UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 28, 2017 (June 23, 2017)
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
British Virgin Islands | 001-38120 | N/A | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
609-610 21st Century Tower
No. 40 Liangmaqiao Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing
China 100016
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)
(86) 10-8444-6968
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐
|
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company x If an emerging growth company, 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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨ |
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On June 23, 2017, Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) consummated its initial public offering (“IPO”) of 5,250,000 units (“Units”), each Unit consisting of one ordinary share of the Company, no par value per share (“Ordinary Share”), one right entitling the holder thereof to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one Ordinary Share upon the consummation of an initial business combination, and one-half of one warrant (“Warrant”), each whole Warrant exercisable to purchase one Ordinary Share, pursuant to the registration statements on Form S-1 (File Nos. 333-218404 and 333-218839). The Units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $52,500,000. The Company granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 787,500 additional units to cover over-allotments, if any.
As previously reported on a Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, on June 23, 2017, simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, the Company completed a private placement (the “Private Placement”) of an aggregate of 388,750 placement units to its sponsor, Bison Capital Holding Company Limited and the underwriter and/or their designees, generating gross proceeds of $3,887,500.
A total of $53,812,500 of the net proceeds from the IPO and the Private Placement were deposited in a trust account established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders. An audited balance sheet as of June 23, 2017 reflecting receipt of the proceeds upon consummation of the IPO and the Private Placement has been issued by the Company and is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
On June 28, 2017, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in full and purchased 787,500 additional Units at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $7,875,000. Simultaneously with the sale of the additional Units, the Company consummated the sale of an additional 43,312 placement units at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $433,125. A total of $8,071,875 of the net proceeds were deposited in the trust account, bringing the aggregate proceeds held in the trust account to $61,884,375.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | Description | |
99.1 | Audited Balance Sheet |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: June 28, 2017
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. | ||
By: | /s/ James Jiayuan Tong | |
James Jiayuan Tong | ||
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director |
3
Exhibit 99.1
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | F-2 |
Balance Sheet | F-3 |
Notes to Balance Sheet | F-4 |
F-1 |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of Bison Capital Acquisition Corp.
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) as of June 23, 2017. The balance sheet is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the balance sheet based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the balance sheet is free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the balance sheet, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall balance sheet presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the balance sheet referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. as of June 23, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ Marcum llp
Marcum llp
New York, NY
June 29, 2017
F-2 |
BISON CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
BALANCE SHEET
June 23, 2017
ASSETS | ||||
Current Assets | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 941,372 | ||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 24,500 | |||
Total current assets | 965,872 | |||
Cash held in Trust Account | 53,812,500 | |||
Total Assets | $ | 54,778,372 | ||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||
Current Liabilities | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 10,300 | ||
Advances from related party | 71,804 | |||
Promissory note – related party | 300,000 | |||
Total Current Liabilities | 382,104 | |||
Commitments and Contingencies | ||||
Ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, 4,819,148 shares at redemption value | 49,396,267 | |||
Shareholders’ Equity | ||||
Preferred shares, no par value; unlimited shares authorized, none issued and outstanding | — | |||
Ordinary shares, no par value; unlimited shares authorized; 2,328,977 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 4,819,148 shares subject to possible redemption) | 5,002,394 | |||
Accumulated deficit | (2,393 | ) | ||
Total Shareholders’ Equity | 5,000,001 | |||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | 54,778,372 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the balance sheet.
F-3 |
BISON CAPITAL
ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Bison Capital Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) is a newly organized blank check company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on October 7, 2016. The Company was formed for the purpose of acquiring, engaging in a share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements, or engaging in any other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”). Although the Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating an initial business combination, the Company intends to focus on businesses that have their primary operations located in Asia and North America in media/entertainment, consumer services and healthcare industries.
As of June 23, 2017, the Company had not yet commenced any operations. All activity through June 23, 2017 relates to the Company’s formation and its initial public offering (“Initial Public Offering”) described below.
The registration statements for the Company’s Initial Public Offering were declared effective on June 19, 2017. On June 23, 2017, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 5,250,000 units (“Units” and, with respect to the ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”) at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $52,500,000, which is described in Note 3.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 388,750 units (the “Private Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Unit in a private placement to the Company’s sponsor, Bison Capital Holding Company Limited (the “Bison Capital”) and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (“EarlyBirdCapital”) and/or their designees, generating gross proceeds of $3,887,500, which is described in Note 4.
Following the closing of the Initial Public Offering on June 23, 2017, an amount of $53,812,500 ($10.25 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the Private Units was placed in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) and will be invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), with a maturity of 180 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account, as described below.
Transaction costs amounted to $2,013,939, consisting of $1,575,000 of underwriting fees, and $438,939 of Initial Public Offering costs. In addition, $941,372 of cash was held outside of the Trust Account and is available for working capital purposes.
On June 28, 2017, in connection with the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option in full, the Company consummated the sale of an additional 787,500 Units, and the sale of an additional 43,312 Private Units at approximately $10.00 per unit, generating total gross proceeds of $8,308,125. A total of $8,071,875 of the net proceeds were deposited in the trust account, bringing the aggregate proceeds held in the trust account to $61,884,375. (see Note 8).
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of its Initial Public Offering and Private Units (subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the certain trust agreement), although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.
The Company, as a foreign private issuer, must comply with the tender offer rules in connection with its Business Combination, and unless otherwise required by Nasdaq rules or applicable laws, it does not intend to conduct a shareholder vote. It will, if it remains a foreign private issuer, provide its shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination by means of a tender offer pursuant to its Memorandum and Articles of Association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and file tender offer documents containing substantially the same information as would be included in a proxy statement with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If the Company is a foreign private issuer and it is required by Nasdaq rules or applicable laws to hold a shareholder vote, it will do so, but redemptions will still be effectuated pursuant to the tender offer rules described above. To the extent Nasdaq rules or applicable laws require redemption pursuant to a shareholder vote, even if a tender offer is also conducted, the Company will comply with such rules or laws. If the Company were to lose its foreign private issuer status, the Company may seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which shareholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against a Business Combination or may conduct a tender offer. The shareholders will be entitled to redeem their shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account ($10.25 per share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). The Company will proceed with a Business Combination only if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and a majority of the outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to 20% or more of the ordinary shares sold in the Initial Public Offering without the Company’s prior written consent.
F-4 |
BISON CAPITAL
ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
The Company’s sponsor, officers and directors (the “Initial Shareholders”) have agreed (a) to vote their Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) in favor of a Business Combination, (b) not to propose, or vote in favor of, prior to and unrelated to an initial Business Combination, an amendment to the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s redemption obligation to redeem all Public Shares if the Company cannot complete an initial Business Combination within 21 months of the closing of the Initial Public Offering, unless the Company provides public shareholders an opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment; (c) not to redeem any shares (including the Founder Shares) into the right to receive cash from the Trust Account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a Business Combination (or to sell any shares in a tender offer in connection with a Business Combination if the Company does not seek shareholder approval in connection therewith) and (d) that the Founder Shares shall not participate in any liquidating distributions upon winding up if a Business Combination is not consummated.
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within 21 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering (the “Combination Period”), the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than five business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Shares (including any public units in the Initial Public Offering or any public units or shares that the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates purchased in the Initial Public Offering or later acquired in the open market or in private transactions) which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and the Company’s board of directors, proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of the Company, subject (in each case of (ii) and (iii) above) to its obligations to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of applicable law. In connection with the redemption of 100% of the Company’s outstanding Public Shares each holder will receive a full pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (net of any taxes payable).
The Initial Shareholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares and the shares underlying the Private Units (i) in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination and (ii) if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The Initial Shareholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any acquired Public Shares in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination. However, if the Company’s Initial Shareholders should acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, they will be entitled to redemption rights with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the Combination Period. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution (including Trust Account assets) will be less than the $10.25 per unit.
Bison Capital has agreed that it will indemnify the Company to the extent necessary to ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced by the claims of prospective target businesses with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by the Company for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to the Company, but only if such a vendor or prospective target business does not execute such a waiver. However, Bison Capital may not be able to meet such obligation as the Company has not required Bison Capital to retain any assets to provide for its indemnification obligations, nor has the Company taken any further steps to ensure that Bison Capital will be able to satisfy any indemnification obligations that arise. Moreover, Bison Capital will not be liable to the Company’s public shareholders if Bison Capital should fail to satisfy its obligations under this agreement and instead will only be liable to the Company. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that Bison Capital will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (other than the Company’s independent auditors), prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account. Therefore, the distribution from the Trust Account to each holder of ordinary shares may be less than $10.25 per unit.
F-5 |
BISON CAPITAL
ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Emerging growth company
The Company is an “emerging growth company”, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its 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.
Further, section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of estimates
The preparation of the balance sheet in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the balance sheet.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the balance sheet, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of June 23, 2017.
Cash held in Trust Account
At June 23, 2017, the assets held in the Trust Account were held in cash.
Ordinary share subject to possible redemption
The Company accounts for its ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” Ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares are classified as shareholders’ equity. The Company’s ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company’s control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at June 23, 2017, ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders’ equity section of the Company’s balance sheet.
F-6 |
BISON CAPITAL
ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
Offering costs
Offering costs consist of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs amounting to $2,013,939 were charged to shareholders’ equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering.
Income taxes
The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company’s management determined that the British Virgin Islands is the Company’s only major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of June 23, 2017 and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.
The Company may be subject to potential examination by foreign taxing authorities in the area of income taxes. These potential examinations may include questioning the timing and amount of deductions, the nexus of income among various tax jurisdictions and compliance with foreign tax laws. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.
Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution which, at times may exceed the amount covered by government-provided insurance, if any, and in the event of non-performance by financial institutions may expose the Company to a loss. Any amounts held by financial institutions within the United States may exceed the Federal depository insurance coverage of $250,000. At June 23, 2017, the Company had not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.
Fair value of financial instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.
Recently issued accounting standards
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s balance sheet.
NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold 5,250,000 Units at a purchase price of $10.00 per unit. Each Unit consists of one ordinary share, no par value, one right (“Public Right”) and one-half of one redeemable warrant (each whole warrant, a “Public Warrant”). Each Public Right will convert into one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon consummation of a Business Combination (see Note 7). Each whole Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (subject to certain adjustments) (see Note 7).
F-7 |
BISON CAPITAL
ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Simultaneously with the Initial Public Offering, Bison Capital and EarlyBirdCapital purchased an aggregate of 388,750 Private Units (or an aggregate purchase price of $3,887,500), of which 362,500 Private Units were purchased by Bison Capital and 26,250 Private Units were purchased by EarlyBirdCapital. The proceeds from the sale of the Private Units were added to the net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account.
The Private Units are identical to the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that (i) Bison Capital and EarlyBirdCapital have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Private Units until after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain exceptions, (ii) the Private Units (including underlying securities) were purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of the Private Units is registered under the Securities Act, and (iii) the warrants included in the Private Units (the “Private Warrants”), as described in Note 7, are non-redeemable and may be exercised on a cashless basis, in each case so long as they continue to be held by Bison Capital or EarlyBirdCapital or their permitted transferees. However, the holders have agreed (a) to vote their private shares (representing the ordinary shares underlying the Private Units) and any Public Shares in favor of a Business Combination, (b) not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, prior to and unrelated to a Business Combination, to affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem all Public Shares if it cannot complete a Business Combination within 21 months of the closing of the Initial Public Offering, unless the Company provides public shareholders an opportunity to redeem their Public Shares, (c) not to redeem any shares included in the Private Units (the “Private Shares”) into the right to receive cash from the Trust Account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a Business Combination or sell their shares to the Company in a tender offer in connection with a Business Combination, and (d) that the Private Shares shall not participate in any liquidating distribution upon winding up if a Business Combination is not consummated.
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
In December 2016, the Company issued 1,437,500 ordinary shares to some of its Initial Shareholders (the “Founder Shares”) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. On June 19, 2017, the number of Founder Shares issued under the original subscription agreement was increased by way of the sub-division of each of the then existing Founder Shares on a 1.05 for 1 basis, resulting in the total number of Founder Shares becoming 1,509,375, with 196,875 of such shares being subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option was not exercised in full or in part (see Note 8). The Founder Shares are identical to the Public Shares sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that (1) the Founder Shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions as set forth in certain share escrow agreement, (2) the Founder Shares were purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of the Founder Shares is registered under the Securities Act, in addition to in accordance with the terms of the share escrow agreement, and (3) the Initial Shareholders have agreed (i) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any shares in connection with the consummation of Business Combination and (ii) to waive their liquidation rights with respect to their Founder Shares and private shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.
The 1,509,375 Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 196,875 shares subject to forfeiture by the Initial Shareholders to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment was not exercised in full or in part, so that the Initial Shareholders would collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering (excluding the sale of the Private Units) (see Note 8).
Additionally, subject to certain limited exceptions, the Initial Shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until, with respect to 50% of the Founder Shares, the earlier of (i) one year after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or (ii) the date on which the closing price of the Company’s ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.50 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after a Business Combination, and with respect to the remaining 50% of the Founder Shares, upon one year after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or earlier, in each case, if, subsequent to a Business Combination, the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.
Promissory Note — Related Party
Bison Capital has loaned the Company $300,000, a portion of which was used for the payment of costs associated with the Initial Public Offering. The loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and due on the earlier of December 31, 2017 or the closing of the Initial Public Offering. At June 23, 2017, $300,000 was outstanding under the note.
Related Party Advances
As of June 23, 2017, Bison Capital advanced the Company an aggregate of $71,804 to be used for the payment of costs related to the Initial Public Offering. The advances are non-interest bearing, unsecured and due on demand.
F-8 |
BISON CAPITAL
ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
Administrative Services Arrangement
Bison Capital entered into an agreement whereby, commencing on June 19, 2017 through the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination and its liquidation, to make available to the Company certain general and administrative services, including office space, utilities and administrative services, as the Company may require from time to time. The Company will pay Bison Capital $5,000 per month for these services.
Related Party Loans
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, Bison Capital or the Company’s officers and directors or their respective affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (the “Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Such Working Capital Loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. The notes would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $500,000 of notes may be converted upon consummation of a Business Combination into additional Private Units at a price of $10.00 per unit (the “Working Capital Units”).
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Director Compensation
The Company will pay its independent directors an annual retainer in an aggregate amount of $38,400 (to be prorated for a partial term), payable in arrears commencing on the first anniversary of the Initial Public Offering and ending on the earlier of a Business Combination and the Company’s liquidation.
Registration Rights
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on June 19, 2017, the holders of the Founder Shares, Private Units (and underlying securities) and Working Capital Units (and underlying securities) are entitled to registration rights. The holders of a majority-in-interest of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the consummation of a Business Combination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, EarlyBirdCapital may participate in a “piggy-back” registration only during the seven year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement. However, the registration rights agreement provides that the Company will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until termination of the applicable lock-up period. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriters Agreement
The Company granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 787,500 additional Units to cover the over-allotment at the Initial Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions (see Note 8).
The underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of three percent (3.0%) of the gross proceeds of the Initial Public Offering, or $1,575,000.
Business Combination Marketing Agreement
On June 19, 2017, the Company entered into a Business Combination Marketing Agreement with EarlyBirdCapital wherein EarlyBirdCapital will act as an advisor in connection with a Business Combination to assist the Company in holding meetings with its shareholders to discuss the potential Business Combination and the target business’ attributes, introduce the Company to potential investors that are interested in purchasing the Company’s securities, assist the Company in obtaining shareholder approval for the Business Combination and assist the Company with its press releases and public filings in connection with the Business Combination. The Company will pay EarlyBirdCapital a cash fee for such services upon the consummation of a Business Combination in an amount equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of the Company’s Initial Public Offering (exclusive of any applicable finders’ fees which might become payable). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the fee will be reduced by an amount equal to 2% of the dollar amount of purchases of the Company’s ordinary shares by investors introduced to the Company by Bison Capital or the Company’s officers, directors or their respective affiliates following announcement by the Company of a proposed the vote on such Business Combination and do not seek conversion of their shares in connection with such proposed Business Combination; provided, however, that the fee will not be reduced by more than $500,000.
F-9 |
BISON CAPITAL
ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
Unit Purchase Option
The Company sold to the underwriter (and/or its designees), for $100, an option to purchase up to 157,500 units exercisable at $10.00 per unit (or an aggregate exercise price of $1,575,000) commencing on the later of the first anniversary of the effective date of the registration statement related to the Initial Public Offering and the consummation of a Business Combination. The unit purchase option may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and expires five years from the effective date of the registration statement related to the Initial Public Offering. The units issuable upon exercise of this option are identical to the Units offered in the Initial Public Offering. The Company accounted for the unit purchase option, inclusive of the receipt of $100 cash payment, as an expense of the Initial Public Offering resulting in a charge directly to shareholders’ equity. The Company estimated the fair value of the unit purchase option to be approximately $528,441 (or $3.36 per Unit) using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of the unit purchase option granted to the underwriters was estimated as of the date of grant using the following assumptions: (1) expected volatility of 35%, (2) risk-free interest rate of 1.77% and (3) expected life of five years. The unit purchase option and such units purchased pursuant to the unit purchase option, as well as the ordinary shares underlying such units, the rights included in such units, the ordinary shares that are issuable for the rights included in such units, the warrants included in such units, and the shares underlying such warrants, have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA’s NASDAQ Conduct Rules. Additionally, the unit purchase option may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a one-year period (including the foregoing 180-day period) following the date of Initial Public Offering except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the Initial Public Offering and their bona fide officers or partners. The unit purchase option grants to holders demand and “piggy back” rights for periods of five and seven years, respectively, from the effective date of the registration statement with respect to the registration under the Securities Act of the securities directly and indirectly issuable upon exercise of the option. The Company will bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the securities, other than underwriting commissions which will be paid for by the holders themselves. The exercise price and number of units issuable upon exercise of the unit purchase option may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, or the Company’s recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the option will not be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares at a price below its exercise price.
NOTE 7. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred Shares — The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of no par value preferred shares, divided into five classes, Class A through Class E, each with such designation, rights and preferences as may be determined by a resolution of the Company’s board of directors to amend the Memorandum and Articles of Association to create such designations, rights and preferences. The Company has five classes of preferred shares to give the Company flexibility as to the terms on which each Class is issued. All shares of a single class must be issued with the same rights and obligations. Accordingly, starting with five classes of preferred shares will allow the Company to issue shares at different times on different terms. At June 23, 2017, there are no preferred shares designated, issued or outstanding.
Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of no par value ordinary shares. Holders of the Company’s ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share. At June 23, 2017, there were 2,328,977 ordinary shares issued and outstanding (excluding 4,819,148 ordinary shares subject to possible redemption).
Rights — Each holder of a right will receive one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share upon consummation of a Business Combination, even if a holder of such right converted all ordinary shares held by it in connection with a Business Combination. No fractional shares will be issued upon exchange of the rights. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive its additional shares upon consummation of a Business Combination as the consideration related thereto has been included in the Unit purchase price paid for by investors in the Initial Public Offering. If the Company enters into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination in which the Company will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of the ordinary shares will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into ordinary shares basis and each holder of rights will be required to affirmatively covert its rights in order to receive 1/10 of a share underlying each right (without paying additional consideration). The shares issuable upon exchange of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of the Company).
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such rights, and the rights will expire worthless. Further, there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities to the holders of the rights upon consummation of a Business Combination. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.
The rights included in the Private Units sold in the Private Placement are identical to the rights included in the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that, among others, the rights including the shares issuable upon exchange of such rights, are being purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of such rights (including underlying securities) is registered under the Securities Act. Please refer to Note 4 Private Placement for more details.
F-10 |
BISON CAPITAL
ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
Warrants — Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. The Public Warrants will become exercisable upon the consummation of a Business Combination. No Public Warrants will be exercisable for cash unless the Company has an effective and current registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and a current prospectus relating to such ordinary shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants is not effective within 120 days from the consummation of a Business Combination, the holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise the Public Warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. If an exemption from registration is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis. The Public Warrants will expire five years from the consummation of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The Private Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except the Private Warrants are exercisable for cash (even if a registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of such Private Warrants is not effective) or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and are not be redeemable by the Company, in each case so long as they are still held by the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates.
The Company may call the warrants for redemption (excluding the Private Warrants, but including any outstanding warrants issued upon exercise of the unit purchase option issued to EarlyBirdCapital), in whole and not in part, at a price of $.01 per warrant:
● | at any time while the Public Warrants are exercisable, | |
● | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each Public Warrant holder, | |
● | if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the ordinary shares equals or exceeds $24.00 per share, for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third business day prior to the notice of redemption to Public Warrant holders, and | |
● | if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the ordinary shares underlying such warrants at the time of redemption and for the entire 30-day trading period referred to above and continuing each day thereafter until the date of redemption. |
If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement.
The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluates subsequent events and transactions that occur after the balance sheet date up to the date that the financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, other than as described below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
On June 28, 2017, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in full and purchased 787,500 additional Units at $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $7,875,000. Simultaneously with the sale of the additional Units, the Company consummated the sale of an additional 43,312 Private Units at approximately $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $433,125.
Transaction costs amounted to $236,250, consisting of underwriting fees. A total of $8,071,875 of the net proceeds were placed in the Trust Account, bringing the aggregate proceeds held in the Trust Account to $61,884,375 as of June 28, 2017.
As a result of the underwriters’ election to exercise their over-allotment option in full, 196,875 Founder Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture.
F-11