UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 28, 2020
Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands | 001-39405 | N/A | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
667 Madison Avenue
5th Floor
New York, New York 10065
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (212) 209-6126
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Units, each consisting of one Class A ordinary share, $0.0001 par value, and one-half of one redeemable warrant | ACND.U | The New York Stock Exchange | ||
Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 par value | ACND | The New York Stock Exchange | ||
Redeemable warrants, each warrant exercisable for one Class A ordinary share, each at an exercise price of $11.50 per share | ACND WS | The New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 8.01. | Other Events. |
On July 28, 2020, Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp. (the Company) consummated its initial public offering (IPO) of 41,400,000 units (the Units), including the issuance of 5,400,000 Units as a result of the underwriters exercise of their over-allotment option in full. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the Class A ordinary shares), and one-half of one redeemable warrant of the Company (each, a Warrant), each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share for $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The Units were sold at a price of $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $414,000,000.
On July 28, 2020, simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, the Company completed the private sale (the Private Placement) of an aggregate of 10,280,000 warrants (the Private Placement Warrants) to Ascendant Sponsor LP at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $10,280,000.
A total of $414,000,000, comprised of $405,720,000 of the proceeds from the IPO (which amount includes $14,490,000 of the underwriters deferred discount) and $8,280,000 of the proceeds of the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, was placed in a U.S.-based trust account at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee.
An audited balance sheet as of July 28, 2020 reflecting receipt of the proceeds upon consummation of the IPO and the Private Placement has been issued by the Company and is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
99.1 | Audited Balance Sheet as of July 28, 2020. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ Mark Gerhard | |
Name: Mark Gerhard | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Dated: August 3, 2020
Exhibit 99.1
ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
F-2 | |||
Balance Sheet |
F-3 | |||
Notes to Balance Sheet |
F-4 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp.
Opinion on the Financial Statement
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp. (the Company) as of July 28, 2020 and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statement). In our opinion, the financial statement presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of July 28, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
This financial statement is the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys financial statement 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 statement is 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 entitys 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 statement, 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 statement. 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 statement. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC
We have served as the Companys auditor since 2020.
New York, New York
August 3, 2020
F-2
ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
BALANCE SHEET
July 28, 2020
Assets: |
||||
Current assets: |
||||
Cash |
$ | 1,017,306 | ||
Prepaid expenses |
439,461 | |||
|
|
|||
Total current assets |
1,456,767 | |||
Cash held in Trust Account |
414,000,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Total Assets |
$ | 415,456,767 | ||
|
|
|||
Liabilities and Shareholders Equity: |
||||
Current liabilities: |
||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 40,259 | ||
Accrued expenses |
85,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Total current liabilities |
125,259 | |||
Deferred underwriting commissions |
14,490,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Total liabilities |
14,615,259 | |||
Commitments and Contingencies |
||||
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 39,584,150 shares subject to possible redemption at $10.00 per share |
395,841,500 | |||
Shareholders Equity: |
||||
Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding |
| |||
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 1,815,850 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 39,584,150 shares subject to possible redemption) |
181 | |||
Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 10,350,000 issued and outstanding |
1,035 | |||
Additional paid-in capital |
5,064,667 | |||
Accumulated deficit |
(65,875 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Total shareholders equity |
5,000,008 | |||
|
|
|||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
$ | 415,456,767 | ||
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the balance sheet.
F-3
ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
Note 1Description of Organization, Business Operations and Basis of Presentation
Ascendant Digital Acquisition Corp. (the Company) was incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on February 11, 2020. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the Business Combination). Although the Company is not limited to a particular industry or sector for purposes of consummating a Business Combination, the Company intends to focus its search on companies in what we call the Attention Economy, which refers to various converging sectors within interactive (digital) entertainment, film/television, music, print and digital books (including magazine and comics publications), e-sports, live events and other forms of consumer entertainment and enabling services and technologies. 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 July 28, 2020, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from February 11, 2020 (inception) through July 28, 2020 relates to the Companys formation and the initial public offering (the Initial Public Offering). 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 Initial Public Offering (as defined below). The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The Companys sponsor is Ascendant Sponsor LP, a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (the Sponsor).
The registration statement for the Companys Initial Public Offering was declared effective on July 24, 2020. On July 28, 2020, the Company consummated its Initial Public Offering of 41,400,000 units (the Units and, with respect to the Class A ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the Public Shares), including 5,400,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments (the Over-Allotment Units), at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $414.0 million, and incurring offering costs of approximately $23.4 million, inclusive of approximately $14.5 million in deferred underwriting commissions (Note 5).
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the private placement (Private Placement) of 10,280,000 warrants (each, a Private Placement Warrant and collectively, the Private Placement Warrants), at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant with the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of approximately $10.3 million (Note 4).
Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement, $414.0 million ($10.00 per Unit) of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and certain of the proceeds of the Private Placement were placed in a trust account (Trust Account), located in the United States, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and will be invested by the trustee only 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 of the Investment Company Act, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account as described below.
The Companys management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial 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 assets held in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on 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 outstanding 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).
The Company will provide its holders (the Public Shareholders) of its Public Shares with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a general meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to
F-4
ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially anticipated to be $10.00 per Public Share). The per-share amount to be distributed to Public Shareholders 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). These Public Shares will be classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Boards (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 such consummation of a Business Combination and a majority of the shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination. If a shareholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association), 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, shareholder approval of the transactions is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain shareholder 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 Shareholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Initial Shareholders (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 Initial Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination. The Initial Shareholders 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 amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that a Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 20% or more of the Class A ordinary shares sold in the Initial Public Offering, without the prior consent of the Company.
The Companys Sponsor, officers and directors (the Initial Shareholders) have agreed not to propose an amendment to the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (a) that would modify the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to redeem 100% of its Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, or July 28, 2022 (the Combination Period) or (b) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, unless the Company provides the Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Class A ordinary shares in conjunction with any such amendment.
If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within 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 (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any) and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Companys remaining shareholders and the Companys board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the Companys obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law.
The Initial Shareholders 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 Sponsor or members of the Companys management team acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial 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 its deferred underwriting commission (see Note 5) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be
F-5
ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
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 Trust Account assets) will be only $10.00 per share initially held in the Trust Account. 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 vendor for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or to any claims under the Companys indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. 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 (except for the Companys independent registered public accounting firm), 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.
Liquidity
As of July 28, 2020, the Company had approximately $1.0 million in its operating bank account, and working capital of approximately $1.3 million.
The Companys liquidity needs to date have been satisfied through a contribution of $25,000 from Sponsor to cover for certain offering costs in exchange for the issuance of the Founder Shares, the loan of approximately $160,000 from the Sponsor pursuant to the Note (see Note 4), and the proceeds from the consummation of the Private Placement not held in the Trust Account. The Company fully repaid the Note on July 28, 2020. 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 Companys officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, provide the Company Working Capital Loans (see Note 4). As of July 28, 2020, there were no amounts outstanding under any Working Capital Loan.
Based on the foregoing, management believes that the Company will have sufficient working capital and borrowing capacity from the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor, or certain of the Companys officers and directors to meet its needs through the earlier of the consummation of a Business Combination or one year from this filing. Over this time period, the Company will be using these funds for paying existing accounts payable, identifying and evaluating prospective initial Business Combination candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to merge with or acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying balance sheet is 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.
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 independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are
F-6
ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
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 an election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard.
This may make comparison of the Companys financial statement with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Note 2Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates
The preparation of balance sheet in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Companys management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Companys assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under the FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet.
Offering Costs Associated with the Initial Public Offering
Offering costs consist of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred that were directly related to the Initial Public Offering and that were charged to shareholders equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering.
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption
The Company accounts for its Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480 Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Companys control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A ordinary shares are classified as shareholders equity. The Companys Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Companys control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at July 28, 2020, 39,584,150 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders equity section of the Companys balance sheet.
Income Taxes
The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under FASB ASC Topic 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 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.
FASB ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be
F-7
ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
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 July 28, 2020. The Companys management determined that the Cayman Islands is the Companys only major tax jurisdiction. 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 July 28, 2020. 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 Company is considered an exempted Cayman Islands Company, and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Companys tax provision was zero for the period presented.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Companys management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Companys financial statement.
Note 3Initial Public Offering
On July 28, 2020, the Company consummated its Initial Public Offering of 41,400,000 Units, including 5,400,000 Over-Allotment Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $414.0 million, and incurring offering costs of approximately $23.4 million, inclusive of approximately $14.5 million in deferred underwriting commissions.
Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share, and one-half of one redeemable warrant (each, a Public Warrant). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment (see Note 6).
Note 4Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On March 2, 2020, the Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain offering costs of the Company in consideration of 8,625,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001, (the Founder Shares), for an aggregate price of $25,000. On May 29, 2020, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares to the Company for cancellation for no consideration. On June 26, 2020, the Company effected a share capitalization of 1,437,500 Founder Shares, resulting in the Sponsor holding 8,625,000 Founder Shares. In July 2020, the Sponsor transferred an aggregate of 180,000 Founder Shares to members of the Companys board of directors and advisory board, resulting in the Sponsor holding 8,445,000 Founder Shares. On July 23, 2020, the Company effected another share capitalization of 1,725,000 Founder Shares, resulting in an aggregate of 10,350,000 Founder Shares outstanding, of which the Sponsor holds 10,170,000 shares. All shares and the associated amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the aforementioned share surrender and capitalization. The holders of the Founder Shares have agreed to forfeit up to an aggregate of 1,350,000 Founder Shares, on a pro rata basis, to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the underwriters so that the Founder Shares will represent 20% of the Companys issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering. On July 28, 2020, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option; thus, these Founder Shares were no longer subject to forfeiture.
The Initial Shareholders agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier to occur of: (i) one year after the completion of the Initial Business Combination or (ii) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction after the Initial Business Combination that results in all of the Companys shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property; except to certain permitted transferees and under certain circumstances. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of the initial Shareholders with respect to any Founder Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing
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ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
at least 150 days after the Initial Business Combination or (2) if the Company consummates a transaction after the Initial Business Combination which results in the Companys shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property, the Founder Shares will be released from the lock-up.
Private Placement Warrants
Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the Private Placement of 10,280,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant with the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds of approximately $10.3 million.
Each whole Private Placement Warrant is exercisable for one whole Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. Certain proceeds from the Private Placement Warrants was added to the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering 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 Private Placement Warrants will be non-redeemable (except as set forth below under Redemption of Warrants When the Price Per Class A Ordinary Share Equals or Exceeds $10.00) and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees.
The Sponsor and the Companys officers and directors agreed, 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 March 2, 2020, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Initial Public Offering pursuant to a promissory note (the Note). This loan is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of December 31, 2020 or the completion of the Initial Public Offering. The Company borrowed approximately $160,000 under the Note, and then fully repaid the Note on July 28, 2020.
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 Companys 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. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lenders 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 $1.00 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. 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. To date, the Company had no borrowings under the Working Capital Loans.
Administrative Support Agreement
The Company agreed to pay the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month, commencing on the effective date of the Initial Public Offering, for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of the management team. Upon completion of the Initial Business Combination or the Companys liquidation, the Company will cease paying these monthly fees.
Forward Purchase Agreement
In connection with the consummation of this offering, we have entered into a forward purchase agreement with Nexon, pursuant to which Nexon has subscribed to purchase from us up to 25,000,000 forward purchase units (the Forward Purchase Units), consisting of one Class A ordinary share (the Forward Purchase Shares), and one-half of one warrant to purchase one Class A ordinary share (the Forward Purchase Warrants), for $10.00 per unit, or an aggregate amount of up to $250,000,000, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of our
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ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
initial business combination. Nexons commitment under the forward purchase agreement is subject to, among other conditions, the approval of its investment committee. The Forward Purchase Shares and Forward Purchase Warrants will be identical to the Class A ordinary shares and warrants, respectively, included in the units being sold in this offering, except that they will be subject to certain transfer restrictions and registration rights, as described herein.
Note 5Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
The holders of Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants, Forward Purchase Securities and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans, if any, are entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement. 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.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the final prospectus relating to the Initial Public Offering to purchase up to 5,400,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Initial Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On July 28, 2020, the underwriters fully exercised their over-allotment option.
The underwriters were entitled to an underwriting discount of $0.20 per unit, or approximately $8.3 million in the aggregate, paid upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. In addition, $0.35 per unit, or approximately $14.5 million in the aggregate 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.
Risks and Uncertainties
Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that, while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Companys financial position, results of its operations, close of the Initial Public Offering and/or search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these financial statement. The financial statement does not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Note 6Shareholders Equity
Class A Ordinary SharesThe Company is authorized to issue 200,000,000 Class A ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of July 28, 2020, there were 41,400,000 Class A ordinary shares issued or outstanding, including 39,584,150 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption.
Class B Ordinary SharesThe Company is authorized to issue 20,000,000 Class B ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. On March 2, 2020, the Company issued 8,625,000 Class B ordinary shares to the Sponsor. On May 29, 2020, the Sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 Founder Shares to the Company for cancellation for no consideration. On June 26, 2020, the Company effected a share capitalization of 1,437,500 Founder Shares and as a result the Sponsor held 8,625,000 Class B ordinary shares. On July 23, 2020, the Company effected another share capitalization of 1,725,000 Founder Shares, resulting in an aggregate of 10,350,000 Founder Shares outstanding, of which the Sponsor holding 10,170,000 shares. All shares and the associated amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the aforementioned share surrender and capitalization. Of the 10,350,000 Class B ordinary shares, an aggregate of up to 1,350,000 shares are subject to forfeiture to the Company for no consideration to the extent that the underwriters over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the Initial Shareholders will collectively own 20% of the Companys issued and outstanding ordinary shares after the Initial Public Offering. On July 28, 2020, the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option; thus, these Founder Shares were no longer subject to forfeiture.
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ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
Holders of record of our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders, except as required by law; provided, that, prior to the Companys initial Business Combination, only holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to vote on the election of directors prior to or in connection with the completion of the Initial Business Combination.
The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at the time of the consummation of the Initial Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities are issued or deemed issued in connection with the Initial Business Combination, the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Founder Shares will equal, in the aggregate, 20% of the total number of Class A ordinary shares outstanding after such conversion (after giving effect to any redemptions of Class A ordinary shares by Public Shareholders), including the total number of Class A ordinary shares issued, or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with or in relation to the consummation of the Initial Business Combination (including the forward purchase shares but not the forward purchase warrants), excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the Initial Business Combination and any Private Placement Warrants issued to the Sponsor, officers or directors upon conversion of Working Capital Loans; provided that such conversion of Founder Shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one basis.
Preference SharesThe Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 preference shares with such designations, voting and other rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Companys board of directors. As of July 28, 2020, there were no preference shares issued or outstanding.
WarrantsPublic 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 and (b) one year from the closing of the Initial Public Offering; provided in each case that the Company has an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available and such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities, or blue sky, laws of the state of residence of the holder (or the Company permits holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the warrant agreement). If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, it may exercise its redemption right even if the Company is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of the Initial Business Combination, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC and have an effective registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. If a registration statement covering the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of the Initial Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Notwithstanding the above, if the Class A ordinary shares are at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a covered security under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of public 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 the Company so elect, it will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, and in the event the Company does not so elect, it will use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
The Public Warrants has an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustments as described below, and will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising
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ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
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 Class A ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Companys board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the Initial Shareholders or their affiliates, without taking into account any Founder Shares held by the Initial Shareholders or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance) (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 our Initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our Class A ordinary shares during the 10-trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates the Initial Business Combination (such price, the Market Value) is below $9.20 per share, then 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, 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 (SeeRedemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00 and Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00), and the $10.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price (SeeRedemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00).
The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants and the ordinary shares 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 (except as set forth below under Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00) so long as they are held by the Sponsor, members of the Sponsor or their 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 for cash and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $10.00
Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants for Class A ordinary shares:
| 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 Class A ordinary shares to be determined by reference to an agreed table based on the redemption date and the fair market value of the Class A ordinary shares; |
| if, and only if, the last reported sale price (the closing price) of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted) for any 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; and |
| if the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted), the Private Placement Warrants must also be concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding Public Warrants, as described above. |
The fair market value of the Class A ordinary shares shall mean the volume weighted average price of the Class A ordinary shares during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. The Company will provide warrant holders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the 10-trading day period described above ends. In no event will the warrants be exercisable in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.361 Class A ordinary shares per warrant (subject to adjustment).
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ASCENDANT DIGITAL ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO BALANCE SHEET
Redemption of warrants when the price per Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $18.00
Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants for cash (except as described herein with respect to the Private Placement Warrants):
| in whole and not in part; |
| at a price of $0.01 per warrant; |
| upon a minimum of 30 days prior written notice of redemption; and |
| if, and only if, the closing price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted) for any 20 trading days within a 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. |
The Company will not redeem the warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those Class A ordinary shares is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If and when the warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may exercise its redemption right even if it is unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
If the Company is unable to complete the Initial 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 Companys assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.
Note 7Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated subsequent events to determine if events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through the date the balance sheet was available for issuance, require potential adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statement and has concluded that all such events that would require recognition or disclosure have been recognized or disclosed.
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