S-1/A 1 tm2022349-12_s1a.htm S-1/A tm2022349-12_s1a - block - 19.3669546s
As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on September 4, 2020.
Registration No. 333-248094​
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 2
to
FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Starboard Value Acquisition Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
6770
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
84-3743013
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
777 Third Avenue, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10017
(212) 845-7977
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Martin D. McNulty, Jr.
c/o Starboard Value Acquisition Corp.
777 Third Avenue, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10017
(212) 845-7977
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Copies to:
Alice Hsu
Jason Daniel
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
(212) 872-1000
Gary J. Simon
Anson B. Frelinghuysen
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, New York 10004
(212) 837-6208
Christian Nagler
Peter Seligson
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 446-4800
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date 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, please 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 a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of  “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.    ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each class of security being registered
Amount being
registered
Proposed maximum
offering price
per security(1)
Proposed maximum
aggregate offering
price(1)
Amount of
registration fee
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one-sixth of one redeemable warrant(2)
34,500,000 Units $ 10.00 $ 345,000,000 $ 44,781
Shares of Class A common stock included as part of the units(3)
34,500,000 Shares (6)
Redeemable warrants included as part of the 
units(3)
5,750,000 Warrants
(6)
Redeemable warrants to be distributed to the holders
of record of Class A common stock issued in this
offering that are outstanding immediately after any
redemptions of Class A common stock in
connection with the initial business
combination(3)(4)
5,750,000 Warrants
(6)
Contingent rights(5)
34,500,000 Rights (6)
Total
$ 345,000,000 $ 44,781(7)
(1)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
(2)
Includes 4,500,000 units, consisting of 4,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 750,000 redeemable warrants, which may be issued upon exercise of a 45-day option granted to the underwriters to cover over-allotments, if any.
(3)
Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, there are also being registered an indeterminable number of additional securities as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(4)
Includes 750,000 redeemable warrants. If the underwriters’ option is exercised in full, up to 750,000 redeemable warrants will be distributed to the holders of the remaining shares of Class A common stock that were issued in this offering that remain outstanding immediately after we redeem the shares of Class A common stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with the initial business combination. Such distribution will occur immediately following the time of such redemptions, and immediately prior to the closing of the initial business combination.
(5)
The contingent rights refer to the right attached to each share of Class A common stock issued in this offering to receive a distribution of up to 5,750,000 redeemable warrants (if the underwriters’ option is exercised in full), contingent upon such share of Class A common stock not being redeemed in connection with our initial business combination, and with the number of redeemable warrants to be distributed in respect of each unredeemed share of Class A common stock being contingent upon the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock that are redeemed. Such rights will remain attached to our Class A common stock and are not separately transferable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any form of certificate or instrument.
(6)
No fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act.
(7)
Previously paid.
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 information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 4, 2020
[MISSING IMAGE: lg_svac1.jpg]
Starboard Value Acquisition Corp.
$300,000,000
30,000,000 Units
Starboard Value Acquisition Corp. is a newly incorporated blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not identified any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. We may pursue an initial business combination target in any business or industry.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit has an offering price of  $10.00 and consists of: one share of our Class A common stock, one-sixth of one redeemable warrant (or 5,000,000 redeemable warrants in the aggregate, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) (the “detachable redeemable warrants”) and a contingent right to receive at least one-sixth of one redeemable warrant following the initial business combination redemption time (as defined below) under certain circumstances and subject to adjustment as further described in this prospectus (the “distributable redeemable warrants”).
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, at the distribution time (as defined below), we will effect a distribution of a number of warrants equal to the number of units issued in this offering multiplied by one-sixth (i.e., 5,000,000 warrants (or 5,750,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full)) (the “Aggregate Warrant Amount”) as follows: (i) to the extent that no public stockholders redeem their shares of Class A common stock issued in this offering (whether acquired in this offering or afterwards) (the “public shares”) in connection with the initial business combination, each public stockholder will receive one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant per public share and (ii) to the extent that any public stockholders redeem any of their public shares in connection with the initial business combination, then (A) one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant will be distributed per each public share that was not redeemed (the “remaining public shares”) and (B) the warrants in an amount equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount less the number of warrants distributed pursuant to the foregoing clause (A) will be distributed on a pro rata basis to (x) the holders of the remaining public shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares (as defined below), as distributable redeemable warrants and (y) the holders of the forward purchase shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as private placement warrants. Public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights are not entitled to receive any distribution of distributable redeemable warrants in respect of such redeemed public shares. The number of distributable redeemable warrants to be distributed in respect of each public share is contingent upon the aggregate number of public shares that are redeemed in connection with our initial business combination. See “Description of Securities—Forward Purchase Securities” for illustrative examples of the forward purchasers’ (as defined below) ownership of the forward purchase shares and the forward purchasers’ and the public’s ownership of the Aggregate Warrant Amount based on different redemption percentages.

The right to receive distributable redeemable warrants will remain attached to our Class A common stock and will not be separately transferable, assignable or salable. The distributable redeemable warrants, together with the detachable redeemable warrants, are collectively referred to herein as the “redeemable warrants”.
Each whole redeemable warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of  $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. Only whole redeemable warrants are exercisable. The redeemable warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and 12 months from the closing of this offering (the “warrant exercise date”), and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation (the “warrant expiration date”), as described in this prospectus. Subject to the terms and conditions described in this prospectus, we may redeem the redeemable warrants for cash once the redeemable warrants become exercisable. We have also granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 4,500,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any. If the underwriters fully exercise such option, we will issue an additional 4,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 750,000 detachable redeemable warrants as part of the units, and will distribute at the distribution time up to an additional 750,000 distributable redeemable warrants.
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of our Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account described below calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest (net of amounts withdrawn to pay our taxes (“permitted withdrawals”)), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will redeem 100% of the public shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law and certain conditions as further described herein.
Our sponsor, SVAC Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, has subscribed to purchase an aggregate of 5,333,333 warrants (or 5,933,333 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of  $1.50 per warrant ($8,000,000 in the aggregate, or $8,900,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering (the “Private Placement”). Each private placement warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus.
On August 17, 2020, certain clients of Starboard Value LP, a Delaware limited partnership, which are also the majority-owners of our sponsor, entered into a forward purchase agreement with us pursuant to which such clients (the “forward purchasers”) will purchase shares of our Class A common stock (“forward purchase shares”) at a price equal to $9.50 per share, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. At the closing, the forward purchasers will purchase the number of forward purchase shares from us that would result in net proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary to satisfy our aggregate payment obligations resulting from the exercise of redemption rights by holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination (the “Redemption Obligation”), subject to a maximum funding commitment by the forward purchasers of  $100,000,000 (the “Maximum Backstop Commitment”). In addition, in connection with their purchase of any forward purchase shares, the forward purchasers will acquire private placement warrants at the distribution time as further described in this prospectus. The forward purchasers have agreed that they will not redeem any Class A common stock held by them in connection with the initial business combination. The forward purchase shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that the forward purchase shares are subject to transfer restrictions and certain registration rights, as described herein, and there is no contingent right to receive distributable redeemable warrants attached to the forward purchase shares. Rather, in connection with their purchase of any forward purchase shares, the forward purchasers will acquire private placement warrants as further described herein. In addition, the forward purchasers may, at their option, anytime or from time to time during the 6-month period following the closing of our initial business combination, purchase additional common equity of the surviving entity in our initial business combination. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Our initial stockholders currently hold 8,625,000 shares of Class B common stock (up to 1,125,000 of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option

is exercised). The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as provided herein. Holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to elect all of our directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination. On any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, holders of our Class B common stock and holders of our Class A common stock will vote together as a single class, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rule.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our units, Class A common stock or warrants. We have been approved to list our units on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), under the symbol “SVACU”. The Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus, subject to certain conditions. Once the securities constituting the units begin separate trading, we expect that the Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “SVAC” and “SVACW,” respectively. The distributable redeemable warrants will trade on the first trading day following their issuance at the distribution time, will be fully fungible with the detachable redeemable warrants and will also trade under the symbol “SVACW.”
We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in our securities involves risks. Please see “Risk Factors” on page 44. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Per unit
Total
Price to public
$ 10.00 $ 300,000,000
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)
$ 0.65 $ 19,500,000
Proceeds, before expenses, to us
$ 9.35 $ 280,500,000
(1)
Includes $0.45 per unit, or $13,500,000 (or up to $15,525,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. The deferred commissions will be released to the underwriters only on completion of an initial business combination, in an amount equal to $0.45 multiplied by the number of shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering, as described in this prospectus. Does not include certain fees and expenses payable to the underwriters in connection with this offering. See also “Underwriting” for a description of these arrangements, compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters.
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor described in this prospectus, $300,000,000, or $345,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit in either case), will be deposited into a U.S.-based trust account at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.with Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company acting as trustee.
The underwriters are offering the units for sale on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters expect to deliver the units to the purchasers on or about           , 2020.
Joint Book-Running Managers
UBS Investment Bank
Stifel
Cowen
           , 2020

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information, and we take no responsibility for any other information others may give to you. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.
   
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F-1
 
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Summary
This summary only highlights the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. As this is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making an investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the information under the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before investing.
Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus, or the context otherwise requires, references to:

“common stock” are to our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock, collectively;

“distribution time” are to the time at which the distributable redeemable warrants and the private placement warrants, if any, to the forward purchasers will be distributed, which will occur immediately after the initial business combination redemption time and immediately prior to the closing of our initial business combination;

“equity-linked securities” are to any debt or equity securities that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of Class A common stock issued in a financing transaction in connection with our initial business combination, including, but not limited to, a private placement of equity or debt;

“forward purchase agreement” are to an agreement entered into on August 17, 2020 providing for the sale of our Class A common stock and private placement warrants to the forward purchasers and their permitted transferees in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination;

“forward purchase shares” are to the shares of our Class A common stock to be issued pursuant to the forward purchase agreement;

“forward purchasers” are to those certain Starboard clients that entered into the forward purchase agreement;

“forward transferee” are to any entity to which one or more forward purchasers transfer any portion of their obligation to purchase the forward purchase shares under the forward purchase agreement;

“founder shares” are to shares of our Class B common stock initially purchased by our sponsor in a private placement prior to this offering, and the shares of our Class A common stock issued upon the conversion thereof as provided herein;

“initial business combination redemption time” are to the time at which we redeem the shares of Class A common stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination, which will occur prior to the consummation of our initial business combination;

“initial stockholders” are to holders of our founder shares prior to this offering;

“management” or our “management team” are to our directors and officers;

“private placement warrants” are to the warrants issued to (i) our sponsor in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering and (ii) to the forward purchasers, if any, at the distribution time;

“public shares” are to shares of our Class A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);

“public stockholders” are to the holders of our public shares, including our initial stockholders and management team to the extent our initial stockholders and/or members of our management team purchase public shares, provided that each initial stockholder’s and member of our management team’s status as a “public stockholder” shall only exist with respect to such public shares;

“redeemable warrants” are to our detachable redeemable warrants included in the units issued in this offering and to the distributable redeemable warrants issuable to the remaining holders of our outstanding shares of our Class A common stock issued in this offering (after we redeem any shares of Class A common stock that the holders thereof have elected to redeem in connection with our initial business combination);
 
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“sponsor” are to SVAC Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company;

“Starboard” are to Starboard Value LP, a Delaware limited partnership; and

“we,” “us,” “company” or “our company” are to Starboard Value Acquisition Corp.
Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-sixth of one detachable redeemable warrant (or 5,000,000 detachable redeemable warrants in the aggregate, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and a contingent right to receive at least one-sixth of one redeemable warrant following the initial business combination redemption time under certain circumstances and subject to adjustment as further described in this prospectus. An aggregate of up to 5,000,000 distributable redeemable warrants (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) will be distributed to holders of record of our outstanding Class A common stock at the distribution time. Each whole redeemable warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of  $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus, and only whole redeemable warrants are exercisable. No fractional detachable redeemable warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole detachable redeemable warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least six units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole detachable redeemable warrant.
Registered trademarks referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option.
OUR COMPANY
General
We are a newly organized blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not selected any potential business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential business combination target.
Our sponsor is an affiliate of Starboard, a registered investment adviser with investment experience and a track record of value creation in portfolio companies operating in the public markets. Starboard has assembled a seasoned team of executives (the “Industry Advisors”), whom we believe will help us execute our differentiated investment strategy. Through our affiliation with our sponsor and Industry Advisors, we will seek to acquire established businesses that we believe are fundamentally sound but potentially in need of financial, operational, strategic, or managerial transformation to maximize value for stockholders. We intend to focus on private companies which we believe offer an opportunity for stockholder value creation through the combination of  (i) an attractive valuation entry point, (ii) a clear plan to unlock incremental value through operational and/or strategic improvements, and (iii) a clear path to bring the target company to the public market and implement best-in-class public company governance. We will seek to partner with the owners of private companies to offer them an option to create partial liquidity, transition their legacy to a public company and/or resolve any fragmented ownership or succession planning issues, all while maintaining a singular focus on driving the target business to a higher level of performance and value. We may also look at earlier stage companies that exhibit the potential to change the industries in which they participate, and which offer the potential of sustained high levels of revenue growth.
While we may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business, industry, sector or geographical location, we intend to focus on industries that align with the background of our sponsor and Industry Advisors. These industries include the technology, healthcare, consumer, industrials and hospitality & entertainment sectors, which we refer to as our targeted sectors. We believe that there are many potential business combination targets within these industries that could become attractive public companies. Furthermore, we believe that we are well-positioned to drive ongoing value creation post-business combination, based on the operational and investment experience and track record of our team within our targeted sectors over time. We believe our team is well-suited to identify and execute on opportunities
 
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that have the potential to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for our stockholders. We are not, however, required to complete our initial business combination within our targeted sectors, and, as a result, we may pursue a business combination outside of these industries.
Our sponsor: SVAC Sponsor LLC, an affiliate of Starboard Value LP
Our sponsor, SVAC Sponsor LLC, is a newly organized special purpose vehicle under common control with Starboard Value LP. Our sponsor is majority-owned by certain clients of Starboard, with the remaining interests owned by the Industry Advisors. Starboard Value LP, which was founded in 2011, is a New York-based investment adviser with a fundamental approach to investing primarily in the public and private securities of publicly traded U.S. companies. Starboard seeks to produce superior risk-adjusted returns by investing in high-conviction public equity investments. Starboard has approximately $6.0 billion of assets under management as of September 1, 2020 (calculated on the basis of the net asset value of existing investments, binding capital commitments, and non-binding capital commitments that are subject to opt-outs). The following characteristics summarize Starboard’s investment platform:

Starboard seeks to invest on behalf of its clients in companies that it believes to be deeply undervalued and actively engages with management teams and boards of directors to identify and execute on opportunities to unlock value for the benefit of all stockholders.

Starboard’s investment team conducts substantial business, financial and legal due diligence on every investment before acquiring a meaningful ownership stake.

Starboard’s team of investment professionals brings years of experience to each of their areas of expertise.

Starboard maintains an institutional infrastructure with teams in accounting, operations, legal and compliance and business development.
We believe Starboard’s differentiated platform will provide us with key advantages, including (i) extensive research capabilities and industry expertise, (ii) deal flow from institutional client relationships, banks, brokers and other intermediaries, (iii) a strong network of proven operators, executives and board members with expertise across various industries, (iv) an ability to attract talented investment professionals and advisors, and (v) significant experience in positioning companies for success in the public equity markets through a focus on operational value creation implemented according to specific, executable plans, along with enhanced corporate governance. Additionally, we believe that Starboard’s reputation with institutional equity investors will ensure that investors consider the pro-forma impact of a business combination and the value creation plan that Starboard Value Acquisition Corp. intends to implement. Starboard is not an investment adviser to the company. See “Risk Factors—Past performance by Starboard, our management team and our Industry Advisors may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.”
Our management team and affiliated directors
Starboard Value Acquisition Corp. will be led by Jeffrey C. Smith, our Chair, Martin D. McNulty, Jr., our Chief Executive Officer, and Kenneth R. Marlin, our Chief Financial Officer. Our senior management team will be supported by the broader Starboard team, as well as our Industry Advisors and independent directors, as further described below.
Jeffrey C. Smith is the Chair of our board of directors. Mr. Smith is a Managing Member, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Starboard, which he founded in 2011 with a spin-off of the existing Value and Opportunity Fund. From January 1998 to April 2011, Mr. Smith was at Ramius LLC, a subsidiary of the Cowen Group, Inc., where he was a Partner Managing Director and the Chief Investment Officer for the funds that comprised the Value and Opportunity investment platform. Mr. Smith was also a member of Cowen’s Operating Committee and Cowen’s Investment Committee. Prior to joining Ramius in January 1998, he served as Vice President of Strategic Development and a member of the board of directors of The Fresh Juice Company, Inc. Mr. Smith began his career in the Mergers and Acquisitions department at Société Générale. Mr. Smith has served as the chair of the board of Papa John’s International, Inc. since February 2019 and was formerly chair of the board of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. from May 2016 to May 2020. Additionally, Mr. Smith was formerly chair of the board of Darden
 
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Restaurants, Inc. from October 2014 to April 2016, and formerly on the boards of Perrigo Company plc from February 2017 to August 2019, Yahoo! Inc., from April 2016 to June 2017, Quantum Corporation from May 2013 to May 2015, Office Depot, Inc. from August 2013 to September 2014, Regis Corporation from October 2011 until October 2013 and Surmodics, Inc. from January 2011 to August 2012. Mr. Smith also previously served as chair of the board of directors of Phoenix Technologies Ltd and as a director of Zoran Corporation, Actel Corporation, Kensey Nash Corp., S1 Corp and the Fresh Juice Company. Mr. Smith graduated from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania, where he received a B.S. in Economics.
Martin D. McNulty, Jr. is our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors. Throughout his career, he has focused on driving operational improvements and business transformations across industries. Since June 2020, Mr. McNulty has served as a Managing Director of Starboard. From September 2013 to May 2020, Mr. McNulty was a Managing Director and member of the investment committee of Starr Investment Holdings, LLC, the direct private equity investment arm for C.V. Starr and Co., responsible for sourcing, execution and portfolio management of investment opportunities in the business services and healthcare sectors with a focus on supporting market leading companies with superb leadership teams grow their businesses. From June 2008 to August 2013, Mr. McNulty was a Vice President at Metalmark Capital, a value-oriented middle market private equity fund focused on making investments in the healthcare, industrial and energy sectors. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. McNulty was a Senior Associate at Sun Capital Partners, a value-oriented middle market private equity fund focused on making investments in businesses where its operational expertise could drive meaningful value in underperforming and turnaround situations. Mr. McNulty began his career in 2000 in the Deals practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Throughout his career, Mr. McNulty has served as a director or board observer of several private companies. Mr. McNulty received a BBA in Business Administration from the University of Iowa.
Kenneth R. Marlin is our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Marlin is a Partner and has been the Chief Financial Officer of Starboard since 2011. Prior to joining Starboard, Mr. Marlin was a Managing Director and the Chief Compliance Officer of Ivy Asset Management LLC. Previously, Mr. Marlin served in various accounting and auditing roles with Lehman Brothers Inc., Manufacturers Hanover Trust and Arthur Andersen & Co. He received a B.S. in Accounting from the State University of New York at Albany, and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York.
Our industry advisors
We have assembled an experienced team of Industry Advisors to assist in the sourcing, evaluation, due diligence, deal execution, and post-closing strategic involvement with potential business combination partners. Our strategy, as further described below, is predicated on finding a business combination partner where we can define and present to our investors a clear, executable plan to drive long-term stockholder value creation through our collective experience. We believe the operational expertise of our Industry Advisors is a differentiating element of our approach, which gives us the opportunity to pursue potential business combination targets in several industry sectors where we have expertise, and increases our likelihood of finding and completing a suitable business combination.
We believe that having highly experienced Industry Advisors from multiple sectors increases the potential for a successful initial business combination, giving us a distinct advantage. Our Industry Advisors are Erin Russell, Anthony M. Sanfilippo, Nigel Travis and Gregory Waters.
Erin Russell
Highlights
Erin Russell is a senior private equity professional with a focus on healthcare investments. Ms. Russell has extensive experience in both public and private markets, ranging from investment evaluation to oversight of business transformations as a board member. During her time at Vestar Capital Partners, LP, Ms. Russell executed a portfolio roll-up strategy for several companies, created numerous creative capital structures (including non-traditional financing arrangements), and significantly improved the financial performance of acquired companies through operational and strategic improvements.
 
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Background
Career

Principal of Vestar Capital Partners, LP, a private equity firm specializing in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth equity investments, from August 2001 until April 2017.
Education

Bachelor’s degree in commerce with a concentration in accounting from McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Board involvement
Current board appointments

Member of the board of directors and chair of the audit committee of Tivity Health, Inc., a provider of nutrition, fitness and social engagement solutions, since March 2020; member of the board of directors, audit and nominating and corporate governance committees and chair of the risk oversight and sustainability committee of Kadant, Inc., a global supplier of engineered systems, since January 2019.
Past board appointments

Member of the board of directors of DeVilbiss Healthcare LLC, a company that designs, manufactures and markets respiratory medical products, from 2012 until July 2015; member of the board of directors and the audit committee of 21st Century Oncology Inc., a provider of state-of-the-art radiation therapy and integrated cancer treatments, from 2008 until September 2016, including as chair of the audit committee until 2014; member of the board of directors of DynaVox Inc., a communications device manufacturer, from 2004 to 2014, serving as the chair of its audit committee until DynaVox Inc.’s initial public offering in 2010.
Other interests
Ms. Russell is currently a member of the school advisory board of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, where she has served since June 2018, and has served on the advisory boards of McIntire School of Commerce since June 2016 and the Jefferson Scholars Foundation at the University of Virginia since April 2008.
Anthony M. Sanfilippo
Highlights
Anthony M. Sanfilippo is a business executive with over 35 years of hospitality, entertainment and gaming industry experience. His extensive business successes include leading an operational transformation, navigating the sale of a publicly listed company, implementing long term strategies, and managing multiple acquisitions and business integrations. During Mr. Sanfilippo’s tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., which was sold to Penn National Gaming in October 2018, publicly available shareholder returns were 595% compared to 186% on the S&P 500 Total Return Index. During Mr. Sanfilippo’s tenure as President and Chief Executive Officer of Multimedia Games Inc. from June 2008 to March 2010, publicly available shareholder returns outperformed the S&P 500 Total Return Index.
Background
Career

Co-founder of Sorelle Capital, Sorelle Entertainment and Sorelle Hospitality, a series of firms focused on investing in and helping grow companies with entrepreneurs in hospitality sectors and related real estate ventures.
 
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Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., an owner, developer and manager of hospitality venues which included casinos, resort hotels, restaurants, entertainment and horse racing facilities from March 2010 to October 2018.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Multimedia Games Inc., a creator and supplier of comprehensive systems, content and electronic gaming units for various segments of the gaming industry from June 2008 to March 2010.

Previous leadership roles at Caesars Entertainment, Inc., where he served as president of the company’s central and western divisions, overseeing the operations of many company owned or managed properties.
Education

Attended the University of Texas at Austin and the Stanford Business Executive Program.
Board Involvement
Current Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors, chair of the compensation committee and member of the nominating and governance committee of Papa John’s International, Inc.; and Chair of the board of directors of Tivity Health, Inc., a provider of nutrition, fitness and social engagement solutions, since April 2020.
Past Board Appointments

Former chair of the board of directors of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.; and former member of the board of directors of Multimedia Games Inc.
Other Interests
Mr. Sanfilippo is the founder of the Sanfilippo Family Charitable Fund, and focuses his philanthropic efforts on a variety of causes.
Nigel Travis
Highlights
Nigel Travis is a businessman and corporate executive. He has served as board member, chair, and Chief Executive Officer at some of America’s most iconic businesses. Mr. Travis’ extensive experience includes domestic and international leadership positions at both public and private companies, with a particular focus on the retail and restaurant industries. He remains actively involved in providing strategic and operational guidance through his multiple current appointments to the boards of publicly listed and private companies and has a distinguished career in creating shareholder value. During Mr. Travis’ tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc., he led Dunkin’ in its initial public offering and publicly available shareholder returns post-IPO were 362% compared to 241% on the S&P 500 Total Return Index. During Mr. Travis’ tenure as President and Chief Executive Officer of Papa John’s International, Inc. from January 2005 to December 2008, publicly available shareholder returns outperformed the S&P 500 Total Return Index.
Background
Career

Chief Executive Officer of Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc., a quick-service restaurant franchisor from January 2009 to July 2018, and Executive Chair of its board of directors between July 2018 and December 2018.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Papa John’s International, Inc., an international take-out and delivery pizza restaurant chain, between January 2005 and December 2008.
 
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President and Chief Operating Officer of Blockbuster, Inc. between 2001 and 2004, after having joined the company in 1994.

Numerous senior positions at Burger King Holdings, Inc., when owned by Grand Metropolitan PLC.

20 years of human resource experience.
Education

Bachelor’s degree in business from Middlesex University, England.
Board Involvement
Current Board Appointments

Non-executive chair of the board of directors of Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. since January 2019; Chair of the board of directors of Servpro, an industry leader in franchise residential and commercial remediation and reconstruction; member of the board of directors and nominating and governance committee of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. since August 2018; and member of the board of directors and of both the audit and finance and the nominating and governance committees of Abercrombie and Fitch Co. since February 2019.
Past Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Office Depot, Inc. from March 2012 to May 2020; member of the board of directors of Lorillard, Inc. from 2008 to 2012; member of the board of directors of Papa John’s International, Inc. from 2005 to 2008; member of the board of directors of Bombay Company from 2000 to 2007; and member of the board of directors of Limelight Group PLC (UK) from 1996 to 2000.
Other Interests
Mr. Travis serves as the Chair of Leyton Orient Football Club and led a business consortium to take on ownership of the English football club in June 2017. He is also the author of the book “The Challenge Culture: Why the Most Successful Organizations Run on Pushback.”
Gregory Waters
Highlights
Gregory Waters is a senior technology executive with extensive public and private company leadership experience having led three companies through successful transformations. Mr. Waters is also actively involved in new business formation with both for-profit and charitable corporations. During Mr. Waters’ tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Device Technology, Inc., which was sold to Renesas Electronics Corporation in March 2019, publicly available shareholder returns were 496% compared to 173% on the S&P 500 Total Return Index.
Background
Career

President and Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Device Technology, Inc., a company that designs, manufactures, and markets low-power, high-performance analog mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for the advanced communications, computing, and consumer industries, from January 2014 to March 2019.

Executive Vice President at Skyworks Solutions, Inc., a manufacturer of semiconductors for use in radio frequency and mobile communications systems, from 2003 to December 2012.

Former Senior Vice President of strategy and business development at Agere Systems Inc., an integrated circuit components company, where his responsibilities included M&A and IP licensing.
 
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Numerous positions at Texas Instruments.
Education

B.S. in Engineering from the University of Vermont; M.S. in Computer Science, with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence, from Northeastern University.
Board Involvement
Current Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Sierra Wireless, Inc., a leader in IoT Connectivity Modules and Services since March 2020; and a member of the board of directors of Mythic, a company leading Analog Compute technology in AI processors, since June 2020.
Past Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Integrated Device Technology, Inc. from January 2014 to March 2019; member of the board of directors of Mellanox Technologies, LTD from June 2018 to April 2020; and member of the board of directors of Sand9 from 2011 to 2013.
Other Interests
Mr. Waters is the founder of Microfacturing Institutes, a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation providing high tech education to all that need it.
Our independent directors
Our independent directors include the following individuals:
Pauline J. Brown
Highlights
For more than 25 years, Pauline J. Brown has acquired, built and led global luxury brands, with extensive experience in buyouts, and has public company board experience.
Background
Career

Chair of North America for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, a European multinational luxury goods conglomerate, from January 2013 through December 2015.

Independent advisor to founders of and investors in early-stage consumer ventures from 2010 to 2013 as well as from 2018 to the present.

Former Managing Director at The Carlyle Group.

Former Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Global Business Development at Avon Products, Inc.

Former Vice President, Corporate Strategy and New Business Development at Estée Lauder Companies.

Former Management Consultant at Bain & Company.
Education

MBA from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania; BA from Dartmouth College.
 
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Board Involvement
Past Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of the publicly traded steakhouse chain Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group from April 2017 to September 2019, where she also was a member of the audit and compensation committees.
Other Interests
Ms. Brown is the author of a business book, entitled “Aesthetic Intelligence,” which was published by Harper Collins in November 2019. She also hosts a weekly talk show on SiriusXM, called “Tastemakers” and serves as an Executive-in-residence at the Columbia Business School. Ms. Brown was also a Professor at Harvard Business School from January 2016 through June 2017.
Michelle Felman
Highlights
Michelle Felman’s extensive business experience includes experience as the head of acquisitions at one of the country’s largest real estate investment trusts and serving on various public and private boards and governance, compensation, audit and investment oversight committees on a global basis.
Background
Career

Founded JAM Holdings, an investment and advisory firm, in 2016.

EVP and Co-Head of Acquisitions and Capital Markets at Vornado Realty Trust, a publicly traded REIT (“VNO”), from 1997 to 2010, and a consultant for VNO through December 2012.

Managing Director of Business Development at GE Capital from 1991 to 1997.

Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley from July 1988 until January 1991.
Education

Bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California; MBA from Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Board Involvement
Current Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Reonomy, a private real estate technology company, since 2018; member of the board of directors of Cumming Corp, a global project management and cost consulting company, since 2017; member of the Advisory Board at Turner Impact Capital, a social impact platform that focuses on healthcare, charter schools and workforce housing, since 2016.
Past Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Partners Group Holdings AG, a registered, global private equity firm, from 2016 to May 2020, and served as the chair of the investment oversight committee and on the compensation, risk and audit committees; member of the board of directors of Forest City Realty Trust, Inc. from April 2018 to December 2018 and was a member of the governance and compensation committees; trustee of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, a publicly traded retail REIT in Canada, from 2013 to 2018, and was a member of the governance and compensation committees.
Other Interests
Until 2017, Ms. Felman was a member of the Executive Committee of the Zell Lurie Center at Wharton Business School, where she also served as a visiting professor from 2011 to 2015. Ms. Felman has also been an adjunct professor at Columbia University since 2017.
 
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Robert L. Greene
Highlights
Robert L. Greene is an experienced private equity professional with significant expertise in assisting companies with developing and executing growth strategies. He has served in various leadership roles and is an experienced director.
Background
Career

President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Investment Companies, the largest network of diverse-owned private equity firms and hedge funds, since February 2013.

Head of Investor Relations of Syncom Venture Partners, a venture capital firm, from June 2007 to December 2013.
Education

Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Board involvement
Current board appointments

Member of the board of directors of Transworld Systems Inc., a privately held, private equity-backed company that provides debt collection services for Fortune 500 companies on a global basis, since May 2018; member of the board of directors and audit committee of Travelport, a UK-based travel technology company, since July 2019.
Past board appointments

Chair of the board of trustees of the Virginia Retirement System, one of the largest public pension plans in the U.S., from May 2008 to May 2017, where he also served as chair of the audit committee, administration and personnel committee and investment policy committee and as a member and chair of the executive search committee.
Other interests
Mr. Greene holds lifetime memberships in the National Eagle Scout Association, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the National INROADS Alumni Association. He serves as a member of the board of directors for the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation, where he chairs the finance and investment committee and the K-100 Executive Club.
Lowell W. Robinson
Highlights
Lowell W. Robinson is an experienced executive with over thirty years of senior global strategic, financial, M&A, operational, turnaround and governance experience at both Fortune 100 consumer and fashion/​retail corporations and diversified financial services companies and high growth public companies in marketing services/media, technology and digital. Mr. Robinson also has extensive experience serving on the boards of public and private companies.
Background
Career

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of MIVA, Inc., a Nasdaq digital marketing company, serving as Chief Financial Officer from 2006 to 2009, Chief Administrative Officer from 2006 to 2007, and Chief Operating Officer from 2007 to 2009.
 
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EVP, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of HotJobs.com Ltd. from 2000 to 2002.

EVP, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of PRT Group Inc., a software services technology company from 1997 to 1999.

EVP, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Valassis/Advo Inc., a NYSE direct marketing company, from 1994 to 1997.

Senior financial positions with Citigroup Inc. from 1986 to 1993 as Chief Financial Officer for The Travelers Life and Health Insurance businesses, Chief Financial Officer for Citigroup’s Global Insurance Division, and Controller and Chief Financial Officer for all international consumer and retail businesses, including retail banking and credit cards.
Education

MBA in finance from Harvard Business School; BA in Economics from The University of Wisconsin.
Board Involvement
Current Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., a leading solutions provider for the education industry, since July 2020, and serves on their audit committee.

Member of the board of directors of Medley Capital Corporation, a business development company, since April 2019, and serves on their audit committee and special committee of the board.
Past Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. from May 2018 to July 2019; member of the board of directors of Evine Live Inc. (f/k/a ShopHQ), a $700 million home shopping/​omnichannel company, from March 2014 to June 2018, where he was chair of the audit committee and on the finance committee; member of the board of directors of SITO Mobile, Ltd. from April 2017 to June 2017; member of the board of directors of Higher One Holdings, Inc., a fintech education services company, from June 2014 to August 2016, where he chaired the audit committee and was on the risk management committee; member of the board of directors of Support.com, Inc. from March 2016 to June 2016; member of the board of directors of The Jones Group, Inc., from 2005 to April 2014, where he was chair of the audit committee and on the compensation committee; chair of two GE Capital companies in media, publishing and digital from 2010 to 2014; former director of each of Independent Wireless One Corp., Edison Schools Inc. and International Wire Group, Inc.
Other Interests
Mr. Robinson is on the non-profit boards of the New York Academy of Sciences and the Harvard Business School Club of NY and previously served on the non-profit boards of The Council for Economic Education, The Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Smithsonian Libraries and the University of Wisconsin School of Business, where he ran their director’s summit and is currently on the advisory board for their Department of Economics.
Each of our directors, officers and Industry Advisors has agreed not to become a director or officer (and, in the case of the Industry Advisors, an industry or operating advisor) of any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within 24 months. For more information, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Management—Conflicts of Interest.”
With respect to the above, past performance of Starboard, our management team, our Industry Advisors, or any of their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of  (i) success with respect to a business combination that may be consummated, (ii) the ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (iii) the ability to assess the risk of potential transactions. You should not rely on the historical record of management,
 
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our Industry Advisors or Starboard and its affiliates as indicative of future performance or operational success of our company. See “Risk Factors—Past performance by Starboard, our management team and our Industry Advisors may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.” Our management and Starboard have no experience in operating blank check companies or special purpose acquisition companies.
Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to identify and complete our initial business combination with a company that can benefit from the strategic and transactional experience of Starboard and our sponsor, management team and Industry Advisors to catalyze and transform the company and create stockholder value. We believe our sponsor, management team, Industry Advisors, and independent directors will have access to a wide range of opportunities due to their extensive network of relationships with management teams of public and private companies, private equity sponsors, other public investors, investment bankers, lenders, restructuring advisers, attorneys, accountants, and other consultants and intermediaries. We have chosen Industry Advisors with specific experience in a broad range of industry sectors, including technology, healthcare, consumer, industrials and the hospitality & entertainment sectors because we believe that examining acquisition opportunities across all of these sectors increases the likelihood of finding an acquisition target that will lead to stockholder value creation.
Over the last 17 years, Starboard’s investment team has developed extensive experience working with management teams of public companies, across market capitalizations and industries, in order to unlock stockholder value. Over the past 17 years, Starboard’s team has been actively involved with more than 120 public companies and has developed an extensive network of operators and advisors with whom it works. Starboard has built a strong reputation and following in the public markets, attracting significant fundamental investor interest in the companies in which it invests. Starboard typically focuses on investment opportunities in public companies in need of transformation and looks to work with those companies to effect such transformations through operational improvements, changes in strategic focus, improved execution, enhanced corporate governance and oversight, and/or by providing strategic capital. We believe this track record of public company value creation and Starboard’s practices in partnering with companies and their stockholders to effect change are relevant capabilities for private companies seeking a public listing, and present a compelling value proposition for such potential target businesses. Our management team and Starboard have experience in:

Sourcing, structuring, acquiring, integrating and selling businesses;

Fostering relationships with sellers, capital providers and target leadership teams;

Negotiating transactions favorable to investors; and

Accessing the capital markets, including financing businesses and helping companies transition to public ownership.
In addition, our Industry Advisors have been successful chief executive officers, senior executives, and board members of public and private companies, and we believe they will enhance our value proposition to potential business combination partners given their collective expertise, operational and strategic capabilities, and track record in their respective sectors. Our Industry Advisors have experience in:

Operating companies, setting and changing strategies and capital allocation, and identifying, monitoring and recruiting world-class talent;

Acquiring and integrating companies;

Embarking on corporate turnarounds and implementing transformational long-term strategies; and

Developing and growing companies, both organically and through acquisitions and strategic transactions and expanding the product range and geographic footprint of businesses.
We believe that our management team’s and Industry Advisors’ track record of identifying and sourcing transactions positions us well to appropriately evaluate potential business combinations and select one that will be well received by the public markets. Additionally, we believe that Starboard’s extensive experience
 
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investing in and serving on the boards of companies that are undergoing strategic and/or operational transformations further increases the chances of successfully identifying a quality business where we can employ our practices to improve performance and valuation while it undergoes strategic and/or operational change. Our sourcing process will leverage the extensive networks of our Industry Advisors, which we believe should provide us with a number of business combination opportunities. We intend to deploy a proactive sourcing strategy and to focus on companies where we believe the combination of our management team’s and Industry Advisors’ operating experience, relationships, capital and capital markets expertise can be catalysts to transform a target company and create value for our stockholders. Upon completion of this offering, members of our management team, Starboard and the Industry Advisors will actively begin the search for a target business by communicating with their network of relationships and other interested parties. These communications will articulate our initial business combination criteria, including the parameters of our search for a target business, and will begin the process of pursuing and reviewing promising leads.
Acquisition Criteria
We believe we have the opportunity to pursue a differentiated set of potential acquisition targets due to our management team’s, Starboard’s and the Industry Advisors’ experience in driving transformative change in businesses in order to create value for stockholders. Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses and set us apart from other sources of capital pursuing target businesses in our areas of focus. We will use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines. We intend to seek to acquire companies that we believe:

Are prepared to be public companies and will benefit from having a public currency in order to enhance their ability to pursue accretive acquisitions, high-return capital projects, and/or strengthen their balance sheet.

Are good businesses that are underperforming their potential in industries that are otherwise exhibiting stable or improving fundamentals. We intend to evaluate each industry and the target businesses within those industries based on several factors, including the potential for sustainable competitive advantages, the ability to drive meaningful operational improvements, the ability to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns, and the sustainability of cash flow. We plan to seek targets that will be compatible with our rigorous value creation process, whereby we identify several value enhancing initiatives prior to making the acquisition and define processes to implement and optimize those initiatives.

Have a defensible market position with demonstrated advantages compared to competitors that create barriers to entry against new potential market entrants.

Are at an inflection point, such as those requiring additional management expertise, are able to innovate by developing new products or services, or are situations in which we believe we can drive improved financial performance.

Have significant embedded and/or underexploited expansion opportunities. This can be accomplished through a combination of accelerating organic growth and finding attractive bolt-on acquisition targets. Our management team and Industry Advisors have significant experience in identifying such targets and helping target management assess the strategic and financial fit of potential bolt-on acquisitions. Similarly, we believe our management team and Industry Advisors have the expertise to assess the likely synergies between target companies and help a target effectively integrate acquisitions.

Exhibit unrecognized value or other characteristics that we believe represent upside in the public markets based on our company-specific analysis and due diligence review. For a potential target company, this process will include, among other things, a review and analysis of the company’s capital structure, quality of earnings, potential for operational improvements, corporate governance, customers, materials contracts, and industry background and trends.

Have strong, experienced management teams, or provide a platform to assemble an effective management team with a track record of driving growth, profitability, and value creation.
 
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Will offer attractive risk-adjusted equity returns for our stockholders. We will seek to acquire a target on terms and in a manner that leverages our experience in transformational investing. Financial returns will be evaluated based on (i) the potential for organic growth in cash flows, (ii) the ability to achieve cost savings, (iii) the ability to accelerate growth, including through the opportunity for follow-on acquisitions, and (iv) the prospects for creating value through other value creation initiatives. Potential upside from growth in the target business’ earnings and an improved capital structure will be weighed against any identified downside risks.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
In addition to any potential business candidates we may identify on our own, we anticipate that other target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity funds, and large business enterprises seeking to divest non-core assets or divisions.
Acquisition Process
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct an extensive due diligence review which will encompass, as applicable and among other things, commercial and industry due diligence, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, and a review of financial and other information about the target and its industry. To help facilitate this evaluation we will rely on input from our management team, Industry Advisors and third-party due diligence providers. We also intend to leverage the operational and capital allocation planning experience of Starboard, our management team and our Industry Advisors.
We currently do not have any specific business combination under consideration. Our officers and directors have neither individually identified nor considered a target business nor have they had any substantive discussions regarding possible target businesses among themselves or with our underwriters or other advisors. Starboard is frequently made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for a business combination, but we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf) contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to a business combination transaction with our company. We have not (nor have any of our agents or affiliates) been approached by any candidates (or representative of any candidates) with respect to a possible acquisition transaction with our company. Additionally, we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, taken any substantive measure, directly or indirectly, to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate for us, nor have we engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any such acquisition candidate.
We are not prohibited from pursuing our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors, or our officers or from making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, our directors, officers or their affiliates. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or officers, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or an independent accounting firm that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
In addition, we believe our ability to complete our initial business combination will be enhanced by the forward purchase agreement pursuant to which the forward purchasers will purchase forward purchase shares in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close simultaneously
 
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with the closing of our initial business combination. These purchases are intended to satisfy the Redemption Obligation and thereby provide us with a minimum funding level for our initial business combination.
Further, our distributable redeemable warrants provide our public stockholders with an incentive not to redeem their shares of Class A common stock in connection with our initial business combination. Holders who choose to redeem their shares will lose the right to receive any distributable redeemable warrants. Public stockholders who choose not to redeem their shares of Class A common stock will share in the distribution of 5,000,000 warrants with other non-redeeming holders and, to the extent public stockholders exercise their right to redeem their Class A common stock in connection with the initial business combination, with the holders of the forward purchase shares (as described in this prospectus), and will receive a portion of the additional warrants that were effectively surrendered by redeeming holders. As a result, public stockholders who do not redeem their shares will receive at least one-sixth of a distributable redeemable warrant per share they hold, and a greater amount if other holders elect to redeem. We believe this structure will likely lead to a lower level of redemptions.
Each of our directors and officers may, directly or indirectly, own founder shares and/or private placement warrants following this offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, such directors and officers may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such directors and officers was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. However, we do not expect these duties to present a significant conflict of interest with our search for an initial business combination. We believe this conflict of interest with respect to our officers and directors affiliated with Starboard will be mitigated, to a certain extent, by the differing nature of the investments Starboard typically considers most attractive for its clients and the types of acquisitions we expect Starboard Value Acquisition Corp. to find most attractive.
No members of our management team have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware, unless presented to such member specifically in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the company and after they have satisfied their contractual and fiduciary obligations to other parties. Any knowledge or presentation of such opportunities may therefore present conflicts of interest.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
In addition, none of our Industry Advisors are officers or directors of our company and therefore owe us no fiduciary duties as such. While we expect that they will assist us in identifying business combination targets, they have no obligation to do so and may devote a substantial portion of their business time to activities unrelated to us. Our Industry Advisors may have fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to other organizations to present business combination opportunities to such other organizations rather than to us. Accordingly, if any Industry Advisor becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he will honor those obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he determines to present the opportunity to us.
 
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Initial Business Combination
As required by Nasdaq rules, our initial business combination will be approved by a majority of our independent directors. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. If our securities are no longer listed on Nasdaq, we will not be obligated to satisfy such 80% test. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of a target business or businesses, it may be unable to do so if the board is less familiar or experienced with the target company’s business, there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the company’s assets or prospects, including if such company is at an early stage of development, operations or growth, or if the anticipated transaction involves a complex financial analysis or other specialized skills and the board determines that outside expertise would be helpful or necessary in conducting such analysis. Since any opinion, if obtained, would merely state that the fair market value of the target business meets the 80% threshold, unless such opinion includes material information regarding the valuation of a target business or the consideration to be provided, it is not anticipated that copies of such opinion would be distributed to our stockholders. However, if required under applicable law, any proxy statement that we deliver to stockholders and file with the SEC in connection with a proposed transaction will include such opinion.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business for the post-acquisition company to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target or assets sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for the purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.
Corporate Information
Our offices are located at 777 Third Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10017, and our telephone number is (212) 845-7977. We plan to maintain a corporate website. The information that may be contained on or accessible through our corporate website or any other website that we may maintain is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
We are 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”). As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting
 
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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 of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of  (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
 
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The Offering
In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the backgrounds of the members of our management team and Industry Advisors, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors.”
Securities offered
30,000,000 units, at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of:

one share of Class A common stock;

one-sixth of one detachable redeemable warrant; and

a contingent right to receive distributable redeemable warrants.
Nasdaq symbols
Units: “SVACU”
Class A Common Stock: “SVAC”
Redeemable Warrants (whether detachable redeemable warrants or the distributable redeemable warrants): “SVACW”
Distribution of additional distributable redeemable warrants on the distribution date
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, at the distribution time, we will effect a distribution of a number of warrants equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount as follows: (i) to the extent that no public stockholders redeem their public shares in connection with the initial business combination, each public stockholder will receive one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant per public share and (ii) to the extent that any public stockholders redeem any of their public shares in connection with the initial business combination, then (A) one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant will be distributed per each remaining public share and (B) the warrants in an amount equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount less the number of warrants distributed pursuant to the foregoing clause (A) will be distributed on a pro rata basis to (x) the holders of the remaining public shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as distributable redeemable warrants and (y) the holders of the forward purchase shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as private placement warrants.
Public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights are not entitled to receive any distribution of distributable redeemable warrants in respect of such redeemed public shares. The distribution of the distributable redeemable warrants in respect of a public share is contingent upon such share not being redeemed in connection with our initial business combination, and the number of distributable redeemable warrants to be distributed in respect of each such unredeemed public shares will be contingent upon the
 
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aggregate number of public shares that are redeemed. See “Description of Securities—Forward Purchase Securities” for illustrative examples of the forward purchasers’ ownership of the forward purchase shares and the forward purchasers’ and the public’s ownership of the Aggregate Warrant Amount based on different redemption percentages. The contingent rights to receive distributable redeemable warrants will remain attached to our Class A common stock, will not be separately transferrable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any certificate or instrument.
Distribution time
The distribution of the distributable redeemable warrants and the private placement warrants, if any, to the forward purchasers, is expected to occur immediately following the exercise of the stockholders’ right to redeem shares of Class A common stock in connection with our initial business combination (the “initial business combination redemption time”), and immediately prior to the consummation of our initial business combination (such distribution time, the “distribution time”).
Trading commencement and separation of Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants
The units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We expect the Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless UBS Securities LLC informs us of their decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants. No fractional detachable redeemable warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole detachable redeemable warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least six units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole detachable redeemable warrant. The contingent right to receive distributable redeemable warrants will not detach from our shares of Class A common stock.
Separate trading of the Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants is prohibited until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K
In no event will the Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants be traded separately until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering, which is anticipated to take place four business
 
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days from the date of this prospectus. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
The units will automatically separate following our initial business combination.
Trading commencement of distributable redeemable warrants
We expect that the distributable redeemable warrants will become tradable on the first trading day following the distribution time. Once issued, the distributable redeemable warrants will be fully fungible with the detachable redeemable warrants and will trade under the same ticker symbol. No fractional distributable redeemable warrants will be issued upon the distribution of the distributable redeemable warrants, no cash will be paid in lieu of fractional distributable redeemable warrants and only whole distributable redeemable warrants will trade. The number of shares of Class A common stock that a public stockholder must hold to receive a whole distributable redeemable warrant at the distribution time will depend on the number of shares of Class A common stock issued in this offering that remain outstanding after any redemptions of such shares in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that any of our public stockholders elect to redeem shares of Class A common stock issued in this offering, the holders of the remaining such shares will receive a greater number of distributable redeemable warrants. The contingent right to receive such warrants will remain attached to the shares of Class A common stock sold in this offering and will not be separately transferrable, assignable or salable.
Units:
Number outstanding before this offering
0
Number outstanding after this offering
30,000,000(1)
Common stock:
Number outstanding before this offering
8,625,000 shares of Class B common stock(2)(3)
Number outstanding after this offering
37,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock(1)(3)(4)
(1)
Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the forfeiture by our sponsor and Chief Executive Officer of an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares.
(2)
Includes up to an aggregate of 1,125,000 shares that are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor and our Chief Executive Officer depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised.
(3)
The shares of common stock included in the units are Class A common stock. Founder shares are classified as shares of Class B common stock, which shares are convertible into shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described below adjacent to the caption “Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution rights.”
(4)
Represents 30,000,000 public shares and 7,500,000 founder shares.
(5)
Includes 5,000,000 detachable redeemable warrants issued as a part of the units.
(6)
Includes 5,000,000 distributable redeemable warrants. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide
 
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Warrants:
Number of private placement warrants to be sold in a private placement simultaneously with this offering
5,333,333(1)
Number of warrants to be outstanding after this offering and the private placement
10,333,333(1)(5)
Number of warrants outstanding after distribution of warrants in connection with our initial business combination
15,333,333(1)(6)
Exercisability
Each whole warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock and only whole warrants are exercisable. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade.
Exercise price
$11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. In addition, if  (x) we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by us and, (i) in the case of any such issuance to our sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by our sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance, and (ii) without taking into account (A) the transfer of founder shares or private placement warrants (including if such transfer is effectuated as a surrender to us and subsequent reissuance by us) by our sponsor in connection with such issuance) or (B) any private placement warrants issued pursuant to the forward purchase agreement (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our Class A common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which we consummate our initial business combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and
that, at the distribution time, we will effect a distribution of a number of warrants equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount as follows: (i) to the extent that no public stockholders redeem their public shares in connection with the initial business combination, each public stockholder will receive one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant per public share and (ii) to the extent that any public stockholders redeem any of their public shares in connection with the initial business combination, then (A) one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant will be distributed per each remaining public share and (B) the warrants in an amount equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount less the number of warrants distributed pursuant to the foregoing clause (A) will be distributed on a pro rata basis to (x) the holders of the remaining public shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as distributable redeemable warrants and (y) the holders of the forward purchase shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as private placement warrants. Public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights are not entitled to receive any distribution of distributable redeemable warrants in respect of such redeemed public shares.
 
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the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described adjacent to “Redemption of warrants for cash when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
Exercise period
The warrants will become exercisable on the later of:

30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, or

12 months from the closing of this offering;
provided in each case that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or we permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the warrant agreement).
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the redeemable warrants at this time. However, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our reasonable best efforts to file and, within 60 business days after such closing, have an effective registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the redeemable warrants, and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the redeemable warrants expire or are redeemed; provided, that if our Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a redeemable 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, we may, at our option, require holders of redeemable 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, but we will be required to use our reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an applicable exemption is not available.
The holders of the private placement warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the working capital loans) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering.
The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. On the exercise of any warrant, the warrant exercise price will be paid directly to us and not placed in the trust account.
 
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Redemption of warrants for cash when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per
share
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (except as described herein with respect to the private placement warrants) at a price of  $0.01 per warrant:

in whole and not in part;

upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, which we refer to as the 30-day redemption period; and

if, and only if, the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) 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.
We will not redeem the warrants unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period, except if the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act. 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.
If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of our warrants. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock 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. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities—Redeemable warrants” for additional information.
 
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Except as set forth below, none of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees or, in the case of any private placement warrants issued to the forward purchasers, as long as they are held by the forward purchasers or their permitted transferees.
Redemption of warrants when the price of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share
Commencing 90 days after the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (including the private placement 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 of Class A common stock determined by reference to the table set forth under “Description of Securities—Redeemable warrants” based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described in “Description of Securities—Redeemable warrants” and “—Private placement warrants”;

if, and only if, the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted per stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) on the trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders;

if, and only if, the private placement warrants issued to the sponsor at the closing of this offering and the private placement warrants to be issued pursuant to the forward purchase agreement are also concurrently called for redemption at the same price (equal to a number of shares of Class A common stock) as the outstanding redeemable warrants, as described above; and

if, and only if, there is an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating thereto available throughout the 30-day period after written notice of redemption is given, or an exemption from registration is available.
The “fair market value” of our Class A common stock shall mean the average reported last sale price of our Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. This redemption feature differs from the typical warrant redemption feature used in other blank check offerings.
No fractional shares of Class A common stock will be issued upon redemption. If, upon redemption, a holder would be
 
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entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued to the holder. Please see the section entitled “Description of Securities—Redeemable warrants” and “—Private placement warrants” for additional information.
Forward Purchase Agreement
We have entered into a forward purchase agreement with the forward purchasers pursuant to which the forward purchasers will purchase forward purchase shares at a price equal to $9.50 per share, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. At the closing, the forward purchasers will purchase the number of forward purchase shares from us that would result in net proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary to satisfy the Redemption Obligation, subject to the Maximum Backstop Commitment. In addition, in connection with their purchase of any forward purchase shares, the forward purchasers will acquire private placement warrants at the distribution time as further described in this prospectus. The forward purchasers have agreed that they will not redeem any Class A common stock held by them in connection with the initial business combination. The forward purchase shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that the forward purchase shares are subject to transfer restrictions and certain registration rights, as described herein, and there is no contingent right to receive distributable redeemable warrants attached to the forward purchase shares. Rather, in connection with their purchase of any forward purchase shares, the forward purchasers will acquire private placement warrants as further described herein. The private placement warrants to be issued pursuant to the forward purchase agreement are identical to the private placement warrants being issued to the sponsor at the closing of this offering, and as a result, are identical to the redeemable warrants, except that, so long as they are held by the forward purchasers or their permitted transferees: (1) they will not be redeemable by us, except as otherwise set forth herein; (2) they (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the forward purchasers until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; (3) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (4) the holders thereof  (including with respect to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) are entitled to registration rights.
The forward purchasers have the right to transfer a portion of their obligation to purchase the forward purchase shares to forward transferees, and our sponsor may, in its discretion, transfer, directly or indirectly, certain of its founder shares and private placement warrants to any such forward transferees, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws.
 
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The forward purchase agreement also provides that the forward purchasers and any forward transferees are entitled to certain registration rights with respect to their forward purchase shares.
Founder shares
In November 2019, our sponsor acquired 8,625,000 founder shares in exchange for a capital contribution of  $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share. Prior to the initial investment in the company of  $25,000 by our sponsor, the company had no assets, tangible or intangible. The per share purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the aggregate number of founder shares issued. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after this offering. As such, our initial stockholders will collectively own 20% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Up to an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares will be subject to forfeiture by our sponsor and Chief Executive Officer depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised so that our initial stockholders will maintain ownership of 20% of our common stock after this offering. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or a share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of founder shares by our initial stockholders at 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering.
In June 2020, our sponsor transferred (i) 431,250 founder shares to Martin D. McNulty, Jr., our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors and (ii) 25,000 founder shares to each of Pauline J. Brown, Michelle Felman and Lowell Robinson. In July 2020, our sponsor transferred 25,000 founder shares to Robert L. Greene. An aggregate of up to 1,125,000 of such founder shares held by our sponsor and our Chief Executive Officer are subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full, as further described herein.
The founder shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that:

the founder shares are shares of Class B common stock that automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, or at any time prior thereto at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, as described herein;

the holders of the founder shares have the right to elect all of our directors prior to our initial business combination;
 
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the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below;

our sponsor, directors and officers have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or (B) with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of our initial business combination. Our initial stockholders have agreed to vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need only 11,250,001, or 37.5% (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,875,001, or 6.25% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 30,000,000 shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of a transaction in order to have our initial business combination approved; and

the founder shares are subject to registration rights.
Transfer restrictions on founder
shares
Our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the closing price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for
 
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stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property (except as described herein under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders—Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”). We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the “lock-up.”
Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution rights
The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in this prospectus and related to the closing of our initial business combination (other than the forward purchase shares and private placement warrants delivered pursuant to the forward purchase agreement), the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon the completion of this offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination (net of the number of shares of Class A common stock redeemed in connection with our initial business combination), excluding the forward purchase shares and private placement warrants delivered pursuant to the forward purchase agreement, any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the business combination and any private placement warrants issued upon the conversion of working capital loans made to us. Holders of founder shares may also elect to convert their shares of Class B common stock into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock, subject to adjustment as provided above, at any time. Securities could be “deemed issued” for purposes of the conversion rate adjustment if such shares are issuable upon the conversion or exercise of convertible securities, warrants or similar securities.
Voting
Holders of the Class A common stock and holders of the Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on
 
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all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, except as required by law. Each share of common stock will have one vote on all such matters. However, the holders of the founder shares have the right to elect all of our directors prior to our initial business combination. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our founder shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason.
Private placement warrants to be issued to the sponsor
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase 5,333,333 private placement warrants (or 5,933,333 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), each exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, at a price of  $1.50 per whole warrant ($8,000,000 or $8,900,000 in the aggregate if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Each whole private placement warrant is exercisable for one whole share of our Class A common stock at $11.50.
A portion of the purchase price of the private placement warrants issued to the sponsor will be added to the proceeds from this offering to be held in the trust account such that at the time of closing $300.0 million (or $345.0 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) will be held in the trust account. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds from the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the private placement warrants will expire worthless.
The private placement warrants will be non-redeemable in certain redemption scenarios and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees. If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than our sponsor or its permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us in all redemption scenarios and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in this offering.
Transfer restrictions on private placement warrants
The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except as described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders—Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”).
Cashless exercise of private placement warrants
If holders of private placement warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of
 
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Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock 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. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of warrant exercise is sent to the warrant agent. The reason that we have agreed that these warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees, or in the case of any private placement warrants issued to the forward purchasers, by the forward purchases or their permitted transferees, is because it is not known at this time whether they will be affiliated with us following a business combination. If they remain affiliated with us, their ability to sell our securities in the open market will be significantly limited. We expect to have policies in place that prohibit insiders from selling our securities except during specific periods of time. Even during such periods of time when insiders will be permitted to sell our securities, an insider cannot trade in our securities if he or she is in possession of material non-public information. Accordingly, unlike public stockholders who could sell the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants freely in the open market, the insiders could be significantly restricted from doing so. As a result, we believe that allowing the holders to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis is appropriate.
Proceeds to be held in trust account
Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor, $300,000,000, or $10.00 per unit ($345,000,000, or $10.00 per unit, if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be placed into a U.S.-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. These proceeds include $13,500,000 (or $15,525,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in deferred underwriting commissions.
Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of  (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (c) the redemption of all of our public shares if
 
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we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public stockholders.
Anticipated expenses and funding
sources
Except as described above with respect to the payment of taxes, unless and until we complete our initial business combination, no proceeds held in the trust account will be available for our use. The proceeds held in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government securities with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. We will disclose in each quarterly and annual report filed with the SEC prior to our initial business combination whether the proceeds deposited in the trust account are invested in U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds or a combination thereof. Based upon current interest rates, we expect the trust account to generate approximately $300,000 of interest annually. Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from:

the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor not held in the trust account, which will be approximately $2,000,000 in working capital after the payment of approximately $1,500,000 in expenses relating to this offering; and

any loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or their affiliates or other third parties, although they are under no obligation to advance funds or invest in us, and provided that any such loans will not have any claim on the proceeds held in the trust account, unless such proceeds are released to us upon completion of our initial business combination.
Conditions to completing our initial business combination
There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into our initial business combination. Nasdaq rules also require that our initial business combination will be approved by a majority of our independent directors.
If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses or we are considering our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we will obtain an opinion from an
 
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independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm. We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business for the post-acquisition company to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target or assets sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for the purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.
Permitted purchases of public shares by our affiliates
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M
 
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under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules.
Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. However, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per public share initially held in the trust account due to claims of creditors (see "Risk Factors—If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein). The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our sponsor, directors and officers have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and any public shares they may acquire during or after this offering in connection with the completion of our business combination or otherwise.
Manner of conducting redemptions
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. Pursuant to the forward purchase agreement, the forward purchasers have agreed that they will not redeem any Class A common stock held by them in connection with the initial business combination. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the
 
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transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements. Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval, while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would require stockholder approval.
We intend to conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with such rules.
If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and

file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
Upon the public announcement of our business combination, if we elect to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, we or our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act to purchase shares of our Class A common stock in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to
 
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purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete our initial business combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will:

conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules, and

file proxy materials with the SEC.
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders will count towards this quorum and have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need only 11,250,001, or 37.5% (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,875,001, or 6.25% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), in order to have our initial business combination approved. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. We believe that this will allow our transfer agent to efficiently process any redemptions without the need for further
 
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communication or action from the redeeming public stockholders, which could delay redemptions and result in additional administrative cost. If the proposed business combination is not approved and we continue to search for a target company, we will promptly return any certificates delivered, or shares tendered electronically, by public stockholders who elected to redeem their shares.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed business combination may require: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.
Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding in excess of 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold stockholder vote
Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering. We believe the restriction described above will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to redeem their shares as a means to force us or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights against a business combination if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or
 
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our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our public stockholders’ ability to redeem to no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our public stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including all shares held by those stockholders that hold more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our business combination.
Redemption rights in connection with proposed amendments to our certificate of incorporation
Some other blank check companies have a provision in their charter which prohibits the amendment of certain charter provisions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that any of its provisions (other than amendments relating to the appointment of directors, which require the approval by the holders of at least 90% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon) related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the private placement of warrants to the sponsor into the trust account and not release such amounts, except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein and to issue the distributable redeemable warrants) may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) or applicable stock exchange rules. Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, pre-initial business combination activity or on our initial business combination or that would entitle holders thereof to receive funds from the trust account. Our initial stockholders, who will collectively beneficially own 20% of our common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering), will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Our sponsor, directors and officers have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (i) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to
 
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redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or (ii) with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals) divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Our sponsor, directors and officers have entered into a letter agreement with us pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with certain proposed amendments to our certificate of incorporation.
Release of funds in trust account on closing of our initial business combination
On the completion of our initial business combination, all amounts held in the trust account will be released to us. We will use these funds to pay amounts due to any public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights as described above under “—Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination.” We will use the remaining funds to pay the underwriters their deferred underwriting commissions, to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt instruments, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such 24-month period, we will: (i) cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (net of permitted withdrawals and $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which
 
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redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our detachable redeemable warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our business combination within the 24-month time period.
Our sponsor, directors and officers have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our initial stockholders acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted time period.
The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commission held in the trust account in the event we do not complete our initial business combination and subsequently liquidate and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the trust account that will be available to fund the redemption of our public shares.
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the 24-month period, we may seek an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the period of time we have to complete an initial business combination beyond 24 months. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require that such an amendment be approved by holders of 65% of our outstanding common stock.
Limited payments to insiders
There will be no finder’s fees, reimbursements, consulting fees, or cash or non-cash payments made to our sponsor, directors or officers, or our or their affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. However, the following payments will be made to our sponsor, directors or officers, or our or their affiliates, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:

Repayment of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor;

Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing our initial business combination; and
 
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Repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor, Starboard, or certain of our directors and officers to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $1.5 million of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of  $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, directors or officers, or our or their affiliates.
Audit committee
We will establish and maintain an audit committee, which will be composed entirely of independent directors to, among other things, monitor compliance with the terms described above and the other terms relating to this offering. If any noncompliance is identified, then the audit committee will be charged with the responsibility to immediately take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise to cause compliance with the terms of this offering. For more information, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Management—Committees of the Board of Directors—Audit committee.”
Conflicts of interest
None of our officers or directors have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware, unless presented to such member specifically in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the company and after they have satisfied their contractual and fiduciary obligations to other parties. Members of our management team may be required to present potential business combinations to other entities to whom they have fiduciary duties before they present such opportunities to us. Any knowledge or presentation of such opportunities may therefore present conflicts of interest.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any business opportunity offered to any of our officers or directors shall be presented to us only to the extent that such business opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as our director or officer and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
 
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In addition, none of our Industry Advisors are officers or directors of our company and therefore owe us no fiduciary duties as such. While we expect that they will assist us in identifying business combination targets, they have no obligation to do so and may devote a substantial portion of their business time to activities unrelated to us. Our Industry Advisors may have fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to other organizations to present business combination opportunities to such other organizations rather than to us. Accordingly, if any Industry Advisor becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he will honor those obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he determines to present the opportunity to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may pursue an acquisition opportunity jointly with any such fund or other investment vehicle, which we refer to as an “Affiliated Joint Acquisition.” Such entity may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the acquisition by issuing to such entity a class of equity or equity-linked securities.
For more information, see the section entitled “Management—Conflicts of Interest.”
Indemnity
Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or by a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, then our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations. None of our officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
 
41

 
Risks
We are a newly incorporated company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our management team and Industry Advisors, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company. This offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. Please see “Proposed Business—Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419” for additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering. You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.
 
42

 
Summary Financial Data
The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, so only balance sheet data is presented.
June 30, 2020
Balance sheet:
Working capital (deficiency)
$ (970,907)
Total assets
$ 1,065,119
Total liabilities
$ 1,043,672
Total stockholder’s equity
$ 21,447
 
43

 
Risk factors
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
We are a newly incorporated company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We are a newly incorporated company with no operating results, and we will not commence operations until obtaining funding through this offering. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning a business combination and may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Past performance by Starboard, our management team and our Industry Advisors may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Information or other references herein regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, Starboard, members of our management team and our Industry Advisors is presented for informational purposes only. Any past experience and performance, including related to acquisitions, of Starboard, businesses associated with Starboard, or members of our management team or Industry Advisors is not a guarantee: (1) that we will be able to successfully identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination; (2) of any results with respect to any initial business combination we may consummate; or (3) that we will be able to adequately assess the risks of a potential transaction. You should not rely on the historical record and performance of Starboard, businesses associated with Starboard, members of our management team or our Industry Advisors as indicative of the future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. An investment in us is not an investment in Starboard or any of its clients, and does not in any way create an advisory relationship between Starboard and any of our stockholders. None of our sponsor, officers, directors, Industry Advisors or Starboard has had experience with a blank check company or special purpose acquisition company in the past. Starboard is not acting as our investment adviser. Furthermore, Starboard acts as investment adviser to its advisory clients, and will be required to prioritize the interests of those clients, even to the extent that Starboard’s activities may operate to our detriment.
Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, and even if we hold a vote, holders of our founder shares will participate in such vote, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.
We may not hold a stockholder vote to approve our initial business combination unless the business combination would require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements or if we decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons. For instance, the Nasdaq rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a stockholder meeting but would still require us to obtain stockholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares to a target business as consideration in any business combination. Therefore, if we were structuring a business combination that required us to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares, we would seek stockholder approval of such business combination. However, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Even
 
44

Risk factors
if we seek stockholder approval, the holders of our founder shares will participate in the vote on such approval. Accordingly, we may consummate our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our outstanding public shares do not approve of the business combination we consummate. Please see “Proposed Business—Effecting our Initial Business Combination—Stockholders may not have the ability to approve our initial business combination” for additional information.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed (and their permitted transferees will agree) to vote any founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need only 11,250,001, or 37.5% (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,875,001, or 6.25% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), in order to have our initial business combination approved. We expect that our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees will own at least 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock at the time of any such stockholder vote. Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, it is more likely that the necessary stockholder approval will be received than would be the case if our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees agreed to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public stockholders.
In evaluating a prospective target business for our initial business combination, our management may rely on the availability of funds from the sale of the forward purchase shares which will be used to satisfy the Redemption Obligation. If the sale of some or all of the forward purchase shares fails to close, for any reason, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination.
We have entered into a forward purchase agreement pursuant to which the forward purchasers have agreed to purchase forward purchase shares in an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. The funds from the sale of forward purchase shares will be used to satisfy the Redemption Obligation and is therefore intended to provide us with a minimum funding level for our initial business combination.
If the sale of some or all of the forward purchase shares does not close for any reason, including by reason of the failure by the forward purchasers to fund the purchase price for their forward purchase shares, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination. The forward purchasers’ obligations to purchase the forward purchase shares is subject to termination prior to the closing of the sale of the forward purchase shares by mutual written consent of the company and the forward purchasers. The forward purchasers’ obligations to purchase its forward purchase shares is subject to fulfillment of customary closing conditions. In the event of any such failure to fund by the forward purchase investors, any obligation is so terminated or any such closing condition is not satisfied and not waived by the forward purchasers, we may lack sufficient funds to consummate our initial business combination.
Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination will be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek stockholder approval of such business combination.
At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of any target businesses. Additionally, since our board of directors may complete a business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination. Accordingly, if we do not seek stockholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our initial business combination.
 
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Risk factors
If you elect to exercise your redemption rights with respect to your shares of Class A common stock, you will not receive any distributable redeemable warrants.
In connection with our initial business combination, public stockholders will have the opportunity to exercise their right to redeem their shares of Class A common stock for cash. However, our distributable redeemable warrants will be distributed only to the holders of record of those shares of our Class A common stock that remain outstanding after such redemptions. Accordingly, to the extent that you elect to redeem your shares of Class A common stock, you will receive no distributable redeemable warrants in respect of such shares. The contingent right to receive the distributable redeemable warrants will remain attached to our Class A common stock, will not be separately transferable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any certificate or instrument.
The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target.
We may seek to enter into a business combination transaction agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with the business combination. The amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriters will not be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with a business combination and such amount of deferred underwriting discount is not available for us to use as consideration in an initial business combination. Furthermore, in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 or such greater amount necessary to satisfy a closing condition as described above, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related business combination and may instead search for an alternate business combination. Prospective targets will be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into a business combination transaction with us. If we are able to consummate an initial business combination, the per-share value of shares held by non-redeeming stockholders will reflect our obligation to pay the deferred underwriting commissions.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
At the time we enter into an agreement for our initial business combination, we will not know how many stockholders may exercise their redemption rights and, therefore, we will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the trust account to meet such requirements or arrange for third-party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares is submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third-party financing. Raising additional third-party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. Furthermore, this dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provision of the Class B common stock results in the issuance of shares of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock at the time of our initial business combination. In addition, the amount of deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriters is not required to be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with an initial business combination. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure.
 
46

Risk factors
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your stock.
If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful increases. If our initial business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your stock in the open market; however, at such time our stock may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your stock in the open market.
The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may limit the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, in which case we would cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public stockholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless, and our distributable redeemable warrants will never have been distributed.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our initial business combination within such time period. Our ability to complete our initial business combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein. For example, while the extent of the impact of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) on us will depend on future developments, it could limit our ability to complete our initial business combination, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity and third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us or at all. Additionally, the outbreak of COVID-19 may negatively impact businesses we may seek to acquire.
If we have not completed our initial business combination within such time period, we will: (1) cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining
 
47​

Risk factors
stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our public stockholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less than $10.00 per share, on the redemption of their shares, and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless, and no distributable redeemable warrants will have been distributed. Please see “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.
If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor not being held in the trust account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and we will depend on loans from our sponsor, Starboard or our management to fund our search, to pay our taxes and to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain such loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the status of debt and equity markets.
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China, which has and is continuing to spread throughout the world, including the United States. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” On January 31, 2020, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency for the United States to aid the U.S. healthcare community in responding to COVID-19, and on March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak as a “pandemic”. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted and a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases could result in a widespread health crisis and is adversely affecting the economies and financial markets worldwide, and could materially and adversely affect the business of any potential target business with which we consummate a business combination. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a business combination if continued concerns relating to COVID-19 restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our search for a business combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. If the disruptions posed by COVID-19 or other matters of global concern continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate a business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected.
In addition, our ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by COVID-19 and other events.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates may elect to purchase shares or warrants from the public, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates may purchase public shares or detachable redeemable warrants or a combination thereof in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination, although they are under no obligation or other duty to do so. Please see “Proposed Business—Effecting Our Initial Business Combination—Permitted purchases of our securities” for a description of how such persons will determine from which stockholders to seek to acquire shares or warrants. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such public stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates purchase public shares
 
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Risk factors
in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling public stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. The purpose of such purchases could be to vote such shares in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of our initial business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of such purchases could be to vote such shares in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of our initial business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. The purpose of any such purchases of detachable redeemable warrants could be to reduce the number of such warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. Any such purchases will be reported pursuant to Section 13 and Section 16 of the Exchange Act to the extent such purchasers are subject to such reporting requirements. Please see “Proposed Business—Effecting Our Initial Business Combination—Permitted purchases of our securities” for a description of how our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates will select which stockholders to purchase securities from in any private transaction.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Class A common stock and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, the tender offer documents or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares. For example, we may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer or proxy materials documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In addition, we will require that beneficial holders identify themselves. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these procedures, its shares may not be redeemed. Please see “Proposed Business—Effecting Our Initial Business Combination—Tendering stock certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights.”
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of Class A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their
 
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Risk factors
shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering for any reason, compliance with Delaware law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then-existing stockholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our trust account. In that case, public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond 24 months from the closing of this offering before they receive funds from our trust account. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in the trust account. Holders of redeemable warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to such warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or redeemable warrants, potentially at a loss.
Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We have been approved to have our units listed on Nasdaq on or promptly after the date of this prospectus and our Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants listed on or promptly after their date of separation. Although after giving effect to this offering we expect to meet the minimum initial listing standards set forth in the Nasdaq listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will be, or will continue to be, listed on Nasdaq in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on Nasdaq prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and stock price levels. In general, we must maintain a minimum number of holders of our securities. Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with Nasdaq’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on Nasdaq. For instance, our stock price would generally be required to be at least $4 per share. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
If Nasdaq delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list such securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;

reduced liquidity for our securities;

a determination that our Class A common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Class A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities;

a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and

a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because we expect that our units and eventually our Class A common stock and redeemable warrants will be listed on Nasdaq, our units, Class A common stock and redeemable warrants will qualify as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we
 
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Risk factors
were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target business that has not been identified, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the U.S. securities laws. However, because we will have net tangible assets in excess of  $5,000,000 upon the successful completion of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet of our company demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if this offering were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our completion of our initial business combination. Please see “Proposed Business—Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419” for a more detailed comparison of our offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, without our prior consent, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not restrict our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. As a result, you will continue to hold the Excess Shares and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your Excess Shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
Because of our limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on our redemption of their stock, and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless, and no distributable redeemable warrants will have been distributed.
We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment partnerships), other blank check companies and other entities, domestic and international, including, without limitation, Starboard’s clients, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well-established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors
 
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Risk factors
possess greater technical, human and other resources or more local industry knowledge than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there will be numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. Although our sponsor, directors, officers, Industry Advisors, or any of their respective affiliates may invest in us after the date of this offering, they are under no obligation or other duty to do so. Please see “Proposed Business—Certain Potential Conflicts of Interest” for a discussion on certain limitations related to other resources Starboard may, but is under no obligation or other duty to, provide us.
This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, in the event we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we are obligated to pay cash for public shares that are redeemed, it will potentially reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination. Any of these obligations may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating and completing a business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless, and no distributable redeemable warrants will have been distributed. Please see “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.
If the funds not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least 24 months from the closing of this offering, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least 24 months from the closing of this offering, assuming that our initial business combination is not completed during that time. We believe that, upon the closing of this offering, the funds available to us outside of the trust account, will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least 24 months from the closing of this offering; however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent or merger agreements designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into a letter of intent or merger agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless, and no distributable redeemable warrants will have been distributed. Please see “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.
If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor not being held in the trust account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and we will depend on loans from our sponsor, Starboard or our management to fund our search, to pay our taxes and to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain such loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor, only approximately $2,000,000 will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working
 
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capital requirements. We currently expect our offering expenses to be $1,500,000, but in the event that our offering expenses exceed $1,500,000, we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of  $1,500,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our sponsor, Starboard or our management to operate or may be forced to liquidate. None of our sponsor, Starboard or our management is under any obligation or other duty to loan funds to us in such circumstances. Any such loans would be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. In such case, our public stockholders may receive only $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless, and no distributable redeemable warrants will have been distributed. Please see “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.
The securities in which we invest the proceeds held in the trust account could bear a negative rate of interest, which could reduce the interest income available for payment of taxes or reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
The net proceeds of this offering and certain proceeds from the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor, in the amount of  $300,000,000, may only be invested in direct U.S. Treasury obligations having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in certain money market funds which invest only in direct U.S. Treasury obligations. While short-term U.S. Treasury obligations currently yield a positive rate of interest, they have briefly yielded negative interest rates in recent years. Central banks in Europe and Japan pursued interest rates below zero in recent years, and the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has not ruled out the possibility that it may in the future adopt similar policies in the United States. In the event of very low or negative yields, the amount of interest income (which we may withdraw to pay income taxes, if any) would be reduced. In the event that we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders are entitled to receive their pro-rata share of the proceeds held in the trust account, plus any interest income. If the balance of the trust account is reduced below $300,000,000 as a result of negative interest rates, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
Subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and the price of our securities, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business with which we combine, we cannot assure you that this diligence will identify all material issues that may be present with a particular target business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining post-combination debt financing. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a stockholder or warrant
 
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holder following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Making such a request of potential target businesses may make our acquisition proposal less attractive to them and, to the extent prospective target businesses refuse to execute such a waiver, it may limit the field of potential target businesses that we might pursue. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where we are unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors.
Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below: (1) $10.00 per public share; or (2) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of permitted withdrawals, except as to any claims by a third party that executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether any such waiver is enforceable) and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Our independent directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of: (1) $10.00 per public share; or (2) the actual amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the
 
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trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of permitted withdrawals, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in certain instances. For example, the cost of such legal action may be deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or the independent directors may determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our stockholders and the per share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per share amount that would otherwise be received by our public stockholders in connection with our liquidation would be reduced.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:

restrictions on the nature of our investments; and

restrictions on the issuance of securities;
each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:

registration as an investment company with the SEC;

adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and
 
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reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and compliance with other rules and regulations that we are currently not subject to.
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading of securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business will be to identify and complete a business combination and thereafter to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account may only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. This offering is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The trust account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our primary business objective, which is a business combination; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (iii) absent a business combination, our return of the funds held in the trust account to our public stockholders as part of our redemption of the public shares. If we do not invest the proceeds as discussed above, we may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to consummate our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless and no distributable redeemable warrants will have been issued. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. Please see “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
 
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Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If a corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. However, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the 24th month from the closing of this offering in the event we do not complete our initial business combination and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with the foregoing procedures.
Because we do not intend to comply with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the 10 years following our dissolution. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, consultants, etc.) or prospective target businesses. If our plan of distribution complies with Section 281(b) of the DGCL, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would likely be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend beyond the third anniversary of such date. Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution.
We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination and you will not be entitled to any of the corporate protections provided by such a meeting.
We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination (unless required by Nasdaq) and thus may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting of stockholders be held for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with a company’s bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to our consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the redeemable warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time, and such registration may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise redeemable warrants, thus precluding such investor from being able to exercise its warrants except on a “cashless basis” and potentially causing such warrants to expire worthless.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the redeemable warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time. However, under the terms of
 
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the warrant agreement, we have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our reasonable best efforts to file with the SEC, and within 60 business days following our initial business combination to have declared effective, a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the redeemable warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the redeemable warrants expire or are redeemed. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so if, for example, any facts or events arise which represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement or prospectus, the financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current, complete or correct or the SEC issues a stop order. If the shares issuable upon exercise of the redeemable warrants are not registered under the Securities Act, we will be required to permit holders to exercise their redeemable warrants on a cashless basis. However, no redeemable warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their redeemable warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder or an exemption from registration or qualification is available. Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a redeemable 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, we may, at our option, require holders of redeemable 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, but we will use our reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any redeemable warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the redeemable warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the redeemable warrants under applicable state securities laws and no exemption is available. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the redeemable warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their redeemable warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of Class A common stock included in the units. If and when the redeemable warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying shares of Class A common stock for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
The grant of registration rights to our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees and holders of our forward purchase shares may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the resale of their founder shares after those shares convert to shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor and its permitted transferees or, in the case of any private placement warrants issued to the forward purchasers, the forward purchasers and their permitted transferees, can demand that we register the resale of the private placement warrants and the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants, and holders of warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register the resale of such warrants or the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants. Pursuant to the forward purchase agreement, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file within 30 days after the closing of our initial business combination a registration statement with the SEC for a secondary offering of the forward purchase shares and use our best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter, but in no event later than 60 days. We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to complete. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative
 
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impact on the market price of our Class A common stock that is expected when the common stock owned by our initial stockholders or their permitted transferees, the forward purchase shares, the private placement warrants owned by our sponsor, warrants issued in connection with working capital loans or the securities held by holders of our forward purchase shares are registered for resale.
Because we are neither limited to evaluating target businesses in a particular industry nor have we identified any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations.
We may seek to complete a business combination with an operating company in any industry or sector. However, we will not, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet identified or approached any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a stockholder or warrant holder following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
We may seek acquisition opportunities in acquisition targets that may be outside of our management’s areas of expertise.
We will consider a business combination in sectors which may be outside of our management’s areas of expertise if such business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive acquisition opportunity for our company. In the event we elect to pursue an acquisition outside of the areas of our management’s expertise, our management’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this prospectus regarding the areas of our management’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors relevant to such acquisition. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a stockholder or warrant holder following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we complete our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these criteria and guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we
 
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announce a prospective business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless and no distributable redeemable warrants will have been issued.
We may seek acquisition opportunities with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings, which could subject us to volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings, intense competition and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
A slowdown in economic growth in the markets that our business target operates in may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, the value of its shares and the trading price of our shares following our business combination.
Following the business combination, our results of operations and financial condition may be dependent on, and may be adversely affected by, conditions in financial markets in the global economy, and, particularly in the markets where the business operates. The specific economy could be adversely affected by various factors, such as political or regulatory action, including business corruption, social disturbances, terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war, natural calamities, interest rates, inflation, commodity and energy prices and various other factors which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, value of our shares and the trading price of our shares following the business combination.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm, and consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view.
Unless we complete our initial business combination with an affiliated entity, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm that the price we are paying is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view.
In addition, if our board of directors is not able to determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, in connection with Nasdaq rules that require that an initial business combination be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account), we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria.
Other than the two circumstances described above, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm.
 
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If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
We may issue additional shares of Class A common stock or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon the conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions described herein. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize the issuance of up to 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Immediately after this offering, there will be 154,666,667 and 12,500,000 (assuming in each case, that the underwriters have not exercised their over-allotment option) authorized but unissued shares of Class A and Class B common stock, respectively, available for issuance, which amount takes into account shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants, but not shares reserved upon the exercise of the forward purchase shares or the conversion of the Class B common stock. Shares of Class B common stock are automatically convertible into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, initially at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment as set forth herein. Immediately after this offering, there will be no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock, and may issue shares of preferred stock, in order to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares upon conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions described herein. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, among other things, that prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (1) receive funds from the trust account or (2) vote on any initial business combination, pre-initial business combination activity or amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. The issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock, including the issuance of the forward purchase shares:

may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering;

may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;

could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and

may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, common stock and/or redeemable warrants.
Resources could be wasted in researching initial business combinations that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless and no distributable redeemable warrants will have been issued.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide
 
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not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless and no distributable redeemable warrants will have been issued. Please see “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein.
Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other responsibilities. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our business combination. Each of our officers and directors is engaged in several other business endeavors for which they may be entitled to substantial compensation and our officers and directors are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs.
If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. Please see “Management—Directors and Executive Officers” for a discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs.
We are dependent upon our officers and directors and their departure could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our officers and directors, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of any of our other directors or officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our initial business combination, we do not currently expect that any of them will do so. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.
In addition, the officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s
 
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management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination, and a particular business combination may be conditioned on the retention or resignation of such key personnel. These agreements may cause our key personnel to have conflicts of interest in determining whether to proceed with a particular business combination.
Our key personnel may be able to remain with our company after the completion of our initial business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the completion of the business combination. Such negotiations also could make such key personnel’s retention or resignation a condition to any such agreement. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with us will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may affect our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.
When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target business’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target business’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any stockholders or warrant holders who choose to remain a stockholder or warrant holder following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders or warrant holders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
The officers and directors of an initial business combination candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an initial business combination candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the initial business combination candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place. As a result, we may need to reconstitute the management team of the post-transaction company in connection with our initial business combination, which may adversely impact our ability to complete an initial business combination in a timely manner or at all.
Certain of our officers, directors and Industry Advisors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity or other transaction should be presented.
Following the completion of this offering and until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our sponsor and
 
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officers and directors are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities (such as operating companies, investment vehicles or other blank check companies) that are engaged in a similar business. We do not have employment contracts with our officers and directors that will limit their ability to work at other businesses. As a result, our officers or directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other entity with which they may become involved.
As described in “Proposed Business—Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets” and “Management—Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us (including as described in “Proposed Business—Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets”). These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
In addition, none of our Industry Advisors are officers or directors of our company and therefore owe us no fiduciary duties as such. While we expect that they will assist us in identifying business combination targets, they have no obligation to do so and may devote a substantial portion of their business time to activities unrelated to us. Our Industry Advisors may have fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to other organizations to present business combination opportunities to such other organizations rather than to us. Accordingly, if any Industry Advisor becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he will honor those obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he determines to present the opportunity to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.
Please see “Management—Directors and Executive Officers,” “Management—Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” for a discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and potential conflicts of interest.
Our officers, directors, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or our our officers. We do not have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
In particular, Starboard’s clients have invested, and may in the future invest, in a broad array of sectors, including those in which our company may invest. As a result, there may be substantial overlap between companies that would be a suitable business combination for us and companies that would make an attractive target for Starboard’s clients. Please see “Proposed Business—Certain Potential Conflicts of Interest” for additional information.
 
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We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our sponsor, officers and directors with other businesses, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with or competitive with our sponsor, officers and directors, and their respective affiliates. Our directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described under “Management—Conflicts of Interest.” Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our sponsor, officers and directors are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no substantive discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for a business combination as set forth in “Proposed Business—Effecting our Initial Business Combination—Selection of a target business and structuring of our initial business combination” and such transaction was approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm, regarding the fairness to our stockholders from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
Since our initial stockholders will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed (other than with respect to any public shares they may hold), a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
In November 2019, our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 8,625,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of  $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock upon the completion of this offering. The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. In June 2020, our sponsor transferred (i) 431,250 founder shares to Martin D. McNulty, Jr., our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors and (ii) 25,000 founder shares to each of Pauline J. Brown, Michelle Felman and Lowell Robinson. In July 2020, our sponsor transferred 25,000 founder shares to Robert L. Greene. An aggregate of up to 1,125,000 of such founder shares held by our sponsor and our Chief Executive Officer are subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full, as further described herein.
In addition, our sponsor has subscribed to purchase an aggregate of 5,333,333 (or 5,933,333 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement warrants for a purchase price of  $8,000,000 (or $8,900,000) if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $1.50 per warrant, that will also be worthless if we do not complete our initial business combination. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of  $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
The founder shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that: (1) only holders of the founder shares have the right to vote on the election of directors prior to our initial business combination; (2) the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below; (3) our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to: (a) waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (b) waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (A) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem
 
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100% of our public shares if we have not consummated our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or (B) with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (c) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering); (4) the founder shares are automatically convertible into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, as described herein; and (5) the holders of founder shares are entitled to registration rights.
The personal and financial interests of our sponsor, officers and directors may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination. This risk may become more acute as the deadline for completing our initial business combination nears.
We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a business combination, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no commitments as of the date of this prospectus to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following this offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our initial business combination. We have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the trust account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per share amount available for redemption from the trust account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:

default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;

acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;

our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;

our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding;

our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;

using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;

increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and

limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversification may materially negatively impact our operations and profitability.
The net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor will provide us with $300,000,000 (or $345,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in
 
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full) that we may use to complete our initial business combination (which includes $13,500,000, or up to $15,525,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, of deferred underwriting commissions being held in the trust account).
We may effectuate our initial business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously or within a short period of time. However, we may not be able to effectuate our initial business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:

solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset; or

dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.
This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.
We may attempt to simultaneously complete business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our initial business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete our initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. Very little public information generally exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
Our management may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination. Upon loss of control of a target business, new management may not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
We may structure our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest
 
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in the target business sufficient for us not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in our initial business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain our control of the target business.
We do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to complete our initial business combination with which a substantial majority of our stockholders do not agree.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold, except that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, to be less than $5,000,001 (such that we do not then become subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules), or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. As a result, we may be able to complete our initial business combination even though a substantial majority of our public stockholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or any of their respective affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, all shares of common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or governing instruments, including our warrant agreement, in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination that some of our stockholders or warrant holders may not support.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds, extended the time to consummate an initial business combination and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our charter or governing instruments or extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate our initial business combination.
 
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Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to our pre-business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account) may be amended with the approval of holders of not less than 65% of our common stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that any of its provisions (other than amendments relating to the appointment of directors, which require the approval by the holders of at least 90% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon) related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the private placement warrants sale to the sponsor into the trust account and not release such amounts, except in specified circumstances and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of at least 65% of our common stock, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that it may be amended by holders of a majority of our common stock, subject to applicable provisions of the DGCL, or applicable stock exchange rules. We may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or on our initial business combination. Our initial stockholders, who will beneficially own 20% of our common stock upon the closing of this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering), may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which will govern our pre-business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete our initial business combination with which you do not agree. Our stockholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. These agreements are contained in a letter agreement that we have entered into with our sponsor, officers and directors. Our stockholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, these agreements and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our sponsor, officers or directors for any breach of these agreements. As a result, in the event of a breach, our stockholders would need to pursue a stockholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
Certain agreements related to this offering may be amended without stockholder approval.
Certain agreements, including the underwriting agreement relating to this offering, the letter agreement among us and our sponsor, officers and directors, and the registration rights agreement among us and our initial stockholders, may be amended without stockholder approval. These agreements contain various provisions that our public stockholders might deem to be material. While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such amendments would not require approval from our stockholders,
 
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may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
Although we believe that the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor and the forward purchase shares will be sufficient to allow us to complete our initial business combination, because we have not yet identified any prospective target business we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants and the forward purchase shares prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of our initial business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to redeem for cash a significant number of shares from stockholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination, we may be required to seek additional financing (including from Starboard) or to abandon the proposed business combination. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. Starboard is not obligated to provide, or seek, any such financing or, except as expressly set forth herein, to provide any other services to us. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account, and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless and no distributable redeemable warrants will have been issued.
Our initial stockholders will control the election of our board of directors until consummation of our initial business combination and will hold a substantial interest in us. As a result, they will elect all of our directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination and may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Upon the closing of this offering, our initial stockholders will own 20% of our outstanding common stock (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). In addition, the founder shares, all of which are held by our initial stockholders, will entitle the holders to elect all of our directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination. Holders of our public shares will have no right to vote on the election of directors during such time. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our founder shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended by the holders of at least 90% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. As a result, you will not have any influence over the election of directors prior to our initial business combination.
Neither our initial stockholders nor, to our knowledge, any of our officers or directors, have any current intention to purchase additional securities, other than as disclosed in this prospectus. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A common stock. In addition, as a result of their substantial ownership in our company, our initial stockholders may exert a substantial influence on other actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of major corporate transactions. If our initial stockholders purchase any additional shares of common stock in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their influence over these actions. The forward purchase shares will not be issued until completion of our initial business combination and, accordingly, will not be included in any
 
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stockholder vote until such time. Accordingly, our initial stockholders will exert significant influence over actions requiring a stockholder vote. Please see “Proposed Business—Effecting Our Initial Business Combination—Permitted purchases of our securities.”
Our sponsor contributed $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per founder share, and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our Class A common stock.
The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the Class A common stock and none to the redeemable warrant included in the unit) and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. Our sponsor acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon the closing of this offering, and assuming no value is ascribed to the redeemable warrants included in the units, you and the other public stockholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 94.5% (or $9.45 per share, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option), the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of  $0.55 and the initial offering price of  $10.00 per unit. In addition, because of the anti-dilution rights of the founder shares, any equity or equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination would be disproportionately dilutive to our Class A common stock.
We may amend the terms of the redeemable warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of such warrants with the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding redeemable warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your redeemable warrants could be increased, the redeemable warrants could be converted into cash or stock (at a ratio different than initially provided), the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a redeemable warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.
Our redeemable warrants will be 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 redeemable warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity, mistake (including to conform the warrant agreement to the description thereof herein) or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding redeemable warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of such warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the redeemable warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding redeemable warrants approve of such amendment and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the private placement warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the private placement warrants, 50% of the number of the then outstanding private placement warrants. Although our ability to amend the terms of the redeemable warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding redeemable warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash or stock (at a ratio different than initially provided), shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of our common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant. Our initial stockholders may purchase redeemable warrants with the intention of reducing the number of redeemable warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to warrantholders for approval, including amending the terms of the redeemable warrants in a manner adverse to the interests of the registered holders of redeemable warrants. While our initial stockholders have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for such transactions, there is no limit on the number of our redeemable warrants that our initial stockholders may purchase and it is not currently known how many redeemable warrants, if any, our initial stockholders may hold at the time of our initial business combination or at any other time during which the terms of the redeemable warrants may be proposed to be amended. Please see “Proposed Business—Effecting Our Initial Business Combination—Permitted purchases of our securities.”
 
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Our warrant agreement will 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 our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our warrant agreement will 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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the 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. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our 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 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 our 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 our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our 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.
We may redeem your unexpired redeemable warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making such warrants worthless.
We have the ability to redeem outstanding redeemable warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of  $0.01 per warrant, provided that the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. If and when the redeemable 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 the outstanding warrants could force you to: (1) exercise your redeemable warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so (2) sell your redeemable warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your redeemable warrants; or (3) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding redeemable warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your redeemable warrants.
In addition, we may redeem your redeemable warrants after they become exercisable for $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their redeemable warrants prior to redemption for a number of Class A common stock determined based on the redemption date and the fair market value of our Class A common stock. Please see “Description of Securities—Redeemable warrants—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share.” Any such redemption may have
 
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similar consequences to a cash redemption described above. In addition, such redemption may occur at a time when the redeemable warrants are “out-of-the-money,” in which case you would lose any potential embedded value from a subsequent increase in the value of the Class A common stock had your warrants remained outstanding.
Our redeemable warrants and founder shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
We will be issuing detachable redeemable warrants to purchase 5,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock (or up to 5,750,000 shares of our Class A common stock if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) as part of the units offered by this prospectus, and also distributing warrants (which will be in the form of distributable redeemable warrants and, to the extent any public stockholders redeem Class A common stock in connection with the initial business combination, distributable redeemable warrants and private placement warrants) to purchase 5,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock in connection with the closing of our intial business combination (or up to 5,750,000 shares of Class A common stock if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), each at a price of  $11.50 per whole share (subject to adjustment as provided herein). Simultaneously with the closing of this offering, we also will be issuing in the Private Placement an aggregate of 5,333,333 (or 5,933,333 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of  $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. Our initial stockholders currently hold 8,625,000 founder shares (up to an aggregate of 1,125,000 of which are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor and Chief Executive Officer depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised). The founder shares are convertible into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as set forth herein. In addition, if our sponsor, Starboard or certain of our officers and directors make any working capital loans, up to $1.5 million of such loans may be converted into warrants, at the price of  $1.50 per warrant, at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants.
To the extent we issue shares of Class A common stock to effectuate a business transaction, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of these warrants or conversion rights could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and reduce the value of the Class A common stock issued to complete the business transaction. Therefore, our warrants and founder shares may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
The private placement warrants issued to the sponsor and the private placement warrants issued to the forward purchasers are identical to the redeemable warrants sold as part of the units in this offering except that, so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees or, in the case of any private placement warrants issued to the forward purchasers, held by our forward purchasers or their permitted transferrees: (1) they will not be redeemable by us, except as otherwise set forth herein; (2) they (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor or the forward purchasers, as applicable, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; (3) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (4) the holders thereof  (including with respect to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) are entitled to registration rights.
Because each unit contains one-sixth of one warrant and only a whole warrant may be exercised, the units may be worth less than units of other blank check companies.
Each unit contains one-sixth of one detachable redeemable warrant. Because, pursuant to the warrant agreement, the redeemable warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares, only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time. While holders of units (or the underlying shares of Class A common stock) who elect not to redeem such shares in connection with our initial business combination will also receive a distribution of redeemable warrants in the form of distributable redeemable warrants, it is likely that the number of distributable redeemable warrants issued to any such holder will not be a whole number. This is different from other offerings similar to ours whose units include one share of
 
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common stock and one warrant to purchase one whole share. We have established the components of the units in this way in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of a business combination since the detachable redeemable warrants and distributable warrants will be exercisable in the aggregate for one-third of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a warrant to purchase one whole share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive merger partner for target businesses. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if they included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
A provision in our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Unlike most blank check companies, if  (i) we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share, (ii) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (iii) the Market Value is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
The determination of the offering price of our units and the size of this offering is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities and size of an offering of an operating company in a particular industry. You may have less assurance, therefore, that the offering price of our units properly reflects the value of such units than you would have in a typical offering of an operating company.
Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the warrants were negotiated between us and the underwriters. In determining the size of this offering, management held customary organizational meetings with representatives of the underwriters, both prior to our inception and thereafter, with respect to the state of capital markets, generally, and the amount the underwriters believed they reasonably could raise on our behalf. Factors considered in determining the size of this offering, prices and terms of the units, including the Class A common stock and warrants underlying the units, include:

the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies;

prior offerings of those companies;

our prospects for acquiring an operating business;

a review of debt to equity ratios in leveraged transactions;

our capital structure;

an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying suitable acquisition opportunities;

general conditions of the securities markets at the time of this offering; and

other factors as were deemed relevant.
Although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering size, price and the terms of the units, including the Class A common stock and warrants underlying the units, is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities of an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results.
There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
There is currently no market for our securities. Stockholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price
 
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of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.
The federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”), depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”). These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.
We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by 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, 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 our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of any second quarter of a fiscal year, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the end of such fiscal year. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
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. We have 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, we, 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 our 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.
 
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Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an initial business combination.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2021. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target business with which we seek to complete our initial business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such initial business combination.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Class A common stock and could entrench management.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred shares, which may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
Section 203 of the DGCL affects the ability of an “interested stockholder” to engage in certain business combinations, for a period of three years following the time that the stockholder becomes an “interested stockholder.” We will elect in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation not to be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. Nevertheless, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions that have the same effect as Section 203 of the DGCL, except that it will provide that affiliates of our sponsor and their transferees will not be deemed to be “interested stockholders,” regardless of the percentage of our voting stock owned by them, and will therefore not be subject to such restrictions. These charter provisions may limit the ability of third parties to acquire control of our company.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require (unless we consent in writing to the selection if an alternative forum), to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. This provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
 
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If our management team pursues a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we may face additional burdens in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing such combination, and if we effect such initial business combination, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.
If our management team pursues a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States for our initial business combination, we would be subject to risks associated with cross-border business combinations, including in connection with investigating, agreeing to and completing our initial business combination, conducting due diligence in a foreign jurisdiction, having such transaction approved by any local governments, regulators or agencies and changes in the purchase price based on fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
If we effect our initial business combination with such a company, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:

costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations and complying with commercial and legal requirements of overseas markets;

rules and regulations regarding currency redemption;

complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals;

laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected;

tariffs and trade barriers;

regulations related to customs and import/export matters;

longer payment cycles;

tax consequences;

currency fluctuations and exchange controls;

rates of inflation;

challenges in collecting accounts receivable;

cultural and language differences;

employment regulations;

crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and wars;

deterioration of political relations with the United States;

obligatory military service by personnel; and

government appropriation of assets.
We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, we may be unable to complete such initial business combination or, if we complete such initial business combination, our operations might suffer, either of which may adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If our management following our initial business combination is unfamiliar with U.S. securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws, which could lead to various regulatory issues.
Following our initial business combination, any or all of our management could resign from their positions as officers or directors of the company, and the management of the target business at the time of the business combination could remain in place. Management of the target business may not be familiar with U.S. securities laws. If new management is unfamiliar with U.S. securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely affect our operations.
 
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Risk factors
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As an early stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss.
Terrorist attacks, communal disturbances, civil unrest and other acts of violence or war may result in a loss of investor confidence and a decline in the value of our shares and trading price of our shares following our business combination.
Terrorist attacks, civil unrest and other acts of violence or war may negatively affect the markets in which we may operate our business following our business combination and also adversely affect the worldwide financial markets. Events of this nature in the future, as well as social and civil unrest, could influence the economy in which our business target operates, and could have an adverse effect on our business, including the value of equity shares and the trading price of our shares following our business combination.
 
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Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
Some statements contained in this prospectus, and certain oral statements made from time to time by our representatives in connection with this offering, are forward-looking in nature. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:

our ability to select an appropriate target business or businesses;

our ability to complete our initial business combination;

our expectations around the performance of a prospective target business or businesses;

our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination;

our officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination;

actual and potential conflicts of interest relating to Starboard, our directors, officers and the Industry Advisors;

our ability to draw from the support and expertise of Starboard;

our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination;

our pool of prospective target businesses, including the location and industry of such target businesses;

the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential business combination opportunities;

our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;

the lack of a market for our securities;

the use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance;

the trust account not being subject to claims of third parties; or

our financial performance following this offering.
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
 
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Use of proceeds
We are offering 30,000,000 units at an offering price of  $10.00 per unit. We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering together with the funds we will receive from the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor will be used as set forth in the following table.
Without option
to purchase
additional units
Option to purchase
additional units
exercised in full
Gross proceeds
Gross proceeds from units offered to public(1)
$ 300,000,000 $ 345,000,000
Gross proceeds from private placement warrants offered to the sponsor in the private placement
8,000,000 8,900,000
Total gross proceeds
$ 308,000,000 $ 353,900,000
Estimated offering expenses(2)
Underwriting commissions (2.0% of gross proceeds from units offered to public, excluding deferred portion)(3)
$ 6,000,000 $ 6,900,000
Legal fees and expenses
300,000 300,000
Printing and engraving expenses
40,000 40,000
Accounting fees and expenses
55,000 55,000
SEC/FINRA Expenses
97,031 97,031
Travel and road show
100,000 100,000
Directors and officers insurance premiums
250,000 250,000
Nasdaq listing and filing fees
75,000 75,000
Miscellaneous expenses(4)
582,969 582,969
Total estimated offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions)
1,500,000 1,500,000
Reimbursed expenses(7)
1,500,000 1,500,000
Proceeds after estimated offering expenses
$ 302,000,000 $ 347,000,000
Held in trust account(3)
$ 300,000,000 $ 345,000,000
% of public offering size
100% 100%
Not held in trust account
2,000,000 2,000,000
The following table shows the use of the approximately $2,000,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account:(5)
Amount
% of total
Legal, accounting, due diligence, travel, consulting and other expenses in connection with any business combination(6)
$ 1,285,000 64.2%
Legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations
150,000 7.5%
Payment for office space, administrative and support services ($10,000 per month for 24 months)
240,000 12.0%
Reserve for liquidation expenses
100,000 5.0%
Nasdaq continued listing fees
75,000 3.8%
Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses
150,000 7.5%
Total
$ 2,000,000 100.0%
(1)
Includes amounts payable to public stockholders who properly redeem their shares in connection with our successful completion of our initial business combination.
(2)
Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 as described in this prospectus. As of June 30, 2020, we have borrowed $107,062 under such promissory note. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $3,500,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) and
 
80

Use of proceeds
amounts not to be held in the trust account. In the event that offering expenses are less than as set forth in this table, any such amounts will be used for post-closing working capital expenses. In the event that the offering expenses are more than as set forth in this table, we may fund such excess with funds not held in the trust account.
(3)
The underwriters have agreed to defer underwriting commissions equal to 4.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering. Upon completion of our initial business combination, $13,500,000, which constitutes the underwriters’ deferred commissions (or up to $15,525,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be paid to the underwriters from the funds held in the trust account and the remaining funds, less amounts released to the trustee to pay redeeming stockholders, will be released to us and can be used to pay all or a portion of the purchase price of the business or businesses with which our initial business combination occurs or for general corporate purposes, including payment of principal or interest on indebtedness incurred in connection with our initial business combination, to fund the purchases of other companies or for working capital. The underwriters will not be entitled to any interest accrued on the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions.
(4)
Includes organizational and administrative expenses and may include amounts related to above-listed expenses in the event actual amounts exceed estimates.
(5)
These expenses are estimates only. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth herein. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and structuring a business combination based upon the level of complexity of such business combination. In the event we identify an acquisition target in a specific industry subject to specific regulations, we may incur additional expenses associated with legal due diligence and the engagement of special legal counsel. In addition, our staffing needs may vary and as a result, we may engage a number of consultants to assist with legal and financial due diligence. We do not anticipate any change in our intended use of proceeds, other than fluctuations among the current categories of allocated expenses, which fluctuations, to the extent they exceed current estimates for any specific category of expenses, would not be available for our expenses. The amount in the table above does not include interest available to us from the trust account. Based on current interest rates, we would expect the trust account to generate approximately $300,000 of interest annually; however, we can provide no assurances regarding this amount. This estimate assumes an interest rate of 0.10% per annum based upon current yields of securities in which the trust account may be invested. In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor, Starboard or our officers and directors may, but none of them is obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1.5 million of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of  $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, Starboard or our officers and directors, if any, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
(6)
Includes estimated amounts that may also be used in connection with our initial business combination to fund a “no shop” provision and commitment fees for financing.
(7)
The underwriters have agreed to make a payment to us in an amount equal to $1,500,000 to reimburse certain of our expenses in connection with this offering. This reimbursement will have the effect of increasing the proceeds available to us outside of the trust account.
Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor, $300,000,000 (or $345,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), including $13,500,000 (or $15,525,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of deferred underwriting commissions, will, upon the consummation of this offering, be placed in a U.S.-based trust account at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with Continental acting as trustee. The funds in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds that meet certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act and that invest only in direct U.S. government obligations. Based on current interest rates, we estimate that the interest earned on the trust account will be approximately $300,000 per year, assuming an interest rate of 0.10% per year. We will not be permitted to withdraw any of the principal or interest held in the trust account, except with respect to permitted withdrawals. The funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (i) modify the substance and timing of our obligation to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other material provisions relating to the rights of holders of our Class A Common Stock or pre-initial business combination business activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law. Based on current interest rates, we expect that interest earned on the trust account will be sufficient to pay taxes.
The net proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we ultimately complete our initial business combination. If our initial business
 
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Use of proceeds
combination is paid for using equity or debt securities or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemption of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination.
We believe that amounts not held in trust will be sufficient to pay the costs and expenses to which such proceeds are allocated. This belief is based on the fact that while we may begin preliminary due diligence of a target business in connection with an indication of interest, we intend to undertake in-depth due diligence, depending on the circumstances of the relevant prospective acquisition, only after we have negotiated and signed a letter of intent or other preliminary agreement that addresses the terms of a business combination. However, if our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. If we are required to seek additional capital, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from our sponsor, Starboard, or our officers or directors, but such persons are not under any obligation or other duty to loan funds to, or invest in, us.
At the close of this offering, we will enter into an Administrative Services Agreement pursuant to which we will pay our sponsor a total of  $10,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Prior to the closing of this offering, our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 under an unsecured promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of June 30, 2020, we have borrowed $107,062 under such promissory note. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of October 31, 2020 and the closing of this offering. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $3,500,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) and amounts not to be held in the trust account.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor, Starboard or our officers or directors may, but none of them is obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1.5 million of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of  $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, Starboard or our officers or directors, if any, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
Prior to this offering, we entered into a forward purchase agreement pursuant to which the forward purchasers will purchase forward purchase shares at a price equal to $9.50 per share, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. At the closing, the forward purchasers will purchase the number of forward purchase shares from us that would result in net proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary to satisfy the Redemption Obligation, subject to the Maximum Backstop Commitment.
The forward purchasers have the right to transfer a portion of their obligation to purchase the forward purchase shares to forward transferees, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws. The forward purchase agreement also provides that the forward purchase investors are entitled to registration rights with respect to the forward purchase shares. See “Description of Securities—Registration Rights” for additional information.
 
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Use of proceeds
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, Industry Advisors or any of their respective affiliates may also purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. Please see “Proposed Business—Effecting Our Initial Business Combination—Permitted purchases of our securities” for a description of how such persons will determine from which stockholders to seek to acquire shares. The price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. However, such persons have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules.
We may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) and the agreement for our initial business combination may require as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights so that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement or any net worth or cash requirements, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares or the business combination, and instead may search for an alternate business combination.
A public stockholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination, and then only in connection with those public shares that such stockholder has properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described in this prospectus; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (1) waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and (2) waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (A) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or (B) with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity. In addition, our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our sponsor or any of our officers or directors acquires public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.
 
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Dividend policy
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to our initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of this offering, in which case we will effect a stock dividend or other appropriate mechanism immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in an amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial stockholders prior to this offering at 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock upon the consummation of this offering. Further, if we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, at the distribution time, we will effect a distribution of a number of warrants equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount as follows: (i) to the extent that no public stockholders redeem their public shares in connection with the initial business combination, each public stockholder will receive one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant per public share and (ii) to the extent that any public stockholders redeem any of their public shares in connection with the initial business combination, then (A) one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant will be distributed per each remaining public share and (B) the warrants in an amount equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount less the number of warrants distributed pursuant to the foregoing clause (A) will be distributed on a pro rata basis to (x) the holders of the remaining public shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as distributable redeemable warrants and (y) the holders of the forward purchase shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as private placement warrants. Public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights are not entitled to receive any distribution of distributable redeemable warrants in respect of such redeemed public shares.
 
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Dilution
The difference between the public offering price per share of Class A common stock, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units we are offering pursuant to this prospectus or the private placement warrants, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Such calculation does not reflect any dilution associated with the sale and exercise of warrants or rights, including the private placement warrants, which would cause the actual dilution to the public stockholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise is utilized. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of Class A common stock which may be redeemed for cash), by the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock.
At June 30, 2020, our net tangible book value deficit was $(970,907), or approximately $(0.11) per share of Class B common stock. After giving effect to the sale of 30,000,000 shares of Class A common stock included in the units we are offering by this prospectus, the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor and the deduction of underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value at June 30, 2020 would have been $5,00,007 or $0.55 per share, representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value (as decreased by the value of the 28,352,144 shares of Class A common stock that may be redeemed for cash in connection with our initial business combination and assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) of  $0.66 per share to our initial stockholders as of the date of this prospectus and an immediate dilution of  $9.45 per share or 94.5% to our public stockholders not exercising their redemption rights. The dilution to new investors if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full would be an immediate dilution of  $9.52 per share or 95.2%.
The following table illustrates the dilution to the public stockholders on a per share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units or the private placement warrants sold to the sponsor:
Without over-allotment
With over-allotment
Public offering price
$ 10.00 $ 10.00
Net tangible book deficit before this offering
(0.11) (0.11)
Increase attributable to public stockholders
0.66 0.59
Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering and the
sale of the private placement warrants sold to the sponsor
0.55 0.48
Dilution to public stockholders
$ 9.45 $ 9.52
Percentage of dilution to public stockholders
94.5% 95.2%
For purposes of presentation, we have reduced our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) by $283,521,440 because holders of up to approximately 94.5% of our public shares may redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account at a per share redemption price equal to the amount in the trust account as set forth in our tender offer or proxy materials (initially anticipated to be the aggregate amount held in trust two business days prior to the commencement of our tender offer or stockholder meeting, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals) divided by the number of shares of Class A common stock sold in this offering).
 
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Dilution
The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial stockholders and the public stockholders:
Shares purchased
Total consideration
Average price
per share
Number
Percentage
Amount
Percentage
Initial Stockholders(1)(2)
7,500,000 20.00% $ 25,000 0.008% $ 0.003
Public Stockholders
30,000,000 80.00% 300,000,000 99.992% 10.00
37,500,000 100.0% $ 300,025,000 100.0%
(1)
Assumes the full forfeiture of an aggregate of 1,125,000 shares that are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor and Chief Executive Officer depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.
(2)
Assumes conversion of Class B common stock into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. The dilution to public stockholders would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B common stock result in the issuance of shares of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon such conversion.
The pro forma net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2020 giving effect to the offering is calculated as follows:
Without
over-allotment
With
over-allotment
Numerator:
Net tangible book deficit before this offering
$ (970,907) $ (970,907)
Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor
302,000,000 347,000,000
Plus: Offering costs paid in advance, excluded from tangible book value before this offering
992,354 992,354
Less: Deferred underwriting commissions
(13,500,000) (15,525,000)
Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption
(283,521,440) (326,496,440)
$ 5,000,007 $ 5,000,007
Denominator:
Class B common stock outstanding prior to this offering
8,625,000 8,625,000
Class B common stock forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised
(1,125,000)
Class A common stock included in the units offered
30,000,000 34,500,000
Less: Shares subject to redemption
(28,352,144) (32,649,644)
9,147,856 10,475,356
 
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Capitalization
The following table sets forth our capitalization at June 30, 2020 and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our 30,000,000 units in this offering for $300,000,000 (or $10.00 per unit) and the sale of 5,333,333 private placement warrants to the sponsor for $8,000,000 (or $1.50 per warrant) and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities:
June 30, 2020
Actual
As adjusted(1)
Note payable to related party
$ 107,062 $
Deferred underwriting commissions
13,500,000
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption; -0- and 28,352,144 shares, actual and as adjusted, respectively(2)
283,521,440
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized;
-0- and 1,647,856 shares issued and outstanding (excluding -0- and
28,352,144 shares subject to possible redemption), actual and as
adjusted, respectively
165
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 8,625,000 and 7,500,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted, respectively(3)
863 750
Additional paid-in capital(4)(5)
24,137 5,002,645
Accumulated deficit
(3,553) (3,553)
Total stockholders’ equity
$ 21,447 $ 5,000,007
Total capitalization
$ 128,509 $ 302,021,447
(1)
Assumes the full forfeiture of an aggregate of 1,125,000 shares that are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor and Chief Executive Officer depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. The proceeds of the sale of such shares will not be deposited into the trust account, the shares will not be eligible for redemption from the trust account nor will they be eligible to vote upon the initial business combination. Excludes gross proceeds from the sale of forward purchase shares that may close simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination.
(2)
Upon the completion of our initial business combination, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals), subject to the limitations described herein whereby our net tangible assets will be maintained at a minimum of $5,000,001 and any limitations (including, but not limited to, cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed business combination.
(3)
Actual share amount is prior to any forfeiture of founder shares by our sponsor and Chief Executive Officer and the “as adjusted” share amount assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the forfeiture of an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares by our sponsor and Chief Executive Officer.
(4)
The “as adjusted” additional paid-in capital calculation is equal to the “as adjusted” total stockholders’ equity of  $5,000,007, less Class A common stock (par value) of  $165, less Class B common stock (par value) of  $750, less accumulated deficit of $3,553.
(5)
Assumes the full reimbursement of  $1,500,000 from the underwriters for certain of our expenses in connection with this offering.
 
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Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations
Overview
We are a newly incorporated blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not identified any business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants and forward purchase shares, our capital stock, debt or a combination of cash, stock and debt.
The issuance of additional shares of our stock in a business combination, including the forward purchase shares:

may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B common stock resulted in the issuance of Class A shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock;

may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;

could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;

may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and

may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class A common stock and/or redeemable warrants.
Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant indebtedness, it could result in:

default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;

acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;

our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;

our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding;

our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;

using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;

increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and

limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
 
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As of June 30, 2020, we had cash of approximately $73,000 and working capital deficit of approximately $971,000. Further, we expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete our initial business combination will be successful.
Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for this offering. Following this offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After this offering, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of this offering.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity needs have been satisfied prior to the completion of this offering through receipt of $25,000 from the sale of the founder shares and up to $300,000 in loans from our sponsor under an unsecured promissory note. We estimate that the net proceeds from: (1) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $1,500,000 and underwriting commissions of $6,000,000 ($6,900,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (excluding deferred underwriting commissions of  $13,500,000 (or up to $15,525,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full)); and (2) the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor for a purchase price of  $8,000,000 (or $8,900,000) if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be $302,000,000 (or $347,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). Of this amount, $300,000,000 (or $345,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), which includes $13,500,000 (or up to $15,525,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of deferred underwriting commissions, will be deposited into the trust account. The funds in the trust account will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds that meet certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act and that invest only in direct U.S. government obligations. The remaining $2,000,000 will not be held in the trust account. We currently expect our offering expenses to be $1,500,000, but in the event that our offering expenses exceed $1,500,000, we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of  $1,500,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount. In addition, the underwriters have agreed to make a payment to us in an amount equal to $1,500,000 to reimburse certain of our expenses in connection with this offering. This reimbursement will have the effect of increasing the proceeds available to us outside of the trust account.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account (less taxes payable and deferred underwriting commissions), and the proceeds from the sale of the forward purchase shares to complete our initial business combination. Delaware franchise tax is based on our authorized shares or on our assumed par and non-par capital, whichever yields a lower result. Under the authorized shares method, each share is taxed at a graduated rate based on the number of authorized shares with a maximum aggregate tax of $200,000 per year. Under the assumed par value capital method, Delaware taxes each $1,000,000 of assumed par value capital at the rate of  $400; where assumed par value would be (1) our total gross assets following this offering, divided by (2) our total issued shares of common stock following this offering, multiplied by (3) the number of our authorized shares following this offering. Based on the number of shares of our common stock authorized and outstanding and our estimated total gross proceeds after the completion of this offering, our annual franchise tax obligation is expected to be capped at the maximum amount of annual franchise taxes payable by us as a Delaware corporation of  $200,000. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts
 
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held in the trust account. We expect the only taxes payable by us out of the funds in the trust account will be income and franchise taxes. We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our taxes. To the extent that our capital stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we will have available to us $2,000,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account. We will use these funds primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, structure, negotiate and complete a business combination, and to pay taxes to the extent the interest earned on the trust account is not sufficient to pay our taxes.
As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, at June 30, 2020, we had approximately $73,000 in cash and a working capital deficiency of approximately $971,000. Further, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our financing and acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this uncertainty through this offering are discussed below. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to consummate an initial business combination will be successful.
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor, Starboard or our officers or directors may, but none of them is obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, Starboard or our officers and directors, if any, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
We expect our primary liquidity requirements during that period to include approximately $1,285,000 for legal, accounting, due diligence, travel and other expenses in connection with any business combinations; $150,000 for legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting requirements; $75,000 for Nasdaq continued listing fees; $240,000 for office space, administrative and support services; $100,000 as a reserve for liquidation expenses; and approximately $150,000 for working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses (including franchise taxes net of anticipated interest income).
These amounts are estimates and may differ materially from our actual expenses. In addition, we could use a portion of the funds not being placed in trust to pay commitment fees for financing, fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business or as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies or investors on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into an agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business, the amount that would be used as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision would be determined based on the terms of the specific business combination and the amount of our available funds at the time. Our forfeiture of such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise) could result in our not having sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conducting due diligence with respect to, prospective target businesses.
We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, if our estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing
 
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either to complete our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. In addition, we intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor, and, as a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy redemptions by public stockholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. We may also obtain financing prior to the closing of our initial business combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop arrangements we may enter into following the consummation of this offering. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations. Prior to the closing of this offering, the forward purchasers will enter into an agreement with us pursuant to which the forward purchasers may, at their option, anytime or from time to time during the 6-month period following the closing of our initial business combination, purchase additional common equity of the surviving entity in our initial business combination. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Controls and Procedures
We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. Only in the event that we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer and no longer an emerging growth company would we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to 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 independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.
Prior to the closing of this offering, we have not completed an assessment, nor has our independent registered public accounting firm tested our systems, of internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our initial business combination and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Many small and mid-sized target businesses we may consider for our initial business combination may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:

staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties;

reconciliation of accounts;

proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate;

evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;

documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and

documentation of accounting policies and procedures.
Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expenses in meeting our public reporting
 
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responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively may also take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.
Once our management’s report on internal controls is complete, we will retain our independent registered public accounting firm to audit and render an opinion on such report when required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The independent registered public account firm may identify additional issues concerning a target business’s internal controls while performing their audit of internal control over financial reporting.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be invested in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds that meet certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act and that invest only in direct U.S. government obligations. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations
As of June 30, 2020, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations.
Related Party Transactions
In November 2019, our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 8,625,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of  $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock upon the completion of this offering. The purchase price of the founder shares was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to us by the number of founder shares issued. In June 2020, our sponsor transferred (i) 431,250 founder shares to Martin D. McNulty, Jr., our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors and (ii) 25,000 founder shares to each of Pauline J. Brown, Michelle Felman and Lowell Robinson. In July 2020, our sponsor transferred 25,000 founder shares to Robert L. Greene. An aggregate of up to 1,125,000 of such founder shares held by our sponsor and our Chief Executive Officer are subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full, as further described herein. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or a share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of founder shares by our initial stockholders at 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering. Our sponsor does not intend to purchase any units in this offering.
At the close of this offering, we will enter into an Administrative Services Agreement pursuant to which we will also pay our sponsor a total of  $10,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Our sponsor, officers and directors or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or any of their respective affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 under an unsecured promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of June 30, 2020, we have borrowed $107,062 under such promissory note. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of October 31, 2020 and the closing of this offering. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the
 
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$3,500,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) and amounts not to be held in the trust account.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor, Starboard or our officers or directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1.5 million of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of  $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, Starboard or our officers and directors, if any, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
Our sponsor has subscribed to purchase an aggregate of 5,333,333 (or 5,933,333 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement warrants at a price of  $1.50 per warrant ($8,000,000 in the aggregate or $8,900,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the Private Placement. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of  $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. Our sponsor will be permitted to transfer the private placement warrants held by it to certain permitted transferees, including our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with or related to them, but the transferees receiving such securities will be subject to the same agreements with respect to such securities as our sponsor. Otherwise, these warrants will not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the private placement warrants will be non-redeemable so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees (except as described below under “Principal Stockholders—Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”). The private placement warrants may also be exercised by our sponsor or its permitted transferees for cash or on a cashless basis. Otherwise, the private placement warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering.
We have entered into a forward purchase agreement with the forward purchasers pursuant to which the forward purchasers will purchase forward purchase shares at a price equal to $9.50 per share, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. At the closing, the forward purchasers will purchase the number of forward purchase shares from us that would result in net proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary to satisfy the Redemption Obligation, subject to the Maximum Backstop Commitment. In addition, in connection with their purchase of the forward purchase shares, the forward purchasers will acquire private placement warrants at the distribution time as further described in this prospectus. The forward purchasers have agreed that they will not redeem any Class A common stock held by them in connection with the initial business combination. The forward purchase shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that the forward purchase shares are subject to transfer restrictions and certain registration rights, as described herein, and there is no contingent right to receive distributable redeemable warrants attached to the forward purchase shares. Rather, in connection with their purchase of any forward purchase shares, the forward purchasers will acquire private placement warrants as further described herein. These purchases are intended to provide us with a minimum funding level for our initial business combination.
The forward purchasers have the right to transfer a portion of their obligation to purchase the forward purchase shares to third parties, and our sponsor may, in its discretion, transfer, directly or indirectly, certain of its founder shares and private placement warrants to any such forward transferees, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws. Any forward transferees will also forfeit a pro rata portion of any founder shares held by them in the event the over-allotment option is not exercised in full.
The forward purchase agreement also provides that the forward purchasers and any forward transferee are entitled to certain registration rights with respect to their forward purchase shares.
 
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Pursuant to a registration rights agreement we will enter into with our initial stockholders on or prior to the closing of this offering, we may be required to register certain securities for sale under the Securities Act. Our initial stockholders, and holders of warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans, if any, are entitled under the registration rights agreement to make up to three demands that we register certain of our securities held by them for sale under the Securities Act and to have the securities covered thereby registered for resale pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. In addition, these holders have the right to include their securities in other registration statements filed by us. We will bear the costs and expenses of filing any such registration statements. Please see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
JOBS Act
On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. 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.
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things: (1) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; (2) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; (3) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB 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); and (4) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of our initial public offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
 
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General
We are a newly organized blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. We have not selected any potential business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential business combination target.
Our sponsor is an affiliate of Starboard, a registered investment adviser with investment experience and a track record of value creation in portfolio companies operating in the public markets. Starboard has assembled a seasoned team of Industry Advisors, whom we believe will help us execute our differentiated investment strategy. Through our affiliation with our sponsor and Industry Advisors, we will seek to acquire established businesses that we believe are fundamentally sound but potentially in need of financial, operational, strategic, or managerial transformation to maximize value for stockholders. We intend to focus on private companies which we believe offer an opportunity for stockholder value creation through the combination of  (i) an attractive valuation entry point, (ii) a clear plan to unlock incremental value through operational and/or strategic improvements, and (iii) a clear path to bring the target company to the public market and implement best-in-class public company governance. We will seek to partner with the owners of private companies to offer them an option to create partial liquidity, transition their legacy to a public company and/or resolve any fragmented ownership or succession planning issues, all while maintaining a singular focus on driving the target business to a higher level of performance and value. We may also look at earlier stage companies that exhibit the potential to change the industries in which they participate, and which offer the potential of sustained high levels of revenue growth.
While we may pursue an acquisition opportunity in any business, industry, sector or geographical location, we intend to focus on industries that align with the background of our sponsor and Industry Advisors. These industries include the technology, healthcare, consumer, industrials and hospitality & entertainment sectors, which we refer to as our targeted sectors. We believe that there are many potential business combination targets within these industries that could become attractive public companies. Furthermore, we believe that we are well-positioned to drive ongoing value creation post-business combination, based on the operational and investment experience and track record of our team within our targeted sectors over time. We believe our team is well-suited to identify and execute on opportunities that have the potential to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for our stockholders. We are not, however, required to complete our initial business combination within our targeted sectors, and, as a result, we may pursue a business combination outside of these industries.
Our sponsor: SVAC Sponsor LLC, an affiliate of Starboard Value LP
Our sponsor, SVAC Sponsor LLC, is a newly organized special purpose vehicle under common control with Starboard Value LP. Our sponsor is majority-owned by certain clients of Starboard, with the remaining interests owned by the Industry Advisors. Starboard Value LP, which was founded in 2011, is a New York-based investment adviser with a fundamental approach to investing primarily in the public and private securities of publicly traded U.S. companies. Starboard seeks to produce superior risk-adjusted returns by investing in high-conviction public equity investments. Starboard has approximately $6.0 billion of assets under management as of September 1, 2020 (calculated on the basis of the net asset value of existing investments, binding capital commitments, and non-binding capital commitments that are subject to opt-outs). The following characteristics summarize Starboard’s investment platform:

Starboard seeks to invest on behalf of its clients in companies that it believes to be deeply undervalued and actively engages with management teams and boards of directors to identify and execute on opportunities to unlock value for the benefit of all stockholders.

Starboard’s investment team conducts substantial business, financial and legal due diligence on every investment before acquiring a meaningful ownership stake.
 
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Starboard’s team of investment professionals brings years of experience to each of their areas of expertise.

Starboard maintains an institutional infrastructure with teams in accounting, operations, legal and compliance and business development.
We believe Starboard’s differentiated platform will provide us with key advantages, including (i) extensive research capabilities and industry expertise, (ii) deal flow from institutional client relationships, banks, brokers and other intermediaries, (iii) a strong network of proven operators, executives and board members with expertise across various industries, (iv) an ability to attract talented investment professionals and advisors, and (v) significant experience in positioning companies for success in the public equity markets through a focus on operational value creation implemented according to specific, executable plans, along with enhanced corporate governance. Additionally, we believe that Starboard’s reputation with institutional equity investors will ensure that investors consider the pro-forma impact of a business combination and the value creation plan that Starboard Value Acquisition Corp. intends to implement. Starboard is not an investment adviser to the company. See “Risk Factors—Past performance by Starboard, our management team and our Industry Advisors may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.”
Our management team and affiliated directors
Starboard Value Acquisition Corp. will be led by Jeffrey C. Smith, our Chair, Martin D. McNulty, Jr., our Chief Executive Officer, and Kenneth R. Marlin, our Chief Financial Officer. Our senior management team will be supported by the broader Starboard team, as well as our Industry Advisors and independent directors, as further described below.
Jeffrey C. Smith is the Chair of our board of directors. Mr. Smith is a Managing Member, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Starboard, which he founded in 2011 with a spin-off of the existing Value and Opportunity Fund. From January 1998 to April 2011, Mr. Smith was at Ramius LLC, a subsidiary of the Cowen Group, Inc., where he was a Partner Managing Director and the Chief Investment Officer for the funds that comprised the Value and Opportunity investment platform. Mr. Smith was also a member of Cowen’s Operating Committee and Cowen’s Investment Committee. Prior to joining Ramius in January 1998, he served as Vice President of Strategic Development and a member of the board of directors of The Fresh Juice Company, Inc. Mr. Smith began his career in the Mergers and Acquisitions department at Société Générale. Mr. Smith has served as the chair of the board of Papa John’s International, Inc. since February 2019 and was formerly chair of the board of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. from May 2016 to May 2020. Additionally, Mr. Smith was formerly chair of the board of Darden Restaurants, Inc. from October 2014 to April 2016, and formerly on the boards of Perrigo Company plc from February 2017 to August 2019, Yahoo! Inc., from April 2016 to June 2017, Quantum Corporation from May 2013 to May 2015, Office Depot, Inc. from August 2013 to September 2014, Regis Corporation from October 2011 until October 2013 and Surmodics, Inc. from January 2011 to August 2012. Mr. Smith also previously served as chair of the board of directors of Phoenix Technologies Ltd and as a director of Zoran Corporation, Actel Corporation, Kensey Nash Corp., S1 Corp and the Fresh Juice Company. Mr. Smith graduated from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania, where he received a B.S. in Economics.
Martin D. McNulty, Jr. is our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors. Throughout his career, he has focused on driving operational improvements and business transformations across industries. Since June 2020, Mr. McNulty has served as a Managing Director of Starboard. From September 2013 to May 2020, Mr. McNulty was a Managing Director and member of the investment committee of Starr Investment Holdings, LLC, the direct private equity investment arm for C.V. Starr and Co., responsible for sourcing, execution and portfolio management of investment opportunities in the business services and healthcare sectors with a focus on supporting market leading companies with superb leadership teams grow their businesses. From June 2008 to August 2013, Mr. McNulty was a Vice President at Metalmark Capital, a value-oriented middle market private equity fund focused on making investments in the healthcare, industrial and energy sectors. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. McNulty was a Senior Associate at Sun Capital Partners, a value-oriented middle market private equity fund focused on making investments in businesses where its operational expertise could drive meaningful value in
 
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underperforming and turnaround situations. Mr. McNulty began his career in 2000 in the Deals practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Throughout his career, Mr. McNulty has served as a director or board observer of several private companies. Mr. McNulty received a BBA in Business Administration from the University of Iowa.
Kenneth R. Marlin is our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Marlin is a Partner and has been the Chief Financial Officer of Starboard since 2011. Prior to joining Starboard, Mr. Marlin was a Managing Director and the Chief Compliance Officer of Ivy Asset Management LLC. Previously, Mr. Marlin served in various accounting and auditing roles with Lehman Brothers Inc., Manufacturers Hanover Trust and Arthur Andersen & Co. He received a B.S. in Accounting from the State University of New York at Albany, and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York.
Our Industry Advisors
We have assembled an experienced team of Industry Advisors to assist in the sourcing, evaluation, due diligence, deal execution, and post-closing strategic involvement with potential business combination partners. Our strategy, as further described below, is predicated on finding a business combination partner where we can define and present to our investors a clear, executable plan to drive long-term stockholder value creation through our collective experience. We believe the operational expertise of our Industry Advisors is a differentiating element of our approach, which gives us the opportunity to pursue potential business combination targets in several industry sectors where we have expertise, and increases our likelihood of finding and completing a suitable business combination.
We believe that having highly experienced Industry Advisors from multiple sectors increases the potential for a successful initial business combination, giving us a distinct advantage. Our Industry Advisors are Erin Russell, Anthony M. Sanfilippo, Nigel Travis and Gregory Waters.
Erin Russell
Highlights
Erin Russell is a senior private equity professional with a focus on healthcare investments. Ms. Russell has extensive experience in both public and private markets, ranging from investment evaluation to oversight of business transformations as a board member. During her time at Vestar Capital Partners, LP, Ms. Russell executed a portfolio roll-up strategy for several companies, created numerous creative capital structures (including non-traditional financing arrangements), and significantly improved the financial performance of acquired companies through operational and strategic improvements.
Background
Career

Principal of Vestar Capital Partners, LP, a private equity firm specializing in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth equity investments, from August 2001 until April 2017.
Education

Bachelor’s degree in commerce with a concentration in accounting from McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia and a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Board involvement
Current board appointments

Member of the board of directors and chair of the audit committee of Tivity Health, Inc., a provider of nutrition, fitness and social engagement solutions, since March 2020; member of the board of directors, audit and nominating and corporate governance committees and chair of the risk oversight and sustainability committee of Kadant, Inc., a global supplier of engineered systems, since January 2019.
 
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Past board appointments

Member of the board of directors of DeVilbiss Healthcare LLC, a company that designs, manufactures and markets respiratory medical products, from 2012 until July 2015; member of the board of directors and the audit committee of 21st Century Oncology Inc., a provider of state-of-the-art radiation therapy and integrated cancer treatments, from 2008 until September 2016, including as chair of the audit committee until 2014; member of the board of directors of DynaVox Inc., a communications device manufacturer, from 2004 to 2014, serving as the chair of its audit committee until DynaVox Inc.’s initial public offering in 2010.
Other interests
Ms. Russell is currently a member of the school advisory board of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, where she has served since June 2018, and has served on the advisory boards of McIntire School of Commerce since June 2016 and the Jefferson Scholars Foundation at the University of Virginia since April 2008.
Anthony M. Sanfilippo
Highlights
Anthony M. Sanfilippo is a business executive with over 35 years of hospitality, entertainment and gaming industry experience. His extensive business successes include leading an operational transformation, navigating the sale of a publicly listed company, implementing long term strategies, and managing multiple acquisitions and business integrations. During Mr. Sanfilippo’s tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., which was sold to Penn National Gaming in October 2018, publicly available shareholder returns were 595% compared to 186% on the S&P 500 Total Return Index. During Mr. Sanfilippo’s tenure as President and Chief Executive Officer of Multimedia Games Inc. from June 2008 to March 2010, publicly available shareholder returns outperformed the S&P 500 Total Return Index.
Background
Career

Co-founder of Sorelle Capital, Sorelle Entertainment and Sorelle Hospitality, a series of firms focused on investing in and helping grow companies with entrepreneurs in hospitality sectors and related real estate ventures.

Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., an owner, developer and manager of hospitality venues which included casinos, resort hotels, restaurants, entertainment and horse racing facilities from March 2010 to October 2018.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Multimedia Games Inc., a creator and supplier of comprehensive systems, content and electronic gaming units for various segments of the gaming industry from June 2008 to March 2010.

Previous leadership roles at Caesars Entertainment, Inc., where he served as president of the company’s central and western divisions, overseeing the operations of many company owned or managed properties.
Education

Attended the University of Texas at Austin and the Stanford Business Executive Program.
Board Involvement
Current Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors, chair of the compensation committee and member of the nominating and governance committee of Papa John’s International, Inc.; and Chair of the board of directors of Tivity Health, Inc., a provider of nutrition, fitness and social engagement solutions, since April 2020.
 
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Past Board Appointments

Former chair of the board of directors of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.; and former member of the board of directors of Multimedia Games Inc.
Other Interests
Mr. Sanfilippo is the founder of the Sanfilippo Family Charitable Fund, and focuses his philanthropic efforts on a variety of causes.
Nigel Travis
Highlights
Nigel Travis is a businessman and corporate executive. He has served as board member, chair, and Chief Executive Officer at some of America’s most iconic businesses. Mr. Travis’ extensive experience includes domestic and international leadership positions at both public and private companies, with a particular focus on the retail and restaurant industries. He remains actively involved in providing strategic and operational guidance through his multiple current appointments to the boards of publicly listed and private companies and has a distinguished career in creating shareholder value. During Mr. Travis’ tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc., he led Dunkin’ in its initial public offering and publicly available shareholder returns post-IPO were 362% compared to 241% on the S&P 500 Total Return Index. During Mr. Travis’ tenure as President and Chief Executive Officer of Papa John’s International, Inc. from January 2005 to December 2008, publicly available shareholder returns outperformed the S&P 500 Total Return Index.
Background
Career

Chief Executive Officer of Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc., a quick-service restaurant franchisor from January 2009 to July 2018, and Executive Chair of its board of directors between July 2018 and December 2018.

President and Chief Executive Officer of Papa John’s International, Inc., an international take-out and delivery pizza restaurant chain, between January 2005 and December 2008.

President and Chief Operating Officer of Blockbuster, Inc. between 2001 and 2004, after having joined the company in 1994.

Numerous senior positions at Burger King Holdings, Inc., when owned by Grand Metropolitan PLC.

20 years of human resource experience.
Education

Bachelor’s degree in business from Middlesex University, England.
Board Involvement
Current Board Appointments

Non-executive chair of the board of directors of Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. since January 2019; Chair of the board of directors of Servpro, an industry leader in franchise residential and commercial remediation and reconstruction; member of the board of directors and nominating and governance committee of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. since August 2018; and member of the board of directors and of both the audit and finance and the nominating and governance committees of Abercrombie and Fitch Co. since February 2019.
Past Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Office Depot, Inc. from March 2012 to May 2020; member of the board of directors of Lorillard, Inc. from 2008 to 2012; member of the board of directors of Papa
 
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John’s International, Inc. from 2005 to 2008; member of the board of directors of Bombay Company from 2000 to 2007; and member of the board of directors of Limelight Group PLC (UK) from 1996 to 2000.
Other Interests
Mr. Travis serves as the Chair of Leyton Orient Football Club and led a business consortium to take on ownership of the English football club in June 2017. He is also the author of the book “The Challenge Culture: Why the Most Successful Organizations Run on Pushback.”
Gregory Waters
Highlights
Gregory Waters is a senior technology executive with extensive public and private company leadership experience having led three companies through successful transformations. Mr. Waters is also actively involved in new business formation with both for-profit and charitable corporations. During Mr. Waters’ tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Device Technology, Inc., which was sold to Renesas Electronics Corporation in March 2019, publicly available shareholder returns were 496% compared to 173% on the S&P 500 Total Return Index.
Background
Career

President and Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Device Technology, Inc., a company that designs, manufactures, and markets low-power, high-performance analog mixed-signal semiconductor solutions for the advanced communications, computing, and consumer industries, from January 2014 to March 2019.

Executive Vice President at Skyworks Solutions, Inc., a manufacturer of semiconductors for use in radio frequency and mobile communications systems, from 2003 to December 2012.

Former Senior Vice President of strategy and business development at Agere Systems Inc., an integrated circuit components company, where his responsibilities included M&A and IP licensing.

Numerous positions at Texas Instruments.
Education

B.S. in Engineering from the University of Vermont; M.S. in Computer Science, with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence, from Northeastern University.
Board Involvement
Current Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Sierra Wireless, Inc., a leader in IoT Connectivity Modules and Services since March 2020; and a member of the board of directors of Mythic, a company leading Analog Compute technology in AI processors, since June 2020.
Past Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Integrated Device Technology, Inc. from January 2014 to March 2019; member of the board of directors of Mellanox Technologies, LTD from June 2018 to April 2020; and member of the board of directors of Sand9 from 2011 to 2013.
Other Interests
Mr. Waters is the founder of Microfacturing Institutes, a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation providing high tech education to all that need it.
 
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Our independent directors
Our independent directors include the following individuals:
Pauline J. Brown
Highlights
For more than 25 years, Pauline J. Brown has acquired, built and led global luxury brands, with extensive experience in buyouts, and has public company board experience.
Background
Career

Chair of North America for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, a European multinational luxury goods conglomerate, from January 2013 through December 2015.

Independent advisor to founders of and investors in early-stage consumer ventures from 2010 to 2013 as well as from 2018 to the present.

Former Managing Director at The Carlyle Group.

Former Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Global Business Development at Avon Products, Inc.

Former Vice President, Corporate Strategy and New Business Development at Estée Lauder Companies.

Former Management Consultant at Bain & Company.
Education

MBA from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania; BA from Dartmouth College.
Board Involvement
Past Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of the publicly traded steakhouse chain Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group from April 2017 to September 2019, where she also was a member of the audit and compensation committees.
Other Interests
Ms. Brown is the author of a business book, entitled “Aesthetic Intelligence,” which was published by Harper Collins in November 2019. She also hosts a weekly talk show on SiriusXM, called “Tastemakers” and serves as an Executive-in-residence at the Columbia Business School. Ms. Brown was also a Professor at Harvard Business School from January 2016 through June 2017.
Michelle Felman
Highlights
Michelle Felman’s extensive business experience includes experience as the head of acquisitions at one of the country’s largest real estate investment trusts and serving on various public and private boards and governance, compensation, audit and investment oversight committees on a global basis.
Background
Career

Founded JAM Holdings, an investment and advisory firm, in 2016.
 
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EVP and Co-Head of Acquisitions and Capital Markets at Vornado Realty Trust, a publicly traded REIT (“VNO”), from 1997 to 2010, and a consultant for VNO through December 2012.

Managing Director of Business Development at GE Capital from 1991 to 1997.

Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley from July 1988 until January 1991.
Education

Bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California; MBA from Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Board Involvement
Current Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Reonomy, a private real estate technology company, since 2018; member of the board of directors of Cumming Corp, a global project management and cost consulting company, since 2017; member of the Advisory Board at Turner Impact Capital, a social impact platform that focuses on healthcare, charter schools and workforce housing, since 2016.
Past Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Partners Group Holdings AG, a registered, global private equity firm, from 2016 to May 2020, and served as the chair of the investment oversight committee and on the compensation, risk and audit committees; member of the board of directors of Forest City Realty Trust, Inc. from April 2018 to December 2018 and was a member of the governance and compensation committees; trustee of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, a publicly traded retail REIT in Canada, from 2013 to 2018, and was a member of the governance and compensation committees.
Other Interests
Until 2017, Ms. Felman was a member of the Executive Committee of the Zell Lurie Center at Wharton Business School, where she also served as a visiting professor from 2011 to 2015. Ms. Felman has also been an adjunct professor at Columbia University since 2017.
Robert L. Greene
Highlights
Robert L. Greene is an experienced private equity professional with significant expertise in assisting companies with developing and executing growth strategies. He has served in various leadership roles and is an experienced director.
Background
Career

President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Investment Companies, the largest network of diverse-owned private equity firms and hedge funds, since February 2013.

Head of Investor Relations of Syncom Venture Partners, a venture capital firm, from June 2007 to December 2013.
Education

Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Board involvement
Current board appointments

Member of the board of directors of Transworld Systems Inc., a privately held, private equity-backed company that provides debt collection services for Fortune 500 companies on a global basis, since
 
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May 2018; member of the board of directors and audit committee of Travelport, a UK-based travel technology company, since July 2019.
Past board appointments

Chair of the board of trustees of the Virginia Retirement System, one of the largest public pension plans in the U.S., from May 2008 to May 2017, where he also served as chair of the audit committee, administration and personnel committee and investment policy committee and as a member and chair of the executive search committee.
Other interests
Mr. Greene holds lifetime memberships in the National Eagle Scout Association, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the National INROADS Alumni Association. He serves as a member of the board of directors for the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation, where he chairs the finance and investment committee and the K-100 Executive Club.
Lowell W. Robinson
Highlights
Lowell W. Robinson is an experienced executive with over thirty years of senior global strategic, financial, M&A, operational, turnaround and governance experience at both Fortune 100 consumer and fashion/​retail corporations and diversified financial services companies and high growth public companies in marketing services/media, technology and digital. Mr. Robinson also has extensive experience serving on the boards of public and private companies.
Background
Career

Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of MIVA, Inc., a Nasdaq digital marketing company, serving as Chief Financial Officer from 2006 to 2009, Chief Administrative Officer from 2006 to 2007, and Chief Operating Officer from 2007 to 2009.

EVP, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of HotJobs.com Ltd. from 2000 to 2002.

EVP, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of PRT Group Inc., a software services technology company from 1997 to 1999.

EVP, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Valassis/Advo Inc., a NYSE direct marketing company, from 1994 to 1997.

Senior financial positions with Citigroup Inc. from 1986 to 1993 as Chief Financial Officer for The Travelers Life and Health Insurance businesses, Chief Financial Officer for Citigroup’s Global Insurance Division, and Controller and Chief Financial Officer for all international consumer and retail businesses, including retail banking and credit cards.
Education

MBA in finance from Harvard Business School; BA in Economics from The University of Wisconsin.
Board Involvement
Current Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., a leading solutions provider for the education industry, since July 2020, and serves on their audit committee.

Member of the board of directors of Medley Capital Corporation, a business development company, since April 2019, and serves on their audit committee and special committee of the board.
 
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Past Board Appointments

Member of the board of directors of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. from May 2018 to July 2019; member of the board of directors of Evine Live Inc. (f/k/a ShopHQ), a $700 million home shopping/​omnichannel company, from March 2014 to June 2018, where he was chair of the audit committee and on the finance committee; member of the board of directors of SITO Mobile, Ltd. from April 2017 to June 2017; member of the board of directors of Higher One Holdings, Inc., a fintech education services company, from June 2014 to August 2016, where he chaired the audit committee and was on the risk management committee; member of the board of directors of Support.com, Inc. from March 2016 to June 2016; member of the board of directors of The Jones Group, Inc., from 2005 to April 2014, where he was chair of the audit committee and on the compensation committee; chair of two GE Capital companies in media, publishing and digital from 2010 to 2014; former director of each of Independent Wireless One Corp., Edison Schools Inc. and International Wire Group, Inc.
Other Interests
Mr. Robinson is on the non-profit boards of the New York Academy of Sciences and the Harvard Business School Club of NY and previously served on the non-profit boards of The Council for Economic Education, The Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Smithsonian Libraries and the University of Wisconsin School of Business, where he ran their director’s summit and is currently on the advisory board for their Department of Economics.
Each of our directors, officers and Industry Advisors has agreed not to become a director or officer (and, in the case of the Industry Advisors, an industry or operating advisor) of any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination within 24 months. For more information, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Management—Conflicts of Interest.”
With respect to the above, past performance of Starboard, our management team, our Industry Advisors, or any of their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of  (i) success with respect to a business combination that may be consummated, (ii) the ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (iii) the ability to assess the risk of potential transactions. You should not rely on the historical record of management, our Industry Advisors or Starboard and its affiliates as indicative of future performance or operational success of our company. See “Risk Factors—Past performance by Starboard, our management team and our Industry Advisors may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.” Our management and Starboard have no experience in operating blank check companies or special purpose acquisition companies.
Business Strategy
Our business strategy is to identify and complete our initial business combination with a company that can benefit from the strategic and transactional experience of Starboard, our management and our Industry Advisors to catalyze and transform the company and create stockholder value. We believe our sponsor, management team, Industry Advisors, and independent directors will have access to a wide range of opportunities due to their extensive network of relationships with management teams of public and private companies, private equity sponsors, other public investors, investment bankers, lenders, restructuring advisers, attorneys, accountants, and other consultants and intermediaries. We have chosen Industry Advisors with specific experience in a broad range of industry sectors, including technology, healthcare, consumer, industrials and the hospitality & entertainment sectors because we believe that examining acquisition opportunities across all of these sectors increases the likelihood of finding an acquisition target that will lead to stockholder value creation.
Over the last 17 years, Starboard’s investment team has developed extensive experience working with management teams of public companies, across market capitalizations and industries, in order to unlock stockholder value. Over the past 17 years, Starboard’s team has been actively involved with more than 120 public companies and has developed an extensive network of operators and advisors with whom it works. Starboard has built a strong reputation and following in the public markets, attracting significant fundamental investor interest in the companies in which it invests. Starboard typically focuses on
 
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investment opportunities in public companies in need of transformation and looks to work with those companies to effect such transformations through operational improvements, changes in strategic focus, improved execution, enhanced corporate governance and oversight, and/or by providing strategic capital. We believe this track record of public company value creation and Starboard's practices in partnering with companies and their shareholders to effect change are relevant capabilities for private companies seeking a public listing, and present a compelling value proposition for such potential target businesses. Our management team and Starboard have experience in:

Sourcing, structuring, acquiring, integrating and selling businesses;

Fostering relationships with sellers, capital providers and target leadership teams;

Negotiating transactions favorable to investors; and

Accessing the capital markets, including financing businesses and helping companies transition to public ownership.
In addition, our Industry Advisors have been successful chief executive officers, senior executives, and board members of public and private companies, and we believe they will enhance our value proposition to potential business combination partners given their collective expertise, operational and strategic capabilities, and track record in their respective sectors. Our Industry Advisors have experience in:

Operating companies, setting and changing strategies and capital allocation, and identifying, monitoring and recruiting world-class talent;

Acquiring and integrating companies;

Embarking on corporate turnarounds and implementing transformational long-term strategies; and

Developing and growing companies, both organically and through acquisitions and strategic transactions and expanding the product range and geographic footprint of businesses.
We believe that our management team’s and Industry Advisors’ track record of identifying and sourcing transactions positions us well to appropriately evaluate potential business combinations and select one that will be well received by the public markets. Additionally, we believe that Starboard’s extensive experience investing in and serving on the boards of companies that are undergoing strategic and/or operational transformations further increases the chances of successfully identifying a quality business where we can employ our practices to improve performance and valuation while it undergoes strategic and/or operational changes. Our sourcing process will leverage the extensive networks of our Industry Advisors, which we believe should provide us with a number of business combination opportunities. We intend to deploy a proactive sourcing strategy and to focus on companies where we believe the combination of our management team’s and Industry Advisors’ operating experience, relationships, capital and capital markets expertise can be catalysts to transform a target company and create value for our stockholders. Upon completion of this offering, members of our management team, Starboard and the Industry Advisors will actively begin the search for a target business by communicating with their network of relationships and other interested parties. These communications will articulate our initial business combination criteria, including the parameters of our search for a target business, and will begin the process of pursuing and reviewing promising leads.
Acquisition Criteria
We believe we have the opportunity to pursue a differentiated set of potential acquisition targets due to our management team’s, Starboard’s and the Industry Advisors’ experience in driving transformative change in businesses in order to create value for stockholders. Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses and set us apart from other sources of capital pursuing target businesses in our areas of focus. We will use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines. We intend to seek to acquire companies that we believe:

Are prepared to be public companies and will benefit from having a public currency in order to enhance their ability to pursue accretive acquisitions, high-return capital projects, and/or strengthen their balance sheet.
 
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Are good businesses that are underperforming their potential in industries that are otherwise exhibiting stable or improving fundamentals. We intend to evaluate each industry and the target businesses within those industries based on several factors, including the potential for sustainable competitive advantages, the ability to drive meaningful operational improvements, the ability to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns, and the sustainability of cash flow. We plan to seek targets that will be compatible with our rigorous value creation process, whereby we identify several value enhancing initiatives prior to making the acquisition and define processes to implement and optimize those initiatives.

Have a defensible market position with demonstrated advantages compared to competitors that create barriers to entry against new potential market entrants.

Are at an inflection point, such as those requiring additional management expertise, are able to innovate by developing new products or services, or are situations in which we believe we can drive improved financial performance.

Have significant embedded and/or underexploited expansion opportunities. This can be accomplished through a combination of accelerating organic growth and finding attractive bolt-on acquisition targets. Our management team and Industry Advisors have significant experience in identifying such targets and helping target management assess the strategic and financial fit of potential bolt-on acquisitions. Similarly, we believe our management team and Industry Advisors have the expertise to assess the likely synergies between target companies and help a target effectively integrate acquisitions.

Exhibit unrecognized value or other characteristics that we believe represent upside in the public markets based on our company-specific analysis and due diligence review. For a potential target company, this process will include, among other things, a review and analysis of the company’s capital structure, quality of earnings, potential for operational improvements, corporate governance, customers, materials contracts, and industry background and trends.

Have strong, experienced management teams, or provide a platform to assemble an effective management team with a track record of driving growth, profitability, and value creation.

Will offer attractive risk-adjusted equity returns for our stockholders. We will seek to acquire a target on terms and in a manner that leverages our experience in transformational investing. Financial returns will be evaluated based on (i) the potential for organic growth in cash flows, (ii) the ability to achieve cost savings, (iii) the ability to accelerate growth, including through the opportunity for follow-on acquisitions, and (iv) the prospects for creating value through other value creation initiatives. Potential upside from growth in the target business’ earnings and an improved capital structure will be weighed against any identified downside risks.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management may deem relevant. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria in our stockholder communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents that we would file with the SEC.
In addition to any potential business candidates we may identify on our own, we anticipate that other target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity funds, and large business enterprises seeking to divest non-core assets or divisions.
Acquisition Process
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct an extensive due diligence review which will encompass, as applicable and among other things, commercial and industry due diligence, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, and a review of financial and other information about the target and its industry. To help facilitate this evaluation we will rely on input from our management team, Industry Advisors and
 
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third-party due diligence providers. We also intend to leverage the operational and capital allocation planning experience of Starboard, our management team, and our Industry Advisors.
We currently do not have any specific business combination under consideration. Our officers and directors have neither individually identified nor considered a target business nor have they had any substantive discussions regarding possible target businesses among themselves or with our underwriters or other advisors. Starboard is frequently made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue for a business combination, but we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf) contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to a business combination transaction with our company. We have not (nor have any of our agents or affiliates) been approached by any candidates (or representative of any candidates) with respect to a possible acquisition transaction with our company. Additionally, we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, taken any substantive measure, directly or indirectly, to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate for us, nor have we engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any such acquisition candidate.
We are not prohibited from pursuing our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors, or our officers or from making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, our directors, officers or their affiliates. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or officers, we, or a committee of independent directors, would obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
In addition, we believe our ability to complete our initial business combination will be enhanced by the forward purchase agreement pursuant to which the forward purchasers will purchase forward purchase shares for an aggregate amount of up to $100,000,000 in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. These purchases are intended to satisfy the Redemption Obligation and thereby provide us with a minimum funding level for our initial business combination.
Further, our distributable redeemable warrants provide our public stockholders with an incentive not to redeem their shares of Class A common stock in connection with our initial business combination. Holders who choose to redeem their shares will lose the right to receive any distributable redeemable warrants. Public stockholders who choose not to redeem their shares of Class A common stock will share in the distribution of 5,000,000 warrants with other non-redeeming holders, and, to the extent public stockholders exercise their right to redeem their Class A common stock in connection with the initial business combination, with the holders of the forward purchase shares (as described in this prospectus), and will receive a portion of the additional warrants that were effectively surrendered by redeeming holders. As a result, public stockholders who do not redeem their shares will receive at least one-sixth of a distributable redeemable warrant per share they hold, and a greater amount if other holders elect to redeem. We believe this structure will likely lead to a lower level of redemptions.
Each of our directors and officers may, directly or indirectly, own founder shares and/or private placement warrants following this offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, such directors and officers may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such directors and officers was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she
 
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determines to present the opportunity to us. However, we do not expect these duties to present a significant conflict of interest with our search for an initial business combination. We believe this conflict of interest with respect to our officers and directors affiliated with Starboard will be mitigated, to a certain extent, by the differing nature of the investments Starboard typically considers most attractive for its clients and the types of acquisitions we expect Starboard Value Acquisition Corp. to find most attractive.
No members of our management team have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware, unless presented to such member specifically in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the company and after they have satisfied their contractual and fiduciary obligations to other parties. Any knowledge or presentation of such opportunities may therefore present conflicts of interest.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
In addition, none of our Industry Advisors are officers or directors of our company and therefore owe us no fiduciary duties as such. While we expect that they will assist us in identifying business combination targets, they have no obligation to do so and may devote a substantial portion of their business time to activities unrelated to us. Our Industry Advisors may have fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to other organizations to present business combination opportunities to such other organizations rather than to us. Accordingly, if any Industry Advisor becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he will honor those obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he determines to present the opportunity to us.
Initial Business Combination
As required by Nasdaq rules, our initial business combination will be approved by a majority of our independent directors. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. If our securities are no longer listed on Nasdaq, we will not be obligated to satisfy such 80% test. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or a valuation or appraisal firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. While we consider it unlikely that our board will not be able to make an independent determination of the fair market value of a target business or businesses, it may be unable to do so if the board is less familiar or experienced with the target company’s business, there is a significant amount of uncertainty as to the value of the company’s assets or prospects, including if such company is at an early stage of development, operations or growth, or if the anticipated transaction involves a complex financial analysis or other specialized skills and the board determines that outside expertise would be helpful or necessary in conducting such analysis. Since any opinion, if obtained, would merely state that the fair market value of the target business meets the 80% threshold, unless such opinion includes material information regarding the valuation of a target business or the consideration to be provided, it is not anticipated that copies of such opinion would be distributed to our stockholders. However, if required under applicable law, any proxy statement that we deliver to stockholders and file with the SEC in connection with a proposed transaction will include such opinion.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business
 
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for the post-acquisition company to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires an interest in the target or assets sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for the purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable.
Corporate Information
Our offices are located at 777 Third Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10017, and our telephone number is (212) 845-7977. We plan to maintain a corporate website. The information that may be contained on or accessible through our corporate website or any other website that we may maintain is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to 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 our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of  (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets
Starboard’s clients may compete with us for acquisition opportunities that we may target for our initial business combination. If Starboard, on behalf of one or more of its clients, decides to pursue any such opportunity or determines in its sole discretion not to offer such opportunity to us, we may be precluded from procuring such opportunities. In addition, investment ideas generated within Starboard or by persons who may make decisions for us may be suitable for both us and for one or more of Starboard’s clients and may be directed to such clients or other third parties rather than to us. Starboard does not have
 
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any fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to our company, including, without limitation, to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware.
Our management team and our Industry Advisors, in their other endeavors (including, with respect to our management, any affiliation they may have with Starboard), may choose or be required to present potential business combinations or other transactions to other persons (including Starboard’s clients), before they present such opportunities to us. Please see “Risk Factors—Certain of our officers, directors and Industry Advisors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity or other transaction should be presented.”
We are not prohibited from pursuing our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors, or our officers or from making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, our directors, officers or their affiliates. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm, that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
As discussed above and in “Management—Conflicts of Interest,” if any number of our management or Industry Advisors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us (including as described above). In addition, our Industry Advisors shall have no obligation to present a business combination opportunity to us, even if they do not have a duty to present such opportunity to any other entity and/or if such other entities have rejected the opportunity.
Status as a Public Company
We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, we offer target businesses an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination. In this situation, the owners of the target business would exchange their shares of stock in the target business for shares of our stock or for a combination of shares of our stock and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers. Although there are various costs and obligations associated with being a public company, we believe target businesses will find this method a more certain and cost effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. In a typical initial public offering, there are additional expenses incurred in marketing, road show and public reporting efforts that may not be present to the same extent in connection with a business combination with us.
Furthermore, once a proposed business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could delay or prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with stockholders’ interests. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to 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 our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute
 
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payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of the prior fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter; and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
Financial Position
With funds available for a business combination initially in the amount of  $286,500,000 assuming no redemptions and after payment of  $13,500,000 of deferred underwriting fees (or $329,475,000 assuming no redemptions and after payment of up to $15,525,000 of deferred underwriting fees if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in each case before fees and expenses associated with our initial business combination, and the funds, if any, from the issuance of our forward purchase shares and optional shares (as defined below), we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt ratio. Because we are able to complete our initial business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third-party financing and there can be no assurance it will be available to us.
Effecting our Initial Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor and the forward purchase shares, our capital stock, debt or a combination of these as the consideration to be paid in our initial business combination. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemption of our public shares, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
Members of our management team and Starboard are from time to time made aware of potential business opportunities, one or more of which we may desire to pursue, for a business combination, but
 
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we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf) contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to a business combination transaction with us. Please see “—Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets” for additional information regarding limitations on our access to investment opportunities sourced by Starboard. Additionally, we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, taken any substantive measure, directly or indirectly, to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate, nor have we engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any such acquisition candidate.
In addition to the forward purchase shares, we may seek to raise additional funds in connection with the completion of our initial business combination through a private offering of equity securities or debt securities or loans, and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offerings or loans rather than using the amounts held in the trust account. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such financing only simultaneously with the completion of our business combination. In the case of our initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our tender offer documents or proxy materials disclosing the business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately, or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, other than the forward purchase agreement and the optional share purchase agreement (as defined below), we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.
In the case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our tender offer documents or proxy materials disclosing the business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by applicable law, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.
Selection of a target business and structuring of our initial business combination
As required by Nasdaq rules, our initial business combination will be approved by a majority of our independent directors. Nasdaq rules also require that an initial business combination must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account). The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as discounted cash flow valuation or value of comparable businesses. If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination, although there is no assurance that will be the case. Subject to this requirement, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In any case, we will only complete an initial business combination in which we own or acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquire a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. If we own or acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses, the portion of such business or businesses that are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% test. There is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete our initial business combination.
To the extent we effect our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent
 
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in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information which will be made available to us.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which our initial business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination.
Lack of business diversification
For an indefinite period of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business.
Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:

subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination; and

cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services.
Limited ability to evaluate the target’s management team
Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’s management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that one or more of our directors or Industry Advisors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our initial business combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our initial business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Following our initial business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Stockholders may not have the ability to approve our initial business combination
We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC. However, we will seek stockholder approval if it is required by applicable law or stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons. Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial business combinations we may consider and whether stockholder approval is currently required under Delaware law for each such transaction.
 
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Type of transaction
Whether Stockholder
Approval is Required
Purchase of assets
No
Purchase of stock of target not involving a merger with the company
No
Merger of target into a subsidiary of the company
No
Merger of the company with a target
Yes
Under Nasdaq’s listing rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:

we issue shares of common stock that will either be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of shares of common stock then outstanding (other than in a public offering);

any of our directors, officers or substantial security holders (as defined by the Nasdaq rules) has a 5% or greater interest (or such persons collectively have a 10% or greater interest), directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired or otherwise and the present or potential issuance of common stock could result in an increase in outstanding common shares or voting power of 5% or more; or

the issuance or potential issuance will result in our undergoing a change of control.
The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination in those instances in which stockholder approval is not required by law will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on business and legal reasons, which include a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

the timing of the transaction, including in the event we determine stockholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek stockholder approval or doing so would place the company at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on the company;

the expected cost of holding a stockholder vote;

the risk that the stockholders would fail to approve the proposed business combination;

other time and budget constraints of the company; and

additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to stockholders.
Permitted purchases of our securities
In the event we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, Industry Advisors or any of their respective affiliates may purchase public shares or redeemable warrants or a combination thereof in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit on the number of shares or warrants such persons may purchase. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. In the event our initial stockholders, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates determine to make any such purchases at the time of a stockholder vote relating to our initial business combination, such purchases could have the effect of influencing the vote necessary to approve such transaction. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares in such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt an insider trading policy which will require insiders to (1) refrain from purchasing securities during certain blackout periods and when they are in possession of any material non-public information and (2) to clear all trades with our legal
 
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counsel prior to execution. We cannot currently determine whether our insiders will make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, as it will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to, the timing and size of such purchases. Depending on such circumstances, our insiders may either make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan or determine that such a plan is not necessary.
In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates purchase public shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights or submitted a proxy to vote against our initial business combination, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares and any proxy to vote against our initial business combination. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules.
The purpose of such purchases could be to vote such shares in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of our initial business combination or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our initial business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. This may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our common stock may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors and/or any of their respective affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or any of their respective affiliates may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or any of their respective affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential selling stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against our initial business combination. Such persons would select the stockholders from whom to acquire shares based on the number of shares available, the negotiated price per share and such other factors as any such person may deem relevant at the time of purchase. The price per share paid in any such transaction may be different than the amount per share a public stockholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our initial business combination. Our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or any of their respective affiliates will purchase shares only if such purchases comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Any purchases by our sponsor, officers, directors and/or any of their respective affiliates who are affiliated purchasers under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act will only be made to the extent such purchases are made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has certain technical requirements that must be complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or any of their respective affiliates will be restricted from making purchases of common stock if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.
Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. At completion of the business combination, we will be required to purchase any public shares properly delivered
 
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for redemption and not withdrawn. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. The per share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. However, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per public share initially held in the trust account due to claims of creditors (see “Risk Factors—If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein). The redemption right will include the requirement that any beneficial owner on whose behalf a redemption right is being exercised must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.
Distribution of redeemable warrants to holders of Class A common stock not electing redemption
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, at the distribution time, we will effect a distribution of a number of warrants equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount as follows: (i) to the extent that no public stockholders redeem their public shares in connection with the initial business combination, each public stockholder will receive one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant per public share and (ii) to the extent that any public stockholders redeem any of their public shares in connection with the initial business combination, then (A) one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant will be distributed per each remaining public share and (B) the warrants in an amount equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount less the number of warrants distributed pursuant to the foregoing clause (A) will be distributed on a pro rata basis to (x) the holders of the remaining public shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as distributable redeemable warrants and (y) the holders of the forward purchase shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as private placement warrants. Public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights are not entitled to receive any distribution of distributable redeemable warrants in respect of such redeemed public shares.
The distribution of the distributable redeemable warrants in respect of a public share is contingent upon such share not being redeemed in connection with our initial business combination, and the number of distributable redeemable warrants to be distributed in respect of each such unredeemed public shares will be contingent upon the aggregate number of public shares that are redeemed. See “Description of Securities—Forward Purchase Securities” for illustrative examples of the forward purchasers’ ownership of the forward purchase shares and the forward purchasers’ and the public’s ownership of the Aggregate Warrant Amount based on different redemption percentages. The contingent rights to receive distributable redeemable warrants will remain attached to our Class A common stock, will not be separately transferrable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any certificate or instrument.
Our distributable redeemable warrants are otherwise identical to our detachable redeemable warrants, including with respect to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. No fractional distributable redeemable warrants will be issued, no cash will be paid in lieu of fractional distributable redeemable warrants and only whole distributable redeemable warrants will trade. The distributable redeemable warrants will be fungible with our detachable redeemable warrants and will become tradable upon their distribution under the same stock symbol as the detachable redeemable warrants.
Manner of conducting redemptions
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination either: (1) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the business combination; or (2) by means of a tender offer. Pursuant to the forward purchase agreement, the forward purchasers have agreed that they will not redeem any Class A common stock held by them in connection with the initial business combination. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as
 
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the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement. Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would typically require stockholder approval. If we structure a business combination transaction with a target company in a manner that requires stockholder approval, we will not have discretion as to whether to seek a stockholder vote to approve the proposed business combination. We currently intend to conduct redemptions pursuant to a stockholder vote unless stockholder approval is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement and we choose to conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC for business or other reasons.
If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and

file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, we and our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our Class A common stock in the open market if we elect to redeem our public shares through a tender offer, to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete such initial business combination.
If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:

conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules; and

file proxy materials with the SEC.
We expect that a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least 10 days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Although we are not required to do so, we currently intend to comply with the substantive and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A in connection with any stockholder vote even if we are not able to maintain our Nasdaq listing or Exchange Act registration.
In the event that we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.
 
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If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors will count towards this quorum and have agreed to vote any founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds and agreements, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. In addition, our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of a business combination.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules). Redemptions of our public shares may also be subject to a higher net tangible asset test or cash requirement pursuant to an agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed business combination may require: (1) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners; (2) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes; or (3) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.
Limitation on redemption upon completion of our initial business combination if we seek stockholder approval
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, without our prior consent, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed business combination as a means to force us or our affiliates to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our affiliates at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.
Tendering stock certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights
We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the business
 
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combination in the event we distribute proxy materials or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, rather than simply voting against the initial business combination at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements, which will include the requirement that any beneficial owner on whose behalf a redemption right is being exercised must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the business combination if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Pursuant to the tender offer rules, the tender offer period will be not less than 20 business days and, in the case of a stockholder vote, a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least 10 days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for stockholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.
There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights to tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.
The foregoing is different from the procedures used by many blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, many blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such stockholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the stockholder then had an “option window” after the completion of the business combination during which he or she could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he or she could sell his or her shares in the open market before actually delivering his or her shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become “option” rights surviving past the completion of the business combination until the redeeming holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s election to redeem is irrevocable once the business combination is approved.
Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the tender offer materials or the date of the stockholder meeting set forth in our proxy materials, as applicable. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.
If our initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.
If our initial proposed business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete a business combination with a different target until the end of 24 months from the closing of this offering.
 
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Redemption of public shares and liquidation if no initial business combination
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have only the time of 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within such period, we will: (1) cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our redeemable warrants, and our detachable redeemable warrants will expire worthless and no distributable redeemable warrants will have been issued if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.
Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our sponsor or any of our officers and directors acquires public shares after this offering, it will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon approval of any such amendment at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. However, we may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, to be less than $5,000,001 (so that we do not then become subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules).
We expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the $2,000,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. However, if those funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that there is any interest accrued in the trust account not required to pay taxes, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional amount of up to $100,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.
If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account and any tax payments or expenses for the dissolution of the trust, the per share redemption amount received by stockholders upon our dissolution would be $10.00. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per share redemption amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than $10.00. Please see “Risk Factors—If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors described above. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan
 
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of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.
Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where we are unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. In order to protect the amounts held in the trust account, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (1) $10.00 per public share or (2) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of permitted withdrawals, except as to any claims by a third party that executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether any such waiver is enforceable) and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.00 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses. None of our other officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below: (1) $10.00 per public share; or (2) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of permitted withdrawals, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in certain instances. For example, the cost of such legal action may be deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or the independent directors may determine that a favorable outcome is not likely.
 
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Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per share redemption price will not be substantially less than $10.00 per share. Please see “Risk Factors—If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors described above.
We will seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to $2,000,000 from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately $100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims made by creditors. We currently expect our offering expenses to be $1,500,000, but in the event that our offering expenses exceed $1,500,000, we may fund such excess with funds not held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of  $1,500,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will: (1) cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following our 24th month and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.
 
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Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent ten years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account.
As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending to the trust account is remote.
Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the trust account are not reduced below: (1) $10.00 per public share; or (2) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of permitted withdrawals and will not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
If we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.00 per share to our public stockholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, our board may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons. Please see “Risk Factors—If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and the members of our board of directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors, thereby exposing the members of our board of directors and us to claims of punitive damages.”
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of the redemption of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or if they redeem their respective shares for cash upon the completion of the initial business combination. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a stockholder’s voting in connection with our initial business combination alone will not result in a stockholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such stockholder must have also exercised its redemption rights described above.
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the consummation of our initial business combination. If we seek to amend any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or with respect to any other material provisions relating to the rights of holders of our Class A Common Stock or pre-initial business
 
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combination business activity, we will provide public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with any such vote. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive any redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, among other things, that:

prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, we shall either: (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals); or (2) provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to tender their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals), in each case subject to the limitations described herein;

we will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, solely if we seek stockholder approval, a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination at a duly held stockholder meeting;

if our initial business combination is not consummated within 24 months from the closing of this offering, then our existence will terminate and we will distribute all amounts in the trust account; and

prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (1) receive funds from the trust account or (2) vote on any initial business combination, pre-initial business combination activity or amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of holders of 65% of our common stock. In the event we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, unless otherwise required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, we may consummate our initial business combination only if approved by a majority of the shares of common stock voted by our stockholders at a duly held stockholder meeting.
Comparison of redemption or purchase prices in connection with our initial business combination and if we fail to complete our initial business combination
The following table compares the redemptions and other permitted purchases of public shares that may take place in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.
Redemptions in Connection
with our Initial Business
Combination
Other Permitted Purchases
of Public Shares by our
Affiliates
Redemptions if we fail to
Complete an Initial Business
Combination
Calculation of redemption price
Redemptions at the time of our initial business combination may be made pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. The redemption price will be the same whether we conduct redemptions pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. In either case, our public If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or any of their respective affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will redeem all public shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals and up to
 
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Redemptions in Connection
with our Initial Business
Combination
Other Permitted Purchases
of Public Shares by our
Affiliates
Redemptions if we fail to
Complete an Initial Business
Combination
stockholders may redeem their public shares for cash equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination (which is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per share), including interest (net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitation that no redemptions will take place if all of the redemptions would cause our net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, to be less than $5,000,001 and any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) agreed to in connection with the negotiation of terms of a proposed business combination. Such purchases will only be made to the extent such purchases are made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase shares in such transactions. $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
The per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per public share initially held in the trust account due to claims of creditors (see “Risk Factors — If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors herein).
 
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Redemptions in Connection
with our Initial Business
Combination
Other Permitted Purchases
of Public Shares by our
Affiliates
Redemptions if we fail to
Complete an Initial Business
Combination
Impact to remaining stockholders
The redemptions in connection with our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for our remaining stockholders, who will bear the burden of the deferred underwriting commissions and permitted withdrawals (to the extent not paid from amounts accrued as interest on the funds held in the trust account). If the permitted purchases described above are made, there will be no impact to our remaining stockholders because the purchase price would not be paid by us. The redemption of our public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination will reduce the book value per share for the shares held by our initial stockholders, who will be our only remaining stockholders after such redemptions.
The remaining Class A stockholders will also receive a distribution of an aggregate of up to 5,000,000 distributable redeemable warrants (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option).
Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419
The following table compares the terms of this offering to the terms of an offering by a blank check company subject to the provisions of Rule 419. This comparison assumes that the gross proceeds, underwriting commissions and underwriting expenses of our offering would be identical to those of an offering undertaken by a company subject to Rule 419, and that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. None of the provisions of Rule 419 apply to our offering.
Terms of Our Offering
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
Escrow of offering proceeds
$300,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor will be deposited into a trust account located in the United States at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. with Continental acting as trustee. Approximately $252,450,000 of the offering proceeds, representing the gross proceeds of this offering less allowable underwriting commissions, expenses and company deductions under Rule 419, would be required to be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account.
 
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Terms of Our Offering
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
Investment of net proceeds
$300,000,000 of the net offering proceeds and the sale of the private placement warrants to the sponsor held in trust will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds that meet certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act and that invest only in direct U.S. government obligations. Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States.
Receipt of interest on escrowed funds
Interest on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to stockholders is reduced by: (1) permitted withdrawals; and (2) in the event of our liquidation for failure to complete our initial business combination within the allotted time, up to $100,000 of net interest that may be released to us should we have no or insufficient working capital to fund the costs and expenses of our dissolution and liquidation. Interest on funds in escrow account would be held for the sole benefit of investors, unless and only after the funds held in escrow were released to us in connection with our completion of a business combination.
Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business
The Nasdaq rules require that an initial business combination must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account). The fair value or net assets of a target business must represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds.
 
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Terms of Our Offering
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
Trading of securities issued
The units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless UBS Securities LLC informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. No trading of the units or the underlying common stock and warrants would be permitted until the completion of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account.
We expect that the distributable redeemable warrants will become tradable on the day of the distribution thereof. The distributable redeemable warrants will be fully fungible with our detachable redeemable warrants and will trade under the same stock symbol.
Exercise of the redeemable warrants
The redeemable warrants cannot be exercised until the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and 12 months from the closing of this offering. The redeemable warrants could be exercised prior to the completion of a business combination, but securities received and cash paid in connection with the exercise would be deposited in the escrow or trust account.
 
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Terms of Our Offering
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
Election to remain an investor
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest, net of permitted withdrawals, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein. We may not be required by applicable law or stock exchange rules to hold a stockholder vote. If we are not required by applicable law or stock exchange rules and do not otherwise decide to hold a stockholder vote, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, we hold a stockholder vote, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. Pursuant to the tender offer rules, the tender offer period will be not less than 20 business days and, in the case of a stockholder vote, a final proxy statement would be mailed to public stockholders at least 10 days prior to the stockholder vote. However, we expect that a draft proxy statement A prospectus containing information pertaining to the business combination required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of a post-effective amendment to the company’s registration statement, to decide if he, she or it elects to remain a stockholder of the company or require the return of his, her or its investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account are automatically returned to the stockholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all funds on deposit in the escrow account must be returned to all of the investors and none of the securities are issued.
 
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Terms of Our Offering
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
would be made available to such stockholders well in advance of such time, providing additional notice of redemption if we conduct redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting and, if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
Business combination deadline
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will: (1) cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. If an acquisition has not been completed within 18 months after the effective date of the company’s registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors.
 
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Terms of Our Offering
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
Release of funds
Except with respect to permitted withdrawals, the funds held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination; (2) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (3) the redemption of all of our public shares if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, subject to applicable law. The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time.
Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a stockholder vote
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect Excess Shares (more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering). Our public stockholders’ inability to redeem Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and they could suffer a material loss on their investment in us if they sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Most blank check companies provide no restrictions on the ability of stockholders to redeem shares based on the number of shares held by such stockholders in connection with an initial business combination.
 
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Terms of Our Offering
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
Tendering stock certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights
We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders or up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the proposal to approve the business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements, which will include the requirement that any beneficial owner on whose behalf a redemption right is being exercised must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the business combination if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, holders could vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holders were seeking to exercise their redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such stockholders to arrange for them to deliver their certificate to verify ownership.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, public companies and operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions. Many of these entities are well-established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources than us. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.
 
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Certain Potential Conflicts of Interest
Members of our management team do not have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware unless it is offered to them solely in their capacity as a director or officer of the company and after they have satisfied their contractual and fiduciary obligations to other parties. Any knowledge or presentation of such opportunities may therefore present conflicts of interest.
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any business opportunity offered to any of our officers or directors shall be presented to us only to the extent that such business opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as our director or officer and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
In addition, none of our Industry Advisors are officers or directors of our company and therefore owe us no fiduciary duties as such. While we expect that they will assist us in identifying business combination targets, they have no obligation to do so and may devote a substantial portion of their business time to activities unrelated to us. Our Industry Advisors may have fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to other organizations to present business combination opportunities to such other organizations rather than to us. Accordingly, if any Industry Advisor becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he will honor those obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he determines to present the opportunity to us. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.
The potential conflicts described above may limit our ability to enter into a business combination or other transactions. These circumstances could give rise to numerous situations where interests may conflict.
There can be no assurance that these or other conflicts of interest with the potential for adverse effects on the Company and investors will not arise.
Limitations on our access to investment opportunities sourced by Starboard
Starboard’s clients may compete with us for acquisition opportunities that we may target for our initial business combination. If Starboard, on behalf of one or more of its clients, decides to pursue any such opportunity or determines in its sole discretion not to offer such opportunity to us, we may be precluded from procuring such opportunities. In addition, investment ideas generated within Starboard or by persons who may make decisions for us may be suitable for both us and for one or more of Starboard’s clients may be directed to such clients of Starboard or other third parties rather than to us. Starboard does not have any fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to our company, including, without limitation, to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware.
Our management team and our Industry Advisors, in their other endeavors (including, with respect to our management, any affiliation they may have with Starboard), may choose or be required to present potential business combinations or other transactions to other persons (including to Starboard’s clients), before they present such opportunities to us. Please see “Risk Factors—Certain of our officers, directors and Industry Advisors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity or other transaction should be presented.”
 
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Not all members of our management team are independent of Starboard
Certain members of our management team are employed by Starboard. Members of our management team who are also employed by Starboard do not have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware unless it is offered to them solely in their capacity as an officer or director of the company and after they have satisfied their contractual and fiduciary obligations to other parties. Starboard manages a number of client entities and portfolios. Members of our management team who are employed by Starboard may have a duty to present certain Starboard clients with investment opportunities that may also be suitable for us. As a result, one or more of Starboard’s clients may compete with us for acquisition opportunities in the same industries and sectors as we may target for our initial business combination. If any of them decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from procuring such opportunities. In addition, investment ideas generated within Starboard, including by Mr. Smith and other persons who may make decisions for the company, may be suitable both for us and for Starboard or any of its clients, and will be directed initially to such persons rather than to us. Please see “Management—Conflicts of Interest” for additional information regarding conflicts of interest relating to our management team.
Sponsor indemnity
Our sponsor, has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than our independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below: (1) $10.00 per public share; or (2) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case, net of permitted withdrawals, except as to any claims by a third party that executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether any such waiver is enforceable) and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company and, therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such obligations. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. We believe the likelihood of our sponsor having to indemnify the trust account is limited because we will endeavor to have all vendors and prospective target businesses as well as other entities execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account.
Facilities
We currently maintain our executive offices at 777 Third Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10017. The cost for this space is included in the $10,000 per month fee that we will pay our sponsor for office space, administrative and support services. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We currently have two officers and do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Members of our management team are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time that any such person will devote in any time period to our company will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the current stage of the business combination process. Our Industry Advisors are not officers or directors of the company, and are not obligated to devote any time to our business and affairs.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We will register our units, Class A common stock and redeemable warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports
 
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with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accounting firm.
We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, GAAP or IFRS, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential business combination candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
We will be required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer and no longer an emerging growth company will we be required to have our internal control procedures audited. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
Prior to the date of this prospectus, we will file a Registration Statement on Form 8-A with the SEC to voluntarily register our securities under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. As a result, we will be subject to the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act. We have no current intention of filing a Form 15 to suspend our reporting or other obligations under the Exchange Act prior or subsequent to the consummation of our initial business combination.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to 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 our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of the prior fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter; and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller
 
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reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
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, and we and the members of our management team have not been subject to any such proceeding in the 12 months preceding the date of this prospectus.
 
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Management
Directors and Executive Officers
Our directors and officers are as follows as of September 1, 2020:
Name
Age
Title
Jeffrey C. Smith
48 Chair of the Board
Martin D. McNulty, Jr.
42 Chief Executive Officer and Director
Kenneth R. Marlin
55 Chief Financial Officer
Pauline J. Brown
54 Director
Michelle Felman
58 Director
Robert L. Greene
52 Director
Lowell W. Robinson
71 Director
Jeffrey C. Smith has been the Chair of our board of directors since November 2019. Mr. Smith is a Managing Member, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Starboard, which he founded in 2011 with a spin-off of the existing Value and Opportunity Fund. From January 1998 to April 2011, Mr. Smith was at Ramius LLC, a subsidiary of the Cowen Group, Inc., where he was a Partner Managing Director and the Chief Investment Officer for the funds that comprised the Value and Opportunity investment platform. Mr. Smith was also a member of Cowen’s Operating Committee and Cowen’s Investment Committee. Prior to joining Ramius in January 1998, he served as Vice President of Strategic Development and a member of the board of directors of The Fresh Juice Company, Inc. Mr. Smith began his career in the Mergers and Acquisitions department at Société Générale. Mr. Smith has served as the chair of the board of Papa John’s International, Inc. since February 2019 and was formerly chair of the board of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. from May 2016 to May 2020. Additionally, Mr. Smith was formerly chair of the board of Darden Restaurants, Inc. from October 2014 to April 2016, and formerly on the boards of Perrigo Company plc from February 2017 to August 2019, Yahoo! Inc., from April 2016 to June 2017, Quantum Corporation from May 2013 to May 2015, Office Depot, Inc. from August 2013 to September 2014, Regis Corporation from October 2011 until October 2013 and Surmodics, Inc. from January 2011 to August 2012. Mr. Smith also previously served as chair of the board of directors of Phoenix Technologies Ltd and as a director of Zoran Corporation, Actel Corporation, Kensey Nash Corp., S1 Corp and the Fresh Juice Company. Mr. Smith graduated from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania, where he received a B.S. in Economics. Mr. Smith’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include his broad experience investing in public companies to improve value and his ability to provide our board of directors with insights into governance, oversight, accountability, management discipline, capitalization strategies and capital market mechanics.
Martin D. McNulty, Jr. has been our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors since June 2020. Since June 2020, Mr. McNulty has served as a Managing Director of Starboard. From September 2013 to May 2020, Mr. McNulty was a Managing Director and member of the investment committee of Starr Investment Holdings, LLC, the direct private equity investment arm for C.V. Starr and Co., responsible for sourcing, execution and portfolio management of investment opportunities in the business services and healthcare sectors with a focus on supporting market leading companies with superb leadership teams grow their businesses. From June 2008 to August 2013, Mr. McNulty was a Vice President at Metalmark Capital, a value-oriented middle market private equity fund focused on making investments in the healthcare, industrial and energy sectors. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. McNulty was a Senior Associate at Sun Capital Partners, a value-oriented middle market private equity fund focused on making investments in businesses where its operational expertise could drive meaningful value in underperforming and turnaround situations. Mr. McNulty began his career in 2000 in the Deals practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Throughout his career, Mr. McNulty has served as a director or board observer of several private companies. Mr. McNulty received a BBA in Business Administration from the University of Iowa. Mr. McNulty’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include his significant investment experience and his experience as a board member of other companies.
Kenneth R. Marlin has been our Chief Financial Officer since November 2019. Mr. Marlin is a Partner and has been the Chief Financial Officer of Starboard since 2011. Prior to joining Starboard, Mr. Marlin
 
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Management
was a Managing Director and the Chief Compliance Officer of Ivy Asset Management LLC. Previously, Mr. Marlin served in various accounting and auditing roles with Lehman Brothers Inc., Manufacturers Hanover Trust and Arthur Andersen & Co. He received a B.S. in Accounting from the State University of New York at Albany, and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York.
Pauline J. Brown has been a member of our board of directors since August 2020. Ms. Brown is the author of a new business book, entitled “Aesthetic Intelligence,” which was published by Harper Collins in November 2019. She also hosts a weekly talk show on SiriusXM, called “Tastemakers” and serves as an Executive-in-residence at the Columbia Business School. From January 2016 through June 2017, Ms. Brown was a Professor at Harvard Business School. Prior to Harvard, she served as the Chair of North America for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, a European multinational luxury goods conglomerate, where she worked from January 2013 through December 2015. Ms. Brown has also served as an independent advisor to founders of and investors in early-stage consumer ventures from 2010 to 2013 as well as from 2018 to the present. Ms. Brown also formerly served as a Managing Director at The Carlyle Group, where she focused on buyouts in the consumer and retail sectors. Earlier in her career, she held senior executive roles in the global beauty industry, including Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Global Business Development at Avon Products, Inc. and Vice President, Corporate Strategy and New Business Development at Estée Lauder Companies. She began her career as a Management Consultant at Bain & Company. In addition, from April 2017 to September 2019, Ms. Brown served on the board of directors of the publicly traded steakhouse chain Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group and was a member of Del Frisco’s audit and compensation committees. Ms. Brown earned an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Dartmouth College. Ms. Brown’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include her extensive experience in brand building, retail management and portfolio investing.
Michelle Felman has been a member of our board of directors since August 2020. Ms. Felman has been an adjunct professor at Columbia University since 2017. Ms. Felman founded JAM Holdings, an investment and advisory firm, in 2016. Prior to founding JAM Holdings, Ms. Felman served as an executive vice president—Co-Head of Acquisitions and Capital Markets at Vornado Realty Trust, a publicly traded REIT (“VNO”), from 1997 to 2010, and remained a consultant for VNO through December 2012. In addition, she served as a Managing Director of Business Development at GE Capital from 1991 to 1997. Ms. Felman began her career at Morgan Stanley in the Investment Banking Division in July 1988, where she worked until January 1991. Ms. Felman has also served on the board of Reonomy, a private real estate technology company, since 2018. Ms. Felman served as a board member of Partners Group Holdings AG, a registered, global private equity firm, from 2016 to May 2020, and served as the chair of the investment oversight committee and on the compensation, risk and audit committees. She served as a director of Forest City Realty Trust, Inc. from April 2018 to December 2018 and was a member of the governance and compensation committees. She also served as a trustee of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, a publicly traded retail REIT in Canada, from 2013 to 2018, and was a member of the governance and compensation committees. Ms. Felman has served on the board of Cumming Corp, a global project management and cost consulting company since 2017, and has served on the advisory board at Turner Impact Capital, a social impact platform that focuses on healthcare, charter schools and workforce housing since 2016. Until 2017, Ms. Felman was a member of the Executive Committee of the Zell Lurie Center at Wharton Business School, where she also served as a visiting professor from 2011 to 2015. Ms. Felman has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California and an MBA from Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Felman’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include her background in investment banking and as the Chair of the investment oversight committee at a global private equity firm, providing tremendous experience with strategy and risk management, and a track record of creating value for stockholders.
Robert L. Greene has been a member of our board of directors since August 2020. Mr. Greene has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Investment Companies, the largest network of diverse-owned private equity firms and hedge funds, since February 2013. He was the Head of Investor Relations of Syncom Venture Partners, a venture capital firm, from June 2007 to December 2013. Mr. Greene currently serves on the board of directors of Transworld Systems Inc., a privately held, private equity-backed company that provides debt collection services for Fortune 500 companies on a global basis, which he joined in May 2018. He also currently serves on the board of directors and audit
 
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committee of Travelport, a UK-based travel technology company, which he joined in July 2019. From May 2008 to May 2017, Mr. Greene served as the chair of the board of trustees of the Virginia Retirement System, one of the largest public pension plans in the U.S., where he also served as chair of the audit committee, administration and personnel committee and investment policy committee and as a member and chair of the executive search committee. Mr. Greene’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include his private equity background, his expertise in developing and executing growth strategies as well as his experience as a board member of other companies.
Lowell W. Robinson has been a member of our board of directors since August 2020. Mr. Robinson is an experienced executive with over thirty years of senior global strategic, financial, M&A, operational, turnaround and governance experience. Mr. Robinson was Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of MIVA, Inc. a Nasdaq digital marketing company, serving as Chief Financial Officer from 2006 to 2009, Chief Administrative Officer from 2006 to 2007, and Chief Operating Officer from 2007 to 2009, EVP, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of HotJobs.com Ltd. from 2000 to 2002, EVP, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of PRT Group Inc., a software services technology company from 1997 to 1999, and EVP, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Valassis/Advo Inc., a NYSE direct marketing company, from 1994 to 1997. In addition, Mr. Robinson held senior financial positions with Citigroup Inc. from 1986 to 1993 as Chief Financial Officer for The Travelers Life and Health Insurance businesses, Chief Financial Officer for Citigroup’s Global Insurance Division, and Controller and Chief Financial Officer for all international consumer and retail businesses, including retail banking and credit cards. Mr. Robinson is currently on the board of Medley Capital Corporation, a business development company, which he joined in April 2019, and serves on their audit committee and special committee of the board. Mr. Robinson is also currently on the board of Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., a leading solutions provider for the education industry, which he joined in July 2020, and serves on their audit committee. He recently served on the board of Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. from May 2018 to July 2019. In addition, Mr. Robinson served as a director of Evine Live Inc. (f/k/a ShopHQ), a $700 million home shopping/omnichannel company, from March 2014 to June 2018, where he was chair of the audit committee and on the finance committee. Additionally, he served as a director for SITO Mobile, Ltd. from April 2017 to June 2017 and served as a director for Higher One Holdings, Inc., a fintech education services company, from June 2014 to August 2016, where he chaired the audit committee and was on the risk management committee. He served as a director of Support.com, Inc. from March 2016 to June 2016 and served as a director of The Jones Group, Inc., from 2005 to April 2014, where he was chair of the audit committee and on the compensation committee. He also served as chair of two GE Capital companies in media, publishing and digital from 2010 to 2014. Mr. Robinson’s prior board experience also includes serving as a director of each of Independent Wireless One Corp., Edison Schools Inc. and International Wire Group, Inc. He is on the non-profit boards of the New York Academy of Sciences and the Harvard Business School Club of NY and previously served on the non-profit boards of The Council for Economic Education, The Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Smithsonian Libraries and the University of Wisconsin School of Business, where he ran their director’s summit and is currently on the advisory board for their Department of Economics. Mr. Robinson earned an MBA in finance from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from The University of Wisconsin. Mr. Robinson’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include his broad diversified expertise in various industries, as well as his experience serving as a director of numerous public companies.
Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we expect that our board of directors will consist of six members. Holders of our founder shares will have the right to elect all of our directors prior to consummation of our initial business combination and holders of our public shares will not have the right to vote on the election of directors during such time. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our founder shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by the holders of at least 90% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. Approval of our initial business combination will require the affirmative vote of a majority of our board directors. The term of office of our initial directors will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until
 
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after we consummate our initial business combination. Any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled by vote of a majority of our directors then in office.
Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our officers may consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, a Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Director Independence
Nasdaq rules require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board has determined that each of Pauline J. Brown, Michelle Felman, Robert L. Greene and Lowell W. Robinson is an independent director under applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Executive Officer and Director Compensation
None of our officers or directors have received any compensation for services rendered to us. Our sponsor, officers, directors and their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or any of their respective affiliates.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other compensation from the combined company. All compensation will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed business combination. It is unlikely that the amount of such compensation will be known at the time, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining executive officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers after the completion of our initial business combination will be determined by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors.
We are not party to any agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business, and we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination should be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Upon the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our board of directors will have two standing committees: an audit committee and a compensation committee. Both our audit committee and our compensation committee will be composed solely of independent directors. Subject to phase-in rules, the rules of Nasdaq and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and the rules of Nasdaq require that the compensation committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Each committee will operate under a charter that will be approved by our board and will have the composition and responsibilities described below.
 
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Audit committee
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish an audit committee of the board of directors. The members of our audit committee will be Pauline J. Brown, Michelle Felman, Robert L. Greene and Lowell W. Robinson with Lowell W. Robinson serving as chair of the audit committee.
Each member of the audit committee is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company’s balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. In addition, our board of directors has determined that Lowell W. Robinson qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules and has accounting or related financial management expertise.
We will adopt an audit committee charter, which will detail the purpose and principal functions of the audit committee, including:

assisting board oversight of  (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) our independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, and (4) the performance of our internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm;

the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us;

pre-approving all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures;

reviewing and discussing with the independent registered public accounting firm all relationships the independent registered public accounting firm has with us in order to evaluate their continued independence;

obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent registered public accounting firm describing (1) the independent registered public accounting firm’s internal quality-control procedures and (2) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues;

meeting to review and discuss our annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent auditor, including reviewing our specific disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”;

reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction; and

reviewing with management, the independent registered public accounting firm, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
Compensation committee
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors. The members of our Compensation Committee will be Pauline J. Brown, Michelle Felman, Robert L. Greene and Lowell W. Robinson with Michelle Felman serving as chair of the compensation committee.
We will adopt a compensation committee charter, which will detail the purpose and responsibility of the compensation committee, including:
 
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reviewing and approving the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;

reviewing and making recommendations to our board of directors with respect to (or approving, if such authority is so delegated by our board of directors) the compensation, and any incentive-compensation and equity-based plans that are subject to board approval of all of our other officers;

reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;

implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;

assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;

approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees;

producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and

reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.
The charter will also provide that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser.
However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by Nasdaq and the SEC.
Director nominations
We do not have a standing nominating committee though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee as and when required to do so by law or Nasdaq rules. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(2) of the Nasdaq rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by our board of directors. Our board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.
The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our stockholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of stockholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of stockholders). Our stockholders that wish to nominate a director for election to our board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws.
We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, our board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our officers currently serves, and in the past year has not served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more officers serving on our board of directors.
Code of Ethics
Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we will have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. We have filed a copy of our
 
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form of Code of Ethics and our audit committee and compensation committee charters as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
You will be able to review these documents by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K. Please see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Conflicts of Interest
Our management team is responsible for the management of our affairs. As described above and below, each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us (including as described in “Proposed Business—Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets”). These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.
We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors, or policies applicable to our officers or directors, will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
Potential investors should be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest:

None of our officers or directors is required to commit his or her full time to our affairs and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating his or her time among various business activities (including the activities of Starboard).

In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our management may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. Please see “—Directors and Executive Officers” for a description of our management’s other affiliations.

Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Additionally, our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our initial stockholders or any of our officers, directors or affiliates acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to consummate our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such applicable time period, the proceeds of the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, and the private placement warrants will expire worthless. With certain limited exceptions, the founder shares will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our initial stockholders until the earlier of: (1) one year after the completion of our initial business combination; and (2) the date on which we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities
 
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or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the closing price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, the founder shares will be released from the lock-up. With certain limited exceptions, the private placement warrants and the shares of common stock underlying such warrants, will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Since our sponsor, officers and directors may directly or indirectly own common stock and warrants following this offering, our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination.

Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether to proceed with a particular business combination.

Our key personnel may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such key personnel was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
The conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:

the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;

the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and

it would not be fair to the corporation and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation.
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors have similar legal obligations and duties relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Furthermore, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the doctrine of corporate opportunity will not apply with respect to any of our officers or directors in circumstances where the application of the doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have, and there will not be any expectancy that any of our directors or officers will offer any such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to us. Each of our directors, officers and Industry Advisors has agreed not to become a director or officer (and, in the case of the Industry Advisors, an industry or operating advisor) of any other special purpose acquisition company with a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act, until we have entered into a definitive agreement regarding our initial business combination or we have failed to complete our initial business combination
 
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within 24 months. Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may present a conflict of interest:
Name of individual
Entity name
Entity’s business
Affiliation
Jeffrey C. Smith
Starboard Value LP
Investment
Managing Member, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
Papa John’s International Inc.
Restaurant industry
Chair
Martin D. McNulty, Jr.
Starboard Value LP
Investment
Managing Director
Kenneth R. Marlin
Starboard Value LP
Investment
Partner and Chief Financial Officer
Pauline J. Brown
Aesthetic Intelligence LLC
Advisory Services
Sole proprietor
Michelle Felman
JAM Holdings
Advisory Services
Founder
Reonomy
Cumming Corp.
Real estate technology
Project management and cost consulting
Director
Director
Turner Impact Capital
Investment
Member of the advisory board
Robert L. Greene
National Association of Investment Companies
Network
President and Chief Executive Officer
Transworld Systems Inc.
Debt collection
Director
Travelport
Travel technology
Director
Lowell W. Robinson
Medley Capital Corporation
Investment
Director
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.
Education
Director
Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us (including as described in “Proposed Business—Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets”). These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.
We are not prohibited from pursuing our initial business combination with a business combination target that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or our officers or from making the acquisition through a joint venture or other form of shared ownership with our sponsor, our directors, officers or their affiliates. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a business that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm, that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
In addition, our sponsor, directors, officers, Industry Advisors, or any of their respective affiliates may invest in us after the date of this offering, although they have no obligation or current intention to do so. If any such person elects to invest in us, such proposed investments could influence their motivations to complete an initial business combination.
In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to vote any founder shares and any public shares
 
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held by them in favor of our initial business combination, and our officers and directors have also agreed to vote public shares purchased by them (if any) during or after this offering in favor of our initial business combination.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted by the DGCL.
We will enter into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our bylaws also permit us to maintain insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We will obtain 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 provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against 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.
In connection with this registration statement, we have undertaken that insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to 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.
 
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Principal stockholders
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our common stock included in the units offered by this prospectus, and assuming no purchase of units in this offering, by:

each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;

each of our executive officers and directors; and

all our executive officers and directors as a group.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the private placement warrants as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.
The post-offering ownership percentage column below assumes that the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, that our sponsor and Chief Executive Officer forfeits an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares and that there are 37,500,000 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding after this offering.
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)
Approximate Percentage of
Outstanding Common Stock
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
Before
offering
After
offering(2)
SVAC Sponsor LLC(2)
8,093,750 93.8% 18.7%
Jeffrey C. Smith
Martin D. McNulty, Jr
431,250 5.0% 1.0%
Kenneth R. Marlin
Pauline J. Brown
25,000 * *
Michelle Felman
25,000 * *
Robert L. Greene
25,000 * *
Lowell W. Robinson
25,000 * *
All directors and executive officers as a group
(seven individuals)
531,250 6.2% 1.3%
(1)
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Starboard Value Acquisition Corp., 777 Third Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10017.
(2)
Interests shown consist solely of shares of Class B common stock, which are referred to herein as founder shares. Such shares will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment, as described in the section entitled “Description of Securities.” Excludes forward purchase shares that will only be issued, if at all, at the time of our initial business combination. SVAC Manager LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is the manager of our sponsor.
Upon the completion of this offering, our initial stockholders will beneficially own 20.0% of the then issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. Our initial stockholders will have the right to elect all of our directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination as a result of holding all of the founder shares. In addition, because of this ownership block, our initial stockholders may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions.
Our sponsor has subscribed to purchase an aggregate of 5,333,333 (or 5,933,333 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement warrants at a price of  $1.50 per warrant ($8,000,000 in the aggregate or $8,900,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the Private Placement. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided
 
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herein. Proceeds from the private placement warrants will be added to the proceeds from this offering to be held in the trust account. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds of the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, and the private placement warrants will expire worthless. The private placement warrants are subject to the transfer restrictions described below. The private placement warrants will not be redeemable by us so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees. If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than our sponsor or its permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us in all redemption scenarios and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in this offering. Otherwise, the private placement warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering.
On August 17, 2020, we entered into a forward purchase agreement pursuant to which the forward purchasers will purchase forward purchase shares at a price equal to $9.50 per share, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. At the closing, the forward purchasers will purchase the number of forward purchase shares from us that would result in net proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary to satisfy the Redemption Obligation, subject to the Maximum Backstop Commitment.
The forward purchasers have the right to transfer a portion of their obligation to purchase the forward purchase shares to forward transferees, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws. The forward purchase agreement also provides that the forward purchase investors are entitled to registration rights with respect to the forward purchase shares. Please see “Description of Securities—Registration Rights” for additional information.
Prior to the closing of this offering, the forward purchasers will enter into an agreement with us pursuant to which the forward purchasers may, at their option, anytime or from time to time during the 6-month period following the closing of our initial business combination, purchase additional common equity of the surviving entity in our initial business combination. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Our sponsor is deemed to be our “promoter” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws. Please see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” for additional information regarding our relationships with our promoters.
Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants
The founder shares, private placement warrants and any shares of Class A common stock issued upon conversion or exercise thereof are each subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions in the letter agreement with us to be entered into by our initial stockholders. Those lock-up provisions provide that such securities are not transferable or salable (1) in the case of the founder shares, until the earlier of  (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination and (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the closing price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date following the completion of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property, and (2) in the case of the private placement warrants and the respective Class A common stock underlying such warrants, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, except in each case (a) to our officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of our officers or directors, any members of our sponsor, or any affiliates of our sponsor, including to funds affiliated with Starboard, and to limited partners of funds affiliated with Starboard, provided that any such transfers to limited partners are made on a pro rata basis pursuant to the organizational documents of such funds and internal allocation policy; (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of the individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of the individual’s immediate family or an affiliate of such person, or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (d) in the
 
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case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) transfers by private sales or transfers made in connection with consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally purchased; (f) in the event of our liquidation prior to our completion of our initial business combination; (g) by virtue of the laws of Delaware or our sponsor’s limited liability company agreement, as amended, upon dissolution of our sponsor; or (h) in the event of our completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination; (i) to any “transferee” as defined in the forward purchase agreement and the optional share purchase agreement; or (j) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissable under clauses (a) through (i) above, provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (e) and (i) and (j) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreement.
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, private placement warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the working capital loans and upon conversion of the founder shares) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering requiring us to register such securities for resale (in the case of the founder shares, only after conversion to shares of Class A common stock). The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Pursuant to the forward purchase agreement, we have agreed that we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to (i) within 30 days after the closing of the initial business combination, file a registration statement with the SEC for a secondary offering of the forward purchase shares and the private placement warrants issued pursuant to the forward purchase agreement, if any (including any shares of Class A common stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of such warrants), (ii) cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter, but in no event later than 60 days after such closing and (iii) maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, until the earlier of  (A) the date on which the forward purchasers cease to hold the securities covered thereby and (B) the date all of the securities covered thereby can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act, subject to certain conditions and limitations set forth in the forward purchase agreement. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
 
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In November 2019, our sponsor purchased an aggregate of 8,625,000 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of  $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock upon completion of this offering. In June 2020, our sponsor transferred (i) 431,250 founder shares to Martin D. McNulty, Jr., our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors and (ii) 25,000 founder shares to each of Pauline J. Brown, Michelle Felman and Lowell Robinson. In July 2020, our sponsor transferred 25,000 founder shares to Robert L. Greene. An aggregate of up to 1,125,000 of such founder shares held by our sponsor and our Chief Executive Officer are subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full, as further described herein. If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of founder shares by our initial stockholders prior to this offering at 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering.
Our sponsor has subscribed to purchase an aggregate of 5,333,333 (or 5,933,333 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement warrants for a purchase price of  $1.50 per warrant in the Private Placement. As such, our sponsor’s interest in this transaction is valued at between $8,000,000 and $8,900,000, depending on the number of private placement warrants purchased. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of  $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as provided herein. The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
We have entered into a forward purchase agreement with the forward purchasers pursuant to which the forward purchasers will purchase forward purchase shares at a price equal to $9.50 per share, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. At the closing, the forward purchasers will purchase the number of forward purchase shares from us that would result in net proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary to satisfy the Redemption Obligation, subject to the Maximum Backstop Commitment. In addition, in connection with their purchase of any forward purchase shares, the forward purchasers will acquire private placement warrants at the distribution time as further described in this prospectus. The forward purchasers have agreed that they will not redeem any Class A common stock held by them in connection with the initial business combination. The forward purchase shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that the forward purchase shares are subject to transfer restrictions and certain registration rights, as described herein, and there is no contingent right to receive distributable redeemable warrants attached to the forward purchase shares. Rather, in connection with their purchase of any forward purchase shares, the forward purchasers will acquire private placement warrants as further described herein. The private placement warrants to be issued pursuant to the forward purchase agreement are identical to the private placement warrants being issued to the sponsor at the closing of this offering, and as a result, are identical to the redeemable warrants, except that, so long as they are held by the forward purchasers or their permitted transferees: (1) they will not be redeemable by us, except as otherwise set forth herein; (2) they (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the forward purchasers until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; (3) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (4) the holders thereof  (including with respect to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) are entitled to registration rights.
The forward purchasers have the right to transfer a portion of their obligation to purchase the forward purchase shares to forward transferees, and our sponsor may, in its discretion, transfer, directly or indirectly, certain of its founder shares and private placement warrants to any such forward transferees, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws. Any forward transferees will also forfeit a pro rata portion of any founder shares held by them in the event the over-allotment option is not exercised in full.
 
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The forward purchase agreement also provides that forward purchasers and any forward transferees are entitled to certain registration rights with respect to their forward purchase shares. Please see “Description of Securities—Registration Rights” for additional information.
In addition, we will enter into an agreement with the forward purchasers, pursuant to which the forward purchasers may, at their option in whole or in part, anytime or from time to time during the 6-month period following the closing of our initial business combination, purchase additional common equity of the surviving entity in our initial business combination at a price of  $10.00 per share (or other relevant equity interest) (the “optional shares”) for aggregate consideration not to exceed the difference between (i) $150,000,000 and (ii) the lesser of  (a) the Redemption Obligation or (b) $100,000,000 (the “optional share purchase agreement”). The optional share purchase agreement will provide that the forward purchasers are entitled to certain registration rights with respect to their optional shares.
As described in “Proposed Business—Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets” and “Management—Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us. Our officers and directors currently have other relevant fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties that may take priority over their duties to us.
At the close of this offering, we will enter into an Administrative Services Agreement pursuant to which we will also pay our sponsor a total of  $10,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. Accordingly, in the event the consummation of our initial business combination takes the maximum 24 months, our sponsor will be paid a total of  $240,000 ($10,000 per month) for office space, administrative and support services and will be entitled to be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses.
Our sponsor, officers and directors or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or any of their respective affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 under an unsecured promissory note to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of June 30, 2020, we have borrowed $107,062 under such promissory note. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of October 31, 2020 and the closing of this offering. These loans will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the $3,500,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) and amounts not to be held in the trust account. The value of our sponsor’s interest in this loan transaction corresponds to the principal amount outstanding under any such loan.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor, Starboard, or our officers and directors may, but none of them is obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of  $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor. The terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, Starboard or our officers and directors, if any, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us, if any, may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts
 
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being fully disclosed to our stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive officer and director compensation.
We have entered into a registration rights agreement with respect to the founder shares, private placement warrants and warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans (if any), which is described under the heading “Principal Stockholders—Registration Rights.”
Related Party Policy
We have not yet adopted a formal policy for the review, approval or ratification of related party transactions. Accordingly, the transactions discussed above were not reviewed, approved or ratified in accordance with any such policy.
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt a Code of Ethics requiring us to avoid, wherever possible, all conflicts of interests, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by our board of directors (or the appropriate committee of our board) or as disclosed in our public filings with the SEC. Under our Code of Ethics, conflict of interest situations will include any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the company.
In addition, our audit committee, pursuant to a written charter that we will adopt prior to the consummation of this offering, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related party transactions to the extent that we enter into such transactions. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the audit committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be required in order to approve a related party transaction. A majority of the members of the entire audit committee will constitute a quorum. Without a meeting, the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the audit committee will be required to approve a related party transaction. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or any of their affiliates.
These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with our sponsor, directors or officers unless we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. There will be no finder’s fees, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation paid by us to our sponsor, officers or directors or our or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, the following payments may be made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, and, if made prior to our initial business combination will be made from (i) funds held outside the trust account or (ii) permitted withdrawals:

repayment of an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;

payment to our sponsor of a total of  $10,000 per month, for up to 24 months, for office space, administrative and support services;

reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination; and

repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor, Starboard or our officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants of the post-business combination entity at a price of  $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender.
 
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These payments may be funded using the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not held in the trust account or, upon completion of the initial business combination, from any amounts remaining from the proceeds of the trust account released to us in connection therewith.
 
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Description of securities
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our authorized capital stock will consist of 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, and 1,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value. The following description summarizes the material terms of our capital stock. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you.
Units
Each unit has an offering price of  $10.00 and consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-sixth of one redeemable warrant, which we refer to as the “detachable redeemable warrant,” and the contingent right to receive at least one-sixth of one redeemable warrant following the initial business combination redemption time under certain circumstances and subject to adjustment as further described in this prospectus (the “distributable redeemable warrant and, together with the “detachable redeemable warrant, a “redeemable warrant”). Each whole redeemable warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of  $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of the company’s Class A common stock. This means only a whole redeemable warrant may be exercised at any given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade.
The common stock and detachable redeemable warrants constituting the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless UBS Securities LLC informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least six units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole detachable redeemable warrant.
The contingent right to receive distributable redeemable warrants will remain attached to the shares of Class A common stock sold in this offering, will not be separately transferrable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any form of certificate or instrument. Once our distributable redeemable warrants are issued, such warrants will be fungible with our detachable redeemable warrants. The distributable redeemable warrants are expected to be eligible for trading on the day that they are distributed, and will be fully fungible with and trade under the same stock symbol as our detachable redeemable warrants.
In no event will the Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet of our company reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K which will include this audited balance sheet, promptly after the closing of this offering. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
Common Stock
Upon the closing of this offering, 37,500,000 shares of our common stock will be outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of an aggregate of 1,125,000 founder shares by our sponsor and Chief Executive Officer), including:

30,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock underlying the units being offered in this offering; and

7,500,000 shares of Class B common stock held by our initial stockholders.
 
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If we increase or decrease the size of this offering, we will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of founder shares by our initial stockholders prior to this offering at 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering.
Common stockholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. Holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to elect all of our directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of our Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended if approved by the holders of at least 90% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. On any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, holders of our Class B common stock and holders of our Class A common stock will vote together as a single class, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rule. Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our shares of common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders (other than the election of directors). There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors. Our stockholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.
Because our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize the issuance of up to 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, if we were to enter into a business combination, we may (depending on the terms of such a business combination) be required to increase the number of shares of common stock which we are authorized to issue at the same time as our stockholders vote on the business combination to the extent we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination.
In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on Nasdaq. Under Section 211(b) of the DGCL, we are, however, required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with our bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, and thus we may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share. The per share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. The redemption right will include the requirement that any beneficial owner on whose behalf a redemption right is being exercised must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. Permitted transferees of our sponsor, officers or directors will be subject to the same obligations. Unlike many blank check companies that hold stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and provide for related redemptions of public shares for cash upon completion of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements, if a stockholder vote is not required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to
 
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the tender offer rules of the SEC, and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, a stockholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If we seek stockholder approval, unless a different vote is required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, a quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. However, the participation of our sponsor, officers, directors, advisors or any of their respective affiliates in privately-negotiated transactions (as described in this prospectus), if any, could result in the approval of our initial business combination even if a majority of our public stockholders vote, or indicate their intention to vote, against such business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds and agreements may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, without our prior consent, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Our stockholders’ inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination, and such stockholders could suffer a material loss in their investment if they sell such Excess Shares on the open market. Additionally, such stockholders will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete the business combination. And, as a result, such stockholders will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose such shares would be required to sell their stock in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
If we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, our initial stockholders, officers and directors have (and their permitted transferees, as applicable, will agree) agreed to vote any founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, we would need only 11,250,001, or 37.5% (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,875,001, or 6.25% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), in order to have our initial business combination approved. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares without voting, and if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will: (1) cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem the public shares, at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions,
 
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Description of securities
if any), subject to applicable law; and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. However, if our sponsor or any of our officers or directors acquires public shares after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering.
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after a business combination, our stockholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of stock, if any, having preference over the common stock. Our stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock, except that we will provide our stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals), upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein.
Founder Shares
The founder shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that: (1) only holders of the founder shares have the right to vote on the election of directors prior to our initial business combination; (2) the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below; (3) our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to: (a) waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (b) waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (A) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we have not consummated our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or with (B) respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity; and (c) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering); (4) the founder shares are automatically convertible into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, as described herein; and (5) the holders of founder shares are entitled to registration rights. If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed (and their permitted transferees, as applicable, will agree) to vote any founder shares and any public shares held by them in favor of our initial business combination.
The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in this offering and related to the closing of our initial business combination (other than the forward purchase shares or private placement warrants delivered pursuant to the forward purchase agreement), the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable
 
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upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon completion of this offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination (net of the number of shares of Class A common stock redeemed in connection with our initial business combination), excluding the forward purchase shares and private placement warrants delivered pursuant to the forward purchase agreement, any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in our initial business combination and any private placement warrants issued upon the conversion of working capital loans made to us. We cannot determine at this time whether a majority of the holders of our Class B common stock at the time of any future issuance would agree to waive such adjustment to the conversion ratio. They may waive such adjustment due to (but not limited to) the following: (i) closing conditions which are part of the agreement for our initial business combination; (ii) negotiation with Class A stockholders on structuring our initial business combination; or (iii) negotiation with parties providing financing which would trigger the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B common stock. If such adjustment is not waived, the future issuance would not reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class B common stock but would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class A common stock. If such adjustment is waived, the future issuance would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of both classes of our common stock. The issuance of the forward purchase shares and private placement warrants delivered pursuant to the forward purchase agreement will not result in such an adjustment to the conversion ratio of our Class B common stock. Holders of founder shares may also elect to convert their shares of Class B common stock into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock, subject to adjustment as provided above, at any time. The term “equity-linked securities” refers to any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock issued in a financing transaction in connection with our initial business combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt. Securities could be “deemed issued” for purposes of the conversion rate adjustment if such shares are issuable upon the conversion or exercise of convertible securities, warrants or similar securities.
With certain limited exceptions, the founder shares are not transferable, assignable or salable (except to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor and other permitted transferees, each of whom will be subject to the same transfer restrictions) until the earlier of  (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination, (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, if the closing price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, and (C) following the completion of our initial business combination, such future date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Preferred Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock and will provide that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Our board of directors will be authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series. Our board of directors will be able to, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the common stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management. We have no preferred stock outstanding at the date hereof. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future. No shares of preferred stock are being issued or registered in this offering.
Contingent right
We refer to the right attached to each share of Class A common stock sold in this offering to receive a dividend of distributable redeemable warrants as a contingent right. Whether any distributable redeemable
 
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warrants are distributed in respect of a share of Class A common stock is contingent upon such share of Class A common stock not being redeemed in connection with our initial business combination, and the number of distributable redeemable warrants to be distributed in respect of each unredeemed share of Class A common stock upon such distribution is contingent upon the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock that are redeemed. The contingent right to receive distributable redeemable warrants will remain attached to our Class A common stock, will not be separately transferable, assignable or salable, and will not be evidenced by any form of certificate or instrument.
Redeemable warrants
Our warrants include our detachable redeemable warrants and our distributable redeemable warrants. Each unit issued in this offering will include one-sixth of one detachable redeemable warrant and the contingent right to receive at least one-sixth of one redeemable warrant following the initial business combination redemption time under certain circumstances and subject to adjustment as further described in this prospectus.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, at the distribution time, we will effect a distribution of a number of warrants equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount as follows: (i) to the extent that no public stockholders redeem their public shares in connection with the initial business combination, each public stockholder will receive one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant per public share and (ii) to the extent that any public stockholders redeem any of their public shares in connection with the initial business combination, then (A) one-sixth of one distributable redeemable warrant will be distributed per each remaining public share and (B) the warrants in an amount equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount less the number of warrants distributed pursuant to the foregoing clause (A) will be distributed on a pro rata basis to (x) the holders of the remaining public shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as distributable redeemable warrants and (y) the holders of the forward purchase shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as private placement warrants. Public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights are not entitled to receive any distribution of distributable redeemable warrants in respect of such redeemed public shares. The distribution time will be immediately after the initial business combination redemption time and immediately prior to the closing of our initial business combination.
Each whole redeemable warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of  $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing on the later of 12 months from the closing of this offering and 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its redeemable warrants only for a whole number of shares of Class A common stock. This means only a whole warrant may be exercised at a given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least six units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole detachable redeemable warrant. The number of shares of Class A common stock that a public stockholder must hold to receive a whole distributable redeemable warrant at the distribution time will depend on the number of shares of Class A common stock issued in this offering that remain outstanding after any redemptions of such shares in connection with our initial business combination. The redeemable warrants will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
We will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a redeemable warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common issuable upon exercise of the redeemable warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock is available, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration. No redeemable warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration is available. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a redeemable warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and
 
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expire worthless. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised redeemable warrants, the purchaser of a unit containing such warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the share of Class A common stock underlying such unit.
We have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our reasonable best efforts to file with the SEC, and within 60 business days following our initial business combination to have declared effective, a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the redeemable warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the redeemable warrants expire or are redeemed. Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a redeemable 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, we may, at our option, require holders of redeemable 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, but will use our reasonable best efforts to qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
Redemption of warrants for cash when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share.   Once the warrants become exercisable, we may call the redeemable warrants for redemption:

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, or the 30-day redemption period, to each warrant holder; and

if, and only if, the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) 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 warrant holders.
If and when the redeemable 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.
We have established the last of the redemption criterion discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the redeemable warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise his, her or its redeemable warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Class A common stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share.   Commencing 90 days after the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (including both redeemable warrants and private placement 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 prior to redemption and receive that number of shares of Class A common stock determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described below;

if, and only if, the last sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) on the trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrantholders;

if, and only if, the private placement warrants issued to the sponsor at the closing of this offering and the private placement warrants to be issued pursuant to the forward purchase agreement are also
 
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concurrently called for redemption at the same price (equal to a number of shares of Class A common stock) as the outstanding redeemable warrants, as described above; and

if and only if, there is an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating thereto available throughout the 30-day period after written notice of redemption is given, or an exemption from registration is available.
The numbers in the table below represent the number of shares of Class A common stock that a warrantholder will receive upon redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, based on the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock on the corresponding redemption date (assuming holders elect to exercise their warrants and such warrants are not redeemed for $0.10 per warrant), and the number of months that the corresponding redemption date precedes the expiration date of the warrants, each as set forth in the table below.
The stock prices set forth in the column headings of the table below will be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant is adjusted as set forth in the first three paragraphs under the heading “—Anti-dilution adjustments” below. The adjusted stock prices in the column headings will equal the stock prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a warrant as so adjusted. The number of shares in the table below shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant.
Fair market value of Class A common stock
Redemption date
(period to expiration of warrants)
$ 10.00 $ 11.00 $ 12.00 $ 13.00 $ 14.00 $ 15.00 $ 16.00 $ 17.00 $ 18.00
57 months 0.257 0.277 0.294 0.310 0.324 0.337 0.348 0.358 0.365
54 months 0.252 0.272 0.291 0.307 0.322 0.335 0.347 0.357 0.365
51 months 0.246 0.268 0.287 0.304 0.320 0.333 0.346 0.357 0.365
48 months 0.241 0.263 0.283 0.301 0.317 0.332 0.344 0.356 0.365
45 months 0.235 0.258 0.279 0.298 0.315 0.330 0.343 0.356 0.365
42 months 0.228 0.252 0.274 0.294 0.312 0.328 0.342 0.355 0.364
39 months 0.221 0.246 0.269 0.290 0.309 0.325 0.340 0.354 0.364
36 months 0.213 0.239 0.263 0.285 0.305 0.323 0.339 0.353 0.364
33 months 0.205 0.232 0.257 0.280 0.301 0.320 0.337 0.352 0.364
30 months 0.196 0.224 0.250 0.274 0.297 0.316 0.335 0.351 0.364
27 months 0.185 0.214 0.242 0.268 0.291 0.313 0.332 0.350 0.364
24 months 0.173 0.204 0.233 0.260 0.285 0.308 0.329 0.348 0.364
21 months 0.161 0.193 0.223 0.252 0.279 0.304 0.326 0.347 0.364
18 months 0.146 0.179 0.211 0.242 0.271 0.298 0.322 0.345 0.363
15 months 0.130 0.164 0.197 0.230 0.262 0.291 0.317 0.342 0.363
12 months 0.111 0.146 0.181 0.216 0.250 0.282 0.312 0.339 0.363
9 months 0.090 0.125 0.162 0.199 0.237 0.272 0.305 0.336 0.362
6 months 0.065 0.099 0.137 0.178 0.219 0.259 0.296 0.331 0.362
3 months 0.034 0.065 0.104 0.150 0.197 0.243 0.286 0.326 0.361
0 months 0.042 0.115 0.179 0.233 0.281 0.323 0.361
The “fair market value” of our Class A common stock shall mean the average reported last sale price of our Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants.
 
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The exact fair market value and redemption date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the fair market value is between two values in the table or the redemption date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued for each warrant redeemed will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower fair market values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year. For example, if the average reported last sale price of our Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading date prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the warrants is $11.00 per share, and at such time there are 57 months until the expiration of the warrants, we may choose to, pursuant to this redemption feature, redeem the warrants at a “redemption price” of 0.277 shares of Class A common stock for each whole warrant. For an example where the exact fair market value and redemption date are not as set forth in the table above, if the average reported last sale price of our Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading date prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the warrants is $13.50 per share, and at such time there are 38 months until the expiration of the warrants, we may choose to, pursuant to this redemption feature, redeem the warrants at a “redemption price” of 0.298 shares of Class A common stock for each whole warrant. In no event will the warrants be exercisable in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.365 shares of Class A common stock per warrant. Finally, as reflected in the table above, we can redeem the warrants for no consideration in the event that the warrants are “out of the money” (i.e. the trading price of our Class A common stock is below the exercise price of the warrants) and about to expire.
This redemption feature differs from the typical warrant redemption features used in other blank check offerings, which typically only provide for a redemption of warrants for cash (other than the private placement warrants) when the trading price for the Class A common stock exceeds $18.00 per share for a specified period of time. This redemption feature is structured to allow for all of the outstanding warrants to be redeemed when the Class A common stock is trading at or above $10.00 per share, which may be at a time when the trading price of our Class A common stock is below the exercise price of the warrants. We have established this redemption feature to provide us with the flexibility to redeem the warrants without the warrants having to reach the $18.00 per share threshold set forth above under “—Redemption of warrants for cash when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share.” Holders choosing to exercise their warrants in connection with a redemption pursuant to this feature will, in effect, receive a number of shares representing fair value for their warrants, based on a Black-Scholes option pricing model with a fixed volatility input as of the date of this prospectus. This redemption right provides us with an additional mechanism by which to redeem all of the outstanding warrants, and therefore have certainty as to our capital structure as the warrants would no longer be outstanding and would have been exercised or redeemed and we will be required to pay the redemption price to warrantholders if we choose to exercise this redemption right and it will allow us to quickly proceed with a redemption of the warrants if we determine it is in our best interest to do so. As such, we would redeem the warrants in this manner when we believe it is in our best interest to update our capital structure to remove the warrants and pay the redemption price to the warrant holders.
As stated above, we can redeem the warrants when the Class A common stock is trading at a price starting at $10.00, which is below the exercise price of  $11.50, because it will provide certainty with respect to our capital structure and cash position while providing warrant holders with the opportunity to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis for the applicable number of shares. If we choose to redeem the warrants when the Class A common stock is trading at a price below the exercise price of the warrants, this could result in the warrant holders receiving fewer shares of Class A common stock than they would have received if they had chosen to wait to exercise their warrants for shares of Class A common stock if and when such shares of Class A common stock were trading at a price higher than the exercise price of  $11.50. No fractional shares of Class A common stock will be issued upon redemption. If, upon redemption, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued to the holder. Any redemption of the warrants for shares of Class A common stock will apply to both the redeemable warrants and the private placement warrants.
Redemption procedures and cashless exercise.   If we call the redeemable warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise redeemable
 
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warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their redeemable warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of redeemable warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of our redeemable warrants. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the redeemable warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the redeemable warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the redeemable warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of redeemable warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Class A common stock to be received upon exercise of the redeemable warrants, including the “fair market value” in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a redeemable warrant redemption. We believe this feature is an attractive option to us if we do not need the cash from the exercise of the redeemable warrants after our initial business combination. If we call our redeemable warrants for redemption and our management does not take advantage of this option, our sponsor and its permitted transferees would still be entitled to exercise their private placement warrants for cash or on a cashless basis using the same formula described above that other redeemable warrant holders would have been required to use had all redeemable warrant holders been required to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, as described in more detail below.
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 redeemable 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 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
Anti-dilution adjustments.   If the number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Class A common stock, or by a split-up of shares of Class A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Class A common stock. A rights offering (other than with respect to the right of public stockholders to acquire the distributable redeemable warrants) to holders of Class A common stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Class A common stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the product of  (1) the number of shares of Class A common stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Class A common stock) multiplied by (2) one minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A common stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (1) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A common stock, in determining the price payable for Class A common stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (2) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of Class A common stock as reported during the ten trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Class A common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to all or substantially all holders of Class A common stock on account of such shares of Class A common stock (or other shares of our capital stock into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) certain ordinary cash dividends, (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A common stock in connection with a proposed initial business combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A common stock in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the
 
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right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our Class A common stock if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity, (e) in connection with the redemption of our public shares upon our failure to complete our initial business combination or (f) the issuance and distribution of the distributable redeemable warrants and any private placement warrants to the forward purchasers, then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Class A common stock in respect of such event.
If the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Class A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Class A common stock.
Whenever the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Class A common stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In addition, if  (x) we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share, (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the Market Value is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described under “—Redemption of warrants for cash when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Class A common stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of our Class A common stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. However, if such holders were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets for which each warrant will become exercisable will be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by such holders in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and if a tender, exchange or redemption offer has been made to and accepted by such holders (other than a tender, exchange or redemption offer made by the company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders of the company as provided for in the company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as a result of the redemption of shares of Class A common stock by the company if a proposed initial business combination is presented to the stockholders of the company for approval) under circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning
 
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Description of securities
of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, the holder of a warrant will be entitled to receive the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such warrant holder had exercised the warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the Class A common stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in the warrant agreement. Additionally, if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A common stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the per share consideration minus Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the warrants pursuant to which the holders of the warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the warrants in order to determine and realize the option value component of the warrant. This formula is to compensate the warrant holder for the loss of the option value portion of the warrant due to the requirement that the warrant holder exercise the warrant within 30 days of the event. The Black-Scholes model is an accepted pricing model for estimating fair market value where no quoted market price for an instrument is available.
The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity, mistake (including to conform the warrant agreement to the description thereof herein) or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding redeemable warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of redeemable warrants. The terms of the private placement warrants may not be amended without the consent of holders of at least 50% of the private placement warrants.
The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Class A common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of Class A common stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A common stock 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 stockholders.
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 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. See “Risk Factors—Our warrant agreement will 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 our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.” This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
 
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Description of securities
Private Placement Warrants
The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except, among other limited exceptions as described under “Principal Stockholders—Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants,” to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor) and they will not be redeemable under certain redemption scenarios by us so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees or, in the case of any private placement warrants issued to the forward purchasers, held by our forward purchasers or their permitted transferees. Our sponsor, or its permitted transferees, or in the case of any private placement warrants issued to the forward purchasers, the forward purchasers or its permitted transferees, have the option to exercise the private placement warrants on a cashless basis and will be entitled to certain registration rights. Otherwise, the private placement warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering. If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than our sponsor or its permitted transferees, or, in the case of any private placement warrants issued to the forward purchasers, held by holders other than our forward purchasers or their permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable in all redemption scenarios by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in this offering.
If holders of the private placement warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock 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. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of warrant exercise is sent to the warrant agent. The reason that we have agreed that these warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by our sponsor and its permitted transferees or, in the case of any private placement warrants issued to the forward purchasers, held by holders other than our forward purchasers or their permitted transferees, is because it is not known at this time whether they will be affiliated with us following a business combination. If they remain affiliated with us, their ability to sell our securities in the open market will be significantly limited. We expect to have policies in place that prohibit insiders from selling our securities except during specific periods of time. Even during such periods of time when insiders will be permitted to sell our securities, an insider cannot trade in our securities if he or she is in possession of material non-public information. Accordingly, unlike public stockholders who could exercise their warrants and sell the shares of Class A common stock received upon such exercise freely in the open market in order to recoup the cost of such exercise, the insiders could be significantly restricted from selling such securities. As a result, we believe that allowing the holders to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis is appropriate.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor, Starboard or our officers or directors may, but none of them is obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of  $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants issued to our sponsor.
Forward Purchase Securities
We have entered into a forward purchase agreement with the forward purchasers pursuant to which the forward purchasers will purchase forward purchase shares at a price equal to $9.50 per share, in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of our initial business combination. At the closing, the forward purchasers will purchase the number of forward purchase shares from us that would result in net proceeds in an aggregate amount necessary to satisfy the Redemption Obligation, subject to the Maximum Backstop Commitment. In addition, in connection with their purchase of any forward
 
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Description of securities
purchase shares, the forward purchasers will acquire private placement warrants at the distribution time as further described in this prospectus. The forward purchasers have agreed that they will not redeem any Class A common stock held by them in connection with the initial business combination. The forward purchase shares are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that the forward purchase shares are subject to transfer restrictions and certain registration rights, as described herein, and there is no contingent right to receive distributable redeemable warrants attached to the forward purchase shares. Rather, in connection with their purchase of any forward purchase shares, the forward purchasers will acquire private placement warrants as further described herein.
The table below provides illustrative examples of the forward purchasers’ ownership of the forward purchase shares and the forward purchasers’ and the public’s ownership of the Aggregate Warrant Amount based on different redemption percentages up to the Maximum Backstop Commitment (assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option).
Percentage of
Public Shares
Redeemed
(# Public Shares
Redeemed)
Number of
Public Shares
Remaining
After
Redemption
Percentage of
Maximum
Backstop
Commitment
Used
($ of Forward
Purchase)(1)
Aggregate
Number of
Forward
Purchase
Shares to be
Acquired by
the Forward
Purchasers(2)
Total
Number of
Class A
Common Stock
Outstanding
After
Redemptions
and the Issuance
of the Forward
Purchase
Shares(3)
Aggregate
Number of
Distributable
Redeemable
Warrants
Distributed
to Public
Stockholders(4)
Aggregate
Number of
Private
Placement
Warrants
Acquired by
Forward
Purchasers
0% (0)
30,000,000
0% ($0)
0
30,000,000
5,000,000
0
10% (3,000,000)
27,000,000
30% ($30,000,000)
3,157,894
30,157,894
4,947,643
52,356
20% (6,000,000)
24,000,000
60% ($60,000,000)
6,315,789
30,315,789
4,791,666
208,333
30% (9,000,000)
21,000,000
90% ($90,000,000)
9,473,684
30,473,684
4,533,678
466,321
33.3% (10,000,000)
20,000,000
100% ($100,000,000)
10,526,315
30,526,315
4,425,287
574,712
(1)
Assumes that each redeeming public stockholder will receive $10.00 per public share redeemed.
(2)
No fractional shares of Class A common stock will be issued to the forward purchasers.
(3)
Does not include shares of Class B common stock.
(4)
Represents the maximum possible number of distributable redeemable warrants after taking into account the forfeiture of any fractional warrants to be distributed to the accounts of public stockholders.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of this offering, in which case we will effect a stock dividend with respect to our Class B common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of founder shares by our initial stockholders prior to this offering at 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering. Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for our common stock and warrant agent for our warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We have agreed to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as transfer agent and warrant agent, its agents and each of its stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the indemnified person or entity.
 
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Description of securities
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. These provisions (other than amendments relating to the appointment of directors, which require the approval of the holders of at least 90% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon) cannot be amended without the approval of the holders of at least 65% of our common stock. Our initial stockholders, who collectively will beneficially own 20% of our common stock upon the closing of this offering, may participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Prior to an initial business combination, we may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, among other things, that:

if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will: (1) cease all operations, except for the purpose of winding up; (2) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (3) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law;

prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to: (1) receive funds from the trust account; or (2) vote on any initial business combination, pre-initial business combination activity or amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation;

although we do not intend to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or our officers, we are not prohibited from doing so. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated our sponsor, our officers or our directors, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from an independent accounting firm that such a business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view;

if a stockholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by applicable law or stock exchange rules and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will offer to redeem our public shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act;

if required by applicable stock-exchange rules, our initial business combination must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account);

if our stockholders approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (A) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed or to provide for the redemption of our public shares in connection with an initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or (B) with respect to any other material provision relating to stockholder rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a
 
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Description of securities
portion of their shares of common stock upon such approval at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (net of permitted withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares; and

we will not effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that under no circumstances will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets, after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions, to be less than $5,000,001.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
We have elected to be exempt from the restrictions imposed under Section 203 of the DGCL. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain similar provisions providing that we may not engage in certain “business combinations” with any “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that such stockholder becomes an interested stockholder unless:

prior to such time, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an “interested stockholder,” the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding certain shares); or

at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.
Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with that person’s affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of our voting stock.
Under some circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who is an interested stockholder to effect various business combinations with us for a three-year period.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our sponsor and its various affiliates, successors and transferees will not be deemed to be “interested stockholders” regardless of the percentage of our voting stock owned by them, and accordingly will not be subject to this provision.
Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Exclusive forum for certain lawsuits
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require (unless we consent in writing to the selection if an alternative forum), to the fullest extent permitted by law, that (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us, our directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us, our directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, (C) for which the Court of Chancery
 
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Description of securities
does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) arising under the Securities Act, as to which the Court of Chancery and the federal district court for the District of Delaware shall have concurrent jurisdiction. If an action is brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court may determine that this provision is unenforceable, and to the extent it is enforceable, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the exclusive forum provision will be applicable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. 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. As a result, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As noted above, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Court of Chancery and the federal district court for the District of Delaware shall have concurrent jurisdiction over any action arising under the Securities Act. Accordingly, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provision, and our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Special meeting of stockholders
Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our board of directors, by our Chief Executive Officer, by our Chair or by stockholders who beneficially own 10% or more of our issued and outstanding common stock entitled to vote.
Advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations
Our bylaws provide for advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of directors or a committee of our board of directors. In order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice requirements and provide us with certain information. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 60th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods contained therein. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. Our bylaws allow the chair of the meeting at a meeting of the stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of us.
Action by written consent
Subsequent to the consummation of this offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders other than with respect to our Class B common stock with respect to which action may be taken by written consent.
Class B common stock consent right
For so long as any shares of Class B common stock remain outstanding, we may not, without the prior vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of Class B common stock then outstanding,
 
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Description of securities
voting separately as a single class, amend, alter or repeal any provision of our certificate of incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, if such amendment, alteration or repeal would alter or change the powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other or special rights of the Class B common stock. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders of Class B common stock may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of the outstanding Class B common stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of Class B common stock were present and voted.
Securities Eligible for Future Sale
Immediately after this offering we will have 30,000,000 (or 34,500,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) shares of Class A common stock outstanding. All of these shares will have been sold in this offering and will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the 7,500,000 (or 8,625,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) Class B founder shares and all 5,333,333 (or 5,933,333 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) private placement warrants to the sponsor and all private placement warrants issued to the forward purchasers are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering, and are subject to transfer restrictions as set forth elsewhere in this prospectus.
Upon the closing of the sale of the forward purchase shares, all of the forward purchase shares and any private placement warrants issued to the forward purchasers will be restricted securities under Rule 144.
Rule 144
Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock or warrants for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that: (1) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three and six months preceding, a sale; and (2) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three and six 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 shares of our common stock or warrants for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three and six 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 shares of Class A common stock then outstanding, which will equal 375,000 shares immediately after this offering (or 431,250 if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full); or

the average weekly reported trading volume of the common stock 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.
Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies
Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than a business combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. However, Rule 144 also includes an important exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met:

the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company;
 
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Description of securities

the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Current Reports on Form 8-K; and

at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.
As a result, our initial stockholders will be able to sell their founder shares and our sponsor or forward purchasers, as applicable, will be able to sell their private placement warrants, as applicable, pursuant to Rule 144 without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination.
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, private placement warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the working capital loans and upon conversion of the founder shares) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering requiring us to register such securities for resale (in the case of the founder shares, only after conversion into shares of Class A common stock). The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statement.
Pursuant to the forward purchase agreement, we have agreed that we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to (i) within 30 days after the closing of the initial business combination, file a registration statement with the SEC for a secondary offering of the forward purchase shares and any private placement warrants (including the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) issued to the forward purchasers, (ii) cause such registration statement to be declared effective promptly thereafter, but in no event later than 60 days after such closing and (iii) maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, until the earlier of  (A) the date on which the forward purchasers cease to hold the securities covered thereby and (B) the date all of the securities covered thereby can be sold publicly without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act, subject to certain conditions and limitations set forth in the forward purchase agreement. We will bear the costs of registering the forward purchase shares and private placement warrants.
Listing of Securities
We have been approved to list our units, Class A common stock and redeemable warrants on Nasdaq under the symbols “SVACU,” “SVAC” and “SVACW,” respectively. We expect that our units will be listed on Nasdaq on or promptly after the effective date of the registration statement. Following the date the shares of our Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that the shares of our common stock and detachable redeemable warrants will be listed separately and as a unit on Nasdaq.
 
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The following discussion is a summary of the U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the ownership and disposition of our units, Class A common stock and redeemable warrants, which we refer to collectively as our securities. This summary is based upon U.S. federal income tax law as of the date of this prospectus, which is subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary does not discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances, including investors subject to special tax rules (e.g., financial institutions, insurance companies, broker-dealers, tax-exempt organizations (including private foundations), taxpayers that have elected mark-to-market accounting, S corporations, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, investors that will hold Class A common stock or redeemable warrants as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or investors that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar), all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ materially from those summarized below. In addition, this summary does not discuss other U.S. federal tax consequences (e.g., estate or gift tax), any state, local, or non-U.S. tax considerations, or the additional tax on net investment income or alternative minimum tax. In addition, this summary is limited to investors that will hold our securities as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”), and that acquired the securities pursuant to this offering (or, in the case of Class A common stock, upon exercise of redeemable warrants so acquired). No ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, (the “IRS”) has been or will be sought regarding any matter discussed herein. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain a position contrary to any of the tax aspects set forth below.
For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial holder of securities who or that is:

an individual who is a U.S. citizen or resident of the United States as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

a corporation or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes created in, or organized under the law of, the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof;

an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or

a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more U.S. persons (within the meaning of the Code) who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has in effect a valid election under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
A “non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial holder of shares who or that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our securities, the tax treatment of a partner, member or other beneficial owner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner, member or other beneficial owner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner, member or other beneficial owner level. If you are a partner, member or other beneficial owner of a partnership holding our securities, you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our securities.
THIS DISCUSSION OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. WE URGE PROSPECTIVE HOLDERS TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF OWNING AND DISPOSING OF OUR SECURITIES, AS WELL AS THE APPLICATION OF ANY, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. INCOME, ESTATE AND OTHER TAX CONSIDERATIONS.
Personal Holding Company Status
We would be subject to a second level of U.S. federal income tax on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding company, or PHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S.
 
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corporation will generally be classified as a PHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if  (1) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules), directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the stock of the corporation by value and (2) at least 60% of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).
Depending on the date and size of our initial business combination, it is possible that at least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income as discussed above. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including the members of our sponsor and certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts, it is possible that more than 50% of our stock will be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the constructive ownership rules) by five or fewer such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will not become a PHC following this offering or in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject to an additional PHC tax, currently 20%, on our undistributed PHC income, which generally includes our taxable income, subject to certain adjustments.
General treatment of units
There is no authority directly addressing the treatment, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, of instruments with terms substantially the same as the units and, therefore, their treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one share of our Class A common stock and one-sixth of one redeemable warrant to acquire one share of our Class A common stock. We intend to treat the acquisition of a unit in this manner and, by purchasing a unit, you agree to adopt such treatment for tax purposes. Each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit between the share of Class A common stock and the one-sixth of one redeemable warrant based on their respective relative fair market values at the time of issuance. A holder’s initial tax basis in the share of Class A common stock and the one-sixth of one redeemable warrant included in each unit should equal the portion of the purchase price of the unit allocated thereto. The separation of the share of Class A common stock and the one-sixth of one redeemable warrant constituting a unit should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The foregoing treatment of the units and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there is no authority that directly addresses instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and any foreign tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit and its components). The following discussion is based on the assumption that the characterization of the Class A common stock and redeemable warrants and the allocation methodology described above are respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
U.S. Holders
Taxation of distributions
If we pay cash distributions to U.S. Holders of shares of our Class A common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our Class A common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the Class A common stock and will be treated as described under “U.S. Holders — Gain or loss on sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of Class A common stock” below.
Dividends we pay to a U.S. Holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including dividends
 
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treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. Holder will generally constitute “qualified dividends” that will be subject to tax at the maximum tax rate accorded to long-term capital gains. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the Class A common stock described in this prospectus may prevent a U.S. Holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect to the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be.
Gain or loss on sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of Class A common stock
A U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss on the sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition (which would include a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering) of our Class A common stock. Any such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock so disposed of exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether the redemption rights with respect to the Class A common stock described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. The amount of gain or loss recognized will generally be equal to the difference between (1) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the Class A common stock is held as part of a unit at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the Class A common stock based upon the then fair market values of the Class A common stock and the one-sixth of one redeemable warrant included in the unit) and (2) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock so disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock will generally equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, as discussed above, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a share of Class A common stock or, as discussed below, the U.S. Holder’s initial basis for Class A common stock received upon exercise of a redeemable warrant) less any prior distributions treated as a return of capital. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Redemption of Class A common stock
In the event that a U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock is redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under “Description of Securities — Common Stock,” the treatment of the transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as sale of the Class A common stock under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of Class A common stock under the tests described below, the tax consequences to the U.S. Holder will be the same as described under “U.S. Holders — Gain or loss on sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of Class A common stock” above. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of Class A common stock, the U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution, the tax consequences of which are described above under “U.S. Holders — Taxation of distributions.” Whether the redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend primarily on the total number of shares of our stock treated as held by the U.S. Holder (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as a result of owning redeemable warrants) both before and after the redemption. For a given U.S. Holder, the redemption of Class A common stock will generally be treated as a sale of the Class A common stock (rather than as a corporate distribution) if the redemption (1) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. Holder, (2) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. Holder’s interest in us or (3) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. Holder takes into account not only stock actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also shares of our stock that are constructively owned by it. A U.S. Holder may constructively own stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any stock the U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include Class A common stock which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the redeemable warrants. A redemption of a U.S. Holder’s stock will be substantially disproportionate with respect to the U.S. Holder if the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately
 
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following the redemption of common stock is, among other requirements, less than 80% of the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption. Prior to our initial business combination, the Class A common stock may not be treated as voting stock for this purpose and, consequently, this substantially disproportionate test may not be applicable. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (1) all of the shares of our stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (2) all of the shares of our stock actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other stock (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as a result of owning redeemable warrants). The redemption of the Class A common stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if the redemption results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. The IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor as to the tax consequences of a redemption, including the application of the constructive ownership rules described above.
If none of the foregoing tests is satisfied, the redemption will be treated as a corporate distribution, the tax consequences of which are described under “U.S. Holders — Taxation of distributions,” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. Holder in the redeemed Class A common stock will be added to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining stock, or, if it has none, to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its redeemable warrants or possibly in other stock constructively owned by it.
Exercise of a redeemable warrant
Except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a redeemable warrant, a U.S. Holder will not recognize gain or loss upon the exercise of a redeemable warrant. The U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the share of our Class A common stock received upon exercise of the redeemable warrant will generally be an amount equal to the sum of the U.S. Holder’s initial investment in the redeemable warrant (i.e., the portion of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the redeemable warrant, as described above under “— General treatment of units”) and the exercise price of such warrant. It is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock received upon exercise of the redeemable warrant would commence on the date of exercise of the redeemable warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the redeemable warrant; however, in either case the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the redeemable warrants.
The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a redeemable warrant are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may be nontaxable, 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 tax basis in the Class A common stock received would generally equal the holder’s tax basis in the redeemable warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a realization event, it is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock would commence on the date of exercise of the redeemable warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the redeemable warrant. If, however, the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the Class A common stock would include the holding period of the warrant.
It is also possible that a cashless exercise could be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss is recognized. In such event, a U.S. Holder would be deemed to have surrendered a number of redeemable warrants having a value equal to the exercise price of the remaining redeemable warrants. The U.S. Holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value of the Class A common stock underlying the redeemable warrants deemed surrendered less the exercise price of such redeemable warrants and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the redeemable warrants deemed surrendered. In this case, a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Class A common stock received would equal the sum of the U.S. Holder’s initial investment in the redeemable warrants exercised (i.e., the portion of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for the units that is allocated to the redeemable
 
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warrant, as described above under “— General treatment of units”) and the exercise price of such warrants. It is unclear whether a U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock would commence on the date of exercise of the redeemable warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the redeemable warrant.
Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, including when a U.S. Holder’s holding period would commence with respect to the Class A common stock received, 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, each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise.
The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an exercise of a redeemable warrant occurring after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the redeemable warrant for $0.01 as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable warrants — Redemption of warrants for cash when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share” or after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the redeemable warrant for $0.10 as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share” are unclear under current law. In the case of a cashless exercise, the exercise may be treated either as if we redeemed such redeemable warrant for shares of Class A common stock or as an exercise of the redeemable warrant. If the cashless exercise of a redeemable warrant for shares of Class A common stock is treated as a redemption, then such redemption generally should be treated as a recapitalization as described below in the second paragraph under the heading “— U.S. holders — Sale, exchange, redemption, expiration or lapse of a redeemable warrant.” Alternatively, if the cashless exercise of a redeemable warrant is treated as an exercise of the redeemable warrant, the U.S. federal income tax consequences generally should be as described above in the second and third paragraphs under the heading “— U.S. holders — Exercise of a redeemable warrant.” In the case of an exercise of a redeemable warrant for cash, the U.S. federal income tax treatment generally should be as described above in the first paragraph under the heading “— U.S. holders — Exercise of a redeemable warrant.” Due to the lack of clarity under current law regarding the treatment described in this paragraph, there can be no assurance as to which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the exercise of a redeemable warrant occurring after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the redeemable warrant as described above.
Sale, exchange, redemption, expiration or lapse of a redeemable warrant
Upon a sale, exchange (other than by exercise) or redemption (other than a redemption for shares of Class A common stock) of a redeemable warrant (including, for this purpose, a redemption for cash as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable warrants — Redemption of warrants for cash when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share” or the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share”), a U.S. Holder will recognize taxable gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (1) the amount realized upon such disposition (or, if the redeemable warrant is held as part of a unit at the time of the disposition of the unit, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the redeemable warrant based on the then fair market values of the redeemable warrant and the Class A common stock constituting such unit) and (2) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the redeemable warrant (that is, the portion of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the redeemable warrant, as described above under “— General treatment of units”). Such gain or loss will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the redeemable warrant is held by the U.S. Holder for more than one year at the time of such disposition or expiration. If a redeemable warrant expires or is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s tax basis in the redeemable warrant. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
In the case of a redemption of redeemable warrants for shares of Class A common stock, such redemption generally should be treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a U.S. Holder should not recognize any gain or loss on the redemption of redeemable warrants for shares of Class A common stock. A U.S. Holder’s aggregate tax basis in the shares of Class A common stock
 
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received in the redemption should equal such holder’s aggregate tax basis in the redeemed warrants and the holding period for the shares of Class A common stock received in the redemption should include the holding period for the redeemed warrants.
Possible constructive distributions
The terms of each redeemable warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Class A common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the redeemable warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned “Description of Securities — Redeemable warrants.” An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution is generally not a taxable event. Nevertheless, a U.S. Holder of warrants would 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 (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Class A common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease to the exercise price, including, for example, the decrease to the exercise price of the redeemable warrants where additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities are issued in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share, as described under “Description of Securities — Redeemable warrants — Anti-dilution adjustments”) as a result of a distribution of cash to the holders of shares of our Class A common stock which is taxable to such U.S. Holders as described under “U.S. Holders — Taxation of distributions” above. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described under that section in the same manner as if such U.S. Holder received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest.
Distribution of additional redeemable warrants
Although the authorities governing transactions such as the distribution of additional redeemable warrants before an initial business combination as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed business — Distribution of redeemable warrants to holders of Class A common stock not electing redemption” are complex and unclear in certain respects, we expect that a U.S. Holder of Class A common stock receiving additional redeemable warrants pursuant to the distribution should not be treated as receiving a taxable distribution. However, the general rule under which a distribution of a right to acquire stock (such as the additional redeemable warrants) would not be included in the taxable income of the recipient for U.S. federal income tax purposes is subject to exceptions, including for “disproportionate distributions.” A disproportionate distribution is a distribution or a series of distributions, including deemed distributions, that has the effect of the receipt of cash or other property by some stockholders and an increase in the proportionate interest of other stockholders in a corporation’s assets or earnings and profits. For this purpose, distributions of cash or other property incident to an “isolated” redemption of stock do not cause a distribution or series of distributions to be disproportionate. Although not entirely clear, under these rules, we do not expect the distribution of additional redeemable warrants before an initial business combination to be treated as a disproportionate distribution.
If the distribution is non-taxable to a U.S. Holder, and the additional redeemable warrants that the U.S. Holder receives in the distribution have a fair market value equal to 15% or more of the fair market value of the U.S. Holder’s shares of our Class A common stock on the date of the distribution, the U.S. holder must allocate its adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock between those shares and the additional redeemable warrants in proportion to their relative fair market values at that time. Otherwise, the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the additional redeemable warrants that the U.S. Holder receives in the distribution will be zero unless the U.S. Holder irrevocably elects, in its U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year in which the additional redeemable warrants are received, to allocate its adjusted tax basis in its Class A common shares between those shares and the additional redeemable warrants as described in the foregoing sentence.
If our position is determined by the IRS or a court to be incorrect, U.S. Holders receiving the additional redeemable warrants would be treated as receiving a corporate distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of such additional redeemable warrants at that time, with the tax consequences described above under “—Taxation of distributions.”
 
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Information reporting and backup withholding
In general, information reporting requirements may apply to dividends paid to a U.S. Holder and to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of our units, shares of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants, unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding may apply to such payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number, a certification of exempt status or has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn).
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S. Holders
Taxation of distributions
In general, any distributions (including constructive distributions described under “Non-U.S. Holders—Possible constructive distributions” below) we make to a non-U.S. Holder of shares of our Class A common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such non-U.S. Holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable). In the case of any constructive dividend, it is possible that this tax would be withheld from any amount owed to a non-U.S. Holder by the applicable withholding agent, including cash distributions on other property or sale proceeds from redeemable warrants or other property subsequently paid or credited to such holder. Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our Class A common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of the Class A common stock, which will be treated as described under “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants” below. In addition, if we determine that we are classified as a “United States real property holding corporation” (see “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants” below), we will withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Dividends we pay to a non-U.S. Holder that are effectively connected with such non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (or, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. Holder) will generally not be subject to U.S. withholding tax, provided such non-U.S. Holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements (usually by providing an IRS Form W-8ECI). Instead, such dividends will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax, net of certain deductions, at the same graduated individual or corporate rates applicable to U.S. Holders. If the non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, dividends that are effectively connected income may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty).
Exercise, expiration or lapse of a redeemable warrant
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a non-U.S. Holder’s exercise of a redeemable warrant (including an exercise of a redeemable warrant occurring after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the redeemable warrant for $0.01 as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable warrants — Redemption of warrants for cash when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share” or after our giving notice of an intention to redeem the warrant for $0.10 as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Redeemable warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals
 
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or exceeds $10.00 per share”) generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the exercise of a redeemable warrant by a U.S. Holder, as described under “U.S. Holders — Exercise of a redeemable warrant” above, although to the extent a cashless exercise results in a taxable exchange, the tax consequences to the non-U.S. Holder would be the same as those described below in “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants.” The U.S. federal income tax treatment of the expiration or lapse of a redeemable warrant held by a non-U.S. Holder generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the expiration or lapse of a redeemable warrant held by a U.S. Holder, as described under “U.S. Holders — Sale, exchange, redemption, expiration or lapse of a redeemable warrant” above.
Gain on sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Class A common stock and warrants
A non-U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock, which would include a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or redeemable warrants (including an expiration or redemption of our redeemable warrants), in each case without regard to whether those securities were held as part of a unit, unless:

the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the non-U.S. Holder within the United States (and, if an applicable income tax treaty so requires, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. Holder);

the non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other conditions are met; or

we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the non-U.S. Holder held our Class A common stock, and, in the case where shares of our Class A common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the non-U.S. Holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our Class A common stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares of our Class A common stock. There can be no assurance that our Class A common stock will be treated as regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose.
Gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or lower applicable treaty rate). Gain described in the second bullet point above will generally be subject to a flat 30% U.S. federal income tax. Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding possible eligibility for benefits under income tax treaties.
If the third bullet point above applies to a non-U.S. Holder, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our Class A common stock or redeemable warrants will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. In addition, a buyer of our Class A common stock or redeemable warrants from such holder may be required to withhold U.S. income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition. We cannot determine whether we will be a United States real property holding corporation in the future until we complete an initial business combination. We will be classified as a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our “United States real property interests” equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” you are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the application of these rules.
Possible constructive distributions
The terms of each redeemable warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Class A common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the redeemable warrant
 
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in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus captioned “Description of Securities — Redeemable warrants.” An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution is generally not a taxable event. Nevertheless, a non-U.S. Holder of redeemable warrants would 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 (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Class A common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease to the exercise price, including, for example, the decrease to the exercise price of the warrants where additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities are issued in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share, as described under “Description of Securities — Redeemable warrants — Anti-dilution adjustments”) as a result of a distribution of cash to the holders of shares of our Class A common stock which is taxable to such non-U.S. Holders as described under “Non-U.S. Holders — Taxation of distributions” above. A non-U.S. Holder would be subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding under that section in the same manner as if such non-U.S. Holder received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest without any corresponding receipt of cash.
Distribution of additional redeemable warrants
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a Non-U.S. Holder’s receipt of additional redeemable warrants before an initial business combination as described in the section of this prospectus captioned “Proposed business — Distribution of redeemable warrants to holders of Class A common stock not electing redemption” generally should correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a U.S. Holder on receipt of additional redeemable warrants, as described under “U.S. holders — Distribution of additional redeemable warrants” above. If our position described therein is determined by the IRS or a court to be incorrect, Non-U.S. Holders receiving the additional redeemable warrants would be treated as receiving a corporate distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of such additional redeemable warrants at that time, with the tax consequences described above under “— Taxation of distributions.” In that event, if a distribution of additional redeemable warrants before an initial business combination were to be subject to withholding tax as described above under “— Taxation of distributions,” the applicable withholding agent might withhold additional redeemable warrants whose aggregate fair market value equals the amount of the applicable withholding tax, or might withhold from any other amount owed to the Non-U.S. Holder, including cash distributions on other property or sale proceeds from redeemable warrants or other property subsequently paid or credited to the holder.
Redemption of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants
The characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a non-U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock or redeemable warrants pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under “Description of Securities — Common Stock” or “Description of Securities — Redeemable warrants,” as applicable, will generally correspond to the U.S. federal income tax characterization of such a redemption of a U.S. Holder’s Class A common stock or redeemable warrants, as described under “U.S. Holders — Redemption of Class A common stock” or “U.S. Holders — Sale, exchange, redemption, expiration or lapse of a redeemable warrant” above, as applicable, and the consequences of the redemption to the non-U.S. Holder will be as described above under “Non-U.S. Holders — Taxation of distributions” and “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants,” as applicable.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (commonly referred as the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” or “FATCA”) generally impose withholding at a rate of 30% in certain circumstances on dividends (including constructive dividends) in respect of our securities which are held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless any such institution (1) enters into, and complies with, an agreement with the IRS to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution that are owned by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments, or (2) if
 
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required under an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, reports such information to its local tax authority, which will exchange such information with the U.S. authorities. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. Accordingly, the entity through which our securities are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of our securities held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exceptions will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (1) certifies to us or the applicable withholding agent that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (2) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which will in turn be provided to the U.S. Department of Treasury. The IRS has issued proposed Treasury regulations (on which taxpayers may rely until final regulations are issued) that would generally not apply these withholding requirements to gross proceeds from sales or other disposition proceeds from our units, shares of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants. If FATCA withholding is imposed, a beneficial owner that is not a foreign financial institution generally will be entitled to a refund of any amounts withheld by filing a U.S. federal income tax return (which may entail significant administrative burden). Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our securities.
Information reporting and backup withholding
In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of dividends and proceeds from the sale of our securities to non-U.S. Holders that are not exempt recipients. We must report annually to the IRS and to each such holder the amount of dividends or other distributions we pay to such non-U.S. Holder on our shares of Class A common stock and the amount of tax withheld with respect to those distributions, regardless of whether withholding is required. The IRS may make copies of the information returns reporting those dividends and amounts withheld available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. Holder resides pursuant to the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty or exchange of information treaty.
The gross amount of dividends and proceeds from the disposition of our Class A common stock or redeemable warrants paid to a holder that fails to provide the appropriate certification in accordance with applicable U.S. Treasury regulations generally will be subject to backup withholding at the applicable rate.
Information reporting and backup withholding are generally not required with respect to the amount of any proceeds from the sale by a non-U.S. Holder of Class A common stock or redeemable warrants outside the United States through a foreign office of a foreign broker that does not have certain specified connections to the United States. However, if a non-U.S. Holder sells Class A common stock or redeemable warrants through a U.S. broker or the U.S. office of a foreign broker, the broker will generally be required to report to the IRS the amount of proceeds paid to such holder, unless the non-U.S. Holder provides appropriate certification (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable) to the broker of its status as a non-U.S. Holder or such non-U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient. In addition, for information reporting purposes, certain non-U.S. brokers with certain relationships with the United States will be treated in a manner similar to U.S. brokers.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts we withhold under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against a holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, by the IRS if the required information is furnished in a timely manner to the IRS.
 
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UBS Securities LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and Cowen and Company, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering and UBS Securities LLC is acting representative of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the number of units set forth opposite the underwriter’s name.
Underwriter
Number of units
UBS Securities LLC
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
Cowen and Company, LLC
Total 30,000,000
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the units included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all of the units (other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below) if they purchase any of the units.
Units sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. If all of the units are not sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The representative has advised us that the underwriters do not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts.
If the underwriters sell more units than the total number set forth in the table above, we have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 45 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 4,500,000 additional units at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, in connection with this offering. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter must purchase a number of additional units approximately proportionate to that underwriter’s initial purchase commitment. Any units issued or sold under the option will be issued and sold on the same terms and conditions as the other units that are the subject of this offering.
We, our sponsor and our officers and directors have agreed that, for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of the representative, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any units, warrants, shares of common stock or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of common stock, subject to certain exceptions. The representative in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice. Our sponsor, officers and directors are also subject to separate transfer restrictions on their founder shares and private placement warrants pursuant to the insider letters as described herein.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any founder shares held by them until the earlier to occur of: (1) one year after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction after our initial business combination that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property (except as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”). Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our sponsor with respect to any founder shares. We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the “lock-up.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, the founder shares will be released from the lock-up. The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or saleable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement
 
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Warrants”). Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the units was determined by negotiations between us and the representative.
Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price were the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies, prior offerings of those companies, our management, our capital structure, and currently prevailing general conditions in the equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to our company. We cannot assure you, however, that the price at which the units, Class A common stock or warrants will sell in the public market after this offering will not be lower than the initial public offering price or that an active trading market in our units, Class A common stock or redeemable warrants will develop and continue after this offering.
We have been approved to list our units on Nasdaq under the symbol “SVACU.” We expect that our Class A common stock and redeemable warrants will be listed under the symbols “SVAC” and “SVACW,” respectively, once the Class A common stock and detachable redeemable warrants begin separate trading.
The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
Payable by Starboard Value Acquisition Corp.
No exercise
Full exercise
Per unit(1)
$ 0.65 $ 0.65
Total(1) $ 19,500,000 $ 22,425,000
(1)
Includes $0.45 per unit, or $13,500,000 (or up to $15,525,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. The deferred commissions will be released to the underwriters only on completion of an initial business combination, in an amount equal to up to $0.45 multiplied by the number of shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering, as described in this prospectus. This amount of  $0.45 per unit may be reduced based on the amount of redemptions, if any, in connection with our initial business combination and any reduction in the number of shares held by our sponsor in connection with our initial business combination.
The underwriters have agreed to reimburse us $1,500,000 for certain expenses in connection with this offering.
If we do not complete our initial business combination and subsequently liquidate, the trustee and the underwriters have agreed that (i) they will forfeit any rights or claims to their deferred underwriting discounts and commissions, including any accrued interest thereon, then in the trust account upon liquidation, and (ii) that the deferred underwriters’ discounts and commissions will be distributed on a pro rata basis, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes to the public stockholders.
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell units in the open market. Purchases and sales in the open market may include short sales, purchases to cover short positions, which may include purchases pursuant to the over-allotment option and stabilizing purchases, in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

Short sales involve secondary market sales by the underwriters of a greater number of units than they are required to purchase in the offering.

“Covered” short sales are sales of units in an amount up to the number of units represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

“Naked” short sales are sales of units in an amount in excess of the number of units represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

Covering transactions involve purchases of units either pursuant to the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions.
 
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To close a naked short position, the underwriters must purchase units in the open market after the distribution has been completed. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

To close a covered short position, the underwriters must purchase units in the open market after the distribution has been completed or must exercise the over-allotment option. In determining the source of units to close the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the over-allotment option.

Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase units so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.
Purchases to cover short positions and stabilizing purchases, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own account, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the units. They may also cause the price of the units to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.
We estimate that our portion of the total expenses of this offering payable by us will be $1,500,000, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for all expenses and fees related to the review by FINRA, which will not exceed $20,000. The underwriters have agreed to reimburse us $1,500,000 for expenses under certain circumstances.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.
We are not under any contractual obligation to engage the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so. However, the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future. If the underwriters provides services to us after this offering, we may pay the underwriters fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with the underwriters and no fees for such services will be paid to the underwriters prior to the date that is 90 days from the date of this prospectus, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriting compensation in connection with this offering and we may pay the underwriters of this offering or any entity with which it is affiliated a finder’s fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of a business combination.
Neither the underwriters nor their affiliates are under any obligation to provide us services in the future, including with respect to our initial business combination. The underwriters and/or their affiliates engage in advisory, underwriting, lending and financing, principal investing, sales and trading, research and investment management activities with a variety of clients and counterparties, corporate, governmental, institutional and individual. Consequently, at the time of our initial business combination the underwriters may advise or provide financing or other services to the target business, the sellers of the target business or other entities competing with us to acquire the target business. In addition, the underwriters and/or its affiliates may compete with us in trying acquire a target business or have interests in the target business we acquire.
The underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment
 
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recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS IN CANADA
The units may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the units must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS IN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each, a “Member State”), no offer of shares may be made to the public in that Member State other than:

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation;

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters; or

in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,
provided that no such offer of shares shall require us or any of our representatives to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation and each person who initially acquires any shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the underwriters and us that it is a “qualified investor” as defined in the Prospectus Regulation.
In the case of any shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5 of the Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the shares acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any shares to the public other than their offer or resale in a Member State to qualified investors as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of shares to the public” in relation to any shares in any Member State means the communication in any form and by means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase shares, the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended).
NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG
The units may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in
 
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other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the units may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to units which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF JAPAN
The units have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) and, accordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan, or for the benefit of any Japanese Person or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any Japanese Person, except in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines promulgated by relevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese Person” shall mean any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.
NOTICE TO RESIDENTS OF SINGAPORE
This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the units may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the units be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.
Where the units are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA, except:

to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA;

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or

where the transfer is by operation of law.
Notification under Section 309B of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore: The units are prescribed capital markets products (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018 and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).
 
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NOTICE TO INVESTORS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
This prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as a “relevant person”). The units are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase or otherwise acquire such units will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by recipients to any other persons in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
 
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Legal matters
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP has passed upon the validity of the securities offered in this prospectus on behalf of us. Kirkland & Ellis LLP, New York, New York, advised the underwriters in connection with the offering of the securities.
Experts
The financial statements of Starboard Value Acquisition Corp. as of December 31, 2019, and for the period from November 14, 2019 (inception) through December 31, 2019 appearing in this prospectus have been audited by WithumSmith+Brown, PC, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance on such report given on the authority of such firm as an experts in auditing and accounting.
Where you can find additional information
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.
Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
 
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Report of independent registered public accounting firm
To the Stockholder and the Board of Directors of
Starboard Value Acquisition Corp.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Starboard Value Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019, the related statements of operations, changes in stockholder’s equity and cash flows, for the period from November 14, 2019 (inception) through December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from November 14, 2019 (inception) through December 31, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. 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 audit 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 financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting 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.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the 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 financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2019.
New York, New York
June 19, 2020
 
F-2

STARBOARD VALUE ACQUISITION CORP.
BALANCE SHEETS
June 30, 2020
December 31, 2019
(unaudited)
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash
$ 72,765 $ 72,751
Total current assets
72,765 72,751
Deferred offering costs associated with the proposed public offering
992,354 312,489
Total Assets
$ 1,065,119 $ 385,240
Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 545,345 $ 253,937
Accrued expenses
388,500
Franchise tax payable
2,765 565
Notes payable—related party
107,062 107,062
Total current liabilities
1,043,672 361,564
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholder’s Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none
issued and outstanding
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 8,625,000 shares issued and outstanding(1)
863 863
Additional paid-in capital
24,137 24,137
Accumulated deficit
(3,553) (1,324)
Total stockholder’s equity
21,447 23,676
Total Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity
$ 1,065,119 $ 385,240
(1)
Includes up to 1,125,000 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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STARBOARD VALUE ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2020
For The Period From
November 14, 2019
(inception) through
December 31, 2019
(unaudited)
General and administrative expenses
$ 44 $ 759
Franchise tax expense
2,200 565
Loss from operations
$ (2,244) $ (1,324)
Interest income
15
Net loss
$ (2,229) $ (1,324)
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and
diluted(1)
7,500,000
7,500,000
Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted
$ (0.00) $ (0.00)
(1)
Excludes an aggregate of up to 1,125,000 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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STARBOARD VALUE ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENTS OF CHANGE IN STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2020
Common Stock
Class A
Class B
Additional Paid-In
Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Total
Stockholder’s
Equity
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Balance—December 31, 2019
$ 8,625,000 $ 863 $ 24,137 $ (1,324) $ 23,676
Net loss (unaudited)
(1,086) (1,086)
Balance—March 31,
2020 (unaudited)
$ 8,625,000 $ 863 $ 24,137 $ (2,410) $ 22,590
Net loss (unaudited)
(1,143) (1,143)
Balance—June 30, 2020 (unaudited)
$ 8,625,000 $ 863 $ 24,137 $ (3,553) $ 21,447
For The Period From November 14, 2019 (inception) through December 31, 2019
Common Stock
Class A
Class B
Additional Paid-In
Capital
Accumulated
Deficit
Total
Stockholder’s
Equity
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Balance—November 14, 2019 (inception)
$ $ $ $ $
Issuance of Class B common stock to Sponsor(1)
8,625,000 863 24,137 25,000
Net loss
(1,324) (1,324)
Balance—December 31, 2019
$ 8,625,000 $ 863 $ 24,137 $ (1,324) $ 23,676
(1)
Includes up to 1,125,000 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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STARBOARD VALUE ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended
June 30, 2020
For The Period From
November 14, 2019 (inception)
through December 31, 2019
(unaudited)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss
$ (2,229) $ (1,324)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts payable
43 760
Franchise tax payable
2,200 565
Net cash used in operating activities
14 1
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of Class B common stock to Sponsor
25,000
Proceeds from note payable to related parties
100,000
Payment of deferred offering costs
(52,250)
Net cash provided by financing activities
72,750
Net change in cash
14 72,751
Cash—beginning of the period
72,751
Cash—end of the period
$ 72,765 $ 72,751
Supplemental disclosure of noncash financing activities:
Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable
$ 291,365 $ 253,177
Deferred offering costs included in accrued expenses
$ 388,500 $
Deferred offering costs included in note payable—related party
$ $ 7,062
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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STARBOARD VALUE ACQUISITION CORP.
Note 1—Description of Organization, Business Operations and Basis of Presentation
Starboard Value Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on November 14, 2019. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”). The Company is an emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with emerging growth companies.
As of June 30, 2020, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from November 14, 2019 (inception) through June 30, 2020 relates to the Company’s formation and the proposed initial public offering described below. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Public Offering (as defined below).
The Company’s sponsor is SVAC Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a proposed public offering (the “Proposed Public Offering”) of 30,000,000 units (each, a “Unit” and collectively, the “Units”) at $10.00 per Unit (or 34,500,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), which is discussed in Note 3, and the sale of 5,333,333 warrants (or 5,933,333 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (each, a “Private Placement Warrant” and collectively, the “Private Placement Warrants”), at a price of  $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement to the Sponsor that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering.
The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering and the sale of Private Placement Warrants, 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 complete a Business Combination successfully. The Company must complete one or more initial Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that an amount equal to at least $10.00 per Unit sold in the Proposed Public Offering, including the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor, will be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”) located in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and invested only in U.S. “government securities,” within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, 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.
The Company will provide holders of the Company’s outstanding shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, sold in the Proposed Public Offering (the “Public Stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares (as defined below) upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Stockholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then held in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.00 per Public Share). The per-share amount to be distributed to Public Stockholders who redeem their Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters (as discussed in Note 5). The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. These Public Shares will be recorded at a
   
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STARBOARD VALUE ACQUISITION CORP.
redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” In such case, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon consummation of such Business Combination and a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a stockholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain stockholder approval for business or legal reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. Additionally, each Public Stockholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. If the Company seeks stockholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the initial stockholders (as defined below) have agreed to vote their Founder Shares (as defined below in Note 4) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination. In addition, the initial stockholders have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Founder Shares and Public Shares in connection with the completion of a Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Certificate of Incorporation will provide that a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder 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 redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Public Shares, without the prior consent of the Company.
The Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors (the “initial stockholders”) have agreed not to propose an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time frame described below, unless the Company provides the Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment.
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed 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 not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then-outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and its board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
The initial stockholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Founder Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the initial stockholders should acquire Public Shares in or after the Proposed Public Offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to such Public Shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to the deferred underwriting commission (see Note 5) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within in the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the other funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the residual assets remaining available for distribution (including
   
F-8

STARBOARD VALUE ACQUISITION CORP.
Trust Account assets) will be only $10.00. In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party (except for the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm) for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a transaction agreement reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of  (i) $10.00 per Public Share and (ii) the actual amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, in each case including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes, less franchise and income taxes payable. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party or target that executed an agreement waiving claims against and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account whether or not such agreement is enforceable or to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, 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.
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 (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited financial statements include all adjustments, consistent of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the period presented. The interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020 or for any future interim periods.
The Company does not have sufficient liquidity to meet its anticipated obligations over the next year from the date of issuance of these financial statements. In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the Company has access to funds from the Sponsor that are sufficient to fund the working capital needs of the Company until the earlier of the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering or one year from the issuance of these financial statements.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of 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 stockholder 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 an emerging growth 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 irrevocably elected 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, will adopt the new or revised standard at the time public companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another emerging growth company
   
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STARBOARD VALUE ACQUISITION CORP.
which has not opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Net Loss Per Common Share
Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding shares of common stock subject to forfeiture. Weighted average shares was reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 1,125,000 shares of common stock that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Note 6). At June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into shares of common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the periods presented.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of six months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company had no cash equivalents as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Coverage limit of  $250,000. At June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company has not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.
Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheets.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company’s 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Deferred Offering Costs Associated with the Proposed Public Offering
Deferred offering costs consist of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering and that will be charged to stockholder’s equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to operations.
Income Taxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax
   
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STARBOARD VALUE ACQUISITION CORP.
rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. Deferred tax assets were deemed de minimis as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
FASB ASC 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. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. No amounts were accrued for the payment of interest and penalties as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. 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 is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
The provision for income taxes was deemed to be de minimis for the period from November 14, 2019 (inception) through December 31, 2019 and for the six months ended June 30, 2020.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company’s management does not believe that there are any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, that would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Note 3—Proposed Public Offering
Pursuant to the Proposed Public Offering, the Company intends to offer for sale 30,000,000 Units (or 34,500,000 Units if the underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of  $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock (such shares of common stock included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”), and one-sixth of one redeemable warrant (or 5,000,000 redeemable warrants in the aggregate, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) (each, a “Detachable Redeemable Warrant”) and a contingent right to receive at least one-sixth of one redeemable warrant following the Initial Business Combination Redemption Time (as defined below) under certain circumstances and subject to adjustments (the “Distributable Redeemable Warrants”). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of  $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 6).
The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, at the distribution time (as defined below), the Company will effect a distribution of a number of warrants equal to the number of Units issued in the Proposed Public Offering multiplied by one-sixth (the “Aggregate Warrant Amount”) as follows: (i) to the extent that no Public Stockholders redeem their shares of Class A common stock issued in the Proposed Public Offering (whether acquired in the Proposed Public Offering or afterwards) (the “Public Shares”) in connection with the initial Business Combination, each Public Stockholder will receive one-sixth of one Distributable Redeemable Warrant per Public Share and (ii) to the extent that any Public Stockholders redeem any of their Public Shares in connection with the initial Business Combination, then (A) one-sixth of one Distributable Redeemable Warrant will be distributed per each Public Share that was not redeemed (the “Remaining Public Shares”) and (B) the warrants in an amount equal to the Aggregate Warrant Amount less the number of warrants distributed pursuant to the foregoing clause (A) will be distributed on a pro rata basis to (x) the holders of the Remaining Public Shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as Distributable Redeemable Warrants and (y) the holders of the forward purchase shares based on their percentage of Class A common stock held after redemptions and the issuance of any forward purchase shares, as private placement warrants. Public Stockholders who exercise their redemption rights are not entitled to receive any distribution of Distributable Redeemable Warrants in respect of such redeemed Public Shares. The right of any Public Stockholder to receive any additional Distributable Redeemable Warrants with respect to each Public Share they hold is contingent upon such share not being redeemed in connection with the initial Business Combination. The number of Distributable Redeemable Warrants to be distributed in respect of each share of unredeemed Class A common stock is contingent upon the aggregate number of Public Shares that are redeemed in connection with the initial Business Combination. The right to receive Distributable Redeemable Warrants will
   
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STARBOARD VALUE ACQUISITION CORP.
remain attached to the Class A common stock and will not be separately transferable, assignable or salable. The Distributable Redeemable Warrants will be distributed at the “distribution time,” which will be immediately after the Initial Business Combination Redemption Time and immediately before the closing of the initial Business Combination. The Distributable Redeemable Warrants, together with the Detachable Redeemable Warrants, are collectively referred to herein as the “Public Warrants”.
The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of the final prospectus relating to the Proposed Public Offering to purchase up to 4,500,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Proposed Public Offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions (see Note 5). If the underwriters fully exercise such option, the Company will issue an additional 4,500,000 shares of Class A common stock and 750,000 Detachable Redeemable Warrants as part of the units, and will distribute at the distribution time up to an additional 750,000 Distributable Redeemable Warrants.
Note 4—Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On November 27, 2019, the Sponsor purchased 8,625,000 shares (the “Founder Shares”) of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, for an aggregate price of  $25,000. In June 2020, the Sponsor transferred (i) 431,250 Founder Shares to Martin D. McNulty, Jr., the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors and (ii) 25,000 Founder Shares to each of Pauline J. Brown, Michelle Felman and Lowell Robinson. In July 2020, the Sponsor transferred 25,000 Founder Shares to Robert L. Greene. An aggregate of up to 1,125,000 of such Founder Shares held by our Sponsor and our Chief Executive Officer are subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriters’ overallotment option is not exercised in full, as further described herein.
The Sponsor and the Company's Chief Executive Officer have agreed to forfeit up to 1,125,000 Founder Shares to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters so that the Founder Shares will represent 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering. If the Company increases or decreases the size of the Proposed Public Offering, the Company will effect a stock dividend or share contribution back to capital, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the Founder Share ownership of the Company’s stockholders prior to the Proposed Public Offering at 20.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock upon the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering.
The initial stockholders will agree, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares until (A) one year after the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the closing price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the initial Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Public Stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Private Placement Warrants
The Sponsor will agree to purchase an aggregate of 5,333,333 Private Placement Warrants (or 5,933,333 Private Placement Warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant ($8.0 million in the aggregate, or $8.9 million if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Each whole Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for one whole share of Class A common stock at a price of  $11.50 per share. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants to the Sponsor will be added to the proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering to be held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless. The
   
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Private Placement Warrants will be non-redeemable for cash and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees.
The Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors will agree, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Private Placement Warrants until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination.
Related Party Loans
On November 27, 2019, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Proposed Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “Note”). The Note is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of October 31, 2020 or the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company has borrowed approximately $107,000 under the Note.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. 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. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such Working Capital Loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1.5 million of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants of the post Business Combination entity at a price of  $1.50 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. To date, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.
Administrative Services Agreement
The Company will enter into an agreement that will provide that, commencing on the date that the securities of the Company are first listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and continuing until the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination or the Company’s liquidation, the Company will pay the Sponsor a total of  $10,000 per month for office space, administrative and support services.
The Sponsor, executive officers and directors or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on the Company’s behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable Business Combinations. The Company’s audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to the Sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on the Company’s behalf.
Note 5—Commitments and contingencies
Registration Rights
The holders of Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans, if any, (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering. These holders will be entitled to certain demand and “piggyback” registration rights. However, the registration rights agreement provides that the Company will not permit any registration statement filed under the Securities Act to become effective until the termination of the applicable lock-up period for the securities to be registered. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
   
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Underwriting Agreement
The underwriters will be entitled to an underwriting discount of  $0.20 per Unit, or $6.0 million in the aggregate (or $6.9 million in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. An additional fee of  $0.45 per Unit, or $13.5 million in the aggregate (or approximately $15.5 million in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement. The underwriters have agreed to reimburse the Company $1.5 million for expenses under certain circumstances.
Risks and Uncertainties
Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Note 6—Stockholder’s Equity
Preferred stock — The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.
Class A common stock — The Company is authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock with a par value of  $0.0001 per share. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, there were no shares of Class A common stock issued or outstanding.
Class B common stock — The Company is authorized to issue 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock with a par value of  $0.0001 per share. In November 2019, the Company issued 8,625,000 shares of Class B common stock, including up to 1,125,000 shares of Class B common stock that are subject to forfeiture, to the Company by the Sponsor and Chief Executive Officer for no consideration to the extent that the underwriter’s over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the initial stockholders will collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock after the Proposed Public Offering. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, there were 8,625,000 shares of Class B common stock outstanding.
Prior to the initial Business Combination, only holders of the Company’s Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors. Holders of the Class A common stock will not be entitled to vote on the election of directors during such time. These provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation may only be amended if approved by the holders of at least 90% of the Company’s common stock entitled to vote thereon. With respect to any other matter submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders, including any vote in connection with the initial Business Combination, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rule, holders of the Company’s Class A common stock and holders of the Company’s Class B common stock will vote together as a single class, with each share entitling the holder to one vote.
The Class B common stock will automatically convert into Class A common stock at the time of the initial Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in the Proposed Public Offering and related to the closing of the initial Business Combination (other than the forward purchase shares and the private placement warrants delivered pursuant to the forward purchase agreement), the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the total
   
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number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon completion of the Proposed Public Offering plus all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial Business Combination (net of the number of shares of Class A common stock redeemed in connection with the initial Business Combination), excluding the forward purchase shares and private placement warrants delivered pursuant to the forward purchase agreement, any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial Business Combination and any Private Placement Warrants issued upon the conversion of Working Capital Loans made to the Company.
Warrants — Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional Public Warrants will be issued upon separation of the Units and only whole Public Warrants will trade. The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of  (a) 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination or (b) 12 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering; provided in each case that the Company has an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available (or the Company permits holders to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Securities Act). The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days, after the closing of a Business Combination, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Public Warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. Notwithstanding the above, if the Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a 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, the Company may, at its option, require holders of Public Warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless” basis, and, in the event the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but the Company will be required to use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. The Public Warrants will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants, except that the Private Placement Warrants and the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants will be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees. If the Private Placement Warrants are held by someone other than the Sponsor or its permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may call the Public Warrants for redemption:

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; and

if, and only if, the closing price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share on each of 20 trading days within the 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.
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.
In addition, commencing 90 days after the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants for shares of Class A common stock (including both Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants):

in whole and not in part;
   
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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 prior to redemption and receive that number of shares of Class A common stock determined by reference to an agreed table to be described in the warrant agreement, based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of the Class A common stock except as otherwise described below;

if, and only if, the last sale price of the Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) on the trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrantholders;

if, and only if, the Private Placement Warrants and the private placement warrants to be issued pursuant to the forward purchase agreement are also concurrently exchanged at the same price (equal to a number of shares of Class A common stock) as the outstanding Public Warrants, as described above; and

if and only if, there is an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating thereto available throughout the 30-day period after written notice of redemption is given, or an exemption from registration is available.
The exercise price and number of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. In addition, if  (x) the Company issues additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company and, (i) in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance, and (ii) without taking into account (A) the transfer of Founder Shares or Private Placement Warrants (including if such transfer is effectuated as a surrender to the Company and subsequent reissuance by the Company) by the Sponsor in connection with such issuance) or (B) any private placement warrants issued pursuant to the forward purchase agreement (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Class A common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates its initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described above will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any warrant. 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 the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
Note 7—Subsequent Events
In July 2020, the Sponsor transferred 25,000 Founder Shares to Robert L. Greene. The 100,000 Founder Shares held by the independent directors will not be subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriters’ overallotment option is not exercised.
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after December 31, 2019, the balance sheet date up to June 19, 2020, the date that the audited financial statements were available to be issued. The Company also evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after June 30, 2020, the balance sheet date, up to August 17, 2020, the date the unaudited interim financial statements were available to be issued. Other than as described above, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
   
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30,000,000 Units
[MISSING IMAGE: lg_svac1.jpg]
Starboard Value Acquisition Corp.
P R E L I M I N A R Y   P R O S P E C T U S
           , 2020
Joint Book-Running Managers
UBS Investment Bank
Stifel
Cowen
Until           , 2020 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade shares of our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 
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Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:
SEC/FINRA expenses
$ 97,031
Accounting fees and expenses
55,000
Printing and engraving expenses
40,000
Travel and road show expenses
100,000
Directors and officers insurance premiums
250,000
Legal fees and expenses
300,000
Nasdaq listing and filing fees
75,000
Miscellaneous
582,969
Total
$ 1,500,000
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and officers.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that all of our directors, officers, employees and agents shall be entitled to be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law concerning indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents is set forth below.
Section 145. Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents; insurance.
(a)   A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
(b)   A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
 
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adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(c)   To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
(d)   Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
(e)   Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former officers and directors or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
(f)   The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.
(g)   A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.
(h)   For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(i)   For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee
 
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benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.
(j)   The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(k)   The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any by law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).
In connection with this registration statement, we have undertaken that insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have 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 of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to the 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. See Item 17 “Undertakings.”
In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, will provide that no director shall be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is to eliminate our rights and those of our stockholders (through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except, as restricted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. However, this provision does not limit or eliminate our rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide that we will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify our current and former officers and directors, as well as those persons who, while directors or officers of our corporation, are or were serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such person in connection with any such proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person eligible for indemnification pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will be indemnified by us in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by our board of directors, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification.
The right to indemnification which will be conferred by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by us the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by our officer or director (solely in the capacity as an officer or director of our corporation) will be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is
 
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ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or otherwise.
The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may have or hereafter acquire under law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors, then, in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation affecting indemnification rights, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by applicable law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also permit us, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other that those specifically covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Our bylaws include the provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those which will be set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In addition, our bylaws provide for a right of indemnity to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by us within a specified period of time. Our bylaws also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance, at our expense, to protect us and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of our corporation or another entity, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our bylaws affecting indemnification rights, whether by our board of directors, stockholders or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by applicable law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
We will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our officers and directors a form of which is filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, a form of which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement, we have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify us against certain civil liabilities that may be incurred in connection with this offering, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
In November 2019, SVAC Sponsor LLC purchased an aggregate of 8,625,000 founder shares, for an aggregate offering price of  $25,000 at an average purchase price of approximately $0.003 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that the founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock upon completion of this offering. Such securities were issued in connection with our organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. SVAC Sponsor LLC is an accredited investor for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D.
 
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In addition, SVAC Sponsor LLC has subscribed to purchase from us an aggregate of 5,333,333 private placement warrants (or 5,933,333 warrants if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $1.50 per warrant (for an aggregate purchase price of  $8,000,000 or $8,900,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). This purchase will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the completion of our initial public offering. Any such issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)
Exhibits.   The following exhibits are being filed herewith:
Exhibit
Description
1.1* Form of Underwriting Agreement
3.1* Certificate of Incorporation
3.2* Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
3.3* Form of Bylaws
4.1* Specimen Unit Certificate
4.2* Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate
4.3 Specimen Warrant Certificate (included in Exhibit 4.4)
4.4 Form of Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Registrant
5.1* Opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
10.1* Promissory Note, dated November 27, 2019 issued to SVAC Sponsor LLC
10.2* Form of Letter Agreement among the Registrant and the Registrant’s officers and directors and SVAC Sponsor LLC
10.3* Form of Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Registrant
10.4* Form of Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and certain security holders
10.5* Securities Subscription Agreement, dated November 25, 2019 between the Registrant and SVAC Sponsor LLC
10.6* Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated August 17, 2020, between the Registrant and SVAC Sponsor LLC
10.7* Form of Indemnity Agreement
10.8* Form of Administrative Services Agreement, by and between the Registrant and SVAC Sponsor LLC
10.9* Forward Purchase Agreement, dated August 17, 2020, by and among the Registrant and the Forward Purchasers
10.10* Form of Optional Share Purchase Agreement, by and among the Registrant and the Forward Purchasers
14.1* Form of Code of Ethics
23.1 Consent of WithumSmith+Brown, PC
23.2* Consent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24* Power of Attorney
99.1* Form of Audit Committee Charter
99.2* Form of Compensation Committee Charter
*
Previously filed.
 
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(b)
Financial Statements.   See page F-1 for an index to the financial statements and schedules included in the registration statement.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(b)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 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 Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(c)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1)
For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2)
For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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.
(3)
For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, 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.
(4)
For the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;
 
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(iii)
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv)
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
 
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on the 4th of September, 2020.
Starboard Value Acquisition Corp.
By:
/s/ Martin D. McNulty, Jr.
Name: Martin D. McNulty, Jr.
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Martin D. McNulty, Jr.
Martin D. McNulty, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
September 4, 2020
*
Kenneth R. Marlin
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
September 4, 2020
*
Jeffrey C. Smith
Chair of the Board
September 4, 2020
*
Pauline J. Brown
Director
September 4, 2020
*
Michelle Felman
Director
September 4, 2020
*
Robert L. Greene
Director
September 4, 2020
*
Lowell W. Robinson
Director
September 4, 2020
* By:
/s/ Martin D. McNulty, Jr.
Martin D. McNulty, Jr.
Attorney-in-fact
 
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