On April 5, 2023, CIIG Capital Partners II, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“CIIG II”) issued a press release announcing that it intends to adjourn, without conducting any business, the special meeting of its stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) scheduled to occur at 12:00 p.m., Eastern time, on April 12, 2023, and to reconvene the Special Meeting at 11:00 a.m., Eastern time, on April 14, 2023. The Special Meeting is to be held with respect to the adoption and approval of the definitive merger agreement, dated November 22, 2022, by and among CIIG II, Zapp Electric Vehicles Limited (“Zapp”) and the other parties thereto (the “Merger Agreement”). The Special Meeting will be held in person at the offices of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, located at 51 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019.
In connection with the adjournment of the Special Meeting, CIIG II is extending the deadline for holders of its shares of Class A common stock to exercise their right to redeem their shares for their pro rata portion of the funds available in CIIG II’s trust account, or to withdraw any previously delivered demand for redemption, to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on April 12, 2023 (two business days before the reconvened Special Meeting).
A copy of the press release issued by CIIG II is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws with respect to the proposed initial business combination (the “Business Combination”) between Zapp, CIIG II and Zapp Electric Vehicles Group Limited (“Pubco”), including statements regarding the benefits of the transaction, the anticipated timing of the transaction, the anticipated growth in the industry in which Zapp operates and anticipated growth in demand for Zapp’s products, projections of Zapp’s future financial results and possible growth opportunities for Zapp. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “budget,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of CIIG II’s securities, (ii) the risk that the transaction may not be completed by CIIG II’s business combination deadline, (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders of CIIG II, (iv) the risk that CIIG II may not have sufficient funds to consummate the Business Combination, (v) the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed Business Combination, (vi) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, (vii) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Zapp’s business relationships, performance, and business generally, (viii) risks that the proposed Business Combination disrupts current plans of Zapp or diverts management’s attention from Zapp’s ongoing business operations and potential difficulties in Zapp’s employee retention as a result of the proposed Business Combination, (ix) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Zapp, Pubco, CIIG II or their respective directors or officers related to the proposed Business Combination, (x) the ability of Pubco, CIIG II or a successor thereto to maintain the listing of its securities on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, (xi) volatility in the price of the securities of Pubco, CIIG II or a successor thereto due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Zapp plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Zapp’s business and changes in the combined capital structure, (xii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the proposed Business Combination, and identify and realize additional opportunities, (xiii) the risk of downturns in the highly competitive electric vehicle industry, (xiv) the ability of Zapp to build the Zapp brand and consumers’ recognition, acceptance and adoption of the Zapp brand, (xv) the risk that Zapp may be unable to develop and manufacture electric vehicles of sufficient quality and on schedule and scale, that would appeal to a large customer base, (xvi) the risk that Zapp has a limited operating history, has not yet released a commercially available electric vehicle and does not have experience manufacturing or selling a commercial product at scale and (xvii) the risk that Zapp may not be able to effectively manage its growth, including its design, research, development and maintenance capabilities.