recognised as Other operating income and are recognised in the period when the expense to which the grant relates is incurred. Grants are only recognised when there is a signed grant offer letter or equivalent from the government body and there is reasonable assurance that the Group will be able to satisfy all conditions of the grant.

The Group is the recipient of R&D tax credits in the UK. These tax credits are presented within Other operating income.

Receivables relating to government grants are presented in Trade and other receivables at their fair value.

Research and development expenses

Research expenditure is charged to profit or loss in the period in which it occurred.

Development expenditure is recognised as an intangible asset when it is probable that the project will generate future economic benefit, considering factors such as technological, commercial and regulatory feasibility. Other development expenditure is charged to profit or loss in the period in which it occurred. Refer to note 3 Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty for a discussion on the judgement of this classification.

The amounts included in research and development expenses include staff costs for staff working directly on research and development projects and for expenses directly attributable to a research project, excluding software costs.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

Finance income and costs

Finance income and costs includes the fair value movement on publicly traded warrants and convertible loan notes.

Finance expense includes interest payable and is recognised in profit or loss using the effective interest method.

Interest income is recognised in profit or loss as it accrues, using the effective interest method.

Foreign currency transactions and balances

Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded at the functional currency rate prevailing at the date of the transaction. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions, and from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at year end exchange rates, are recognised in profit or loss. Non-monetary items that are measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the date when the fair value was determined. Translation differences on assets and liabilities carried at fair value are reported as part of the fair value gain or loss. Translation differences arising from the consolidation of subsidiaries whose functional currency differs to the presentational currency of the group are recoded within other comprehensive income.

The most important exchange rates that have been used in preparing the financial statements are:

Closing rate as at December 31, 2021: USD $1 = GBP £0.7420

Average rate for the year ending December 31, 2021: USD $1 = GBP £0.7270

Non-monetary items measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

Tax

The tax expense for the period comprises current tax and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in profit or loss, except that a change attributable to an item of income or expense recognised as other comprehensive income is also recognised directly in other comprehensive income.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date in the countries where the company operates and generates taxable income.

Management periodically evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation and considers whether it is probable that a taxation authority will accept an uncertain tax treatment. The group measures its tax balances either based on the most likely amount or the expected value, depending on which method provides a better prediction of the resolution of the uncertainty.

Current tax assets and tax liabilities are offset where the entity has a legally enforceable right to offset and intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. The following temporary differences are not provided for: the initial recognition of goodwill; the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit other than in a business combination, and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that they will probably not reverse in the foreseeable future. The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realization or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax assets are recognized only if it is probable that future taxable amounts will be available to utilize those temporary differences and losses.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and where the deferred tax balances relate to the same taxation authority.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

The cost of property, plant and equipment includes directly attributable incremental costs incurred in their acquisition and installation.

Depreciation

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets over their estimated useful lives, as follows:


Asset class		Depreciation method and rate
Leasehold property under right of use		Straight line over term of lease
Computer equipment		3 years straight line
Leasehold improvements		5 - 9 years straight line

Intangible assets

Intangible assets are carried at cost, less accumulated amortization and impairment losses.

Computer software licences acquired for use within the Company are capitalized as an intangible asset on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and bring to use the specific software.

Amortization

Amortization is provided on intangible assets so as to write off the cost on a straight-line basis, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:


Asset class		Amortization method and rate
IT software		3 years straight line

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Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

Business combinations and goodwill

The purchase method is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries by the Group. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued, and liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed are measured initially at their fair values on the date of acquisition. The excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of identifiable net assets, including intangible assets acquired, is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair value of the Group’s share of net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognised directly in profit or loss.

Goodwill is stated at cost, less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment or when there are indicators of impairment.

Cash at bank

Cash at bank is held on deposit with financial institutions located within the United Kingdom and is immediately available. Management has assessed the financial institutions that hold the Company’s cash at bank to be financially sound, with minimal credit risk in existence.

Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for services performed in the ordinary course of business. If collection is expected in one year or less, they are classified as current assets. If not, they are presented as non-current assets.

Trade receivables are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade receivables is established using an expected credit loss model as per the Group’s accounting policy for the impairment of financial assets.

Other receivables represent amounts due from parties who are not customers and are measured at amortized cost.

Trade and other payables

Trade and other payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade and other payables are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

Borrowings

All borrowings are initially recorded at the amount of proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Borrowings are subsequently carried at amortized cost, with the difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on redemption being recognised as a charge to profit or loss over the period of the relevant borrowing using the effective interest method.

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the company has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting date.

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Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the company has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that the Company will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

Provisions are measured at management’s best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation at the reporting date and are discounted to present value where the effect is material.

Leases

Definition

A lease is a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to use an asset or a physically distinct part of an asset (‘the underlying asset’) for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Further, the contract must convey the right to the company to control the asset or a physically distinct portion thereof. A contract is deemed to convey the right to control the underlying asset, if throughout the period of use, the company has the right to:

Obtain substantially all the economic benefits from the use of the underlying asset, and; Direct the use of the underlying asset (for example, directing how and for what purpose the asset is used).

Initial recognition and measurement

The company initially recognizes a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term.

The lease liability is measured at the present value of the lease payments to be made over the lease term. The lease payments include fixed payments, purchase options at exercise price (where reasonably certain), expected amount of residual value guarantees, termination option penalties (where reasonably certain) and variable lease payments that depend on an index or rate.

The right of use asset is initially measured at the amount of the lease liability, adjusted for lease prepayments, lease incentives received, the company’s initial direct costs and an estimate of restoration, removal and dismantling costs.

Subsequent measurement

After the commencement date, the company measures the lease liability by:

(a)

Increasing the carrying amount to reflect interest on the lease liability;

(b)

Reducing the carrying amount to reflect the lease payments made; and

(c)

Re-measuring the carrying amount to reflect any reassessment or lease modifications or to reflect revised in substance fixed lease payments or on the occurrence of other specific events.

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Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

Interest on the lease liability in each period during the lease term is the amount that produces a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the lease liability. Interest charges are included in finance costs in profit or loss, unless the costs are included in the carrying amount of another asset applying other applicable standards. Variable lease payments not included in the measurement of the lease liability, are included in operating expenses in the period in which the event or condition that triggers them arises.

Right-of-use assets

The related right-of-use asset is accounted for using the cost model in IFRS 16 and depreciated and charged in accordance with the depreciation requirements of IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment as disclosed in the accounting policy for Property, Plant and Equipment. Adjustments are made to the carrying value of the right of use asset where the lease liability is re-measured in accordance with the above. Right of use assets are tested for impairment in accordance with IAS 36 Impairment of Assets as disclosed in the accounting policy in impairment.

Short term and low value leases

The company has made an accounting policy election, by class of underlying asset, not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for leases with a lease term of 12 months or less (short term leases).

The company has made an accounting policy election on a lease-by-lease basis, not to recognize lease assets on leases for which the underlying asset is of low value.

Lease payments on short term and low value leases are accounted for on a straight-line bases over the term of the lease or other systematic basis. Short term and low value lease payments are included in operating expenses.

Impairment (non-financial assets)

All assets are reviewed for impairment when there is an indicator of impairment. In addition, goodwill is reviewed for impairment at least annually. An impairment loss is recognised whenever the carrying amount of an asset or its cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount.

The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash inflows which are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets (cash-generating units). Non-financial assets other than goodwill that suffered an impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at the end of each reporting period.

Share capital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Equity instruments are measured at the fair value of the cash or other resources received or receivable, net of the direct costs of issuing the equity instruments. If payment is deferred and the time value of money is material, the initial measurement is on a present value basis.

Employee Benefits

A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a separate entity and has no legal or constructive obligations to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

For defined contribution plans, contributions are paid into publicly or privately administered pension insurance plans on a mandatory or contractual basis. The contributions are recognized as employee benefit expense when they are due.

Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary benefits and annual leave that are expected to be settled wholly within 12 months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service, are recognized in respect of employees’ services up to the end of the reporting period and are measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled. The liabilities are presented as accruals and classified as current liabilities in the balance sheet.

Share based payments – Enterprise Management Incentive and 2021 Incentive Plan

The Company operates an equity-settled, share based compensation plan, under which the entity receives services from employees as consideration for equity instruments (share options or shares). The fair value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the shares is recognised as an expense. The total amount to be expensed is determined by reference to the fair value of the shares granted:

●

including any market performance conditions (for example, an entity’s share price);

●

excluding the impact of any service and non-market performance vesting conditions (for example, remaining an employee of the entity over a specified time period); and

●

including the impact of any non-vesting conditions.

Non-market performance and service conditions are included in assumptions about the number of shares that are expected to vest. The total expense is recognized over the vesting period, which is the period over which all of the specified vesting conditions are to be satisfied. In addition, in some circumstances employees may provide services in advance of the grant date and therefore, the grant date fair value is estimated for the purposes of recognizing the expense during the period between service commencement period and grant date.

At the end of each reporting period, the Company revises its estimates of the number of shares that are expected to vest based on the non-market vesting conditions. The Company recognizes the impact of the revision to original estimates, if any, in profit or loss, with a corresponding adjustment to equity.

See note 23 for further details.

Other non-current share-based payments were made during the year as detailed within the significant accounting policy for the capital reorganization. Further information is included with the critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty.

Financial instruments

Financial instruments are contracts that give rise to a financial asset for one entity and to a financial liability or equity instrument for another entity. Purchases or sales of financial assets that require delivery of assets within a time frame established by regulation or convention in the marketplace (regular way trades) are recognized on the settlement date.The company recognizes financial assets and financial liabilities in the statement of financial position when, and only when, the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the financial instrument. Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset, and the net amount is reported in the statement of financial position if there is a currently enforceable legal right to offset the recognized amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis, to realize the assets and settle the liabilities simultaneously.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

Financial assets

The Group’s financial assets include cash at bank and other financial assets. Financial assets are initially measured at fair value plus, in the case of a financial asset not measured at fair value through profit or loss, transaction costs. Trade receivables are measured at their transaction price.

For all financial assets the Group has the objective to hold financial assets in order to collect the contractual cash flows. The contractual terms of all the Group’s financial assets give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the outstanding amount. All financial assets are therefore measured at amortized cost.

Impairment of financial assets — expected credit losses (“ECL”)

All financial assets measured at amortized cost are required to be impaired at initial recognition in the amount of their expected credit loss (“ECL”), based on the difference between the contractual and expected cash flows

The simplification available for financial instruments with a low credit risk (“low credit risk exemption”) is applied as of the reporting date. Factors that can contribute to a low credit risk assessment are debtor specific rating information and related outlooks. The requirement for classification with a low credit risk is regarded to be fulfilled for counterparties that have at least an investment grade rating; in this case there is no need to monitor credit risks for financial instruments with a low credit risk.

Financial liabilities

The Group’s financial liabilities include warrants, lease liabilities, convertible loans, trade and other payables, and other financial liabilities. Financial liabilities are classified as measured at amortized cost or fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”). All financial liabilities are recognized initially at fair value less, in the case of a financial liability not at fair value through profit or loss, directly attributable transaction costs.

Financial liabilities at FVTPL are measured at fair value and gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value are recognized in finance income/expenses. The Group only accounts for convertible loans and warrants as a financial liability at FVTPL. All other financial liabilities are subsequently measured at amortized cost.

An embedded derivative in a hybrid contract, with a financial liability or a non-financial host, is separated from the host and accounted for as a separate derivative if: the economic characteristics and risks are not closely related to the host; a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative would meet the definition of a derivative; and the hybrid contract is not measured at fair value through profit or loss. The assessment whether to separate an embedded derivative is done only once at initial recognition of the hybrid contract. Reassessment only occurs if there is a change in the terms of the contract that significantly modifies the cash flows.

A financial liability is derecognized when the obligation under the liability is discharged or cancelled or expires. When an existing financial liability is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms of an existing liability are substantially modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as the derecognition of the original liability and the recognition of a new liability.

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Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

2Significant accounting policies (continued)

Convertible Loans

Convertible loans are bifurcated into a debt component and a conversion right if the latter is an equity instrument. The conversion right of a convertible loan is not an equity instrument but a liability if some conversion features of the loan lead to a conversion into a variable number of shares. In this case it has to be assessed if embedded derivatives need to be separated from the host contract. If this is the case, the remaining host contract is measured at amortized cost and the separated embedded derivative is measured at fair value through profit or loss until the loan is converted into equity or becomes due for repayment. The conversion features and other repayment options provided for in the contract are identified as a combined embedded derivative if they share the same risk exposure and are interdependent.

Warrant Liabilities

Public warrants are recognized as liabilities in accordance with IFRS 9 at fair value. The liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised. Private warrants linked to sales targets are recognised within equity as these satisfy the “fix to fix” criterion within IAS 32.

Fair value measurements

IFRS 13 clarifies that fair value is a market price, representing the amount received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is a market-based measurement, determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. A three-tier hierarchy is established as follows:

Level 1Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date.

Level 2Other than quoted prices included in level 1, inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for suitability for the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

If the inputs used to measure the fair value of an asset or a liability fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, then the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety in the same level of the fair value hierarchy as the lowest level input that is significant to the entire measurement.

3Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.

The Company’s most significant estimates and judgments involve valuation of the stock-based consideration, including the fair value of common stock and market-based restricted stock units, the valuations of warrant liabilities, derivative liabilities including convertible loan notes, and the valuation of call options.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

3Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty (continued)

Share acquisition – business combination under common control

There is currently no guidance in IFRS on the accounting treatment for combinations among entities under common control. IAS 8 requires management, if there is no specifically applicable standard or interpretation, to develop a policy that is relevant to the decision-making needs of users and that is reliable. The entity first considers requirements and guidance in other international standards and interpretations dealing with similar issues, and then the content of the IASB’s Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (Conceptual Framework).

Management has made a judgement and applied a method broadly described as predecessor accounting. The principles of predecessor accounting are:

●

Assets and liabilities of the acquired entity are stated at predecessor carrying values. Fair value measurement is not required.

●

No new goodwill arises in predecessor accounting.

●

Any difference between the consideration given and the aggregate carrying value of the assets and liabilities of the acquired entity at the date of the transaction is included in equity.

The share acquisition of all of the ordinary shares of VAGL has been considered as a business combination under common control for the purpose of preparation of these consolidated financial statements and resulted in VAGL's operations and all of its net assets being recognized by the Company at their historical net book values. However, these consolidated financial statements may not reflect the presentation of equity movements of VAGL for the period prior to the share acquisition.I

Share-based Payments

Judgments were made in determining the valuation of shares prior to the business combination, including in relation to the issuance of Z-Shares to American Airlines (“American”) on June 10, 2021, using the following methods:

For periods prior to the business combination, a probability-weighted model using option pricing methods (Black-Scholes) has been used.

For valuations as at, or after December 16, 2021 the market value of the publicly traded share has been used.

The issuance of Class Z-Shares to American

The issuance of Class Z-Shares to American was concluded to be a stand-alone transaction. The transaction ensured that American had an equity interest in VAGL in the event that the business combination did not complete and provided an incentive for American to invest in the PIPE. As a transaction in the Company’s own stock this would generally be within scope of IAS 32, however the compensatory nature of the transaction required consideration of other IFRS guidance, specifically IFRS 2.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

3Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty (continued)

The valuation of the class Z-Shares took considered the following substantive terms and features:

●

Transfer restrictions and discount for lack of marketability

●

Economic rights and entitlements

●

Potential right to exchange into 6,125,000 Company ordinary shares upon closing of merger

Two probability weighted scenarios were considered: a) the Z-Shares convert into to 6,125,000 shares in the Company, subject to lock up and call option, or b) they remain shares of VAGL if the business combination did not complete.

An expense of £16,739 thousand was recognised on June 10, 2021 based on the total fair value of the class Z-Shares issued to American over the total consideration received (£nil). See note 7 for further detail.

The Company was granted a call option over 50% of the Company shares that the Z-Share converted into at an exercise price of $18 per share and a maximum term to exercise of 4 years. The fair value of this option reflected in arriving at the aforementioned probability weighted valuation of the Z-Shares issued.

Convertible Loans and Embedded Derivatives

The initial fair value of the convertible loans (before bifurcation of the embedded derivatives) as well as the subsequent measurement of the embedded derivatives is calculated using a binomial lattice valuation model and many of the input parameters are not observable. This valuation is judgmental. For detailed information on the convertible loans and its embedded derivatives, a description of the valuation model and the input parameters, see note 24.

Warrants

Public warrants relate to those warrants that commenced trading on the NYSE on December 16, 2021. Prior to that date, there was no public trading market for Company ordinary shares or warrants.

Private warrants include those issued upon consummation of the business combination to American, members of the Avolon Group (“Avolon”), Virgin, and Mudrick Capital Management L.P (“Mudrick”). Private options were issued to Marcus Waley-Cohen (“MWC”).

The fair value of the Private Warrants is deemed to be equal to the fair value of the Public Warrants except where the terms of Private Warrants materially differ to Public Warrants. Differences exist, with regards to certain warrant, in the maximum term to exercise as well as the strike price.

An option pricing model (Black-Scholes Model) therefore been used to derive the fair value of Private Warrants. This valuation is judgmental. For detailed information on the warrants, a description of the valuation model and the input parameters, see note 21.

On December 16, 2021 Private Warrants were issued to Avolon, American and Virgin Atlantic Limited (“Virgin”). Warrants issued to Avolon and American were exercised immediately after issuance.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

3Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty (continued)

The warrants meet the fixed-for-fixed criterion and are therefore recognised within other reserves until the point of exercise. The amount classified to other reserves on initial recognition reclassified to share capital and share premium upon exercise.

Private Warrants and Options issued to Mudrick and MWC, along Public Warrants, are accounted for as liabilities in accordance with IAS 32, subject to ongoing mark-to-market adjustments. For more information see note 21.

Capitalization of development costs

The business incurs a significant amount of research and development cost. The point in time at which the business begins capitalization of any project is a critical accounting judgement. The business assesses the technology readiness level of its research and development projects, along with the commercialization potential and guidance from the accounting standards to assess whether a particular development project should be capitalized or not.

Costs for internally generated research and development are capitalized only if:

●

the product or process is technically feasible;

●

adequate resources are available to successfully complete the development;

●

the benefits from the assets are demonstrated;

●

the costs attributable to the projects are reliably measured;

●

the Group intends to produce and market or use the developed product or process and can demonstrate its market relevance.

Management has concluded that in 2021 and 2020, none of the projects met the requirements for capitalization. While Management recognises a market for the use of eVTOLs, the market is not yet established or proven. Additionally, the Group is developing new technologies and there are still uncertainties about the successful completion of this development.

If costs relating to a research and development project are not capitalized, they are expensed as incurred and presented in Research and Development expenses in profit or loss (Note 7).

4Operating segments

The Group operates as a single operating segment and 1 reporting segment, being the development and commercialization of eVTOL technology. An operating segment is defined as a component of an entity for which discrete financial information is available and whose results of operations are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker. The Chief Operating Decision Maker, being the Board of Directors, reviews all financial information as a single segment.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

5Revenue

The analysis of the company’s revenue for the year from continuing operations is as follows:

All revenue is generated within the UK, based on the location where the engineering consultancy are delivered.

6Other operating income

The analysis of the Group’s other operating income for the year is as follows:


	2021	2020	2019
	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Government grants	8,829	1,989	—
R&D tax credit	2,388	328	399
Other	135	—	—
	11,352	2,317	399

Government grants

Government grants relate to amounts receivable from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) relating to the research and development of eVTOL technologies. The grant is made to fund research and development expenditure and is recognised in profit or loss in the period to which the expense it is intended to fund relates.

R&D tax credit scheme

The R&D tax credit relates to the UK’s research and development expenditure credit scheme.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

7Expenses by nature

Included within administrative expenses and research and development expenses are the following expenses.


	2021	2020	2019
	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Staff costs excluding share-based payment expenses	16,230	8,445	3,642
Share based payment expenses	111,996	96	—
Warrant expense (note 21)	111,611	—	—
Legal and financial advisory transaction costs	7,350	—	—
Software costs	1,506	579	191
Depreciation expense	377	279	89
Depreciation on right of use assets - Property	176	140	171
Amortisation expense	387	263	70
Consultancy costs	13,144	745	518
Expense on short term leases	49	64	8
Research and development components	11,378	2,555	2,096
Related party administrative expenses	108	144	144
Marketing expenses	3,918	—	—
Stamp duty	6,669	—	—
Other administrative expenses	3,760	565	922
Total administrative and research and development expenses	288,659	13,875	7,851

Staff costs excluding share-based payment expenses relates primarily to salary and salary related expenses, including social security and pension contributions.

Research and development components, combined with £12,913 thousand of staff costs related to research and development activity, represent the amount spent on hardware and testing for building eVTOL prototypes totalling £24,291 thousand.

Legal and financial advisory expenses relate primary to the Business Combination transaction.

Share based payment expense includes the following:


		2021
		£ 000
Issuance of Z-Shares to American		16,739
Capital reorganization		84,712
Issuance of PIPE shares to suppliers and partners		10,389
Enterprise Management Initiative		156
		111,996

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

7Expenses by nature (continued)

Issuance of Z-Shares to American

On June 10, 2021, VAGL and American executed a subscription agreement by which American subscribed for 5,804 class Z-Shares of VAGL for total consideration of £0.06.

Z-Shares refer to Z ordinary shares of £0.00001 par value that did not carry the right to receive distributions.

If the Business Combination did not complete American would have retained 5,804 Z-Shares, carrying dividends and voting rights. The value of the shares can be used by reference to the pre-money valuation of the Company; adjusted for the actual share price as at June 10, 2021 ($9.93); reflecting the American shareholding percentage (3.96%); and a discount for lack of marketability.

Upon closing of the Business Combination, American exchanged 100% of its class Z-Shares for 6,125,000 common shares of the Company, subject to a four-year lock-up.

50% of the common shares held by American are subject to a call option exercisable by the Company at a $18 per share exercise price; exercisable in 2 tranches until June 2025.

The value of these shares was derived as at June 10, 2021 using a Black-Scholes Model and based upon actual share price ($9.93). The following inputs were used:


Risk-free rate	0.75	%
Dividend yield	—
Volatility	75	%

The lock up agreement was considered part of the same contract for the subscription of Z-Shares, with a discount for lack of marketability applied, and the call option considered.


	Business	Business
	combination	combination does
	completes	not complete
	£’000	£’000
Value of Z-Shares as at June 10, 2021	30,105	2,558
Less valuation of call option	(8,121)	—
Fair value of Z-Shares as at June 10, 2021	21,984	2,558

A probability weighted calculation as at June 10, 2021 concluded that Business Combination was likely to be completed, giving a probability weighted valuation of £16,739 thousand, recognised as an expense and within share premium of VAGL.

A valuation of £19,616 thousand would have been derived had the Black-Scholes Model used a volatility assumption of 50%, with reasonable changes in all other inputs having an immaterial impact.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

7Expenses by nature (continued)

Capital reorganization

The difference in the fair value of the shares issued by the Company over the value of the net monetary assets of the Broadstone represented a listing service, and the cost of the listing service was recognized as an expense upon consummation of the Business Combination Agreement.


		2021
		£’000
Market value of 9,203,984 ordinary shares ($10.68 per share)		74,265
Cash acquired		4,728
Warrants acquired (15,701,067 warrants at $1.04 per warrant)		(11,997)
Accounts payable acquired		(2,289)
Add net liabilities acquired		(9,558)
Foreign exchange differences		671
Charge for listing services		83,152

An additional £1,572 thousand was recognised in relation to the issuance of private options to MWC, giving a total charge of £84,712 thousand.

Issuance of PIPE shares to suppliers and partners

Upon consummation of the Business Combination the Company recognised an expense £10,389 thousand in relation to the issuance of PIPE shares to certain suppliers and partners for net proceeds below market value.

8Finance income/(costs)


	2021	2020	2019
	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Interest on loans from related parties	(483)	(709)	—
Bad debt write-off	(14)	—	(15)
Fair value losses	—	(18)	—
Interest expense on leases	(77)	(74)	(46)
Other	(1)	(6)	(5)
Total finance costs	(575)	(807)	(66)
Fair value gains	32,578	—	—
Other	12	—	—
Total finance income	32,590	—	—
Total finance income/(costs)	32,015	(807)	(66)

Interest on loans from related parties represents the interest charged by Imagination Industries Ltd, a company wholly owned by Stephen Fitzpatrick.

Fair value movements include a fair value gain on public and private warrants in issue of £6,817 thousand (note 21) in addition to a fair value gain on the Convertible Senior Secured Notes of £26,876 thousand (note 25).

Other finance costs include discount unwind on provisions for dilapidations.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

9Loss per share

Basic earnings per share, in this case a loss per share, is calculated by dividing the loss for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the number of ordinary shares outstanding. During the year the number of ordinary or potential ordinary shares outstanding increased because of a share issue. Therefore, the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for all periods presented has been adjusted retrospectively.

Because a net loss for all period presented has been reported, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share. Therefore, all potentially dilutive common stock equivalents are anti-dilutive and have been excluded from the calculation of net loss per share.

The calculation of loss per share is based on the following data:


	2021	2020	2019
	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Net loss for the period	(245,224)	(12,326)	(7,484)
	£	£	£
Basic and diluted loss per share	(1.98)	(0.12)	(0.07)

	No. of shares	No. of shares	No. of shares
Weighted average issued shares	124,130,921	99,904,427	99,904,427

10Taxation

Tax credited /(charged) in profit or loss

The tax on profit before tax for the year is higher than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK (2020 - higher than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK) of 19% (2020: 19%).

The differences are reconciled below:


	2021	2020	2019
	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Loss before tax	(245,224)	(12,322)	(7,514)
Corporation tax benefit at standard rate	46,593	2,341	1,428
Decrease in tax benefit from effect of expenses not deductible in determining taxable profit/(loss)	(92)	(135)	—
Decrease in tax benefit from tax losses for which no deferred tax asset was recognised	(46,501)	(841)	—
Decrease in tax benefit arising from group relief tax reconciliation	—	(1,369)	(1,428)
Deferred tax credit from unrecognised temporary difference from a prior period	—	—	30
Total tax benefit/(expense)	—	(4)	30

The main rate of UK corporation tax for the years to December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 was 19%.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

10Taxation (continued)

At the March Budget 2021, the UK government announced that the Corporation Tax main rate (for all profits except ring fence profits and profits under £50 thousand) for the years starting April 1, 2023 be 25%.

NaN deferred tax assets or liabilities have been recognised as the Group has a surplus of UK tax losses which offset in the same jurisdiction as any deferred tax liabilities. A deferred tax asset for the surplus tax losses has not been recognised as the Group has not yet been profitable and therefore there is uncertainty over the availability of future taxable profits against which to utilise the tax losses.

Unused potential tax losses for which 0 deferred tax asset has been recognised as at December 31, 2021 were estimated as £250,500 thousand (2020: £4,641 thousand).

11Property, plant and equipment


	Leasehold
	improvements	Office equipment	Total
	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Cost or valuation
At January 1, 2020	1,350	304	1,654
Additions	18	137	155
December 31, 2020	1,368	441	1,809
Additions	162	628	790
December 31, 2021	1,530	1,069	2,599
Depreciation
At January 1, 2020	32	76	108
Charge for year	174	105	279
At December 31, 2020	206	181	387
Charge for the year	168	210	378
At December 31, 2021	374	391	765
Net book value
At December 31, 2021	1,156	678	1,834
At December 31, 2020	1,162	260	1,422

Leasehold improvements represent improvements to leased property in Bristol, UK.

All property, plant and equipment is attributable to the UK.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

12Right of use assets


		Leasehold
		Property
		£ 000
Cost or valuation
At January 1, 2020 and 31 December 2020		1,445
Additions		1,084
At December 31, 2021		2,529
Depreciation
At January 1, 2020		243
Charge for year		140
At December 31, 2020		383
Charge for the year		177
At December 31, 2021		560
Net book value
At December 31, 2021		1,969
At December 31, 2020		1,062

The right of use assets are leasehold properties at Camwal Court, Bristol, UK and at Cotswold Airport, Kemble, UK. Further information on the lease liability of this lease can be found in Note 18 Leases.

13Intangible assets


	Goodwill	IT software	Total
	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Cost or valuation
At January 1, 2020	1,473	682	2,155
Additions	—	233	233
At December 31, 2020	1,473	915	2,388
Additions	—	2,565	2,565
At December 31, 2021	1,473	3,480	4,953
Amortisation
At January 1, 2020	—	95	95
Amortisation charge	—	263	263
At December 31, 2020	—	358	358
Amortisation charge	—	387	387
At December 31, 2021	—	745	745
Net book value
At December 31, 2021	1,473	2,735	4,208
At December 31, 2020	1,473	557	2,030

The amortisation charge of £387 thousand (2020: 263 thousand) is shown in Administrative expenses.

All intangible assets are attributable to the UK.

IT software is third party software licences which includes perpetual licences and implementation costs.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

13Intangible assets (continued)

The carrying amounts of the software was reviewed at the reporting date and management determined that there were no indicators of impairment.

The goodwill was recognised on the acquisition of Vertical Advanced Engineering Ltd in July 2019 and related to the Formula 1 approach to the use materials and technologies. The individuals with the specific skill set in relation to this since became embedded within VAGL, along with their respective ways of working.

Management views the business as 1 cash generating unit (‘CGU’) being the commercialization and development of eVTOL technologies. Management have performed a valuation exercise as part of the capital reorganization and has calculated the fair value of the business, less cost to sell, which has demonstrated that there is no indication of impairment.

14Business disposal

On October 31, 2021, the Group disposed of 100% of the share capital of Vertical Advanced Engineering Ltd for nominal consideration. The net assets of Vertical Advanced Engineering Ltd were £102 thousand as at this date.

15Trade and other receivables


	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020
	£ 000	£ 000
Government receivables	5,415	1,989
Prepayments	6,571	733
Other receivables	672	810
	12,658	3,532

Included within Government receivables is £2,716 thousand for the R&D tax credit receivable (2020: £328 thousand) and £2,595 thousand for VAT receivable (2020: £6 thousand). Prepayments includes £3,805 thousand in relation to insurances (2020: £NaN).

The fair value of trade and other receivables classified as financial instruments are disclosed in note 25 Financial instruments. Expected credit losses were not significant in 2021 or 2020.

The Group’s exposure to credit and market risks, including impairments and allowances for credit losses, relating to trade and other receivables is disclosed in note 26 Financial risk management and impairment of financial assets.

16Share capital and other reserves

Allotted, called up and fully paid shares


	December 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020
	No.	£	No.	£
A ordinary of £0.00001 each	—	—	100,000	1.00
B ordinary of £0.00001 each	—	—	4,832	0.05
Ordinary of $0.0001 each	209,135,382	15,804	—	—
	209,135,382	15,804	104,832	1.05

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

16Share capital and other reserves (continued)

As part of the Business Combination 100% of VAGL shares (146,749) were acquired by the Company in exchange for the payment, issue and delivery of 177,762,797 Company shares to VAGL shareholders. This included the Z-Shares issued to American on June 10, 2021. At the time there was no IFRS guidance on the accounting treatment for combinations among entities under common control. This transaction has been recorded at the nominal value of shares issued, with the excess premium paid recorded within other reserves.

Of the 177,762,797 company shares issued in exchange to VAGL shareholders, 35,000,000 company shares held by VAGL shareholders are subject to an earn-out mechanism (the “Earn Out Shares”) that would be released from restriction upon fulfilment of certain share price milestones being satisfied prior to the fifth-year anniversary of the consummation of the Business Combination Agreement.

Failure to achieve such milestones will result in forfeiture of the Earn Out Shares. The Company has determined that the fair value of the Earn Out Shares should be accounted for as a component of the deemed cost of the listing services upon consummation of the Business Combination, as disclosed within Note 7 in the section entitled “Capital reorganization”.

The Company also determined that no separate accounting recognition was necessary in respect of the Earn Out Shares as the fair value of the Earn Out Shares will be inherently reflected within the quoted price of Broadstone’s shares, in respect of the Earn Out Shares’ potential dilutive impact, used in valuing the consideration given to Broadstone’s shareholders to derive the deemed cost of the listing services.

A total of 9,400,000 ordinary shares were also issued to PIPE investors upon consummation of the business transaction with 9,203,984 public and sponsor shares issued and outstanding. A total of 12,768,600 warrants issued to American and Avolon were exercised immediately following consummation of the business transaction. In addition, 90,449,562 shares had been authorised for allotment at December 31, 2021.

Ordinary shares have full voting rights, full dividend rights. A ordinary shares had full voting rights, full dividend rights. B ordinary shares had no voting or dividend rights and have rights to capital distribution on liquidation on par with A ordinary shares. Options have been granted to employees to be able to acquire B shares. Refer to note 23 Share-based payments.

Share premium and other reserves

Movements in reserves are shown below


	Share Premium	Other Reserves
	£000	£000
As at January 1	0	4,117
Issuance of Z-Shares to American (note 7)	—	16,739
Debt to equity conversion of related party loan (note 27)	—	9,000
Debt to equity conversion of Microsoft and Rocket loan	—	25,000
Transfer of intergroup share capital	—	(15)
Share acquisition	—	50,724
Cumulative translation differences	—	(85)
Issuance of warrants to American, Avolon and Virgin (note 21)	103,053	8,558
Capital reorganization (note 7)	74,265	—
PIPE investment	71,036	—
As at December 31	248,354	63,314

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

16Share capital and other reserves (continued)

Share premium

The difference in the fair value of the shares issued by the Company over the value of the net monetary assets of the Broadstone gives rise to share premium upon consummation of the Business Combination Agreement.

In addition, upon consummation of the Business Combination 9,400,000 ordinary shares at $0.0001 par value were issued to PIPE investors at $10 per share giving rise to share premium of £71,036 thousand.

See note 7 for further details

As at December 31, 2021 warrants issued to American and Avolon were issued and exercised. The excess of the fair value of these warrants over the par value of the shares issued is recognised in share premium. See note 21 for more details.

Other reserves

American held 5,804 Z-Shares in VAGL immediately prior to the Business Combination. As part of the consideration for the acquisition of VAGL, American exchanged its existing shareholding in VAGL for 6,125,000 Ordinary Shares in the Company. See note 7 for more details.

Upon consummation of the Business Combination, convertible loans issued to Microsoft and Rocket (totalling £25,000 thousand) and Stephen Fitzpatrick (£9,000 thousand) were converted into equity.

As at December 31, 2021 warrants issued to Virgin were issued but not exercised. The fair value of these warrants is reflected within other reserves as they satisfy the “fix to fix” criterion as per IAS 32. See note 21 for more details.

17Loans from related parties


	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020
	£ 000	£ 000
Current loans and borrowings
Loans from related parties	—	6,309

Loans from related parties represents a loan from Imagination Industries Ltd, a company wholly owned by Stephen Fitzpatrick. Movements in the year were as follows:


	2021	2020
	£ 000	£ 000
As at January 1	6,309	—
Amounts advanced	2,945	5,600
Interest charged	483	709
Amounts repaid	(737)	—
Conversion to equity	(9,000)	—
As at December 31	—	6,309

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

17Loans from related parties (continued)

The loan attracted an interest rate of 30% per annum (2020: 30%) and was repayable on demand.

During the year loans was issued to Microsoft Corporation and Rocket Internet SE. Movements in the year were as follows:


		2021 £ 000
As at January 1		—
Amounts advanced		25,000
Interest charged		—
Amounts repaid		—
Conversion to equity		(25,000)
As at December 31		��

The loans and borrowings classified as financial instruments are disclosed in note 25 Financial instruments.

The Company’s exposure to market and liquidity risk; including maturity analysis, in respect of loans and borrowings is disclosed in note 26 Financial risk management and impairment of financial assets.

18Leases

The balance sheet shows the following amounts relating to lease liabilities:


	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020
	£ 000	£ 000
Long term lease liabilities	1,580	846
Current lease liabilities	362	175
	1,942	1,021

Lease liabilities maturity analysis

A maturity analysis of lease liabilities based on undiscounted gross cash flow is reported in the table below:


	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020
	£ 000	£ 000
Less than one year	425	175
Within 2 - 5 years	1,653	700
More than 5 years	262	397
Total lease liabilities (undiscounted)	2,340	1,272

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

18Leases (continued)

Total cash outflows related to leases

Total cash outflows related to leases are presented in the table below:


	December 31,	December 31,
Payment	2021	2020
	£ 000	£ 000
Right of use assets	240	220
Low value leases	—	—
Short term leases	49	64
Total cash outflow	289	284

A reconciliation of the lease creditors is shown below:


		£000
As at January 1, 2020		1,166
Interest element of payments to finance lease creditors		(74)
Principal element of payments to finance lease creditors		(146)
Interest expense on leases		74
As at December 31, 2020		1,021
Additions		1,084
Interest element of payments to finance lease creditors		(78)
Principal element of payments to finance lease creditors		(162)
Interest expense on leases		77
As at December 31, 2021		1,942

Lease creditors relate to a property in Bristol, UK. In addition, during 2021, the Company entered into a 5-year lease agreement for a property in Kemble, UK. The cost, depreciation charge and carrying value for the right-of-use asset is disclosed in note 12 Right of use assets. The interest expense on lease liabilities is disclosed in note 8 Finance costs.

19Provisions


		Dilapidations
		£ 000
As at January 1, 2020		83
Unwinding of discount		5
As at December 31, 2020		88
Unwinding of discount		7
As at December 31, 2021		95

The dilapidation provision was recognized as a result of the obligation to return the leased property in Bristol, UK to its original condition at the end of the lease which currently expires in 2028. The provision is recognized at amortized cost with discount unwind being recognized each year. The provision is expected to be utilized at the end of the lease period.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

20Trade and other payables

Amounts falling due within one year:


	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020
	£ 000	£ 000
Trade payables	6,715	846
Accrued expenses	26,358	1,226
Amounts due to related parties	—	56
Social security and other taxes	7,145	203
Outstanding defined contribution pension costs	9	70
	40,227	2,401

Accrued expenses includes £9,666 thousand indirectly attributable financial and capital markets advisory fees.

Social security and other taxes includes Stamp Duty payable of £6,669 thousand.

Amounts falling due after more than one year:


	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020
	£ 000	£ 000
Deferred transaction fee payable	5,975	—

Due to the Business Combination transaction, the Group has deferred transaction fees payable at December 31, 2021.

The Group’s exposure to market and liquidity risks, including maturity analysis, related to trade and other payables is disclosed in note 26 Financial risk management and impairment of financial assets.

21Warrants

Warrants and options issued to Mudrick and MWC

As at December 16, 2021 and December 31, 2021 the following warrants were issued but not exercised:


		Number
Public Warrants		15,265,146
Mudrick Warrants		4,000,000
MWC Options		2,000,000
		21,265,146

Recorded as a liability, the following shows the change in fair value during the year ended December 31, 2021:


		£ 000
January 1, 2021		—
Additions		17,801
Change in fair value recognised in profit or loss		(6,817)
Foreign exchange movements		(254)
December 31, 2021		10,730

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

21Warrants (continued)

Public warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. The public warrants will expire five years from the consummation of the Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

Once the public warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the public warrants for redemption at a price of $0.01 per public warrant if the closing price of the common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period.

Each public warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase 1 share of common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The exercise price and number of common stock issuable upon exercise of the public warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger, or consolidation. The public warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of common stock at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the public warrants.

Warrants issued to Virgin, American and Avolon

On October 29, 2021, the Company entered into the Virgin Atlantic Warrant Instrument, which provides for a warrant over 2,625,000 Ordinary Shares issued immediately after the Share Acquisition Closing. As at December 31, 2021, these warrants remained outstanding and were valued at £8,558 thousand, within other reserves, using a Black-Scholes Model with the following inputs:


	December 31, 2021
Spot	$	10.68
Strike	$	10.00
Risk-free rate (%)		0.05
Dividend yield		—
Maximum term to exercise		4
Volatility (%)		50

Had 75% been used as an alternative yet feasible volatility input then a valuation of £11,907 thousand would have been derived as the entry to other reserves. Adjustments to the other inputs would have not derived a materially different valuation.

Immediately after the Share Acquisition Closing, the Company entered into the American Warrant Instrument, which provides for a warrant over 2,625,000 Ordinary Shares that were both issued and exercised immediately after the Share Acquisition Closing.

Immediately after the Share Acquisition Closing, the Company entered into the Avolon Warrant Instrument, which provides for warrants over 6,378,600 Ordinary Shares that were both issued and exercised immediately after the Share Acquisition Closing.

Avolon were also issued with, and exercised, 3,765,000 commercial warrants by the Company as a result of Avolon entering into a firm commitment to place 100 aircraft with a prime carrier.

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Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

21Warrants (continued)

A contract asset has not been recognised as the customer has the ability to terminate the contract without penalty and the aircraft subject to the purchase order has not yet been certified, therefore an expense has been recognised as shown below:


		£ 000
American (2,625,000 warrants)		21,186
Avolon (6,378,600 warrants)		51,481
Avolon commercial (3,765,000 warrants)		30,386
Virgin (2,625,000 warrants)		8,558
		111,611

22Pension and other schemes

Defined contribution pension scheme

The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the Group to the scheme and amounted to £471 thousand (2020: £271 thousand).

Contributions totalling £9 thousand (2020: £70 thousand) were payable to the scheme at the end of the year and are included in trade and other payables.

23Share-based payments

Scheme details and movements

This scheme remained in existence as at December 31, 2021 and therefore the number and fair value of options presented in note 23 relate solely to this scheme.

Subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2021 the scheme was modified. This modification reflects the revised capital structure of the Company following completion of the Business Combination transaction. As part of this modification, all option holders exchanged their options held in VAGL for newly issued options in the Company.

Also subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2021, the Board of Directors adopted the 2021 Incentive Award Plan in order to facilitate the grant of cash and equity incentives, which is essential to our long-term success.

The impact of the modification of the EMI scheme and the adoption of the 2021 Inventive Aware Plan is not reflected in these financial statements as both of these events occurred subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2021.

During the year ended December 31, 2021 a total of 2,000,000 private options were awarded to Marcus Waley-Cohen. For more details see note 21 and note 27.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

23Share-based payments (continued)

The movements in the number of EMI share options during the year were as follows:


	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020
	Number	Number
Outstanding, start of period	16,817	—
Granted during the period	3,147	16,817
Forfeited during the period	(294)	—
Outstanding, end of period	19,670	16,817

The EMI share options granted were all granted prior to March 31, 2021, after which no new grants were made.

The movements in the weighted average exercise price of share options during the year were as follows:


	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020
	£	£
Outstanding, start of period	143.28	—
Granted during the period	1,178.94	143.28
Forfeited during the period	204.00	—
Outstanding, end of period	308.06	143.28

The exercise price of share options granted during the year is based upon the valuation of VAGL in contemplation of the Business Combination and the number of VAGL shares issued and outstanding at the time of grant.

Outstanding share options

Details of share options outstanding at the end of the year are as follows:


	31 December	31 December
	2021	2020
Weighted average exercise price (£)	308.06	143.28
Number of share options outstanding	19,670	16,817
Expected weighted average remaining vesting period (years)	1.12	1.13

The number of options which were exercisable at December 31, 2021 was 7,715 (2020: 7,635) with exercise prices ranging from £38.22 to £1,298.49.

The range in exercise price reflects the valuation of VAGL as at the date when the respective options were granted.

Fair value of options granted

The weighted average fair value per option of options granted during the period at measurement date was £31.97 (2020: £6.70).

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Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

23Share-based payments (continued)

The option pricing model used was Black Scholes and the main inputs are set out in the table below. The date of grant of the options was between September 11, 2020 and March 12, 2021.


	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020
Average share price at date of grant (£)	492.42	40.36
Expected volatility (%)	50.00	50.00
Vesting period in years	4	1
Dividends	—	—
Option life in years	4.25	4.00
Risk-free interest rate (%)	0.28	(0.13)

The change in vesting period from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021 reflects the terms of the newly granted EMI share options during 2021.

Volatility

Given the lack of share price history and volatility, the volatility has been estimated with reference to other industry competitors, on a listed stock market, with a premium attached for the uncertainty around an unlisted investment.

Share based payments charge

During the year, a charge of £156 thousand was recognised for equity settled share-based payment transactions (2020: £96 thousand). Refer to note 7 Expenses by nature.

24Derivative financial liabilities

Convertible Senior Secured Notes consists of the following:


		Mudrick
		£ 000
As at January 1, 2020		—
As at December 31, 2020		0
Issuance of Convertible Senior Secured Notes		141,981
Fair value movements		(26,876)
Foreign exchange movements		(2,306)
As at December 31, 2021		112,799

During the year ended December 31, 2021 additional convertible loan notes were issued to Microsoft Corporation and Rocket Internet, giving rise to proceeds of £25,000 thousand. These loans were converted into equity during the year. See note 17, Loans from related parties for more information.

Concurrently with the consummation of the Business Combination, Mudrick purchased Convertible Senior Secured Notes of and from the Company in an aggregate principal amount of £151,000 thousand ($200,000 thousand) for an aggregate purchase price of £145,000 thousand ($192,000 thousand) (the “Purchase Price”).

The Convertible Senior Secured Notes are initially convertible into up to 18,181,820 ordinary shares at an initial conversion rate of 90.9091 ordinary shares per £756 ($1,000) principal amount of Convertible Senior Secured Notes.

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Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

24Derivative financial liabilities (continued)

Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, Mudrick has the right, at its option, to require us to repurchase for cash all or any portion of its Convertible Senior Secured Notes in principal amounts of £756 ($1,000), at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the Convertible Senior Secured Notes to be repurchased plus, if repurchased before the second anniversary of issuance, certain make-whole premiums, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

A fundamental change consists of a change in beneficial owner of the Company; the sale of all or substantially all of the assets or share capital of the Company; dissolution or liquidation of the Company; or NYSE de-listing.

The Convertible Senior Secured Notes will bear interest at the rate of 7% per annum if the Company elects to pay interest in cash or 9% per annum if the Company elects to pay interest in-kind, by way of PIK Notes. Interest will be paid semi-annually in arrears. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, an additional 2.00% will be added to the stated interest rate. The Convertible Senior Secured Notes will mature on the fifth anniversary of issuance and will be redeemable at any time by the Company, in whole but not in part, for cash, at par plus, if redeemed before the second anniversary of issuance, certain make-whole premiums.

A number of covenants exist in relation to the Company’s obligations with regard to payment of notes and interest; furnishing the trustee with exchange act reports; compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provision of an annual compliance certificate; relinquishing of the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law; acquisition of notes by the Company; permitting any Company subsidiaries to become liable for the notes; limitation on liens securing indebtedness; limitation on asset sales; limitation on transactions with affiliates; limitation on restricted payments; retention of $10 million cash; guarantors; and material IP. No breaches have been identified during the year.

Accordingly, cash at bank includes £7,420 thousand deemed to be restricted as at December 31, 2021.

In accordance with IFRS 9, this is treated as a hybrid instrument and is designated it in entirety as fair value through profit or loss. Therefore, upon initial recognition the Company has not separated the convertible note into a host liability component (accounted for at amortized cost) and the derivative liability components (accounted for at fair value through profit or loss). The valuation methods and assumptions are shown in note 25.

25Financial instruments

Financial assets at amortized cost


	Carrying value		Fair value
	December 31,	December 31,	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020	2021	2020
Cash at bank	212,660	839	212,660	839
Trade and other receivables	672	810	672	810
	213,332	1,649	213,332	1,649

The fair value of financial assets is based on the expectation of recovery of balances. All balances are expected to be received in full.

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Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

25Financial instruments (continued)

Financial liabilities at amortized cost:


	Carrying Value		Fair Value
	December 31,	December 31,	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020	2021	2020
	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Trade and other payables	45,717	2,128	45,717	2,128
Borrowings	—	6,309	—	6,309
Lease liabilities	1,942	1,021	1,942	1,021
	47,659	9,458	47,659	9,458

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss:


	Carrying Value		Fair Value
	December 31,	December 31,	December 31,	December 31,
	2021	2020	2021	2020
	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Convertible Senior Secured Notes	112,799	—	112,799	—
Warrant liabilities (Note 21)	10,730	—	10,730	—
	123,529	—	123,529	—

Warrants are traded in an active market and are therefore categorized in level 1 of the fair value hierarchy (see note 21). Convertible Senior Secured Notes (both host contract and embedded derivative) are categorized in level 3 of the fair value hierarchy (see note 24).

Valuation methods and assumptions

Financial liabilities at amortized cost

The fair value of trade and other payables is estimated as the present value of future cash flows, discounted at the market rate of interest at the balance sheet date if the effect is material. Due to their short maturities, the fair value of the trade and other payables approximates to their book value.

The total interest expense for financial liabilities not held at fair value through profit or loss is £747 thousand (2020: £801 thousand).

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

25Financial instruments (continued)

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

The fair value of the convertible senior secured notes has been estimated using a binomial lattice framework in consideration of the American-option style nature of the embedded features. Company specific inputs include the expected probability and timing of future equity financing, in addition to the probability and timing of a future fundamental change. The following observable inputs have been used:


		December 31,
		2021
Interest rate (%)		9.0
Risk-free rate (%)		1.25
Dividend yield		0
Volatility (%)		52.5
Credit spread (%)		21.8

As of December 16, 2021 an estimated fair value of £141,981 thousand was calculated as the issuance price of the convertible note and warrants (4% Original Issue Discount from £151,000 thousand face value). Specifically, management performed a calibration analysis, back solved for the implied credit spread such that the fair value of the convertible notes and warrants would reconcile with the £145,000 thousand issuance price as of December 16, 2021 along with other inputs such as the estimated volatility, term, dividend and risk-free rate. The implied credit spread, and the fair value of the convertible note were estimated to be 2,179 basis points and approximately £141,981 thousand, respectively, through this calibration process.

As of December 31, 2021 an estimated a fair value of £112,799 thousand was calculated for the convertible note based on the following valuation inputs:

●

Stock price: $6.73 based on the stock price observed for as at December 31, 2021

●

Risk free rate: 1.25% based on the US Treasury Yield interpolated to match the term input

●

Volatility: 52.50% based on the estimated equity volatility as adjusted via a volatility haircut process

●

Credit spread: 2,179 bps based on the estimated implied credit spread estimated

●Dividend yield: 0% based on management’s expectation

Had the stock price traded higher, or a higher volatility been assumed then this would have resulted in a higher fair value being attributed to the instrument.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

26Financial risk management and impairment of financial assets

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk.

Credit risk and impairment

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations and arises principally from prepayments to suppliers and distributors and deposits with the Group’s bank.

Included in cash at bank is £10,388 thousand which is set aside to satisfy a short-term commitment that was satisfied during April 2022 and included within trade and other payables.

Also included in Cash at bank is £7,420 thousand deemed to be restricted as at December 31, 2021.

The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. Therefore, the maximum exposure to credit risk at the balance sheet date was £672 thousand (2020: £2,799 thousand) being the total of the carrying amount of financial assets excluding cash, which includes trade receivables and other receivables. All the receivables are with parties in the UK.

On that basis, the loss allowance as at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was determined as £NaN for trade receivables.

Market risk

Foreign exchange risk

The Group is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from exposure to various currencies in the ordinary course of business. The Group received proceeds from the Business Combination transaction in USD, and subsequently holds cash in both USD and GBP. The majority of the Group’s trading costs are in GBP. The Group also has supply contracts denominated in USD and EUR. The Group holds sufficient cash in both USD and GBP to satisfy its trading costs in each of these currencies. In 2020 and 2021, the Group did not consider foreign exchange rate risk to have a material impact on the financial statements and therefore no sensitivity analysis is presented The Company may be exposed to material foreign exchange risk in subsequent years as a result of the significance of the USD denominated Convertible Senior Secured Notes in particular relative to USD cash deposits held (which were $145,098 thousand at December 31,2021) and which are expected to decline as expenses are incurred until future funding is secured.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

26Financial risk management and impairment of financial assets (continued)

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due.

The Group’s management uses short and long-term cash flow forecasts to manage liquidity risk. Forecasts are supplemented by sensitivity analysis which is used to assess funding adequacy for at least a 12-month period.

The Company manages its cash resources to ensure it has sufficient funds to meet all expected demands as they fall due.

Maturity analysis


		Between 2 and	After more than
	Within 1 year	5 years	5 years	Total
2021	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Trade and other payables	40,227	5,975	—	46,202
Lease liabilities	362	1,343	237	1,942
Convertible senior secured notes	—	112,799	—	112,799
	40,589	120,117	237	160,943


2020
Trade and other payables	2,401	—	—	2,401
Lease liabilities	175	700	397	1,272
Other borrowings	6,309	—	—	6,309
	8,885	700	397	9,982

Capital management

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

27Related party transactions

Key management personnel

In 2021 key management personnel are the members of the Board.

In 2020 key management personnel are the CEO and the first line of reporting into the CEO, excluding support staff. There were 3 key management personnel in 2020.

Key management compensation


	2021	2020	2019
	£ 000	£ 000	£ 000
Salaries and other short term employee benefits	244	374	181
Payments to defined contribution pension schemes	14	39	24
Share-based payments	156	92	—
	414	505	205

In addition to the above, upon consummation of the Business Combination, Marcus Waley-Cohen was awarded 2,000,000 private options by the Company valued at £1,572 thousand (For more details see note 21).

Summary of transactions with other related parties

Imagination Industries Ltd

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Group received loan funds from Imagination Industries Ltd of £2,945 thousand (2020: £5,600 thousand). The loan incurred an interest charge at 30% (2020: 30%) of £483 thousand (2020: £709 thousand) and amounts repaid totalled £737 thousand (2020: £NaN).

During the year ended December 31, 2021, Imagination Industries Incubator Ltd charged the Group management fees of £108 thousand (2020: £144 thousand). The total balance outstanding at December 31, 2021 was £NaN (2020: £72 thousand).

At December 31, 2021 the total balance owed to Imagination Industries Ltd was £NaN (2020: £6 thousand).

Stephen Fitzpatrick

During the year ended December 31, 2021 the Group agreed to reallocate the loan outstanding from Imagination Industries Ltd totalling £9,000 thousand to Stephen Fitzpatrick. The loan was released by Stephen Fitzpatrick in exchange for newly issued share capital in the Company.

Upon consummation of the Business Combination, Stephen Fitzpatrick advanced $5m, recognised as £3,779 thousand, as part of the PIPE in exchange for 500,000 ordinary shares in the Company.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2021 (continued)

27Related party transactions(continued)

Dómhnal Slattery

On January 1, 2022, Dómhnal Slattery, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Avolon, was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.

Vertical Advanced Engineering Ltd

On October 31, 2021, Vertical Advanced Engineering Ltd was disposed of for nominal consideration. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Group charged Vertical Advanced Engineering Ltd a total of £65 thousand for engineering design services.

28Ultimate controlling party

The ultimate controlling party is Stephen Fitzpatrick.

29Non adjusting events after the reporting period

No such events have occurred following the end of the reporting period.

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Vertical Aerospace Ltd.

Ordinary Shares

Warrants

Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 6.Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except where any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, willful neglect, actual fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our memorandum and articles of association permit indemnification of officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law, including for any liability incurred in their capacities as such.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 7.Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

During the past three years, we issued securities which were not registered under the Securities Act as set forth below. We believe that each of such issuances was exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, Rule 701 and/or Regulation S under the Securities Act.

The following is a summary of transactions during the preceding three fiscal years involving sales of our securities that were not registered under the Securities Act:

●

In connection with the Business Combination Agreement, we issued an aggregate of 9,400,000 Ordinary Shares at $10.00 per share for gross proceeds of $94,000,000. The PIPE Financing closed on December 16, 2021 immediately after the Business Combination.

●

Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, at the closing of the Business Combination on December 16, 2021, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding share capital of VAGL from shareholders of VAGL for 200,996,400 Ordinary Shares.

●

In connection with the Business Combination, we issued and sold to the Convertible Senior Secured Notes Investor in a private placement: (i) an aggregate of $200 million principal amount of Convertible Senior Secured Notes and (ii) 4,000,000 warrants exercisable for one Ordinary Share each, with an exercise price of $11.50 per Ordinary Share.

●

Immediately after closing of the Business Combination, we entered into the American Warrant Instrument pursuant to which, among other things, American received warrants to purchase Ordinary Shares, subject to the terms of such warrant instrument. The American Warrant Instrument provides for a warrant over 2,625,000 Ordinary Shares, which were issued immediately after closing of the Business Combination, with a warrant over a further 750,000 Ordinary Shares to be issued after payment of the Pre-Delivery Payment, and 1,600,000 Ordinary Shares to be issued on each occasion American places a legally binding commitment for 50 aircraft, up to a maximum of 8,750,000 Ordinary Shares in total.

●

Immediately after closing of the Business Combination, we entered into the Avolon Warrant Instrument pursuant to which, among other things, the Avolon Warrantholders received warrants to purchase Ordinary Shares, subject to the terms of such warrant instrument. The Avolon Warrant Instrument provides for warrants over 10,143,600 Ordinary Shares (in aggregate) which were issued immediately after closing of the Business Combination, with warrants over a further 3,765,000 Ordinary Shares (in aggregate) being issued in the event Avolon places a binding order for aircraft for $1.25 billion or more (or such pro rata amount thereof).

●

On October 29, 2021, we and Virgin Atlantic entered into the Virgin Atlantic Warrant Instrument pursuant to which, among other things, Virgin Atlantic received warrants to purchase Ordinary Shares upon closing of the Business Combination, subject to the terms of such warrant instrument. The Virgin Atlantic Warrant Instrument provides for: a warrant over 2,625,000 Ordinary Shares that was issued immediately after the Share Acquisition Closing (the “Virgin Atlantic Initial Warrant”), with a warrant over a further 1,312,500 Ordinary Shares to be issued in the event Virgin Atlantic or any of its

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affiliates enters into a legally-binding commitment to purchase not less than 50 aircraft, a warrant over a further 656,250 Ordinary Shares to be issued in the event Virgin Atlantic or any of its affiliates enters into a legally-binding commitment to purchase an additional 25 aircraft and a warrant over a further 656,250 Ordinary Shares to be issued in the event Virgin Atlantic or any of its affiliates enters into a legally-binding commitment to purchase an additional 25 aircraft.

●

In connection with the Business Combination, we issued 150,000 Ordinary Shares in a private placement transaction to Nomura as consideration for certain financial advisory services provided to us in connection with the Business Combination. Such securities are deemed to be underwriting compensation pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110, but meet an exception to the lock-up restriction pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2)(A)(ix).

●

On August 5, 2022, we entered into an Equity Subscription Line with Nomura, pursuant to which we have the right to sell to Nomura up to $100 million in aggregate gross purchase price of our newly issued Ordinary Shares, from time to time during a three-year term. The purchase price of the Ordinary Shares that we elect to sell Nomura will generally be determined by reference to the volume-weighted average price during an applicable purchase period on the day of the applicable purchase date for which we have timely delivered written notice to Nomura directing it to purchase Ordinary Shares under the Equity Subscription Line, less a fixed 4.25% discount to such volume-weighted average price. Sales of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Equity Subscription Line, and the timing of any sales, are solely at our option, and we are under no obligation to sell any securities to Nomura under the Equity Subscription Line. The total underwriting compensation to be received in connection with sales of Ordinary Shares by Nomura to the public, as determined under FINRA Rule 5110, will not exceed 8% of the maximum $100 million in aggregate gross purchase price of Ordinary Shares to be sold to the public.

No underwriter or underwriting discount or commission was involved in any of the transactions set forth in Item 7, except as explicitly stated above.

Item 8.Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)

The Exhibit Index is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(b)

Financial Statement Schedules.

All schedules have been omitted because they are not required, are not applicable or the information is otherwise set forth in the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto.

Item 9.Undertakings.

(a)

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)	To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or any decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

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(2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)	To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4)

To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 need not be furnished, provided, that the Registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements.

(5)	That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i)

If the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B:

(A)

Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B)

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

(ii)

If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)

That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

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(2)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

		Incorporation by Reference
Exhibit No.	Description	Form	File No.	Exhibit No.	Filing Date	Filed / Furnished

2.1†	Business Combination Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2021, by and among Broadstone, Vertical, Merger Sub, VAGL and the VAGL Shareholders.	F-4	333-257785	2.1	July 9, 2021
3.1	Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of Vertical.	6-K	001-41169	1.1	December 16, 2021
4.1	Warrant Agreement between Broadstone and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, dated as of September 10, 2020	F-4	333-257785	4.4	July 9, 2021
4.2	Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement (Warrant Agreement) dated December 15, 2021 between Broadstone and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.	20-F	001-41169	2.3	April 29, 2022
4.3	Specimen Warrant Certificate of Broadstone.	F-4	333-27785	4.3	July 9, 2021
4.3	Specimen Vertical Ordinary Share Certificate.	F-4	333-257785	4.6	November 1, 2021
4.4	Indenture dated December 16, 2021 between Vertical, Broadstone as guarantor, VAGL as guarantor and U.S. Bank National Association as trustee and collateral agent for the Convertible Senior Secured Notes.	20-F	001-41169	2.5	April 29, 2022
4.5	Warrant Agreement between Mudrick Capital Management L.P. and Vertical Aerospace Ltd. dated as of October 26, 2021.	F-1	333-262207	4.8	January 18, 2022
4.6	American Warrant Instrument, dated December 16, 2021 and as amended on July 15, 2022, by and among Vertical, Broadstone, the Sponsor, Merger Sub, VAGL and other parties listed therein.	F-1	333-266643	4.6	August 8, 2022
4.7	Virgin Atlantic Warrant Instrument, dated October 29, 2021, and among Vertical, Broadstone, the Sponsor, Merger Sub, VAGL and other parties listed therein.	F-4	333-257785	10.20	November 1, 2021
5.1	Opinion of Walkers (Cayman) LLP as to the validity of the Ordinary Shares to be issued.	F-1	333-264601	5.1	May 2, 2022
5.2	Opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP.	F-4	333-257785	5.2	November 1, 2021
8.1	Opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP regarding certain federal income tax matters.	F-4	333-257785	8.1	November 1, 2021
10.1	Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 15, 2021 by and among Vertical, Sponsor, Broadstone and other parties as set forth thein.	20-F	001-41169	4.2	April 29, 2022
10.2	Form of Subscription Agreement, by and among Vertical and the subscribers party thereto.	F-4	333-257785	10.6	July 9, 2021
10.3	Shareholder Support Letter, dated June 10, 2021 by and among Vertical, the Sponsor, Broadstone, VAGL and Merger Sub.	20-F	001-41169	4.4	April 29, 2022
10.4	Sponsor Support Letter, dated June 10, 2021 by and among Vertical, Broadstone, VAGL and the parties named thereto.	20-F	001-46691	4.5	April 29, 2022
10.5††	Vertical Aerospace Ltd. 2021 Incentive Award Plan.	20-F	001-41169	4.6	April 29, 2022
10.6	Form of Vertical Aerospace Ltd. Replacement Enterprise Management Incentive Option Agreements.	S-8	333-263815	4.4	March 24, 2022
10.7	Avolon Warrant Instrument, dated December 16, 2021 by and among Vertical, Broadstone, the Sponsor, Merger Sub, VAGL and other parties listed therein.	20-F	001-41169	4.8	April 29, 2022
10.8	Loan Note Holder Share Purchase Agreement, dated June 10, 2021 by and among Vertical, Broadstone, the Sponsor, Merger Sub, VAGL and other parties listed therein.	20-F	001-41169	4.10	April 29, 2022

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		Incorporation by Reference
Exhibit No.	Description	Form	File No.	Exhibit No.	Filing Date	Filed / Furnished
10.9	American Share Purchase Agreement, dated June 10, 2021 by and among Vertical, Broadstone, the Sponsor, Merger Sub, VAGL and other parties listed therein.	20-F	001-41169	4.11	April 29, 2022
10.10	Call Option Agreement, dated December 16, 2021 by and among American and VAGL.	20-F	001-41169	4.12	April 29, 2022
10.11	Avolon Partnership Agreement, dated March 16, 2021, between VAGL and Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited.	F-4	333-257785	10.15	August 24, 2021
10.12	Rent Deposit Deed, dated July 15, 2021, between Anthony Nigel Samson, VAGL and Imagination Industries Limited.	F-4	333-257785	10.16	August 24, 2021
10.13	Licence to Assign, dated July 15, 2021, between Anthony Nigel Samson, Vertical, Imagination Industries Limited and VAGL.	F-4	333-257785	10.17	August 24, 2021
10.14	Loan Agreement dated October 22, 2021, between Stephen Fitzpatrick and VAGL.	F-4	333-257785	10.21	November 1, 2021
10.15	Form of Indemnification and Advancement Agreement.	6-K	001-41169	10.1	December 16, 2021
10.16††	Form of Director Appointment Letter.	F-1	333-262207	10.23	January 18, 2022
10.17††	Option Agreement, dated January 27, 2022, between Vertical, Stephen Fitzpatrick and Dómhnal Slattery.	20-F	001-41169	4.22	April 29, 2022
10.18	Share Purchase Agreement, dated August 5, 2022, between Vertical and Nomura Securities, Inc.	6-K	001-41169	99.1	August 5, 2022
10.19	Nomura Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 5, 2022, between Vertical and Nomura Securities, Inc.	6-K	001-41169	99.2	August 5, 2022
23.1	Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.					Filed
23.2	Consent of Walkers (Cayman) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)	F-1	333-264601	23.2	May 2, 2022
23.4	Consent of Winston & Strawn LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).	F-4	333-257785	23.4	November 1, 2021

†	Schedules and exhibits to this Exhibit omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2). The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request.

††	Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan.

‡	Certain confidential portions (indicated by brackets and asterisks) have been omitted from this exhibit because such information is both (i) non-material and (ii) would be competitively harmful if publicly disclosed.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-1 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in London, the United Kingdom on this 10th day of August, 2022.


	VERTICAL AEROSPACE LTD.

	By:	/s/ Stephen Fitzpatrick
		Name: Stephen Fitzpatrick
		Title: Chief Executive Officer

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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


Name	Title	Date

/s/ Stephen Fitzpatrick	Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	August 10, 2022
Stephen Fitzpatrick	Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Vincent Casey	Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)	August 10, 2022
Vincent Casey

*	President and Director	August 10, 2022
Michael Cervenka

/s/ Harry Holt	Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Director	August 10, 2022
Harry Holt

/s/ Dómhnal Slattery	Chairman	August 10, 2022
Dómhnal Slattery

*	Director	August 10, 2022
Kathy Cassidy

/s/ Michael Flewitt	Director
Michael Flewitt		August 10, 2022

*	Director	August 10, 2022
Gur Kimchi

*	Director	August 10, 2022
Marcus Waley-Cohen


*By:	/s/ Vincent Casey
	Vincent Casey
	Chief Financial Officer, as Attorney-in-fact

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SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED U.S. REPRESENTATIVE OF REGISTRANT

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Vertical Aerospace Ltd. has signed this Registration Statement on Form F-1 in the City of New York, State of New York, on August 10, 2022.


	COGENCY GLOBAL INC.

	By:	/s/ Colleen De Vries
		Name: Colleen De Vries
		Title: Sr. Vice President on behalf of Cogency Global Inc.

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Rendering of engineering consultancy services