As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 4, 2022
Registration Statement No. 333-260992
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 3
to
FORM F-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING UK LIMITED*
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
England and Wales | 3711 | Not Applicable | ||
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Thomas Ingenlath
Assar Gabrielssons Väg 9
405 31 Göteborg, Sweden
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrants principal executive offices)
Polestar Automotive USA Inc.
777 MacArthur Blvd
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Tel: (949) 735-1834
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Christian O. Nagler Timothy Cruickshank Kirkland & Ellis LLP 601 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 Tel: (212) 446-4800 Fax: (212) 446-4900 |
Alex Lloyd Kirkland & Ellis LLP 200 Clarendon Street Boston, MA 02116 Tel: (617) 385-7500 |
James R. Griffin Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP 200 Crescent Court, Suite 300 Dallas, TX 75201 Tel: (214) 746-7779 |
Kyle C. Krpata Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP 201 Redwood Shores Parkway Redwood Shores, CA 94065 Tel: (650) 802-3093 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: Pursuant to Rule 162 under the Securities Act, the offer described herein will commence as soon as practicable after the date of this Registration Statement. The offer cannot, however, be completed prior to the time this Registration Statement becomes effective. Accordingly, any actual exchange of securities pursuant to the offer will occur only after this Registration Statement is effective, subject to the conditions set forth in this Registration Statement.
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(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. ☐
If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:
Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer) ☐
Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer) ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
* | Prior to the consummation of the proposed Business Combination, Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited will re-register as a public limited company under the laws of England and Wales with the name Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC. |
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, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information contained in this document is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This document is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted or would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
PRELIMINARYSUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 4, 2022
This proxy statement/prospectus relates to a Business Combination Agreement, dated September 27, 2021 (as amended by that certain amendment dated December 17, 2021 (Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement), and as it may be further amended from time to time, the Business Combination Agreement), by and among Gores Guggenheim, Inc., a Delaware corporation (GGI), Polestar Automotive Holding Limited, a Hong Kong incorporated company (Parent), Polestar Automotive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares in Singapore (Polestar Singapore), Polestar Holding AB, a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Sweden (Polestar Sweden), Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited, a limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (ListCo, and, following the Closing (as defined below), the Post-Combination Company), and PAH UK Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo (Merger Sub), a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annexes A-1 and A-2.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement and in connection therewith, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein:
| in connection with the Merger (as defined below), prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the other transaction documents contemplated thereby (the Closing), Parent will, and will cause ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and their respective subsidiaries to, complete a reorganization, pursuant to which, among other things, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and their respective subsidiaries will become, directly or indirectly, wholly owned subsidiaries of ListCo (the Pre-Closing Reorganization); |
| as consideration for the Pre-Closing Reorganization, ListCo will issue to Parent a number of class A ordinary shares in the share capital of ListCo (Post-Combination Company Class A Shares), which class A ordinary shares will entitle the holder to one vote per share and a number of class B ordinary shares in the share capital of ListCo (Post-Combination Company Class B Shares, and, together with the Post-Combination Company Class A Shares, the Post-Combination Company Shares), which class B ordinary shares will entitle the holder to ten votes per share, such that, following the Pre-Closing Reorganization, Parent will hold an aggregate number of Post-Combination Company Shares equal to approximately (a) $20,003,000,000 divided by $10.00, less (b) (i) the aggregate principal amount due in respect of certain convertible notes of Parent outstanding as of immediately prior to the Closing, divided by (ii) the applicable conversion price of such notes, less (c) 49,803,900, which represents the aggregate number of Post-Combination Company Preference Shares (as defined below) issued pursuant to the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement (as defined below); |
| as additional consideration for Parents contribution to ListCo of all the issued and outstanding equity securities of Polestar Sweden, Parent will be entitled to receive, during the period beginning 180 days following the Closing and for five years thereafter, subject to the terms provided in the Business Combination Agreement, earn out shares from ListCo (the Earn Out Shares) issuable in Post-Combination Company Class A Shares and Post-Combination Company Class B Shares up to an aggregate number equal to approximately (a) 0.075 multiplied by (b) the number of issued and outstanding Post-Combination Company Shares as of immediately after the Effective Time (as defined below) (including Post-Combination Company Shares issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreements (as defined below)), rounded down to the nearest whole number; |
| following the Pre-Closing Reorganization and pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, at the Closing, Merger Sub will merge with and into GGI (the Merger), pursuant to which the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and GGI will be the surviving corporation and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo (the Merger, together with the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, and the transactions contemplated by the other transaction documents contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, the Business Combination); |
| at the effective time of the Merger (the Effective Time) and by virtue of the Merger: |
| any units of GGI that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time held by GGI stockholders will be automatically separated and the holder thereof will be deemed to hold one share of GGI Class A Common Stock and one-fifth of a public warrant of GGI (GGI Public Warrant), which underlying securities will be converted as described below; |
| each share of Class A common stock of GGI, par value $0.0001 per share (GGI Class A Common Stock) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than those held in treasury, will be exchanged for one newly issued American depositary share of ListCo (Class A ADS) duly and validly issued against the deposit of an underlying Post-Combination Company Class A Share with ListCos depositary bank (the depositary) with which ListCo has established and sponsored American depositary receipt facilities (each, an ADR Facility); |
| each share of Class F common stock of GGI, par value $0.0001 per share (GGI Class F Common Stock, and together with the GGI Class A Common Stock, the GGI Common Stock) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than those held in treasury, will be exchanged for one newly issued Class A ADS; |
| all GGI Common Stock held in treasury will be canceled and extinguished without consideration; and |
| in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal (as defined below) is approved prior to the Effective Time, pursuant to the Class C Warrant Amendment, each GGI Public Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one American depositary share of ListCo (Class C-1 ADS) duly and validly issued against the deposit with the depositary of an underlying class C-1 preferred share in the share capital of ListCo (Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Share). Each Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Share will be exercisable to acquire a Post-Combination Company Class A Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. In addition, each private placement warrant of GGI (GGI Private Placement Warrant) will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one American depositary share of ListCo (Class C-2 ADS, and together with the Class C-1 ADSs, the Class C ADSs) duly and validly issued against the deposit with the depositary of an underlying class C-2 preferred share in the share capital of ListCo (Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Share, and together with the Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Shares, the Post-Combination Company Class C Shares). Each Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Share will be exercisable to acquire a Post-Combination Company Class A Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share; |
| in the event that the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved prior to the Effective Time, pursuant to the Warrant Amendment Agreement, each GGI Public Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one American depositary warrant of ListCo (Public ADW) duly and validly issued against the deposit with the depositary of an underlying warrant of ListCo (a Post-Combination Company Warrant) representing the right to acquire one Class A ADS (or one Post-Combination Company Class A Share if at the time of exercise ListCo no longer uses the ADR Facility) at an exercise price of $11.50 per Class A ADS on substantially the same terms applicable to the GGI Public Warrant. In addition, each GGI Private Placement Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one American depositary warrant of ListCo (a PP ADW and, together with the Public ADWs, the ADWs) duly and validly issued against the deposit with the depositary of an underlying warrant of ListCo (a Post-Combination Company PP Warrant, and together with the Post-Combination Company Public Warrants, the Post-Combination Company Warrants) representing the right to acquire one Class A ADS (or one Post-Combination Company Class A Share if at the time of exercise ListCo no longer uses the ADR Facility) at an exercise price of $11.50 per Class A ADS on substantially the same terms applicable to the GGI Private Placement Warrant; |
| in connection with the Business Combination, ListCo will re-register as a public limited company under the laws of England and Wales with the name Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC and will adopt the proposed Articles of Association of the Post-Combination Company, which will become the Post-Combination Companys articles of association following the consummation of the Business Combination. (the Post-Combination Articles), a form of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex B, to provide for, among other things, that (i) the initial ListCo Board will include nine directors, each serving staggered three-year terms, (ii) for a period of three years following the Closing, a majority of the ListCo Board will be (a) independent under applicable stock exchange rules and (b) unaffiliated with the Volvo Cars (as defined below)/Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd., and (iii) for a period of three years following the Closing, except as required by applicable law, the ListCo Board may not convene a general meeting which proposes a resolution to remove an independent director unless a majority of the directors (including at least two independent directors) approve of such resolution and following any such removal, a majority of the directors (including at least two independent directors) must approve the appointment of any new independent director to fill the vacancy; |
| Parent, Parent Shareholders and ListCo have entered into an acknowledgement agreement (as amended by that certain Amendment to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement, dated as of March [●], 2022, and as may be further amended from time to time, the Shareholder Acknowledgement Agreement), a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annexes M-1 and M-2, which provides, among other things, that Parent and the Parent shareholders undertake that (i) the initial ListCo Board will include nine directors, a majority of whom will be independent directors, (ii) for a period of three years following the Closing, Parent and the Parent shareholders will not vote in favor of the removal any independent directors of ListCo unless at least two independent directors vote in favor of such removal, (iii) for a period of three years following the Closing, Parent and the Parent shareholders will not require ListCo to convene a general meeting for the purpose of removing an independent director, and (iv) for three years following the Closing, Parent and the Parent shareholders will not vote in favor of any amendment to the Post-Combination Articles relating to the composition of the ListCo Board or the appointment or removal of ListCo directors. The GGI Sponsor will have third party beneficiary rights to enforce the aforementioned undertakings; |
| Parent, Parent Shareholders, ListCo, the GGI Sponsor and the independent directors of GGI entered into a registration rights agreement (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 17, 2021 (the Registration Rights Agreement Amendment), and as may be further amended from time to time, the Registration Rights Agreement), a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annexes G-1 and G-2; and |
| prior to the Closing (but after the completion of the Pre-Closing Reorganization), ListCo and Parent will approve and adopt an equity plan, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex I, and an employee stock purchase plan, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex J. |
In addition and in connection with the foregoing, GGI, Parent, ListCo, the GGI Sponsor and GGIs independent directors (the GGI Initial Stockholders) have entered into a lock-up agreement (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholders Lock-Up Agreement, dated December 17, 2021 (the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholders Lock-Up Agreement Amendment), and as may be further amended from time to time, the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement) concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, pursuant to which each GGI Initial Stockholder has, among other things, agreed to (i) vote their GGI Class F Common Stock in favor of the Business Combination Proposal and any other proposals for the Stockholder Special Meeting (as defined below) included in this proxy statement/prospectus, and against any alternative business combination, (ii) waive all adjustments to the conversion ratio set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of GGI, dated March 22, 2021 (the Current GGI Certificate) with respect to the GGI Class F Common Stock, (iii) be bound by certain transfer restrictions with respect to their GGI Common Stock, GGI Public Warrants and GGI Private Placement Warrants, and (iv) not transfer any Class A ADSs issued pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement during the period beginning on the date of Closing and ending 180 days following the date of the Closing, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. In addition, the GGI Sponsor has agreed to the forfeiture of up to 1,533,873 shares of GGI
Class F Common Stock. A copy of the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annexes K-1 and K-2.
In addition and in connection with the foregoing, Parent, ListCo and the other Parent shareholders party thereto (the Parent Shareholders) have entered into that Parent Lock-Up Agreement (the Parent Lock-Up Agreement), pursuant to which each Parent Shareholder has, subject to certain exceptions, among other things, agreed not to transfer any equity security of ListCo issued to them pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement or other transaction documents contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement during the period commencing the date of Closing and ending 180 days following the date of the Closing, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein.
In addition, and in connection with the foregoing and concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, GGI and ListCo have entered into subscription agreements (the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements) with certain investors (the Initial PIPE Investors), pursuant to which the Initial PIPE Investors have agreed to purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, an aggregate of 7.43 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs (the Initial PIPE Shares) for a purchase price of $9.09 per share in a private placement, for an aggregate amount of approximately $67.5 million (the Initial PIPE Investment Amount). The issuance of the Initial PIPE Shares pursuant to the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements is contingent upon, among other customary closing conditions, the substantially concurrent consummation of the Business Combination. Pursuant to the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements, ListCo agreed to file with the SEC (at ListCos sole cost and expense), within 30 calendar days after the date of Closing, a registration statement registering the resale of the Initial PIPE Shares, and to use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof.
In addition, and in connection with the foregoing and concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, GGI and ListCo entered into a subscription agreement (as amended, the Sponsor Subscription Agreement) with the GGI Sponsor, pursuant to which the GGI Sponsor initially agreed to purchase an additional 9.08 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs for a purchase price of $9.09 per share on the date of Closing, for an aggregate investment of $82,500,000. Pursuant to the Sponsor Subscription Agreement, the Sponsor has the right to assign its commitment to purchase the Class A ADSs under the Sponsor Subscription Agreement in advance of the Closing. On December 17, 2021, (i) the GGI Sponsor assigned a portion of its commitment to purchase Class A ADSs, in an aggregate investment amount equaling approximately $63.0 million of its initial commitment (the Sponsor Assignment), to certain investors and (ii) GGI, ListCo and the GGI Sponsor amended the Sponsor Subscription Agreement to reflect the Sponsor Assignment. As a result, pursuant to the Sponsor Subscription Agreement, as amended, Sponsor has agreed to purchase approximately 2.15 million Class A ADSs for a purchase price of $9.09 per Class A ADS on the date of Closing, for an aggregate investment of approximately $19.5 million (the Sponsor Investment Amount). The Sponsor Subscription Agreement, as amended, is substantially similar to the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements, except that the GGI Sponsor has the right to syndicate its commitment to acquire the Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Sponsor Subscription Agreement in advance of the Closing. The aggregate amount of the PIPE Investment and number of Class A ADSs to be purchased pursuant thereto remains unchanged.
In addition, and in connection with the foregoing and concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, GGI and ListCo entered into a subscription agreement (the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement) with Snita Holding B.V., a corporation organized under the laws of Netherlands (Snita) and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Volvo Car AB (publ) (Volvo Cars), pursuant to which Snita initially agreed to purchase an additional 10 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs for a purchase price of $10.00 per share on the date of Closing, for an aggregate investment amount equal to approximately $100,000,000. Pursuant to the Volvo Cars Subscription Agreement, Snita has the right to assign its commitment to purchase the Class A ADSs under the Volvo Cars Subscription Agreement in advance of the Closing. On December 17, 2021 (i) Snita assigned a portion of its commitment to purchase Class A ADSs, in an aggregate investment amount equaling approximately $73.0 million (the Volvo Assignment, and together with the Sponsor Assignment, the PIPE Assignment) to purchase the Class A ADSs to certain investors (the investors who collectively were assigned commitments in the PIPE Assignment, the New PIPE Investors) and (ii) GGI, ListCo and Snita amended the Volvo Car Subscription Agreement to reflect the Volvo Assignment. As a result, pursuant to the Volvo Cars Subscription Agreement, as amended, Snita has
agreed to purchase approximately 2.70 million Class A ADSs for a purchase price of $10 per Class A ADS on the date of Closing, for an aggregate investment of approximately $27.0 million (the Volvo Cars PIPE Investment Amount). The Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, as amended, is substantially similar to the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements, except with regard to purchase price. Snita may, in accordance with the terms of the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, syndicate its commitment to acquire the Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement in advance of the Closing.
In connection with the PIPE Assignment, on December 17, 2021, GGI and ListCo entered into subscription agreements (the New PIPE Subscription Agreements, and, together with the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements, the Sponsor Subscription Agreement and the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, the Subscription Agreements) with certain investors (the New PIPE Investors), which include certain affiliates and employees of the GGI Sponsor. Pursuant to the New PIPE Subscription Agreements, the New PIPE Investors agreed to purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, approximately 14.3 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs (the New PIPE Shares) for an average price of approximately $9.54 per Class A ADS, reflecting an aggregate investment amount of approximately $136.0 million (the New PIPE Investment Amount). The New PIPE Subscription Agreements are substantially similar to the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements, except with regard to purchase price. The aggregate amount of the PIPE Investment and number of Class A ADSs to be purchased pursuant thereto remains unchanged.
In addition, and in connection with the foregoing and concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, ListCo has entered into a subscription agreement (the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement) with Snita, pursuant to which Snita has agreed to purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, upon and subject to the Closing, for mandatory convertible preference shares of ListCo (the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares) for an aggregate subscription price of $10.00 per share, for an aggregate investment amount equal to $498,039,000 (the Volvo Cars Preference Amount). The proceeds of such subscription will be used to satisfy certain accounts payable that are or will be due and payable by certain subsidiaries of Parent to Volvo Cars. As of the date hereof, it is currently anticipated that all of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares will convert into Post-Combination Company Class A Shares at Closing, in accordance with, and subject to, the terms of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares.
This proxy statement/prospectus serves as:
| a proxy statement for the special meeting of stockholders of GGI being held on [●], (including any adjournment or postponement thereof, the Stockholder Special Meeting), where GGI stockholders will vote on, among other things, proposals to (i) adopt the Business Combination Agreement and approve the Business Combination, (ii) approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, certain provisions in the Post-Combination Articles and (iii) approve the adjournment of the Stockholder Special Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI stockholders to adopt the Business Combination Agreement and approve the Business Combination or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI stockholders; |
| a proxy statement for the meeting of holders of GGI Public Warrants being held on [●], (including any adjournment or postponement thereof, the Warrant Holder Meeting), where GGI warrant holders will vote on, among other things, proposals to (i) approve an amendment to the warrant agreement that governs all of GGIs outstanding warrants to permit the conversion of GGI Public Warrants to Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Shares in the form of Class C-1 ADSs and the GGI Private Placement Warrants to Class C-2 Shares in the form of Class C-2 ADSs, a form of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D (such amendment, the Class C Warrant Amendment and such proposal, the Warrant Amendment Proposal) and (ii) approve the adjournment of the Warrant Holder Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI warrant holders to approve the Warrant Amendment Proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI warrant holders (the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal, and together with the Warrant Amendment Proposal, the Warrant Holder Proposals); |
| a prospectus for the Post-Combination Company Shares underlying the ADSs that will be received by GGI stockholders in connection with the Business Combination; |
| a prospectus for the Post-Combination Company Warrants underlying the ADWs, or Post-Combination Company Class C Shares underlying the Class C ADSs, that will be received by GGI warrant holders in connection with the Business Combination; and |
| a prospectus for the Post-Combination Company Class A Shares underlying the Class A ADSs issuable upon exercise of the Post-Combination Company Warrants or Class C ADSs. |
This proxy statement/prospectus does not serve as a prospectus for the Post-Combination Company Shares that are or will be held by the PIPE Investors, Parent or its equityholders in connection with the Business Combination.
With the Post-Business Combination Company being a limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, headquartered in Sweden and having global operations, including manufacturing, distribution and sales operations through Chinese subsidiaries, investors are exposed to unique risks linked to the structure of the Business Combination. In light of recent statements and regulatory actions taken by Chinas government, the Post-Combination Companys operations and the value of the Post-Combination Companys securities could materially change. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Polestars Business and IndustryPolestar relies heavily on manufacturing facilities based in China and its growth strategy will depend on growing its business in China. This subjects Polestar to economic, operational, regulatory and legal risk specific to China.
Cash flows through the Polestar organization are principally comprised of:
| payments by local sales units outside of China to Polestar Sweden for purchases by customers outside of China of Polestar vehicles. Sales of Polestar vehicles outside of China are recorded and made through Polestar Sweden and its local sales units in different countries. Polestar Sweden makes payments to Chinese manufacturing entities outside the Polestar organization affiliated with Volvo Cars and Geely, to purchase such Polestar vehicles. |
| payments by local sales units in China to Polestar Automotive China Distribution Co., Ltd. for purchases by customers in China of Polestar vehicles. Sales of Polestar products to customers in China are recorded by and made through Polestar Automotive China Distribution Co., Ltd., Polestars main distribution entity in China. Polestar Automotive China Distribution Co., Ltd. makes payments to Chinese manufacturing entities outside the Polestar organization affiliated with Volvo Cars and Geely, to purchase such Polestar vehicles. |
| payments of technology and trademark license fees by Polestar Automotive China Distribution Co., Ltd. to Polestar Sweden in connection with Polestar vehicles sold in China. |
To date, Polestars subsidiaries, including Polestar Sweden and Polestars subsidiaries in China, have not made any transfers, dividends or distributions to Parent. Further, Parent has not made any transfers, dividends or distributions to its shareholders to date. There currently is no intention to make distributions to Parents shareholders, which after the Business Combination and the liquidation of the Parent entity, will become direct shareholders of ListCo. Following the Closing, distributions of distributable reserves from Polestar subsidiaries are expected to be made to ListCo, upon approval by the ListCo Board.
Historically, shareholders of Parent have made capital contributions into the Polestar group via Parent. As of June 30, 2021, the total share capital in Parent was $1,868,752,000. As of June 30, 2021 and following the transfer of capital to Polestar Singapore from Parent, the total share capital in Polestar Singapore was $1,866,552,000. Further, as of June 30, 2021, a total of $621,258,300 was transferred from Polestar Singapore to Polestar Automotive Shanghai Co. Ltd., a Polestar subsidiary located in China.
Following the consummation of the Business Combination, it is expected that, without giving effect to any issuance of Earn Out Shares and assuming (i) no redemptions of GGI Class A Common Stock, (ii) the conversion of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares and Polestars convertible notes and (iii) no conversion or redemption of any of the Class C ADSs or ADWs, Parent (of which 42.7% is owned
by PSD Investment Limited and 48.8% is owned by Volvo Cars as of March 4, 2022) and its affiliates will beneficially hold approximately 99.3% of the outstanding voting power of ListCo. As of March 4, 2022, Mr. Li Shufu controls PSD Investment Limited and owns approximately 91.1% of equity interests in Geely, which owns approximately 82.0% of equity interests in Volvo Cars. Therefore, Mr. Li Shufu, as a controlling equity interest holder in Geely, effectively controls Parent, and is expected to beneficially hold approximately 99.3% of the outstanding voting power of ListCo. In addition, under the terms of the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement, Snita, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volvo Cars, will purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, Post-Combination Company Preference Shares. The Post-Combination Company Preference Shares will automatically convert into Post-Combination Company Class A Shares immediately following the Closing and on any date when Post-Combination Company Shares may be issued to Snita or any of Volvo Carss wholly-owned subsidiaries, in each case, only if Volvo Cars, alone or taken together with all other legal entities that are controlled by Geely, after the conversion of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares into Post-Combination Company Class A Shares, holds less than 50% of the outstanding voting power of Post-Combination Company. As of the date hereof, it is currently anticipated that all of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares will convert into Post-Combination Company Class A Shares at Closing, in accordance with, and subject to, the terms of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares. As a result, following the consummation of the Business Combination, ListCo will be a controlled company within the meaning of Nasdaq rules, which permit a controlled company to elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements (however, pursuant to the Post-Combination Articles and Shareholder Acknowledgment Agreement, for the three years following the Closing, the Post-Combination Company Board must be comprised of a majority of independent directors).
PRELIMINARYSUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 4, 2022
LETTER TO STOCKHOLDERS AND WARRANT HOLDERS OF GORES GUGGENHEIM, INC.
GORES GUGGENHEIM, INC.
6260 Lookout Rd.
Boulder, CO 80301
Dear Gores Guggenheim, Inc. Stockholders and Public Warrant Holders:
Gores Guggenheim, Inc. a Delaware corporation (GGI) cordially invites you to attend a special meeting of the stockholders of GGI (the Stockholder Special Meeting) and/or a meeting of public warrant holders (the Warrant Holder Meeting), which, in light of public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held via live webcast at [●], on [●], [●], at [●] and [●], respectively. The Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting can be accessed by visiting [●] and [●], respectively, where you will be able to listen to the meeting live and vote during the meeting. Please note that you will only be able to access the meetings by means of remote communication.
On September 27, 2021, GGI, Polestar Automotive Holding Limited, a Hong Kong incorporated company (Parent), Polestar Automotive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares in Singapore (Polestar Singapore), Polestar Holding AB, a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Sweden (Polestar Sweden), Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited, a limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (ListCo), and PAH UK Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo (Merger Sub), entered into a Business Combination Agreement (as amended by that certain amendment dated December 17, 2021 (Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement), and as it may be further amended from time to time, the Business Combination Agreement), which provides for, among other things, (i) prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the other transaction documents contemplated thereby (the Closing), Parent will, and will cause ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and their respective subsidiaries to, complete a reorganization, pursuant to which, among other things, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and their respective subsidiaries will become, directly or indirectly, wholly owned subsidiaries of ListCo (the Pre-Closing Reorganization), (ii) at the Closing, (a) certain investors will purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, approximately 7.43 million class A ordinary shares in the share capital of ListCo (Post-Combination Company Class A Shares) in the form of American depositary shares of ListCo (Class A ADSs) for an aggregate purchase price payable to ListCo of approximately $67.5 million (the Initial PIPE Investment Amount), (b) Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC (the GGI Sponsor) will purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, approximately 2.15 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs for an aggregate purchase price payable to ListCo of approximately $19.5 million (the Sponsor Investment Amount), (c) Snita Holding B.V., a corporation organized under the laws of Netherlands (Snita) and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Volvo Car AB (publ) (Volvo Cars), will purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, approximately 2.70 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs for a purchase price of $10.00 per share, for an aggregate investment amount equal to approximately $27.0 million (the Volvo Cars PIPE Investment Amount), (d) certain investors (which include certain affiliates and employees of the GGI Sponsor) will purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, approximately 14.3 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs for an aggregate purchase price payable to ListCo of approximately $136.0 million (the New PIPE Investment Amount), and (e) Snita will purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, mandatory convertible preference shares of ListCo (the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares) for an aggregate subscription price of $10.00 per share, for an aggregate investment amount equal to $498,039,000 (the Volvo Cars Preference Amount), (iii) at the Closing, Merger Sub will merge with and into GGI (the Merger), pursuant to which the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and GGI will become a wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo, and all Class A Common Stock of GGI, par value $0.0001 per share (GGI Class A Common Stock), and all Class F Common Stock of GGI, par value $0.0001 per share (GGI Class F Common Stock, and together with the GGI Class A Common Stock, the GGI Common Stock), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the Effective Time), will be
exchanged for Class A ADSs duly and validly issued against the deposit of an underlying Post-Combination Company Class A Share with ListCos depositary (the depositary) with which ListCo has established and sponsored American depositary receipt facilities (each, an ADR Facility), and (iv) at the Closing (A) in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal (as defined below) is approved prior to the Effective Time, each GGI Public Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one American depositary share of ListCo (Class C-1 ADS) duly and validly issued against the deposit with the depositary of an underlying class C-1 preferred share in the share capital of ListCo (Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Share)and each private placement warrant of GGI (GGI Private Placement Warrant) will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one American depositary share of ListCo (Class C-2 ADS) duly and validly issued against the deposit with the depositary of an underlying class C-2 preferred share in the share capital of ListCo (Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Share) or (B) in the event that the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved prior to the Effective Time, each GGI Public Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one American depositary warrant of ListCo (Public ADW) duly and validly issued against the deposit with the depositary of an underlying warrant of ListCo representing the right to acquire one Class A ADS (a Post-Combination Company Public Warrant) at an exercise price of $11.50 per Class A ADS on substantially the same terms applicable to the GGI Public Warrants and each GGI Private Placement Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one American depositary warrant of ListCo (PP ADW) duly and validly issued against the deposit with the depositary of an underlying warrant of ListCo (a Post-Combination Company PP Warrant, and together with the Post-Combination Company Public Warrants, the Post-Combination Company Warrants) representing the right to acquire one Class A ADS (or one Post-Combination Company Class A Share if at the time of exercise ListCo no longer uses the ADR Facility) at an exercise price of $11.50 per Class A ADS on substantially the same terms applicable to the GGI Private Placement Warrants (the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), together with the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the other transaction documents contemplated thereby, the Business Combination). You are being asked to vote to approve the Business Combination Proposal.
At the Stockholder Special Meeting, GGI stockholders will be asked to consider and vote upon (i) a proposal (the Business Combination Proposal or Stockholder Proposal No. 1) to adopt the Business Combination Agreement, a copy of which is attached to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus as Annexes A-1 and A-2, and approve the Business Combination (ii) separate proposals with respect to certain governance provisions in the proposed Articles of Association of the Post-Combination Company, a form of which is attached hereto as Annex B, which will become the Post-Combination Companys articles of association following the Closing, and which are being separately presented in accordance with SEC requirements and which will be voted on a non-binding advisory basis (the Governance Proposals or Stockholder Proposal No. 2) and (iii) a proposal to allow the chairman of the Stockholder Special Meeting to adjourn the Stockholder Special Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI stockholders to approve the Business Combination Proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI stockholders (the Adjournment Proposal or Stockholder Proposal No. 3).
At the Warrant Holder Meeting, holders of GGI Public Warrants will be asked to consider and vote upon (i) a proposal to approve an amendment to the existing warrant agreement that governs all of GGIs outstanding warrants to permit the conversion of GGI Public Warrants to Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Shares in the form of Class C-1 ADSs and the GGI Private Placement Warrants to Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Shares in the form of Class C-2 ADSs, a form of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D (such amendment, the Class C Warrant Amendment and such proposal, the Warrant Amendment Proposal or Warrant Holder Proposal No. 1) and (ii) a proposal to approve the adjournment of the Warrant Holder Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI warrant holders to approve the Warrant Holder Proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI warrant holders l (the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal or Warrant Holder Proposal No. 2, and together with the Warrant Amendment Proposal, the Warrant Holder Proposals).
Each of these proposals is more fully described in this proxy statement/prospectus, which each stockholder and/or warrant holder is encouraged to read carefully.
GGI Public Shares, GGI Public Units and GGI Public Warrants are currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbols GGPI, GGPIU and GGPIW, respectively. ListCo intends to apply to list the Class A ADSs and the Public ADWs or Class C-1 ADSs on Nasdaq under the symbols PSNY and PSNYW, respectively, upon the Closing. ListCo cannot assure you that the Class A ADSs and the Public ADWs or Class C-1 ADSs will be approved for listing or remain listed on Nasdaq.
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of GGI, dated March 22, 2021 (the Current GGI Certificate), GGI is providing its public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem, upon the Closing, shares of GGI Class A Common Stock then held by them for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit (as of two business days prior to the Closing) in the Trust Account that holds the proceeds of the GGI IPO (including interest not previously released to GGI to fund regulatory compliance requirements and other costs related thereto, subject to an annual limit of $900,000, for a maximum of 24 months, using funds released to GGI from the Trust Account (Regulatory Withdrawals) and/or to pay its franchise and income taxes). The per-share amount GGI will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commission totaling $28,000,000 that GGI will pay to the underwriters of GGI IPO or transaction expenses incurred in connection with the Business Combination. For illustrative purposes, based on the balance of the Trust Account of $800,056,447 as of December 31, 2021, the estimated per share redemption price would have been approximately $10.00. GGI Public Stockholders may elect to redeem their shares even if they vote for the Business Combination. A GGI Public Stockholder, together with any of its affiliates or any other person with whom it is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), will be restricted from redeeming in the aggregate his, her or its shares or, if part of such a group, the groups shares, in excess of 15% of the shares of GGI Class A Common Stock included in the Public Units sold in GGI IPO. This is referred to as the 15% threshold. In addition, in no event will GGI redeem shares of GGI Class A Common Stock in an amount that would result in GGIs failure to have net tangible assets equaling or exceeding $5,000,001. Other than the foregoing, GGI has no additional specified maximum redemption thresholds under the Current GGI Certificate. Each redemption of shares of GGI Class A Common Stock by GGI Public Stockholders will reduce the amount in the Trust Account.
The Business Combination Agreement provides that the obligations of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub to consummate the Business Combination is conditioned on the total of the amount in the Trust Account and all other funds immediately available to GGI equaling or exceeding $950,000,000 (after giving effect to any redemptions by GGI Public stockholders, the Sponsor Investment Amount, the PIPE Investment Amount and the Volvo Cars PIPE Investment Amount), prior to the payment of any unpaid or contingent liabilities and fees and expenses of GGI. This condition to Closing in the Business Combination Agreement is for the benefit of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub and may be waived by such parties. If, as a result of redemptions of GGI Class A Common Stock by GGI Public Stockholders, this condition is not met (or waived), then Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub may elect not to consummate the Business Combination. Holders of outstanding GGI Public Warrants do not have redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination. Unless otherwise specified, the information in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus assumes that none of the GGI Public Stockholders exercise their redemption rights with respect to their shares of GGI Class A Common Stock.
The GGI Sponsor and GGIs current independent directors (collectively, the GGI Initial Stockholders), as well as GGIs officers and other current directors, have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their shares of GGI Class A Common Stock in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, and GGI Class F Common Stock held by the GGI Initial Stockholders will be excluded from the pro rata calculation used to determine the per-share redemption price. The GGI Initial Stockholders have also agreed to waive their right to a conversion price adjustment with respect to any shares of GGI Common Stock they may hold in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination. Currently, the GGI Initial Stockholders own 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock, including all outstanding shares of GGI Class F Common Stock. The GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote any shares of GGI Common Stock
owned by them in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. In addition, the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote their GGI Class F Common Stock in favor of any other proposals for the Stockholder Special Meeting included in this proxy statement/prospectus. The GGI Class F Common Stock held by the GGI Initial Stockholders is subject to transfer restrictions.
GGI is providing the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus and accompanying GGI stockholder proxy card to its stockholders, and GGI warrant holder proxy card to its holders of GGI Public Warrants, in connection with the solicitation of proxies to be voted at the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting (including following any adjournments or postponements thereof, respectively). Information about the Stockholder Special Meeting, the Warrant Holder Meeting, the Business Combination and other related business to be considered by GGI stockholders and warrant holders at the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting, respectively, is included in this proxy statement/prospectus. Whether or not you plan to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting and/or the Warrant Holder Meeting via the virtual meeting websites, GGI urges all GGI stockholders and warrant holders to read this proxy statement/prospectus, including the Annexes and the accompanying financial statements of GGI and Polestar Automotive Holding Limited carefully and in their entirety. In particular, GGI urges you to read carefully the section titled Risk Factors beginning on page 72 of this proxy statement/prospectus.
After careful consideration, the GGI Board has unanimously approved the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein, and unanimously recommends that the GGI stockholders vote FOR the approval of the Business Combination Proposal and FOR all other proposals presented to GGI stockholders in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. Further, the GGI Board has unanimously approved the Class C Warrant Amendment and the transactions contemplated therein, and unanimously recommends that the GGI Public Warrant holders vote FOR the approval of the Warrant Amendment Proposal and FOR all other proposals present to GGI Public Warrant holders in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus. When you consider the GGI Boards recommendation of these proposals, you should keep in mind that GGIs directors and officers have interests in the Business Combination that may conflict with your interests as a stockholder. Please see the section titled The Business CombinationInterests of Certain Persons in the Business CombinationInterests of GGI Initial Stockholders and GGIs Directors and Officers for additional information.
Approval of the Business Combination Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Special Meeting. Approval of each of the Governance Proposals and the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock represented in person via the virtual meeting platform or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Special Meeting.
Approval of the Warrant Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 50% of outstanding GGI Public Warrants. Approval of the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by GGI Public Warrant holders present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Warrant Holder Meeting.
Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting and/or the Warrant Holder Meeting, please vote as soon as possible by following the instructions in this proxy statement/prospectus to make sure that your GGI Common Stock and/or GGI Public Warrants are represented at the Stockholder Special Meeting and Warrant Holder Meeting. If you hold your GGI Common Stock and/or GGI Public Warrants in street name through a bank, broker or other nominee, you will need to follow the instructions provided to you by your bank, broker or other nominee to ensure that your GGI Common Stock and/or GGI Public Warrants are represented and voted at the Stockholder Special Meeting and/or Warrant Holder Meeting. The Business Combination will be consummated only if, and the Closing is conditioned upon, the approval of the Business Combination Proposal. If GGI fails to obtain the requisite stockholder approval for the Business Combination Proposal, GGI will not satisfy the conditions to Closing and may be prevented from consummating the Business Combination. The Warrant Amendment Proposal is conditioned on the approval of the Business Combination Proposal, but the Business Combination Proposal is not conditioned on the Warrant Amendment Proposal. Accordingly, the Business Combination can be consummated even if the Warrant
Amendment Proposal is not approved. The Governance Proposals, the Adjournment Proposal and the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal are not conditioned on the approval of any other proposal set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus.
If you sign, date and return your GGI stockholder proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be voted FOR each of the proposals presented at the Stockholder Special Meeting. If you fail to return your GGI stockholder proxy card or fail to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote, and do not attend the Stockholder Special Meeting in person via the virtual meeting platform, the effect will be that your shares will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Stockholder Special Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record and you attend the Stockholder Special Meeting and wish to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person via the virtual meeting platform.
If you sign, date and return your GGI warrant holder proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be voted FOR each of the proposals presented at the Warrant Holder Meeting. If you fail to return your GGI warrant holder proxy card or fail to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote, and do not attend the Warrant Holder Meeting in person via the virtual meeting platform, the effect will be that your warrants will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Warrant Holder Meeting. If you are a warrant holder of record and you attend the Warrant Holder Meeting and wish to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person via the virtual meeting platform.
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU MUST DEMAND THAT GGI REDEEM YOUR SHARES FOR A PRO RATA PORTION OF THE FUNDS HELD IN THE TRUST ACCOUNT, IDENTIFY TO GGI THE BENEFICIAL HOLDER OF THE SHARES BEING REDEEMED AND TENDER YOUR SHARES TO GGIS TRANSFER AGENT AT LEAST TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE VOTE AT SUCH MEETING. YOU MAY TENDER YOUR SHARES BY EITHER DELIVERING YOUR SHARE CERTIFICATE TO THE TRANSFER AGENT OR BY DELIVERING YOUR SHARES ELECTRONICALLY USING THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANYS DWAC (DEPOSIT WITHDRAWAL AT CUSTODIAN) SYSTEM. IF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION IS NOT COMPLETED, THEN THESE SHARES WILL NOT BE REDEEMED FOR CASH. IF YOU HOLD THE SHARES IN STREET NAME, YOU WILL NEED TO INSTRUCT THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT YOUR BANK OR BROKER TO WITHDRAW THE SHARES FROM YOUR ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS.
On behalf of the GGI Board, I would like to thank you for your support of Gores Guggenheim, Inc. and look forward to a successful consummation of the Business Combination.
Sincerely,
Alec E. Gores
Chairman of the Board of Directors
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR RELATED TRANSACTIONS OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
This is not a prospectus made under the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2019/1127 or Part VI of the United Kingdom Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended).
ListCo is an emerging growth company under applicable United States federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in ListCos securities involves a high degree of risk. See Risk Factors beginning on page 72 of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in ListCos securities.
This proxy statement/prospectus is dated [●], and is expected to be first mailed or otherwise delivered to GGI stockholders and warrant holders on or about [●].
GORES GUGGENHEIM, INC.
NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER SPECIAL MEETING
TO BE HELD ON [●], 2022
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF GORES GUGGENHEIM, INC.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting (the Stockholder Special Meeting) of the stockholders of Gores Guggenheim, Inc., a Delaware corporation (GGI), which, in light of public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held via live webcast at [●], on [●], at [●]. The Stockholder Special Meeting can be accessed by visiting [●], where you will be able to listen to the meeting live and vote during the meeting. Please note that you will only be able to access the Stockholder Special Meeting by means of remote communication. You are cordially invited to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting to conduct the following items of business:
1) | Business Combination ProposalTo consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2021 (as amended by that certain amendment dated December 17, 2021 (Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement), and as it may be further amended from time to time, the Business Combination Agreement), by and among GGI, Polestar Automotive Holding Limited, a Hong Kong incorporated company (Parent), Polestar Automotive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares in Singapore (Polestar Singapore), Polestar Holding AB, a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Sweden (Polestar Sweden), Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited, a limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (ListCo), and PAH UK Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo (Merger Sub), a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annexes A-1 and A-2, and approve, among other things, the merger of Merger Sub with and into GGI (the Merger), pursuant to which the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease, with GGI being the surviving corporation and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo, and approve the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and the other transaction documents contemplated thereby (the Business Combination) (Stockholder Proposal No. 1); |
2) | Governance ProposalsTo consider and act upon, on a non-binding advisory basis, separate proposals with respect to certain governance provisions in the proposed Articles of Association of the Post-Combination Company, a form of which is attached hereto as Annex B, which will become the Post-Combination Companys articles of association following the consummation of the Business Combination, in accordance with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission requirements (Stockholder Proposal No. 2); and |
3) | Adjournment ProposalTo consider and vote upon a proposal to allow the chairman of the Stockholder Special Meeting to adjourn the Stockholder Special Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI stockholders to approve the Business Combination Proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI stockholders (Stockholder Proposal No. 3). |
The above matters are more fully described in this proxy statement/prospectus, which also includes, as Annexes A-1 and A-2, a copy of the Business Combination Agreement. GGI urges you to read carefully this proxy statement/prospectus in its entirety, including the Annexes and accompanying financial statements of GGI and Polestar Automotive Holding Limited.
The record date for the Stockholder Special Meeting is [●]. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date may vote at the Stockholder Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof. A complete list of GGI stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Stockholder Special Meeting will be available for ten days before the Stockholder Special Meeting at GGIs principal executive offices for inspection by stockholders during ordinary business hours for any purpose germane to the Stockholder Special Meeting.
Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the GGI Sponsor), and Mr. Randall Bort, Ms. Elizabeth Marcellino and Ms. Nancy Tellem, GGIs independent directors (collectively, together with GGI Sponsor, the GGI Initial Stockholders), and GGIs officers and other current directors have agreed to vote any of the shares of GGI Class F Common Stock that are currently owned by the GGI Initial Stockholders (the Founder Shares) and any GGI Public Shares purchased during or after the GGI initial public offering (the GGI IPO) in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. In addition, the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote their GGI Class F Common Stock in favor of any other proposals for the Stockholder Special Meeting included in this proxy statement/prospectus. Currently, GGI Initial Stockholders own 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock, including all of the GGI Class F Common Stock.
Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of GGI, dated March 22, 2021 (the Current GGI Certificate), GGI will provide GGI Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem, upon the Closing, GGI Public Shares then held by them for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount on deposit (as of two business days prior to the Closing) in GGIs trust account (the Trust Account) that holds the proceeds of GGI IPO (including interest not previously released to GGI to fund regulatory compliance requirements and other costs related thereto, subject to an annual limit of $900,000, for a maximum of 24 months, using funds released to GGI from the Trust Account (Regulatory Withdrawals) and/or to pay its franchise and income taxes). The per-share amount GGI will distribute to GGI stockholders who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commission totaling $28,000,000 that GGI will pay to the underwriters of GGI IPO, as well as other transaction expenses incurred in connection with the Business Combination. For illustrative purposes, based on the balance of the Trust Account of $800,056,447 as of December 31, 2021, the estimated per share redemption price would have been approximately $10.00. GGI Public Stockholders may elect to redeem their shares even if they vote FOR the Business Combination Proposal.
A GGI Public Stockholder, together with any of its affiliates or any other person with whom it is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), will be restricted from redeeming in the aggregate his, her or its shares or, if part of such a group, the groups shares, in excess of 15% of the GGI Public Shares. In addition, in no event will GGI redeem GGI Public Shares in an amount that would result in GGIs failure to have net tangible assets equaling or exceeding $5,000,001. Other than the foregoing, there are no additional specified maximum redemption thresholds under the Current GGI Certificate. Each redemption of GGI Public Shares will reduce the amount in the Trust Account.
The Business Combination Agreement provides that the obligations of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub to consummate the Business Combination is conditioned on the aggregate of (i) cash held in the Trust Account and all other funds immediately available to GGI (after giving effect to any stockholder redemptions and prior to the payment of any unpaid or contingent liabilities and fees and expenses of GGI (including, as applicable, any GGI transaction expenses)), (ii) the Sponsor Investment Amount, (iii) the PIPE Investment Amount and (iv) the Volvo Cars PIPE Investment Amount being no less than $950,000,000 as of the Closing (the Minimum Cash Condition). The Minimum Cash Condition is for the benefit of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub and may be waived by such parties. If, as a result of redemptions of GGI Class A Common Stock by GGIs Public Stockholders, the Minimum Cash Condition is not met (or waived), then Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub may elect not to consummate the Business Combination.
Holders of outstanding GGI Public Warrants do not have redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination.
The GGI Sponsor and GGIs current independent directors (collectively, the GGI Initial Stockholders), as well as GGIs officers and other current directors, have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their shares of GGI Common Stock in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, and GGI Class F Common Stock held by the GGI Initial Stockholders will be excluded from the pro rata calculation used to determine the per-share redemption price. GGIs Initial Stockholders have also agreed to waive their right to a conversion price adjustment with respect to any shares of GGI Common Stock they may hold in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination. Currently, the GGI Initial Stockholders own 20% of the issued
and outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock, including all of the GGI Class F Common Stock. The GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote any shares of GGI Common Stock owned by them in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. In addition, the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote their GGI Class F Common Stock in favor of any other proposals for the Stockholder Special Meeting included in this proxy statement/prospectus. The GGI Class F Common Stock held by the GGI Initial Stockholders is subject to transfer restrictions.
The Business Combination is conditioned on the approval of the Business Combination Proposal. If GGI fails to obtain sufficient votes for the Business Combination Proposal, GGI will not satisfy the conditions to consummate the Business Combination Agreement and GGI may be prevented from closing the Business Combination. The Governance Proposals and the Adjournment Proposal are not conditioned on the approval of any other proposal set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Approval of the Business Combination Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Special Meeting. Approval of each of the Governance Proposals and the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock represented in person via the virtual meeting platform or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Special Meeting. The GGI Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR each of these proposals.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Alec E. Gores
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Boulder, Colorado
[●], 2022
GORES GUGGENHEIM, INC.
NOTICE OF WARRANT HOLDER MEETING
TO BE HELD ON [●], 2022
TO THE PUBLIC WARRANT HOLDERS OF GORES GUGGENHEIM, INC.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a meeting (the Warrant Holder Meeting) of the public warrant holders of Gores Guggenheim, Inc., a Delaware corporation (GGI), which, in light of public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held via live webcast at [●], on [●], at [●]. The Warrant Holder Meeting can be accessed by visiting [●], where you will be able to listen to the meeting live and vote during the meeting. Please note that you will only be able to access the Warrant Holder Meeting by means of remote communication. You are cordially invited to attend the Warrant Holder Meeting to conduct the following items of business:
1) | Warrant Amendment ProposalTo consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the warrant agreement that governs all of GGIs outstanding warrants to permit the conversion of GGI Public Warrants to Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Shares in the form of Class C-1 ADSs and the GGI Private Placement Warrants to Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Shares in the form of Class C-2 ADSs (such amendment, the Class C Warrant Amendment) (Warrant Holder Proposal No. 1); and |
2) | Warrant Holder Adjournment ProposalTo consider and act upon a proposal to approve the adjournment of the Warrant Holder Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI warrant holders to approve the Warrant Holder Proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI warrant holders (Warrant Holder Proposal No. 2). |
The above matters are more fully described in this proxy statement/prospectus, which also includes, as Annexes A-1 and A-2, a copy of the Business Combination Agreement. GGI urges you to read carefully this proxy statement/prospectus in its entirety, including the Annexes and accompanying financial statements of GGI and Polestar Automotive Holding Limited.
The record date for the Warrant Holder Meeting is [●]. Only holders of GGI Public Warrants of record at the close of business on that date may vote at the Warrant Holder Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Approval of the Warrant Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 50% of outstanding GGI Public Warrants. The Warrant Amendment will only become effective if the Business Combination is completed. If the Business Combination is not completed, the Class C Warrant Amendment will not become effective, even if the GGI Public Warrant Holders have approved the Warrant Amendment Proposal. Approval of the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by GGI Public Warrant holders present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Warrant Holder Meeting. The GGI Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR each of these proposals.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Alec E. Gores
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Boulder, Colorado
[●], 2022
ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
This document, which forms part of a registration statement on Form F-4 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) by ListCo, constitutes a prospectus of ListCo under Section 5 of the Securities Act, with respect to the Post-Combination Company Shares and Post-Combination Company Warrants underlying the ADSs and ADWs to be issued to the GGI stockholders if the Business Combination described herein is consummated. This document also constitutes a notice of meeting and a proxy statement/prospectus under Section 14(a) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) with respect to (i) the special meeting of GGI stockholders at which GGI stockholders will be asked to consider and vote upon the Business Combination Proposal, among other matters, and (ii) the meeting of GGI Public Warrant holders at which GGI Public Warrant holders will be asked to consider and vote upon the Warrant Amendment Proposal, among other matters.
This document does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction or to any person to whom it would be unlawful to make such offer.
The securities are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to, and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to, any persons in member states of the European Economic Area which apply Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market (this Regulation together with any implementing measures in any member state, the Prospectus Regulation), unless they are qualified investors for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation in such member state or in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, and no person in member states of the European Economic Area that is not a relevant person or qualified investor may act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
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Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus concerning Polestars industry, including Polestars general expectations and market position, market opportunity and market share, is based on information obtained from various independent sources and reports, as well as management estimates. Polestar has not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of any third-party information. While Polestar believes that the market data, industry forecasts and similar information included in this proxy statement/prospectus are generally reliable, such information is inherently imprecise. Forecasts and other forward-looking information obtained from third parties are subject to the same qualifications and uncertainties as the other forward-looking statements in this proxy statement/prospectus. In addition, assumptions and estimates of Polestars future performance and growth objectives and the future performance of its industry and the markets in which it operates are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those discussed under the headings Risk Factors, Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Polestars Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this proxy statement/prospectus.
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This proxy statement/prospectus includes trademarks, tradenames and service marks, certain of which belong to ListCo or ListCos affiliates and others that are the property of other organizations. The Polestar logo and other trademarks or service marks of Polestar appearing in this proxy statement/prospectus are the property of Polestar. Solely for convenience, trademarks, tradenames and service marks referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus appear without the ®, TM and SM symbols, but the absence of those symbols is not intended to indicate, in any way, that ListCo or its affiliates will not assert its or their rights or that the applicable owner will not assert its rights to these trademarks, tradenames and service marks to the fullest extent under applicable law. ListCo does not intend its use or display of other parties trademarks, trade names or service marks to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply, a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of ListCo by, these other parties.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION
Gores Guggenheim, Inc.
The historical financial statements of GGI were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (U.S. GAAP) and are denominated in U.S. Dollars.
ListCo/Polestar Automotive Holding Limited/Pro Forma Financial Statements presentation
The historical financial statements of Polestar Automotive Holding Limited have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB and in its presentation currency of the U.S. dollar. The historical financial statements of Polestar Automotive Holding Limited reflects the legal structure as of the date of the financial statements and does not reflect the contemplated future structure of ListCo. As such, the financial statements of ListCo are not included within this proxy statement/prospectus. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information reflects International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) the basis of accounting used by Polestar Group and what will be used by ListCo.
We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this proxy statement/prospectus. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in some tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that preceded them.
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Contents |
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LETTER TO STOCKHOLDERS AND WARRANT HOLDERS OF GORES GUGGENHEIM, INC. |
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2 | ||||
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248 | ||||
261 | ||||
262 | ||||
GGIS MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION |
281 | |||
290 | ||||
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING LIMITED |
315 | |||
POLESTARS MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
316 | |||
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
336 | |||
356 | ||||
359 | ||||
379 | ||||
382 | ||||
403 | ||||
DESCRIPTION OF THE POST-COMBINATION COMPANYS AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SECURITIES |
419 | |||
447 | ||||
465 | ||||
468 | ||||
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL NO. 1THE BUSINESS COMBINATION PROPOSAL |
470 | |||
471 | ||||
478 | ||||
WARRANT HOLDER PROPOSAL NO. 1THE WARRANT AMENDMENT PROPOSAL |
479 | |||
WARRANT HOLDER PROPOSAL NO. 2THE WARRANT HOLDER ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL |
481 | |||
482 | ||||
486 | ||||
F-1 | ||||
II-1 | ||||
II-11 | ||||
II-12 |
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ANNEXES
Annex A-1 | | Business Combination Agreement | ||
Annex A-2 | | Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement | ||
Annex B | | Form of Post-Combination Articles | ||
Annex C | | Existing Warrant Agreement | ||
Annex D | | Form of Class C Warrant Amendment | ||
Annex E | | Form of Warrant Amendment Agreement | ||
Annex F | | Form of Subscription Agreement | ||
Annex G-1 | | Registration Rights Agreement | ||
Annex G-2 | | Registration Rights Agreement Amendment | ||
Annex H | | Fairness Opinion | ||
Annex I | | Form of Equity Plan | ||
Annex J | | Form of Employee Stock Purchase Plan | ||
Annex K-1 | | Sponsor and Sponsor Supporting Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement | ||
Annex K-2 | | Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement Amendment | ||
Annex L | | Form of Parent Lock-Up Agreement | ||
Annex M-1 | | Shareholder Acknowledgement Agreement | ||
Annex M-2 | | Shareholder Acknowledgement Agreement Amendment | ||
Annex N | | Form of Proxy for the Stockholder Special Meeting | ||
Annex O | | Form of Proxy for the Warrant Holder Meeting |
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Unless otherwise stated or unless the context otherwise requires in this document:
Key Business and Business Combination Related Terms
AD securities means Class A ADSs, Class C ADSs and ADWs.
Additional Dilution Sources means specified sources of potential dilution, including Earn Out Shares, GGI Public Warrants, GGI Private Placement Warrants, the Equity Plan and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which are described in the risk factor titled GGI Public Stockholders will experience dilution as a consequence of the issuance of Post-Combination Company securities, ADSs and ADWs as consideration in the Business Combination and may experience dilution from several additional sources in connection with and after the Business Combination. Having a minority share position may reduce the influence that GGI Public Stockholders have on the management of the Post-Combination Company.
ADS Deposit AgreementClass A ADSs means the ADS Deposit Agreement to be entered into, at or about the Closing Date, by and among ListCo, Citibank, N.A., as depositary, and all holders and beneficial owners from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder and representing deposited Post-Combination Company Class A Shares, a form of which is attached as exhibit (a)(i) to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (Reg No.: [●]) filed with the SEC on [●].
ADS Deposit AgreementClass C-1 ADSs means the ADS Deposit Agreement to be entered into, at or about the Closing Date in event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved, by and among ListCo, Citibank, N.A., as depositary, and all holders and beneficial owners from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder and representing deposited Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Shares, a form of which is attached as exhibit (a)(i) to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (Reg No.: [●]) filed with the SEC on [●].
ADS Deposit AgreementClass C-2 ADSs means the ADS Deposit Agreement to be entered into, at or about the Closing Date in event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved, by and among ListCo, Citibank, N.A., as depositary, and all holders and beneficial owners from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder and representing deposited Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Shares, a form of which is attached as exhibit (a)(i) to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (Reg No.: [●]) filed with the SEC on [●].
ADSs means Class A ADSs and Class C ADSs.
ADW Deposit Agreement means the ADW Deposit Agreement to be entered into, at or about the Closing Date in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved, by and among ListCo, Citibank, N.A., as depositary, and all holders and beneficial owners from time to time of American Depositary Warrants issued thereunder and representing deposited Post-Combination Company Warrants, a form of which is attached as exhibit (a)(i) to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (Reg No.: [●]) filed with the SEC on [●].
ADWs means the PP ADWs and the Public ADWs.
Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement means that certain amendment to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2021, which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A-2.
Antitrust Division means the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Business Combination means the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, including the Merger, and the other transactions contemplated by the other transaction documents contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
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Business Combination Agreement means that certain the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2021 (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement and as may be further amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time), by and among GGI, ListCo, Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and Merger Sub, which is attached hereto as Annexes A-1 and A-2.
Class A ADS means one American depositary share of the Post-Combination Company duly and validly issued against the deposit with the depositary of an underlying Post-Combination Company Class A Share.
Class A Share Merger Consideration means with respect to each share of GGI Common Stock (other than those held immediately prior to the Effective Time by GGI in treasury), the right to receive, by virtue of the Merger, one Class A ADS.
Class C ADSs means Class C-1 ADSs and Class C-2 ADSs.
Class C Warrant Amendment means the proposed amendment to the Existing Warrant Agreement to be entered into by and among GGI, ListCo and Computershare in event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved, a form of which is attached hereto as Annex D, and pursuant to which, among other things, each GGI Public Warrant will convert into a Class C-1 ADS and each GGI Private Placement Warrant will convert into a Class C-2 ADS, each of which will be exercisable for Class A ADSs and subject to substantially the same terms as were applicable to the GGI Warrants under the Existing Warrant Agreement.
Class C-1 ADS means, assuming the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved, one American depositary share of ListCo into which each GGI Public Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one Class A ADS and each of which is duly and validly issued against the deposit with the depositary of an underlying Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Share.
Class C-2 ADS means, assuming the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved, one American depositary share of ListCo into which each GGI Private Placement Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one Class A ADS and each of which is duly and validly issued against the deposit with the depositary of an underlying Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Share.
Closing means the closing of the Business Combination.
Closing Date means the date of the Closing.
Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Court of Chancery means the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware.
Cumulative Dilution Sources means specified sources of potential dilution, including Post-Combination Company Shares issued as consideration in connection with the Closing and the Additional Dilution Sources, which are further described in the risk factor titled GGI Public Stockholders will experience dilution as a consequence of the issuance of Post-Combination Company securities, ADSs and ADWs as consideration in the Business Combination and may experience dilution from several additional sources in connection with and after the Business Combination. Having a minority share position may reduce the influence that GGI Public Stockholders have on the management of the Post-Combination Company.
Current GGI Certificate means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of GGI, dated March 22, 2021.
Deferred Discount means any deferred underwriting commissions, which amount will be payable upon consummation of an initial business combination.
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Deloitte means Deloitte AB, an independent registered public accounting firm.
Deposit Agreements means the ADS Deposit AgreementClass A ADSs, the ADS Deposit AgreementClass C-1 ADSs, ADS Deposit AgreementClass C-2 ADSs and the ADW Deposit Agreement.
depositary means Citibank, N.A., acting as depositary under the Deposit Agreements.
DGCL means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Effective Time means the effective time of the Merger.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Existing Warrant Agreement means that certain Warrant Agreement, by and between GGI and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as warrant agent, dated as of March 22, 2021, which is attached hereto as Annex C.
FINRA means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Founder Shares means the 20,000,000 shares of GGI Class F Common Stock that are currently owned by the GGI Initial Stockholders, of which 19,925,000 shares are held by the GGI Sponsor and 25,000 shares are held by each of Randall Bort, Nancy Tellem and Elizabeth Marcellino.
FTC means the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Geely means Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd.
GGI means Gores Guggenheim, Inc.
GGI Board means the board of directors of GGI.
GGI Class A Common Stock means the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of GGI.
GGI Class F Common Stock means the shares of Class F common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of GGI.
GGI Common Stock means the GGI Class A Common Stock and the GGI Class F Common Stock.
GGI Initial Stockholders means the GGI Sponsor and Randall Bort, Elizabeth Marcellino and Nancy Tellem, GGIs independent directors.
GGI IPO means GGIs initial public offering, consummated on March 25, 2021, through the sale of 80,000,000 GGI Public Units (including 5,000,000 Public Units sold pursuant to the underwriters partial exercise of their over-allotment option) at $10.00 per Public Unit.
GGI IPO Closing Date means March 25, 2021.
GGI IPO Letter Agreement means the form of letter agreement, dated March 25, 2021, by and between GGI and each of the GGI Sponsor, GGIs directors and GGIs officers.
GGI Preferred Stock means the preferred stock, par value of $0.0001 per share, of GGI.
GGI Private Placement Warrants means the warrants held by the GGI Sponsor, each of which is exercisable, at an exercise price of $11.50, for one share of GGI Class A Common Stock in accordance with its terms.
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GGI Public Shares means the shares of GGI Class A Common Stock included in the GGI Public Units issued in the GGI IPO.
GGI Public Stockholders means holders of GGI Public Shares, including the GGI Initial Stockholders to the extent the GGI Initial Stockholders hold GGI Public Shares; provided, that the GGI Initial Stockholders are considered a GGI Public Stockholder only with respect to any GGI Public Shares held by them.
GGI Public Unit means one share of GGI Class A Common Stock and one-fifth of one GGI Public Warrant, whereby each whole GGI Public Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of GGI Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share of GGI Class A Common Stock, sold in the GGI IPO.
GGI Public Warrants means the warrants included in the GGI Public Units issued in the GGI IPO, each of which is exercisable, at an exercise price of $11.50, for one share of GGI Class A Common Stock in accordance with its terms.
GGI Sponsor means Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an affiliate of The Gores Group, LLC.
GGI Warrants means, collectively, the GGI Private Placement Warrants and the GGI Public Warrants.
Guggenheim means Guggenheim Capital, LLC.
HSR Act means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
initial business combination means a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination involving GGI and one or more businesses.
Initial PIPE Investment means the purchase of Initial PIPE Shares pursuant to the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements.
Initial PIPE Investors means the purchasers of Initial PIPE Shares in the Initial PIPE Investment.
Initial PIPE Shares means the Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased by Initial PIPE Investors in the Initial PIPE Investment.
Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements means the share subscription agreements, dated September 27, 2021, by and among ListCo, GGI and the Initial PIPE Investors pursuant to which the Initial PIPE Investors have committed to purchase, in the aggregate, 7.43 million Initial PIPE Shares for a purchase price of $9.09 per share, or an aggregate purchase price equal to approximately $67.5 million.
Investment Company Act means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
IRS means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
JOBS Act means the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012.
K&E means Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
KPMG means KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm.
ListCo means, prior to the Closing, Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited, a limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, which, prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, will re-register as a public limited company under the laws of England and Wales with the name Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC.
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ListCo Board means the board of directors of ListCo.
Merger means the merger between Merger Sub and GGI, with GGI surviving and becoming a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo.
Merger Sub means PAH UK Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo.
Minimum Cash Condition means the minimum cash condition set forth in the Business Combination Agreement, pursuant to which the obligations of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub to consummate the Business Combination are conditioned on the aggregate of (i) cash held in the Trust Account and all other funds immediately available to GGI (after giving effect to any stockholder redemptions and prior to the payment of any unpaid or contingent liabilities and fees and expenses of GGI (including, as applicable, any GGI transaction expenses)), (ii) the Sponsor Investment Amount, (iii) the PIPE Investment Amount and (iv) the Volvo Cars PIPE Investment Amount being no less than $950,000,000 as of the Closing.
Nasdaq means the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations Capital Market.
New PIPE Investment means the purchase of New PIPE Shares pursuant to the New PIPE Subscription Agreements.
New PIPE Investors means the purchasers of New PIPE Shares in the New PIPE Investment, which include certain affiliates and employees of the GGI Sponsor.
New PIPE Shares means the Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased by New PIPE Investors in the New PIPE Investment.
New PIPE Subscription Agreements means the share subscription agreements, dated December 17, 2021, by and among ListCo, GGI and the New PIPE Investors pursuant to which the New PIPE Investors have committed to purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, in the aggregate, 14.3 million New PIPE Shares for an average purchase price of $9.54 per share, or an aggregate purchase price equal to approximately $136.0 million.
Parent means Polestar Automotive Holding Limited, a Hong Kong incorporated company.
Parent Convertible Notes means the convertible notes of Parent outstanding as of immediately prior to the Closing.
Parent Lock-Up Agreement means the lock-up agreement, dated September 27, 2021, by and among Parent, ListCo and the other Parent Shareholders, a form of which is attached hereto as Annex L.
Parent Shareholders means Snita, PSINV AB, PSD Investment Limited, GLY New Mobility 1. LP, Northpole GLY 1 LP, Chongqing Liangjiang , Zibo Financial Holding Group Co., Ltd. and Zibo High-Tech Industrial Investment Co., Ltd.
PIPE Investment means the purchase of PIPE Shares pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements.
PIPE Investors means the purchasers of PIPE Shares in the PIPE Investment.
PIPE Shares means the Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased by PIPE Investors in the PIPE Investment.
PIPE Subscription Agreements means the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements and the New PIPE Subscription Agreements.
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Polestar means, as the context requires, (a) in general the Polestar Group, or (b) in the context of the Business Combination, the Pre-Closing Reorganization and the Pre-Closing Sweden/Singapore Share Transfer, Polestar Sweden, or, both Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden if at any time (a) Polestar Sweden is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polestar Singapore or (b) Polestar Singapore is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polestar Sweden.
Polestar Board means the board of directors of Polestar prior to the Business Combination.
Polestar Destinations means permanent or pop up/temporary Polestar showrooms located in peri-urban areas where potential customers can experience Polestar vehicles, engage with Polestar specialists and test-drive Polestar vehicles.
Polestar Financial Statements means Polestar Automotive Holding Limiteds unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 and Polestar Automotive Holding Limiteds audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 included in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Polestar Group means Parent, together with its subsidiaries.
Polestar Locations means Polestar Spaces and Polestar Destinations and Polestar Test Drive Center.
Polestar Singapore means Polestar Automotive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares in Singapore.
Polestar Spaces means permanent or pop up/temporary Polestar showrooms located in urban areas where potential customers can experience Polestar vehicles and engage with Polestar specialists.
Polestar Stockholders means, collectively, the stockholders of Polestar.
Polestar Sweden means Polestar Holding AB, a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Sweden.
Polestar Test Drive Centers means those Polestar facilities located in peri-urban areas where potential customers can experience Polestar vehicles, engage with Polestar specialists and test-drive Polestar vehicles.
Post-Combination Articles means the proposed Articles of Association of the Post-Combination Company, a form of which is attached hereto as Annex B, which will become the Post-Combination Companys articles of association following the consummation of the Business Combination.
Post-Combination Company means ListCo following the Closing.
Post-Combination Company Board means the board of directors of the Post-Combination Company.
Post-Combination Company Class A Shares means Class A ordinary shares of the Post-Combination Company, entitling the holder thereof of 1 vote per share.
Post-Combination Company Class B Shares means Class B ordinary shares of the Post-Combination Company, entitling the holder thereof of 10 votes per share.
Post-Combination Company Class C Shares means Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Shares and Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Shares.
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Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Share means, assuming the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved, a class C-1 preferred share in the share capital of ListCo, each of which underlies a Class C-1 ADS and will be exercisable for one Post-Combination Company Class A Share.
Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Share means, assuming the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved, a class C-2 preferred share in the share capital of ListCo, each of which underlies a Class C-2 ADS and will be exercisable for one Post-Combination Company Class A Share.
Post-Combination Company Preference Shares means the mandatory convertible preference shares of the Post-Combination Company to be issued to Snita pursuant to the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement.
Post-Combination Company Shares means Post-Combination Company Class A Shares and Post-Combination Company Class B Shares.
Post-Combination Company securities means Post-Combination Company Shares, Post-Combination Company Warrants and Post-Combination Company Class C Shares.
Post-Combination Company Warrant means, assuming the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved, a warrant of the Post-Combination Company representing the right to acquire of Post-Combination Company Class A Share.
PP ADW means one American depositary warrant of ListCo, which will be exercisable for one Class A ADS (or one Post-Combination Company Class A Share if at the time of exercise ListCo no longer uses the ADR Facility) at $11.50 per Class A ADS on substantially the same terms applicable to the GGI Private Placement Warrant, and into which each GGI Private Placement Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved.
Pre-Closing Reorganization means the reorganization to be effectuated by Parent, ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and their respective subsidiaries prior to Closing, pursuant to which, among other things, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and their respective subsidiaries will become, directly or indirectly, wholly owned subsidiaries of ListCo.
Pre-Closing Sweden/Singapore Share Transfer means, collectively, the following transactions contemplated under the Business Combination Agreement: (i) the transfer by Polestar Singapore to Parent of all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of Polestar Sweden not later than 30 days prior to the Closing Date (the Pre-Closing Sweden Share Transfer) and (ii) after the Pre-Closing Sweden Share Transfer, the contribution by Parent to Polestar Sweden of all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of Polestar Singapore.
Public ADW means one American depositary warrant of ListCo, which will be exercisable for one Class A ADS (or one Post-Combination Company Class A Share if at the time of exercise ListCo no longer uses the ADR Facility) at $11.50 per Class A ADS on substantially the same terms applicable to the GGI Public Warrant, and into which each GGI Public Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved.
Registration Rights Agreement means the registration rights agreement, dated September 27, 2021, by and among ListCo, Parent, the Parent Shareholders, the GGI Sponsor and the independent directors of GGI (such persons, together with the GGI Sponsor and the Parent Holders, the Registration Rights Holders), as amended by the Registration Rights Agreement Amendment. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prosectus as Annexes G-1 and G-2.
Registration Rights Agreement Amendment means that certain amendment to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 17, 2021, which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex G-2.
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Regulatory Withdrawals means funds released to GGI from the Trust Account to fund regulatory compliance requirements and other costs related thereto, subject to an annual limit of $900,000, for a maximum of 24 months.
Related Agreements means the Registration Rights Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement, the Parent Lock-Up Agreement, the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, the Warrant Amendment Agreement, the Class C Warrant Amendment, the Shareholder Acknowledgement Agreement and the other agreements or documents contemplated under the Business Combination Agreement.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
Sarbanes Oxley Act means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
SEC means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 203 means Section 203 of the DGCL.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Shareholder Acknowledgement Agreement means the shareholder acknowledgement, dated September 27, 2021, by and among Parent, the Parent Shareholders and ListCo, as amended by the Shareholder Acknowledgement Agreement Amendment (a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annexes M-1 and M-2).
Shareholder Acknowledgement Agreement Amendment means that certain amendment to the Shareholder Acknowledgement Agreement, dated March [●], 2022, which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex M-2.
Snita means Snita Holding B.V., a corporation organized under the laws of Netherlands and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Volvo Cars.
Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement means the lock-up agreement, dated September 27, 2021, by and among GGI, Parent, ListCo and the GGI Initial Stockholders, as amended by the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement Amendment. A copy of the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annexes K-1 and K-2.
Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement Amendment means that certain amendment to the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, dated December 17, 2021, which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex K-2.
Sponsor Subscription Agreement means the subscription agreement, dated September 27, 2021 and amended on December 17, 2021, by and among GGI, ListCo and the GGI Sponsor, pursuant to which the GGI Sponsor agreed to purchase approximately 2.15 million Sponsor Subscription Shares for a purchase price of $9.09 per share on the date of Closing.
Sponsor Subscription Investment means the purchase of the Sponsor Subscription Shares pursuant to the Sponsor Subscription Agreement.
Sponsor Subscription Shares means the Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased by the GGI Sponsor in the Sponsor Subscription Investment.
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Stockholder Special Meeting means the special meeting of the stockholders of GGI that is the subject of this proxy statement/prospectus.
Subscription Agreements means the PIPE Subscription Agreements, the Sponsor Subscription Agreement and the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement.
Subscription Investments means the purchase of the Subscription Shares pursuant to the Subscription Agreements.
Subscription Shares means the Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased by the GGI Sponsor, the PIPE Investors and Snita pursuant to the Sponsor Subscription Agreement, the PIPE Subscription Agreements and the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, respectively.
The Gores Group means The Gores Group, LLC, an affiliate of the GGI Sponsor.
Trust Account means the trust account of GGI that holds the proceeds from the GGI IPO.
Trustee means Computershare Trust Company, N.A., acting as trustee of GGI.
U.S. Dollars and $ means United States dollars, the legal currency of the United States.
Volvo Cars means Volvo Car AB (publ).
Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement means the subscription agreement, dated September 27, 2021 and amended on December 17, 2021, by and among GGI, ListCo and Volvo Cars, pursuant to which Snita agreed to purchase approximately 2.70 million Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Shares for a purchase price of $10.00 per share on the date of Closing.
Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Investment means the purchase of Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Shares pursuant to the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement.
Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Shares means the Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased by Snita in the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Investment.
Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement means the subscription agreement, dated September 27, 2021, by and between ListCo and Snita, pursuant to which Snita agreed to purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, mandatory convertible preference shares of the Post-Combination Company for an aggregate subscription price of $10.00 per share, for an aggregate investment amount equal to $498,039,000.
Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Investment means the purchase of the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Shares pursuant to the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement.
Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Shares means the mandatory convertible preference shares of the Post-Combination Company to be purchased by Snita pursuant to the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement.
Warrant Agent means Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, collectively, acting as warrant agent.
Warrant Amendment Agreement means the proposed amendment to the Existing Warrant Agreement to be entered into by and among GGI, ListCo and Computershare in event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved, pursuant to which, among other things, each GGI Warrant will convert into a Post-Combination Company Warrant to be delivered in the form of ADWs, which will be exercisable for Class A ADSs and subject to substantially the same terms as were applicable to the GGI Warrants under the Existing Warrant Agreement.
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Warrant Holder Meeting means the meeting of the holders of GGI Public Warrant that is the subject of this proxy statement/prospectus.
Weil means Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel to GGI.
Withum means WithumSmith+Brown, PC, an independent accounting firm.
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The questions and answers below highlight only selected information from this proxy statement/prospectus and only briefly address some commonly asked questions about the Stockholder Special Meeting and the proposals to be presented at the Stockholder Special Meeting, including with respect to the Business Combination, and questions about the Warrant Holder Meeting and the proposals to be presented at the Warrant Holder Meeting. The following questions and answers do not include all the information that is important to GGI stockholders or warrant holders. GGI stockholders and warrant holders are urged to read carefully this entire proxy statement/prospectus, including the Annexes and the other documents referred to herein, to fully understand the proposed Business Combination and the voting procedures for the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting.
In light of public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stockholder Special Meeting will be held via live webcast at [●], on [●], at [●]. The Stockholder Special Meeting can be accessed by visiting [●], where you will be able to listen to the meeting live and vote during the meeting. Please note that you will only be able to access the Stockholder Special Meeting by means of remote communication.
In light of public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Warrant Holder Meeting will be held via live webcast at [●], on [●], at [●]. The Warrant Holder Meeting can be accessed by visiting [●], where you will be able to listen to the meeting live and vote during the meeting. Please note that you will only be able to access the Warrant Holder Meeting by means of remote communication.
Q: | Why am I receiving this proxy statement/prospectus? |
A: | GGI stockholders are being asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the Business Combination Agreement and approve, among other things, the Business Combination. GGI has entered into the Business Combination Agreement. A copy of the Business Combination Agreement is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annexes A-1 and A-2. |
GGI warrant holders are being asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the warrant agreement that governs all of GGIs outstanding warrants to permit the conversion of GGI Public Warrants to Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Shares to be delivered in the form of Class C-1 ADSs and the GGI Private Placement Warrants to Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Shares to be delivered in the form of Class C-2 ADSs.
This proxy statement/prospectus and its Annexes contain important information about the proposed Business Combination and the other matters to be acted upon at the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting. You should read this proxy statement/prospectus and its Annexes carefully and in their entirety.
Your vote is important. You are encouraged to submit your proxy as soon as possible after carefully reviewing this proxy statement/prospectus and its Annexes.
Q: | What proposals are GGI stockholders being asked to vote upon? |
A: | At the Stockholder Special Meeting, GGI is asking GGI stockholders to consider and vote upon the following proposals: |
| Business Combination ProposalTo consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the Business Combination Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement, a copy which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annexes A-1 and A-2, and approve, among other things, the Business Combination (Stockholder Proposal No. 1); |
| Governance ProposalsTo consider and act upon, on a non-binding advisory basis, separate proposals with respect to certain governance provisions in the Post-Combination Articles, a form of which is attached hereto as Annex B, in accordance with SEC requirements (Stockholder Proposal No. 2); and |
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| Adjournment ProposalTo consider and vote upon a proposal to allow the chairman of the Stockholder Special Meeting to adjourn the Stockholder Special Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI stockholders to approve the Business Combination Proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to this proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI stockholders (Stockholder Proposal No. 3). |
Q: | Are the proposals GGI stockholders are being asked to vote upon conditioned on one another? |
A: | Yes. The Business Combination is conditioned on the approval of the Business Combination Proposal. If GGI fails to obtain sufficient votes for the Business Combination Proposal, GGI will not satisfy the conditions to consummate the Business Combination Agreement and GGI will prevented from closing the Business Combination. The Governance Proposals and the Adjournment Proposal are not conditioned on the approval of any other proposal set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus. It is important for you to note that in the event that the Business Combination Proposal does not receive the requisite vote for approval, GGI will not consummate the Business Combination. Unless GGI amends the Current GGI Certificate (which requires the affirmative vote of 65% of all then outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock) and amend certain other agreements into which GGI has entered to extend the life of GGI, if GGI does not consummate the Business Combination and fails to complete an initial business combination by March 25, 2023, GGI will be required to dissolve and liquidate the Trust Account by returning the then remaining funds in such account to GGI Public Stockholders. |
Q: | What proposals are GGI Public Warrant holders being asked to vote upon? |
A: | At the Warrant Holder Meeting, GGI is asking GGI Public Warrant holders to consider and vote upon the following proposals: |
| Warrant Amendment ProposalTo consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the Class C Warrant Amendment, a form of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D (Warrant Holder Proposal No. 1); and |
| Warrant Holder Adjournment ProposalTo consider and act upon a proposal to approve the adjournment of the Warrant Holder Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI warrant holders to approve the Warrant Holder Proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to this proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI warrant holders (Warrant Holder Proposal No. 2). |
Q: | Are the proposals GGI Public Warrant holders are being asked to vote upon conditioned on other proposals? |
A: | Yes. The Warrant Amendment will only become effective if the Business Combination is completed. If the Business Combination is not completed, the Warrant Amendment will not become effective, even if the GGI Public Warrant Holders have approved the Warrant Amendment Proposal. Approval of the Warrant Amendment is not a condition to the consummation of the Business Combination. Accordingly, the Business Combination can be completed even if the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved. The Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal is not conditioned upon the approval of any other proposal. |
Q: | Why is GGI providing stockholders with the opportunity to vote on the Business Combination Proposal? |
A: | Under the Current GGI Certificate, GGI must provide all holders of GGI Public Shares with the opportunity to have their GGI Public Shares redeemed upon the consummation of an initial business combination either in conjunction with a tender offer or in conjunction with a stockholder vote. For business and other reasons, GGI has elected to provide its stockholders with the opportunity to have their GGI Public Shares redeemed |
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in connection with a stockholder vote rather than a tender offer. GGI is seeking to obtain the approval of its stockholders of the Business Combination Proposal and, accordingly, will allow the GGI Public Stockholders to effectuate redemptions of their GGI Public Shares in connection with the Closing. The approval of the Business Combination is required under the Current GGI Certificate. In addition, such approval is also a condition to the Closing under the Business Combination Agreement. |
Q: | Why is GGI providing stockholders with the opportunity to vote on the Governance Proposals? |
A: | As required by applicable SEC guidance, GGI is requesting that GGI Stockholders vote upon, on a non-binding advisory basis, separate proposals with respect to certain provisions in the Post-Combination Articles that materially affect stockholder rights. This separate vote is not otherwise required by Delaware law, but pursuant to SEC guidance, GGI is required to submit these provisions to GGI Stockholders separately for approval. However, the stockholder vote regarding these proposals is advisory, and is not binding on GGI or the GGI Board. Furthermore, the approval of the Business Combination Proposal is not conditioned on the separate approval of the Governance Proposals. For additional information, please see the section titled Stockholder Proposal No. 2The Governance Proposals. |
Q: | Why is GGI providing stockholders with the opportunity to vote on the Adjournment Proposal? |
A: | GGI is proposing the Adjournment Proposal to allow the chairman of the Stockholder Special Meeting to adjourn the Stockholder Special Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI stockholders to approve the Business Combination Proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to this proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI stockholders. For additional information, please see the section titled Stockholder Proposal No. 3The Adjournment Proposal. |
Q: | Why is GGI proposing the Business Combination? |
A: | GGI is a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on December 21, 2020 and incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (an initial business combination). GGIs acquisition plan is not limited to a particular industry or geographic region for purposes of consummating an initial business combination. However, GGI (a) must complete an initial business combination with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination and (b) is not, under the Current GGI Certificate, permitted to effect an initial business combination with a blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations. |
GGI has identified several criteria and guidelines GGI believes are important for evaluating acquisition opportunities. GGI uses these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but GGI can decide to enter into an initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines. GGI is seeking to acquire companies that it believes: (i) have a defensible core business, sustainable revenues and established customer relationships; (ii) are undergoing change in capital structure, strategy, operations or growth; (iii) can benefit from GGIs operational and strategic approach; (iv) offer a unique value proposition with transformational potential that can be substantiated during GGIs detailed due diligence process; and (v) have reached a transition point in their lifecycle presenting an opportunity for transformation. Based on GGIs due diligence investigations of Polestar and the industry in which it operates, including the financial and other information provided by Polestar in the course of negotiations, GGI believes that Polestar meets the criteria and guidelines listed above and is in the best interests of GGI. However, there can be no assurances of this. Although GGI believes that the Business Combination presents a unique business combination opportunity and is in the best interests of GGI, the GGI Board did consider
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certain potentially material negative factors in arriving at that conclusion. Please see the section titled The Business CombinationRecommendation of the GGI Board and Reasons for the Business Combination for additional information.
Q: | Why is GGI providing GGI Public Warrant holders with the opportunity to vote on the Warrant Amendment Proposal? |
A: | GGI is holding the Warrant Holder Meeting to seek approval from GGI Public Warrant holders of the Class C Warrant Amendment, which will amend the Existing Warrant Agreement to permit the conversion of GGI Public Warrants to Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Shares to be delivered in the form of Class C-1 ADSs and the GGI Private Placement Warrants to Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Shares to be delivered in the form of Class C-2 ADSs. A summary of the Warrant Amendment Proposal is set forth in the section titled Warrant Holder Proposal 1The Warrant Amendment Proposal of this proxy statement/prospectus and a form of the Class C Warrant Amendment is attached hereto as Annex D. |
The GGI Board believes it is in the best interests of GGI and GGI Public Warrant holders to permit the conversion of GGI Public Warrants to Class C-1 ADSs and the GGI Private Placement Warrants to Class C-2 ADSs. In the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved but the Business Combination Proposal is approved, the Existing Warrant Agreement will be amended by the Warrant Amendment Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, each GGI Warrant will convert into a Post-Combination Company Warrant to be delivered in the form of ADWs, which will be exercisable for Class A ADSs and subject to substantially the same terms as were applicable to the GGI Warrants under the Existing Warrant Agreement. There is a risk that the issue of such Post-Combination Company Warrants might cause a significant UK corporation tax charge to arise for the Post-Combination Company. This UK corporation tax charge is not expected to arise in the event that the GGI Public Warrants and the GGI Private Placement Warrants are instead permitted to be converted into Class C-1 ADSs and Class C-2 ADSs, respectively, pursuant to the terms of the Class C Warrant Amendment. Please see the section titled Risk FactorsIf GGI Warrant holders fail to approve the Warrant Amendment Proposal, GGI and ListCo may be subject to additional expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination for further information.
Q: | Why is GGI providing GGI Public Warrant holders with the opportunity to vote on the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal? |
A: | GGI is proposing the Adjournment Proposal to allow the chairman of the Warrant Holder Meeting to adjourn the Warrant Holder Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI warrant holders to approve the Warrant Amendment Proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to this proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI warrant holders. For additional information, please see the section titled Warrant Holder Proposal No. 2The Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal. |
Q: | Did the GGI Board obtain a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in determining whether or not to proceed with the Business Combination? |
A: | Yes. Although the Current GGI Certificate does not require the GGI Board to seek a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in connection with a business combination unless the target is affiliated with the GGI Sponsor or GGIs directors or officers, on September 25, 2021, Barclays rendered an opinion to the GGI Board that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions stated in such opinion, the Class A Share Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of GGI Class A Common Stock, other than GGI Sponsor and its affiliates, in the Merger pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, after giving effect to the Pre-Closing Reorganization, is fair to the holders of shares of GGI Class A Common Stock, other than GGI Sponsor and its affiliates. |
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Please see the section titled The Business CombinationOpinion of GGIs Financial Advisor and the opinion of Barclays attached hereto as Annex H for additional information.
Q: | What revenues and profits/losses has the Polestar Automotive Holding Limited generated in the last two years? |
A: | For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Polestar Automotive Holding Limited had total revenues of $610 million and $92 million and losses of $485 million and $198 million, respectively. At the end of fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, Polestar Automotive Holding Limiteds total assets were $2,549 million and its total liabilities were $1,968 million. For additional information, please see the Polestar Financial Statements and section Polestars Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. |
Q: | What is expected to happen in the Business Combination? |
A: | Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement, and the Related Agreements, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, GGI, Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub will effect a series of transactions collectively referred to as the Business Combination. Prior to the Closing, Parent will effect the Pre-Closing Reorganization. At or substantially concurrently with the Closing, (i) certain investors will purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, approximately 21.69 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs in accordance with the PIPE Subscription Agreements, (ii) the GGI Sponsor will purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, approximately 2.15 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs in accordance with the Sponsor Subscription Agreement, (iii) Snita will purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, approximately 2.70 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs in accordance with the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, (iv) Snita will purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares in accordance with the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement, (v) Merger Sub will merge with and into GGI, pursuant to which the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and GGI will become a wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo, and each share of GGI Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be exchanged for one Class A ADS duly and validly issued against the deposit of an underlying Post-Combination Company Class A Share with the depositary with which ListCo has established an ADR Facility and (vi)(A) in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved prior to the Effective Time, each GGI Public Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one Class C-1 ADS representing one Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Share and each GGI Private Placement Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one Class C-2 ADS representing one Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Share or (B) in the event that the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved prior to the Effective Time, each GGI Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one ADW. |
For more information on the Business Combination, see the section titled The Business Combination.
Q: | What conditions must be satisfied to complete the Business Combination? |
A: | There are a number of closing conditions in the Business Combination Agreement, including the approval by GGI Stockholders of the Business Combination Proposal. For a summary of the conditions that must be satisfied or waived prior to completion of the Business Combination, please see the section titled The Business Combination Agreement. |
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Q: | Will GGI or Polestar raise new financing in connection with the Business Combination? |
A: | GGI will not obtain new financing in connection with the Business Combination. However, if the Business Combination is consummated, the funds held in the Trust Account will be used to: (i) pay GGI Public Stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights and (ii) pay the Deferred Discount and certain other fees, costs and expenses (including regulatory fees, legal fees, accounting fees, printer fees and other professional fees) that were incurred by GGI in connection with the Business Combination up to a cap of $60 million, and pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement. Any remaining funds will be used by the Post-Combination Company for general corporate purposes. |
In addition, ListCo will consummate the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreements and the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement. The proceeds from the Subscription Agreements will be used by the Post-Combination Company to fund its business plan and future vehicle launches. The proceeds of the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement will be used to satisfy certain accounts payable that are or will be due and payable by certain subsidiaries of Parent to Volvo Cars. The Subscription Agreements and the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement are contingent upon, among other customary closing conditions, the substantially concurrent consummation of the Business Combination. Neither GGI nor ListCo anticipates obtaining any additional debt financing to fund the Business Combination.
Q: | What is an American depositary share and American depositary warrant? |
A: | An American depositary share, or ADS, is issued by a depositary to represent a specified number of securities of a non-U.S. company deposited with a custodian bank. Each Class A ADS, Class C-1 ADS and Class C-2 ADS will be issued by Citibank, N.A., in its capacity as depositary for the ADSs, to represent one Post-Combination Company Class A Share, one Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Share, or one Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Share, as applicable. Class A ADSs and Class C ADSs will be issued in book-entry form or will be issued in certificated form, in which case they will be evidenced by American depositary receipts, or ADRs. The Class A ADSs and Post-Combination Class C ADSs will be issued pursuant to the terms of the applicable Deposit Agreements. If the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved, no Class C ADSs will be issued and no Deposit Agreements for the Class C ADSs will be entered into. Further, if the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved, the GGI Warrants will be assumed by ListCo and deposited with the custodian bank at Closing, and corresponding ADWs will be issued by Citibank, N.A., as depositary for the ADWs, pursuant to the ADW Deposit Agreement. No ADWs will be issued and no ADW Deposit Agreement will be entered into at Closing if the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved. ADWs will be issued in book-entry form or in certificated form, in which case they will be evidenced by American depositary warrant receipts, or ADW Receipts. |
Q: | What are the important differences between a Post-Combination Company Securities and the corresponding ADSs and ADWs? |
A: | While ADSs and ADWs will represent the corresponding Post-Combination Company securities, there are some differences between these types of securities. These differences include, but are not limited to, the following: |
| Only the ADSs and ADWs will be listed, and the corresponding underlying Post-Combination Company securities will not be listed; |
| ADSs and ADWs will be subject to depositary fees payable by the holders of ADSs and ADWs, while no such fees are payable by holders of the corresponding Post-Combination Company securities. For a more detailed discussion of fees that may be owed by holders of AD securities, see Description of the Post-Combination Companys American Depositary Securities; |
| holders of ADSs and ADWs vote the underlying Post-Combination Company securities indirectly only by instructing the depositary how to vote the corresponding Post-Combination Company securities, |
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while direct holders of Post-Combination Company Class A Shares vote directly at the applicable shareholder meetings; |
| certain shareholders rights, such as the right to propose resolutions or the right to convene a General Meeting, may not be exercised by holders of ADSs unless they first convert their ADSs into the corresponding Post-Combination Company Class A Shares; |
| holders of Post-Combination Company securities are entitled to receive mailed copies of proxy materials and documents from ListCo, while, in lieu of distributing such materials, the depositary may distribute to holders of ADSs and ADWs instructions on how to retrieve such materials upon request; and |
| the terms and conditions of the ADSs and ADWs may be amended by agreement between the Post-Combination Company and the depositary (with notice to the applicable ADS and ADW holders), while any amendment of the Post-Combination Company Securities requires approval of a specified percentage of the holders thereof. |
A holder of ADSs and ADWs may at any time exchange such ADSs and ADWs for the corresponding Post-Combination Company securities, subject to certain limitations. For further information, see Can I elect to receive Post-Combination Company Shares instead of ADSs or ADWs?
For a more detailed discussion about Post-Combination Company securities, ADSs and ADWs, see Description of ListCos Securities and Description of the Post-Combination Companys American Depositary Securities.
Q: | Will the ADSs or ADWs issued to GGI Stockholders and GGI Warrant holders at the time of Closing be listed on an exchange? |
A: | GGI Public Shares, GGI Public Units and GGI Public Warrants are currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbols GGPI, GGPIU and GGPIW, respectively. ListCo intends to apply to list the Class A ADSs and the Public ADWs or Class C-1 ADSs on Nasdaq under the symbols PSNY and PSNYW, respectively, upon the Closing. ListCo cannot assure you that the Class A ADSs and the Public ADWs or Class C-1 ADSs will be approved for listing or remain listed on Nasdaq. |
Q: | Can I sell the ADSs and ADWs that I may receive in the Business Combination? |
A: | Yes, so long as there is sufficient market demand for the ADSs and ADWs. The ADSs and ADWs being issued in the Business Combination will be transferable (subject to applicable restrictions under the U.S. securities laws) and will be registered with the SEC. It is a condition to Closing that the ADSs and ADWs being issued to GGI stockholders and GGI warrantholders in the Business Combination and the ADSs issued as part of the PIPE Investment be approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance. However, following Business Combination, there can be no assurance that the ADSs or ADWs will continue to satisfy the listing requirements of Nasdaq or that a trading market in the ADSs or ADWs will develop or exist at any time. Further, no prediction can be made regarding the liquidity of any such market or the prices at which the ADSs or ADWs may trade at any point in time. |
Q: | Can I elect to receive Post-Combination Company Shares instead of ADSs or ADWs? |
A: | No. In connection with Closing, all GGI Public Units will be separated into their components and all holders of shares of GGI Common Stock will only be entitled to receive Class A ADSs. Such stockholders may not elect to receive Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in lieu of Class A ADSs. Similarly, holders of GGI Warrants will, if the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved, receive Class C ADSs, and if the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved, receive ADWs. Such warrantholders may not elect to receive Post-Combination Company Class C Shares in lieu of Class C ADSs or Post-Combination Company Warrants in lieu of ADWs. |
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However, once ADSs and ADWs are issued to you, you will have the right to convert those ADSs and ADWs into the corresponding Post-Combination Company securities that have been deposited at Closing with the depositary, subject to the payment of any fees charged by the depositary relating to such conversion of ADSs and ADWs into Post-Combination Company securities.
For a more detailed discussion about the conversion of ADSs and ADWs into Post-Combination Company securities and the fees and charges that may be charged by the depositary in relation to the ADSs and ADWs, see Description of ListCos Securities and Description of the Post-Combination Companys American Depositary Securities.
Q: | How has the announcement of the Business Combination affected the trading price of the GGI Public Shares? |
A: | On September 24, 2021, the trading date before the public announcement of the Business Combination, GGI Public Units, GGI Public Shares and GGI Public Warrants closed at $10.31, $9.98 and $1.79, respectively. On [●], the trading date immediately prior to the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, GGI Public Units, GGI Public Shares and GGI Public Warrants closed at $[●], $[●] and $[●], respectively. |
Q: | Who will be on the Post-Combination Company Board? |
A: | Upon the Closing, it is anticipated that the Post-Combination Company Board will be composed of three directors in Class I (expected to be Thomas Ingenlath, Daniel Li and David Richter), three directors in Class II (expected to be Carla De Geyseleer, Karl-Thomas Neumann and Håkan Samuelsson) and three directors in Class III (expected to be Karen Francis, Jim Rowan and David Wei). The term of the initial Class I Directors will expire at the first annual general meeting, the term of the initial Class II Directors will expire at the second annual general meeting, and the term of the initial Class III Directors will expire at the third annual general meeting. At each succeeding annual general meeting following the third annual general meeting following Closing, directors shall be elected to serve for a term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such annual general meeting. At each annual meeting of Post Combination Company shareholders beginning with the first annual meeting of Post-Combination Company shareholders, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting will be elected for a three-year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. |
Please see the section titled Management of the Post-Combination Company for additional information.
Q: | Who will be on the management team of the Post-Combination Company? |
A: | It is expected that, following the Closing, the current senior management of Polestar will comprise the senior management of the Post-Combination Company. |
Please see the section titled Management of the Post-Combination Company for additional information.
Q: | What equity stake will current stockholders of GGI, PIPE Investors and Parent Shareholders hold in the Post-Combination Company? |
A: | It is anticipated that, upon consummation of the Business Combination and without giving effect to any issuance of Earn Out Shares, any exercise of Class C ADSs or ADWs or any redemptions: (i) GGI Public Stockholders will retain an ownership interest of approximately 3.8% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs; (ii) the GGI Initial Stockholders (including the GGI Sponsor) will own approximately 1.0% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs (including 2.15 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Sponsor Subscription Agreement); (iii) the PIPE |
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Investors will own approximately 1.0% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs; and (iv) the Parent Shareholders will own approximately 94.2% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs (including (a) 2.70 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, (b) 49.80 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs following the conversion of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares purchased under the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement and (c) Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs following the conversion at the Closing of Parent Convertible Notes). |
In the event that, following the Business Combination, 159,397,500 Earn Out Shares are issued to Parent Shareholders and assuming no exercise of Class C ADSs or ADWs, no redemptions and that no additional Post-Combination Company Shares are issued between the Closing and the realization of all of the benchmark share prices in the earn out: (i) GGI Public Stockholders will retain an ownership interest of approximately 3.5% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs; (ii) the GGI Initial Stockholders (including the GGI Sponsor) will own approximately 0.9% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs (including 2.15 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Sponsor Subscription Agreement); (iii) the PIPE Investors will own approximately 0.9% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs; and (iv) the Parent Shareholders will own approximately 94.6% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs (including (a) 2.70 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, (b) 49.80 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs following the conversion of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares purchased under the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement and (c) Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs following the conversion at the Closing of Parent Convertible Notes).
For more information, please see the sections titled The Business CombinationImpact of the Business Combination on Public Float and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.
Q: | What is the impact on relative stock ownership if a substantial number of GGI Public Stockholders vote in favor of the Business Combination Proposal and exercise their redemption rights? |
A: | GGI Public Stockholders are not required to vote against the Business Combination in order to exercise their redemption rights. Accordingly, the Business Combination may be consummated even though the funds available from the Trust Account and the number of GGI Public Stockholders are reduced as a result of redemptions by GGI Public Stockholders. |
If a GGI Public Stockholder exercises its redemption rights, such exercise will not result in the loss of any warrants that it may hold. Neither GGI nor ListCo can predict the ultimate value of the Class C ADSs or ADWs following the Closing, but assuming that 100% or 80,000,000 shares of GGI Class A Common Stock held by GGI Public Stockholders were redeemed, the 16,000,000 retained outstanding GGI Public Warrants would have an aggregate value of $[●], based on a price per GGI Public Warrant of $[●] on [●], the most recent practicable date prior to the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. In addition, on [●], the most recent practicable date prior to the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the price per share of GGI Class A Common Stock closed at $[●]. If the shares of GGI Class A Common Stock are trading above the exercise price of $11.50 per warrant, the warrants are considered to be in the money and are therefore more likely to be exercised by the holders thereof (when they become exercisable). This in turn increases the risk to non-redeeming stockholders that the warrants will be exercised, which would result in immediate dilution to the non- redeeming stockholders.
In each of the no redemption, illustrative redemption, contractual maximum redemption and charter redemption limitation scenarios as described below, the residual equity value owned by non-redeeming GGI
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stockholders, taking into account the respective redemption amounts, is assumed to remain the deemed value of $10.00 per share as illustrated in the sensitivity table below. As a result of such redemption amounts and the assumed $10.00 per share value, the implied total equity value of the Post-Combination Company following the Business Combination (including the Subscription Investments and the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Investment), assuming no dilution from any Additional Dilution Sources, would be (a) $21,253 million in the no redemption scenario, (b) $21,203 million in the illustrative redemption scenario, (c) $21,153 million in the contractual maximum redemption scenario and (d) $20,458 million in the charter redemption limitation scenario. Additionally, the sensitivity table below sets forth (x) the potential additional dilutive impact of each of the Additional Dilution Sources in each redemption scenario, as described further in Notes 9 through 15 below, and (y) the effective underwriting fee incurred in connection with the GGI IPO in each redemption scenario, as further described in Note 16 below.
Holders |
No Redemption Scenario(1) |
% of Total |
Illustrative Redemption Scenario(2) |
% of Total |
Contractual Maximum Redemption Scenario(3) |
% of Total |
Charter Redemption Limitation Scenario(4) |
% of Total |
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GGI Public Stockholders |
80,000,000 | 3.8 | % | 74,997,259 | 3.5 | % | 69,997,441 | 3.3 | % | 499,982 | 0.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
GGI Initial Stockholders (including GGI Sponsor)(5) |
20,616,125 | 1.0 | % | 20,616,125 | 1.0 | % | 20,616,125 | 1.0 | % | 20,616,125 | 1.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
PIPE Investors(6) |
21,688,223 | 1.0 | % | 21,688,223 | 1.0 | % | 21,688,223 | 1.0 | % | 21,688,223 | 1.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Parent Shareholders(7) |
2,002,995,652 | 94.2 | % | 2,002,995,652 | 94.5 | % | 2,002,995,652 | 94.7 | % | 2,002,995,652 | 97.9 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Total Post-Combination Company Shares Outstanding(8) |
2,125,300,000 | 100 | % | 2,120,297,258 | 100 | % | 2,115,297,441 | 100 | % | 2,045,799,982 | 100 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total Equity Value Post-Redemptions and PIPE Investments ($ in millions) |
$ | 21,253 | | $ | 21,203 | | $ | 21,153 | | $ | 20,458 | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Per Share Value |
$ | 10.00 | | $ | 10.00 | | $ | 10.00 | | $ | 10.00 | |
Additional Dilution Sources |
No Redemption Scenario(1) |
% of Total(9) |
Illustrative Redemption Scenario(2) |
% of Total(9) |
Contractual Maximum Redemption Scenario(3) |
% of Total(9) |
Charter Redemption Limitation Scenario(4) |
% of Total(9) |
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Earn Out Shares(10) |
159,397,500 | 7.0 | % | 159,022,294 | 7.0 | % | 158,647,308 | 7.0 | % | 153,434,999 | 7.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Class C ADSs and Warrants |
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Class C-1 ADSs or Public ADWs(11) |
16,000,000 | 0.7 | % | 16,000,000 | 0.7 | % | 16,000,000 | 0.8 | % | 16,000,000 | 0.8 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Class C-2 ADSs or PP ADWs (12) |
9,000,000 | 0.4 | % | 9,000,000 | 0.4 | % | 9,000,000 | 0.4 | % | 9,000,000 | 0.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Equity Incentive Plan |
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Equity Plan(13) |
10,000,000 | 0.5 | % | 10,000,000 | 0.5 | % | 10,000,000 | 0.5 | % | 10,000,000 | 0.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
Employee Stock Purchase Plan(14) |
2,000,000 | 0.1 | % | 2,000,000 | 0.1 | % | 2,000,000 | 0.1 | % | 2,000,000 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Total Additional Dilution Sources(15) |
196,397,500 | 8.5 | % | 196,022,294 | 8.5 | % | 195,647,308 | 8.5 | % | 190,434,999 | 8.5 | % |
Deferred Discount |
No Redemption Scenario(1) |
% of Trust Account |
Illustrative Redemption Scenario(2) |
% of Trust Account |
Contractual Maximum Redemption Scenario(3) |
% of Trust Account |
Charter Redemption Limitation Scenario(4) |
% of Trust Account |
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Effective Deferred Discount(16) |
$ | 28,000,000 | 3.5 | % | $ | 28,000,000 | 3.7 | % | $ | 28,000,000 | 4.0 | % | $ | 28,000,000 | 560.0 | % |
(1) | This scenario assumes that no shares of GGI Class A Common Stock are redeemed by GGI Public Stockholders. The no redemption scenario excludes 159,397,500 Earn Out Shares, 9,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class C Shares issued to GGI Private Placement Warrant holders and 609,688 vested shares pursuant with the Equity Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan. |
(2) | This scenario assumes that approximately 5,002,741 shares of GGI Class A Common Stock are redeemed by GGI Public Stockholders. The illustrative redemption scenario excludes 159,022,294 Earn Out Shares, 9,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class C Shares issued to GGI Private Placement Warrant holders and 609,688 vested shares pursuant with the Equity Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan. |
(3) | This scenario assumes that approximately 10,002,559 shares of GGI Class A Common Stock are redeemed by GGI Public Stockholders, which, based on the amount of $800,029,249 in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2021, represents the maximum amount of redemptions that would still enable GGI to have sufficient cash to satisfy the Minimum Cash Condition. The contractual maximum redemption scenario excludes 158,647,308 Earn Out Shares, 9,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class C Shares issued to GGI Private Placement Warrant holders and 609,688 vested shares pursuant with the Equity Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan. |
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(4) | This scenario assumes that approximately 79,500,018 shares of GGI Class A Common Stock are redeemed by GGI Public Stockholders, which, based on the amount of $800,029,249 in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2021, represents the maximum amount of redemptions that would still enable GGI to have sufficient cash to satisfy the provision in the Current GGI Certificate that prohibits GGI from redeeming shares of GGI Class A Common Stock in an amount that would result in GGIs failure to have net tangible assets equaling or exceeding $5,000,001. The charter redemption scenario excludes 153,434,999 Earn Out Shares, 9,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class C Shares issued to GGI Private Placement Warrant holders and 609,688 vested shares pursuant with the Equity Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan. |
(5) | This row includes 2,149,998 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares underlying the 2,149,998 Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Sponsor Subscription Agreement. |
(6) | This row excludes 2,149,998 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares underlying the 2,149,998 Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Sponsor Subscription Agreements and excludes the 2,695,652 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares underlying the 2,695,652 Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement. |
(7) | This row excludes Earn Out Shares that are issuable to Parent Shareholders upon the realization of all of the benchmark share prices in the earn out and includes 2,695,652 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares underlying the 2,695,652 Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement. This row includes all Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in respect of outstanding convertible notes of Parent, all of which will be converted into Post-Combination Company Class A Shares at the Closing and 49,803,900 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in respect of Post-Combination Company Preference Shares to be purchased by Snita upon and subject to the Closing under the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement, all of which are currently contemplated to be converted into Post-Combination Company Class A Shares at Closing. |
(8) | This row excludes Earn Out Shares and the Post-Combination Class A Shares underlying the Class C ADSs and ADWs into which GGI Warrants will convert, depending on whether the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved. |
(9) | The Percentage of Total with respect to each Additional Dilution Source set forth below, including the Total Additional Dilution Sources, includes the full amount of shares issued with respect to the applicable Additional Dilution Source in both the numerator and denominator. For example, in the illustrative redemption scenario, the Percentage of Total with respect to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan would be calculated as follows: (a) 2,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares issued pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (reflecting 0.09% of the total number of shares of Post-Combination Company Shares outstanding as of immediately following the Closing); divided by (b) (i) 2,120,297,259 Post-Combination Company Shares (the number of shares outstanding prior to any issuance pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan) plus (ii) 2,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares issued pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. |
(10) | This row assumes 159,397,500, 159,022,294, 158,647,308 and 153,434,999 Earn Out Shares are issued, assuming the no redemption, illustrative redemption, contractual maximum redemption and charter redemption limitation scenarios, respectively, and assumes that no additional Post-Combination Company Shares are issued between the Closing and the realization of all of the benchmark share prices in the earn out. The total number of Earn Out Shares issuable to Parent Shareholders is partially determined by the number of issued and outstanding Post-Combination Company Shares as of immediately after the Effective Time. Total outstanding Percentages in this row represent (a) the foregoing Earn Out Share amounts, as applicable, divided by (b) (i) the amounts included in the row titled Total Post-Combination Company Shares Outstanding plus (ii) 159,397,500, 159,022,294, 158,647,308 or 153,434,999 Post-Combination Company Shares, assuming the no redemption, illustrative redemption, contractual maximum redemption and charter redemption limitation scenarios, respectively. Approximately 15.2% of the Earn Out Shares will be issued as Post-Combination Company Class A Shares, while the remaining 84.8% of the Earn Out Shares will be issued as Post-Combination Company Class B Shares. Each Post-Combination Company Class B Share will entitle the holder thereof to 10 votes per share. |
(11) | This row assumes exercise of Class C-1 ADSs or Public ADWs to purchase 16,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares (following the conversion of GGI Public Warrants into Class C-1 ADSs in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved or Public ADWs in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved). Percentages in this row represent (a) the 16,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares underlying the Class C-1 ADSs or Public ADWs divided by (b) (i) the amounts included in the row titled Total Post-Combination Company Shares Outstanding plus (ii) 16,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares underlying the Class C-1 ADSs or Public ADWs. |
(12) | This row assumes exercise of Class C-2 ADSs or PP ADWs to purchase 9,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares (following the conversion of GGI Private Placement Warrants into Class C-2 ADSs in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved or PP ADWs in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved). Percentages in this row represent (a) the 9,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares underlying the Class C-2 ADSs or PP ADWs divided by (b) (i) the amounts included in the row titled Total Post-Combination Company Shares Outstanding plus (ii) 9,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares underlying the Class C-2 ADSs or PP ADWs. |
(13) | This row assumes the issuance of all Post-Combination Company Class A Shares reserved for issuance under the Equity Plan at Closing, which equals 10,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in each of the no redemption, illustrative redemption, contractual maximum redemption and charter redemption limitation scenarios. Percentages in this row represent (a) 10,000,000, divided by (b) (i) the amounts included in the row titled Total Post-Combination Company Shares Outstanding plus (ii) 10,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in each of the no redemption, illustrative redemption, contractual maximum redemption and charter redemption limitation scenarios. The Equity Plan provides that the number of Post-Combination Company Class A Shares reserved for issuance thereunder will automatically increase annually on the first day of each fiscal year beginning with the Evergreen Commencement Date in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 0.5% of the aggregate number of Post-Combination Company Shares outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such smaller number of Post-Combination Company Shares as determined by the Post-Combination Company Board. For additional information, please see Management of the Post-Combination CompanyCompensation Arrangements after the Business CombinationEquity Plan. |
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(14) | This row assumes the issuance of all Post-Combination Company Class A Shares reserved for issuance under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan at Closing, which equals 2,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in each of the no redemption, illustrative redemption, contractual maximum redemption and charter redemption limitation scenarios. Percentages in this row represent (a) 2,000,000, divided by (b) (i) the amounts included in the row titled Total Post-Combination Company Shares Outstanding plus (ii) 2,000,000 Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in each of the no redemption, illustrative redemption, contractual maximum redemption and charter redemption limitation scenarios. The Employee Stock Purchase Plan provides that the number of Post-Combination Company Class A Shares reserved for issuance thereunder will automatically increase annually on the first day of each fiscal year beginning with the Evergreen Commencement Date in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 0.1% of the aggregate number of Post-Combination Company Shares outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such smaller number of Post-Combination Company Shares as determined by the Post-Combination Company Board. For additional information, please see Management of the Post-Combination CompanyCompensation Arrangements after the Business CombinationEmployee Stock Purchase Plan. |
(15) | This row assumes the issuance of all Post-Combination Company Shares in connection with each of the Additional Dilution Sources, as described further in Notes 9 through 14 above, which equals 196,397,500 Post-Combination Company Shares in the no redemption scenario, 196,022,294 Post-Combination Company Shares in the illustrative redemption scenario, 195,647,308 Post-Combination Company Shares in the contractual maximum redemption scenario or 190,434,999 Post-Combination Company Shares in the charter redemption limitation scenario, in each case, following the Closing. Percentages in this row represent (a) the foregoing share amounts, as applicable, divided by (b) (i) the amounts included in the row titled Total Post-Combination Company Shares Outstanding plus (ii) 196,397,500 Post-Combination Company Shares in the no redemption scenario, 196,022,294 Post-Combination Company Shares in the illustrative redemption scenario, 195,647,308 Post-Combination Company Shares in the contractual maximum redemption scenario or 190,434,999 Post-Combination Company Shares in the charter redemption limitation scenario. |
(16) | Reflects the Deferred Discount of $28,000,000 incurred in connection with the GGI IPO. |
The foregoing table is provided for illustrative purposes only and there can be no assurance that the AD securities will trade at the illustrative per share values set forth therein, regardless of the levels of redemption.
For more information, please see the sections titled The Business CombinationImpact of the Business Combination on Public Float and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.
Q: | What are the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination and the material UK tax consequences of holding and transferring ADSs and ADWs? |
A: | For a detailed discussion of material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination and a summary of material UK tax consequences of holding and transferring ADSs and ADWs, see the sections titled Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations and Material United Kingdom Tax Considerations in this proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences of exercising my redemption rights? |
A: | The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the redemption depend on particular facts and circumstances. Please see the section titled Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations. We urge you to consult your tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of exercising your redemption rights in your particular situation. |
Q: | How many votes do I have at the Stockholder Special Meeting and/or the Warrant Holder Meeting? |
A: | GGI Stockholders are entitled to one vote on each proposal presented at the Stockholder Special Meeting for each share of GGI Common Stock held of record as of [●], the record date for the Stockholder Special Meeting. GGI Public Warrant holders are entitled to one vote on each proposal presented at the Warrant Holder Meeting for each GGI Public Warrant held of record as of [●], the record date for the Warrant Holder Meeting. |
As of the close of business on the record date, there were [●] outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock and [●] outstanding GGI Public Warrants.
Q: | What happens if I sell my shares of GGI Class A Common Stock or GGI Public Warrants before the Stockholder Special Meeting and/or Warrant Holder Meeting? |
A: | The record date for the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting is earlier than the date that the Business Combination is expected to be completed. If you transfer your shares of GGI Class A |
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Common Stock after the record date, but before the Stockholder Special Meeting, unless the transferee obtains from you a proxy to vote those shares, you will retain your right to vote at the Stockholder Special Meeting. However, you will not be able to seek redemption of your shares of GGI Class A Common Stock because you will no longer be able to deliver them for cancellation upon consummation of the Business Combination. If you transfer your shares of GGI Class A Common Stock prior to the record date, you will have no right to vote those shares at the Stockholder Special Meeting, or redeem those shares for a pro rata portion of the proceeds held in the Trust Account. |
If you transfer your GGI Public Warrants after the record date, but before the Warrant Holder Meeting, unless the transferee obtains from you a proxy to vote those warrants, you will retain your right to vote at the Warrant Holder Meeting. If you transfer your GGI Public Warrants prior to the record date, you will have no right to vote those warrants at the Warrant Holder Meeting.
Q: | What vote is required to approve the proposals presented at the Stockholder Special Meeting? |
A: | The following votes are required for each proposal at the Stockholder Special Meeting: |
| The approval of the Business Combination Proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Special Meeting. Because the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote the shares of GGI Common Stock they own in favor of the Business Combination Proposal (which amount constitutes approximately 20% of the outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock), holders of approximately 38% of GGI Public Shares will need to vote in favor of the Business Combination Proposal for the Business Combination Proposal to be approved. Accordingly, a GGI Stockholders failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Stockholder Special Meeting, as well as an abstention from voting and a broker non-vote with regard to the Business Combination Proposal, will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the Business Combination Proposal. |
| The approval of the Governance Proposals requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast by holders of the outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock represented in person via the virtual meeting platform or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Special Meeting. Accordingly, a GGI Stockholders failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Stockholder Special Meeting, as well as an abstention from voting and a broker non-vote with regard to the Governance Proposals will have no effect on the Governance Proposals. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the Governance Proposals. The GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote the shares of GGI Class F Common Stock they own in favor of the Governance Proposals. |
| The approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock represented in person via the virtual meeting platform or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Special Meeting. Accordingly, a GGI Stockholders failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Stockholder Special Meeting, as well as a broker non-vote with regard to the Adjournment Proposal will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal. The GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote the shares of GGI Class F Common Stock they own in favor of the Adjournment Proposal. |
For purposes of the Stockholder Special Meeting, an abstention occurs when a stockholder attends the meeting and does not vote or returns a proxy with an abstain vote.
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Q: | What vote is required to approve the proposals presented at the Warrant Holder Meeting? |
A: | The following votes are required for each proposal at the Warrant Holder Meeting: |
| Approval of the Warrant Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 50% of outstanding GGI Public Warrants. Accordingly, a GGI Public Warrant holders failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Warrant Holder Meeting, as well as an abstention from voting and a broker non-vote with regard to the Warrant Amendment Proposal, will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the Warrant Amendment Proposal. |
| Approval of the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by GGI Public Warrant holders present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Warrant Holder Meeting. Accordingly, a GGI Public Warrant holders failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Warrant Holder Meeting, as well as a broker non-vote with regard to the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal will have no effect on the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established but will have no effect on the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal. |
For purposes of the Warrant Holder Meeting, an abstention occurs when a GGI Public Warrant holder attends the meeting and does not vote or returns a proxy with an abstain vote.
Q: | What constitutes a quorum at the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting? |
A: | A majority of the issued and outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock entitled to vote as of the record date at the Stockholder Special Meeting must be present, in person via the virtual meeting platform or represented by proxy, at the Stockholder Special Meeting to constitute a quorum and in order to conduct business at the Stockholder Special Meeting. Abstentions will be counted as present for the purpose of determining a quorum. The GGI Initial Stockholders, who currently own 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock, will count towards this quorum. In the absence of a quorum, the chairman of the Stockholder Special Meeting has power to adjourn the Stockholder Special Meeting. As of the record date for the Stockholder Special Meeting, [●] shares of GGI Common Stock would be required to achieve a quorum. |
A quorum will be present at the Warrant Holder Meeting if a majority of the GGI Public Warrants outstanding and entitled to vote at the Warrant Holder Meeting is represented virtually or by proxy. In the absence of a quorum, the chairman of the Warrant Holder Meeting has power to adjourn the Warrant Holder Meeting. As of the record date for the Warrant Holder Meeting, [●] GGI Public Warrants would be required to achieve a quorum.
Q: | How will the GGI Sponsor and GGIs directors and officers vote at the Stockholder Special Meeting and Warrant Holder Meeting? |
A: | Prior to the GGI IPO, GGI entered into agreements with the GGI Sponsor and each of GGIs directors and officers, pursuant to which each agreed to vote any shares of GGI Common Stock owned by them in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. In addition, pursuant to the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote their GGI Class F Common Stock in favor of the Business Combination Proposal and any other proposals for the Stockholder Special Meeting included in this proxy statement/prospectus, and against any alternative business combination. None of the GGI Sponsor or GGIs directors or officers have purchased any shares of GGI Common Stock during or after the GGI IPO and, as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, neither GGI nor the GGI Sponsor or GGIs directors or officers have entered into agreements, and are not currently in negotiations, to purchase shares prior to the consummation of the Business Combination. Currently, the GGI Initial Stockholders own 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock, including all of the GGI Class F Common Stock, and will be able to vote all such shares at the Stockholder Special Meeting. |
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The GGI Sponsor and GGIs directors and officers do not hold any GGI Public Warrants and will thus not be entitled to vote at the Warrant Holder Meeting.
Q: | What interests do the GGI Sponsor and GGIs current officers and directors have in the Business Combination? |
A: | The GGI Sponsor, certain members of the GGI Board and GGIs officers may have interests in the Business Combination that are different from or in addition to (and which may conflict with) your interests. You should take these interests into account in deciding whether to approve the Business Combination. These interests include: |
| the fact that the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed not to redeem any Founder Shares or GGI Class A Common Stock held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination; |
| the fact that the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to conversion price adjustments with respect to any Founder Shares they may hold in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination and therefore, the Founder Shares will convert on a one-for-one basis into Class A ADSs at the Closing; |
| the fact that the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their Founder Shares if GGI fails to complete an initial business combination by March 25, 2023; |
| the fact that the GGI Sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 for 21,562,500 Founder Shares at approximately $0.001 per share, and, after giving effect to the cancellation of 1,562,500 Founder Shares on May 9, 2021, the remaining 20,000,000 Founder Shares will become worthless if GGI fails to complete an initial business combination by March 25, 2023. In particular, in exchange for serving on the GGI Board, GGIs independent directors, Mr. Bort, Ms. Marcellino and Ms. Tellem, each received 25,000 Founder Shares at their original purchase price of $0.001 per share from the GGI Sponsor. Because these Founder Shares will become worthless if GGI fails to complete an initial business combination by March 25, 2023, GGIs independent directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate GGIs initial business combination; |
| the fact that after giving effect to the cancellation of 1,562,500 Founder Shares on May 9, 2021 and the forfeiture of up to 1,533,873 shares of GGI Class F Common Stock pursuant to the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement (as amended by the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement Amendment), the remaining 18,466,127 Founder Shares that will be exchanged for Class A ADSs at the Closing will have a significantly higher value than their aggregate purchase price, which if unrestricted and freely tradable would be valued at approximately $185 million (however, given the restrictions on such shares, GGI believes such shares have a lesser value); |
| the fact that, given the differential in the purchase price that the GGI Sponsor paid for the Founder Shares as compared to the price of the GGI Public Units and the substantial number of Class A ADSs that the GGI Sponsor will receive upon exchange of the Founder Shares at the Closing, the GGI Sponsor and its affiliates may earn a positive rate of return on their investment even if the Class A ADSs trade below the price initially paid for the GGI Public Units in the GGI IPO and GGI Public Stockholders experience a negative rate of return following the completion of the Business Combination; |
| the fact that the GGI Sponsor paid an aggregate of approximately $18,000,000 for its 9,000,000 GGI Private Placement Warrants, and that such GGI Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless if an initial business combination is not consummated by March 25, 2023. The GGI Private Placement Warrants are identical to the GGI Public Warrants sold as part of the GGI Public Units except that, so long as they are held by the GGI Sponsor or its permitted transferees: (i) they will not be redeemable |
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by GGI, except as described in the Existing Warrant Agreement; (ii) they (including the GGI Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the GGI Sponsor until 30 days after the completion of an initial business combination; (iii) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (iv) they are subject to registration rights. For additional information regarding the GGI Private Placement Warrants and the GGI Public Warrants, please see the Existing Warrant Agreement, attached hereto as Annex C; |
| the fact that, in connection with the Business Combination, each GGI Private Placement Warrant will, in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved prior to the Effective Time, be converted into the right to receive one Class C-2 ADS, issued against the deposit of an underlying Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Share, which will be exercisable to acquire a Post-Combination Company Class A Share in the form of a Class A ADS on substantially the same terms as the GGI Private Placement Warrants; |
| the fact that, in connection with the Business Combination, each GGI Private Placement Warrant will, in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved prior to the Effective Time, be converted into the right to receive one PP ADW, issued against the deposit of an underlying Post-Combination Company Warrant, which will be exercisable to acquire a Post-Combination Company Class A Share in the form of a Class A ADS on substantially the same terms as the GGI Private Placement Warrants; |
| the continued right of the GGI Sponsor to hold the Class A ADSs to be issued to the GGI Sponsor upon exercise of Class C-2 ADSs or ADWs following the Business Combination, subject to certain lock-up periods; |
| the fact that if the Trust Account is liquidated, including in the event GGI is unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period, the GGI Sponsor has agreed to indemnify GGI to ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced below $10.00 per public share, or such lesser per public share amount as is in the Trust Account on the liquidation date, by the claims of prospective target businesses with which GGI has entered into an acquisition agreement or claims of any third party (other than the independent public accountants) for services rendered or products sold to GGI, but only if such a vendor or target business has not executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account; |
| the continued indemnification of the existing directors and officers of GGI and the continuation of the directors and officers liability insurance after the Business Combination; |
| the fact that the GGI Sponsor and GGIs officers and directors will lose their entire investment in GGI and will not be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses if an initial business combination is not consummated by March 25, 2023, including the expected reimbursement at the closing of an initial business combination of approximately $615,000 of an aggregate of approximately $948,000 of expenses incurred by GGI Sponsor and its affiliates as of March 1, 2022; |
| the fact that the GGI Sponsor made available to GGI a loan of up to $4,000,000 pursuant to a promissory note, of which a net amount of $2,500,000 was advanced by the GGI Sponsor to GGI as of March 1, 2022, and that the note will mature on the earlier of March 11, 2023 and the date on which GGI consummates an initial business combination; |
| the fact that GGI has entered into the Sponsor Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which the GGI Sponsor has agreed to purchase 2.15 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs at a purchase price of $9.09 per share on the date of Closing, and the GGI Sponsor has the right to syndicate its commitment to acquire such Class A ADSs in advance of the Closing; |
| the fact that Guggenheim Securities, LLC, an affiliate of the GGI Sponsor and Andrew Rosenfield, is acting as a joint placement agent in connection with the Subscription Investments and will receive a portion of a transaction fee equal to 3% of the gross proceeds raised by the placement agents in |
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connection with the Subscription Investments, and as a financial advisor to GGI for no additional fee; and |
| the fact that the GGI Sponsor and GGIs officers and directors would beneficially own the following number of Class A ADSs at the Closing: |
Name of Person/Entity |
Number of Class A ADSs(1) |
Value of Class A ADSs(2) |
||||||
Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC(3) |
20,541,125 | $ | 205,411,250 | |||||
GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC(3) |
20,541,125 | $ | 205,411,250 | |||||
Alec Gores(3) |
20,541,125 | $ | 205,411,250 | |||||
Andrew Rosenfield (3) |
20,541,125 | $ | 205,411,250 | |||||
Mark Stone(4) |
171,841 | $ | 1,718,410 | |||||
Andrew McBride |
20,892 | $ | 208,920 | |||||
Randall Bort |
25,000 | $ | 250,000 | |||||
Elizabeth Marcellino |
25,000 | $ | 250,000 | |||||
Nancy Tellem(5) |
40,670 | $ | 406,700 |
(1) | Does not reflect beneficial ownership of Class A ADSs subject to exercise of Post-Combination Company Class C Shares or Post-Combination Company Warrants, because such shares or warrants, as applicable, are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. |
(2) | Assumes a value of $10.00 per share, the deemed value of the GGI Common Stock in the Business Combination. |
(3) | Represents shares held by Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC which is jointly controlled indirectly by Mr. Gores and GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC. GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC is controlled by Mr. Rosenfield. Each of Mr. Gores and GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC may be deemed to beneficially own 20,541,125 Class A ADSs and ultimately exercises voting and dispositive power of the securities held by Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC. Voting and disposition decisions with respect to such securities are jointly made by Mr. Gores and GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC. Each of Mr. Gores, GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC and Mr. Rosenfield disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. |
(4) | Reflects Class A ADSs to be purchased by Mark Stone and his immediate family as New PIPE Investors. |
(5) | Includes 15,670 Class A ADSs to be purchased by Nancy Tellem as a New PIPE Investor. |
| the fact that, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the Post-Combination Company Board will include one independent director as reasonably determined by the GGI Sponsor and consented to by Parent. In addition, pursuant to the Post-Combination Articles, the Post-Combination Company Board will be subject to restrictions on its ability to convene a general meeting which proposes a resolution to remove an independent director, subject to certain conditions, and pursuant to the Shareholder Acknowledgement Agreement, Parent and the Parent Shareholders are subject to undertakings that restrict on their ability to vote in favor of the removal of independent directors on the Post-Combination Company Board, and the GGI Sponsor will have third party beneficiary rights to enforce such undertakings; |
| the fact that the GGI Initial Stockholders have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement as Registration Rights Holders, which provides such Registration Rights Holders and their permitted transferees with registration rights in respect of certain Post-Combination Company securities, ADSs and ADWs at the Closing; |
| the fact that the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote any shares of GGI Common Stock owned by them in favor of the Business Combination Proposal; |
| the fact that GGI, Parent, ListCo and the GGI Initial Stockholders have entered into the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, pursuant to which the GGI Initial Stockholders have, among other things, agreed to (i) vote their GGI Class F Common Stock in favor of each of the proposals at the Special Meeting and referenced in this proxy statement/prospectus, and against any alternative business combination, (ii) waive all adjustments to the conversion ratio set forth in the Current GGI Certificate with respect to the GGI Class F Common Stock, (iii) be bound by certain transfer restrictions with respect to their GGI Common Stock, GGI Public Warrants and GGI Private Placement Warrants, and (iv) not to transfer any Class A ADSs issued pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement in respect of shares of GGI Class F Common Stock during the period |
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beginning on the date of Closing and ending 180 days following the date of the Closing, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein; and |
| the fact that GGI will reimburse the GGI Sponsor for the fees and expenses it incurs in connection with the Business Combination; provided, that such fees and expenses, together with all of GGIs other fees and expenses in connection with the Business Combination, are not in excess of $60 million in the aggregate. |
In the aggregate, the GGI Sponsor and its affiliates have approximately $218,000,000 at risk that depends upon the completion of a business combination. Specifically, $200,000,000 of such amount is the value of the GGI Sponsors and its affiliates GGI Class F Common Stock (assuming a value of $10.00 per share, the deemed value of the GGI Common Stock in the Business Combination), and $18,000,000 of such amount is the value of the GGI Private Placement Warrants held by the GGI Sponsor (based on the purchase price of $2.00 per GGI Private Placement Warrant). There are no fees contingent upon a business combination payable to the GGI Sponsors affiliates upon consummation of the Business Combination. The foregoing interests present a risk that the GGI Sponsor and its affiliates will benefit from the completion of a business combination, including in a manner that may not be aligned with GGI Public Stockholders. As such, the GGI Sponsor may be incentivized to complete an acquisition of a less favorable target company or on terms less favorable to GGI Public Stockholders rather than liquidate.
These interests may influence the GGI Board in making their recommendation that GGI stockholders vote in favor of the approval of the Business Combination Proposal and the other proposals to be voted on at the Stockholder Special Meeting, and their recommendation that the GGI warrant holders vote in favor of the proposals to be voted on at the Warrant Holder Meeting.
Q: | Do I have redemption rights? |
A: | If you are a GGI Public Stockholder, you may redeem your GGI Public Shares for cash at the applicable redemption price per share equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest not previously released to GGI to fund Regulatory Withdrawals and/or to pay its franchise and income taxes, by (ii) the total number of then-outstanding GGI Public Shares; provided that GGI may not redeem any shares of GGI Class A Common Stock issued in the GGI IPO to the extent that such redemption would result in GGIs failure to have net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act) in excess of $5,000,000. A GGI Public Stockholder, together with any of its affiliates or any other person with whom it is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), will be restricted from redeeming in the aggregate his, her or its shares or, if part of such a group, the groups shares, in excess of 15% of the GGI Public Shares. Holders of outstanding GGI Public Warrants do not have redemption rights in connection with the Business Combination. |
The GGI Sponsor and GGIs directors and officers have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their shares of GGI Common Stock in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, and the Founder Shares will be excluded from the pro rata calculation used to determine the per-share redemption price. The GGI Initial Stockholders have also agreed to waive their right to a conversion price adjustment with respect to any shares of GGI Common Stock they may hold in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination. For illustrative purposes, based on the balance of the Trust Account of $800,056,447 as of December 31, 2021, the estimated per share redemption price would have been approximately $10.00. Additionally, shares properly tendered for redemption will only be redeemed if the Business Combination is consummated; otherwise holders of such shares will only be entitled to a pro rata portion of the Trust Account (including interest not previously released to GGI to fund Regulatory Withdrawals and/or to pay its franchise and income taxes) in connection with the liquidation of the Trust Account, unless GGI completes an alternative initial business combination prior to March 25, 2023 or GGI amends the Current GGI Certificate (which requires the affirmative vote of 65% of all then
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outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock) and amend certain other agreements into which GGI has entered to extend the life of GGI.
Q: | Is there a limit on the number of shares I may redeem? |
A: | Yes. A GGI Public Stockholder, together with any of its affiliates or any other person with whom it is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), will be restricted from redeeming in the aggregate his, her or its shares or, if part of such a group, the groups shares, in excess of 15% of the GGI Public Shares. In addition, in no event will GGI redeem GGI Public Shares in an amount that would result in GGIs failure to have net tangible assets equaling or exceeding $5,000,001. Each redemption of GGI Public Shares will reduce the amount in the Trust Account. Other than the foregoing, there are no additional specified maximum redemption thresholds under the Current GGI Certificate. |
In no event is your ability to vote all of your shares (including those shares held by you or by a group in excess of 15% of the shares sold in the GGI IPO) for or against the Business Combination restricted.
Each redemption of shares of GGI Class A Common Stock by GGI Public Stockholders will reduce the amount in the Trust Account, which held cash and investment securities with a fair value of $800,056,447 as of December 31, 2021.
Q: | Is there a limit on the total number of GGI Public Shares that may be redeemed? |
A: | Yes. The Current GGI Certificate provides that GGI may not redeem GGI Public Shares in an amount that would result in GGIs failure to have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 (such that GGI is not subject to the SECs penny stock rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the Business Combination Agreement. Based on a value of $10.00 per share, up to 79,500,018 GGI Public Shares may be redeemed under the Current GGI Certificate. This is referred to as the charter redemption limitation scenario. |
Q: | Are there other redemption thresholds that affect the Business Combination? |
A: | Yes. The Business Combination Agreement also provides that the obligation of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub to consummate the Business Combination is conditioned on the total of the amount in the Trust Account and all other funds immediately available to GGI equaling or exceeding $950,000,000 (after giving effect to any redemptions by GGI Public stockholders, the Sponsor Investment Amount, the PIPE Investment Amount and the Volvo Cars PIPE Investment Amount). As a result, GGI may be able to complete the Business Combination even though a substantial portion of the GGI Public Stockholders do not agree with the Business Combination and have redeemed their shares or have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to the GGI Sponsor or GGIs directors or officers or their affiliates. |
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no agreements with respect to the private purchase of GGI Public Shares by GGI or the persons described above have been entered into with any such investor or holder. GGI will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC to disclose private arrangements, if any, entered into or significant private purchases made by any of the aforementioned persons that would affect the vote on the Business Combination Proposal or other proposals (as described in this proxy statement/prospectus) at the Stockholder Special Meeting or the Warrant Holder Meeting. Based on the amount of $800,029,249 in the Trust Account as of June 30, 2021, approximately 10,002,559 shares of GGI Class A Common Stock may be redeemed and still enable GGI to have sufficient cash to satisfy the cash closing conditions in the Business Combination Agreement. This is referred to as the contractual maximum redemption scenario.
Q: | Will how I vote affect my ability to exercise redemption rights? |
A: | No. You may exercise your redemption rights whether you vote your GGI Public Shares for or against, or whether you abstain from voting on, the Business Combination Proposal, the Governance Proposals or any |
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other stockholder proposal described by this proxy statement/prospectus. As a result, the Business Combination Agreement can be approved by GGI Stockholders who will redeem their shares and no longer remain GGI Stockholders, leaving GGI Stockholders who choose not to redeem their shares holding shares in a company with a potentially less-liquid trading market, fewer stockholders, potentially less cash and the potential inability of GGI or the Post-Combination Company to meet the listing standards of Nasdaq or another national securities exchange. |
Q: | How do I exercise my redemption rights? |
A: | In order to exercise your redemption rights, you must (i) if you hold GGI Public Units, separate the underlying GGI Public Shares and GGI Public Warrants, and (ii) prior to 5:00 P.M., Eastern Time on [●] (two business days before the Stockholder Special Meeting), tender your shares physically or electronically and submit a request in writing that GGI redeem your GGI Public Shares for cash to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Transfer Agent, at the following address: |
Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Attn: Corporate
Actions Voluntary Offer
150 Royall Street, Suite V
Canton, MA 02021
Email: CorporateActionsUS@computershare.com
Additionally, you must identify to GGI the beneficial holder of the GGI Public Shares being redeemed in order to validly redeem GGI Public Shares. A GGI Public Stockholder, together with any of its affiliates or any other person with whom it is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), will be restricted from redeeming in the aggregate his, her or its shares or, if part of such a group, the groups shares, in excess of 15% of the GGI Public Shares. Accordingly, all GGI Public Shares in excess of the aforementioned 15% threshold beneficially owned by a GGI Public Stockholder or group will not be redeemed for cash.
GGI Stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights and opting to deliver physical certificates should allot sufficient time to obtain physical certificates from the Transfer Agent and time to effect delivery. It is GGIs understanding that GGI Stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the Transfer Agent. However, GGI does not have any control over this process and it may take longer than two weeks. GGI Stockholders who hold their shares in street name will have to coordinate with their bank, broker or other nominee to have the shares certificated or delivered electronically.
GGI Stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in street name are required to either tender their certificates to the Transfer Agent prior to the date set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the Business Combination at the Stockholder Special Meeting, or to deliver their shares to the Transfer Agent electronically using The Depository Trust Companys (DTC) Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian (DWAC) system, at such stockholders option. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the Stockholder Special Meeting ensures that a redeeming stockholders election to redeem is irrevocable once the Business Combination is approved.
There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The Transfer Agent will typically charge a tendering broker a fee, and it is in the brokers discretion whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming stockholder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not stockholders seeking to exercise redemption rights are required to tender their shares, as the need to deliver shares is a requirement to exercising redemption rights, regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.
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Q: | If I am a warrant holder, can I exercise redemption rights with respect to my warrants? |
A: | No. The holders of GGI Public Warrants have no redemption rights with respect to such GGI Public Warrants. However, if a holder of GGI Public Warrants elects to exercise its redemption rights with respect to any GGI Public Shares held by such holder, such exercise of redemption rights will not affect the holders entitlement to exercise its GGI Public Warrants to purchase GGI Class A Common Stock in accordance with the procedures set forth herein. Please see the section titled Description of ListCos SecuritiesPost-Combination Company Warrants for more information regarding the procedure to be followed by holders of GGI Public Warrants that wish to exercise their GGI Public Warrants and purchase shares of GGI Class A Common Stock. |
Q: | Do I have appraisal or dissenters rights if I object to the proposed Business Combination? |
A: | No. Appraisal rights or dissenters rights are not available to holders of shares of GGI Common Stock in connection with the Business Combination. |
Q: | What happens to the funds deposited in the trust account after consummation of the Business Combination? |
A: | If the Business Combination is consummated, the funds held in the Trust Account will be used to (i) pay GGI Public Stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights and (ii) pay the Deferred Discount and certain other fees, costs and expenses (including regulatory fees, legal fees, accounting fees, printer fees and other professional fees) that were incurred by GGI in connection with the Business Combination up to a cap of $60 million, and pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement. Any remaining funds will be used by the Post-Combination Company for general corporate purposes. |
Q: | What happens if the Business Combination is not consummated? |
A: | There are certain circumstances under which the Business Combination Agreement may be terminated. Please see the section titled The Business Combination Agreement for information regarding the parties specific termination rights. |
If GGI does not consummate the Business Combination, GGI may continue to try to complete a business combination with a different target business until March 25, 2023. Unless GGI amends the Current GGI Certificate (which requires the affirmative vote of the holders of 65% of all then outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock) and amend certain other agreements into which GGI has entered to extend the life of GGI, if GGI fails to complete an initial business combination by March 25, 2023, then GGI 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 subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the GGI 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 GGI to fund Regulatory Withdrawals and/or to pay 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 GGI 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 remaining GGI Stockholders and the GGI Board, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to GGIs obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. 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 less than the initial public offering price per unit in the GGI IPO. Please see the section titled Risk FactorsRisks Related to GGI and the Business Combination.
The GGI Initial Stockholders have waived any right to any liquidation distribution with respect to such shares. In addition, if GGI fails to complete an initial business combination by March 25, 2023, there will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to outstanding GGI Warrants, which will
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expire worthless unless GGI amends the Current GGI Certificate and amend certain other agreements into which GGI has entered to extend the life of GGI.
Q: | When do you expect the Business Combination to be completed? |
A: | The Closing is expected to take place on or prior to the third business day following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions described below in the subsection titled The Business Combination AgreementConditions to Closing of the Business Combination. The Closing is expected to occur in the first half of 2022. |
Q: | What else do I need to do now? |
A: | You are urged to read carefully and consider the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus, including the Annexes, and to consider how the Business Combination will affect you as a stockholder. You should then vote as soon as possible in accordance with the instructions provided in this proxy statement/prospectus and on the enclosed proxy cards or, if you hold your shares or warrants through a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, on the voting instruction form provided by the broker, bank or nominee. |
Q: | How do I vote my shares of GGI Common Stock? |
A: | If you were a holder of record of shares of GGI Common Stock on [●], the record date for the Stockholder Special Meeting, you may vote with respect to the proposals in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Stockholder Special Meeting, or by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed GGI stockholder proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. |
Voting by Mail. By signing the GGI stockholder proxy card and returning it in the enclosed prepaid and addressed envelope, you are authorizing the individuals named on the GGI stockholder proxy card to vote your shares at the Stockholder Special Meeting in the manner you indicate. You are encouraged to sign and return the GGI stockholder proxy card even if you plan to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting so that your shares will be voted if you are unable to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting. If you receive more than one GGI stockholder proxy card, it is an indication that your shares are held in multiple accounts. Please sign and return all GGI stockholder proxy cards to ensure that all of your shares are voted. Votes submitted by mail must be received by [●] on [●].
Voting at the Stockholder Special Meeting via the Virtual Meeting Platform. If you attend the Stockholder Special Meeting and plan to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform, you will be provided with explicit instructions on how to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform. If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are considered the stockholder of record and you have the right to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Stockholder Special Meeting. If you hold your shares in street name, which means your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker, bank or nominee to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted. In this regard, you must provide the record holder of your shares with instructions on how to vote your shares or, if you wish to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting and vote in person via the virtual meeting platform, you will need to contact your broker, bank or nominee to obtain a legal proxy that will authorize you to vote these shares. For additional information, please see the section titled Special Meeting of GGI Stockholders.
Q: | How do I vote my GGI Public Warrants? |
A: | If you were a holder of record of GGI Public Warrants on [●], the record date for the Warrant Holder Meeting, you may vote with respect to the proposals in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Warrant Holder Meeting, or by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed GGI warrant holder proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. |
Voting by Mail. By signing the GGI warrant holder proxy card and returning it in the enclosed prepaid and addressed envelope, you are authorizing the individuals named on the GGI warrant holder proxy card to
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vote your GGI Public Warrants at the Warrant Holder Meeting in the manner you indicate. You are encouraged to sign and return the GGI warrant holder proxy card even if you plan to attend the Warrant Holder Meeting so that your GGI Public Warrants will be voted if you are unable to attend the Warrant Holder Meeting. If you receive more than one GGI warrant holder proxy card, it is an indication that your GGI Public Warrants are held in multiple accounts. Please sign and return all GGI warrant holder proxy cards to ensure that all of your GGI Public Warrants are voted. Votes submitted by mail must be received by [●] on [●].
Voting at the Warrant Holder Meeting via the Virtual Meeting Platform. If you attend the Warrant Holder Meeting and plan to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform, you will be provided with explicit instructions on how to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform. If your GGI Public Warrants are registered directly in your name, you are considered the warrant holder of record and you have the right to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Warrant Holder Meeting. If you hold your GGI Public Warrants in street name, which means your GGI Public Warrants are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker, bank or nominee to ensure that votes related to the GGI Public Warrants you beneficially own are properly counted. In this regard, you must provide the record holder of your GGI Public Warrants with instructions on how to vote your GGI Public Warrants or, if you wish to attend the Warrant Holder Meeting and vote in person via the virtual meeting platform, you will need to contact your broker, bank or nominee to obtain a legal proxy that will authorize you to vote these GGI Public Warrants. For additional information, please see the section titled GGI Public Warrant Holder Meeting.
Q: | If my shares of GGI Common Stock and/or GGI Public Warrants are held in street name, will my broker, bank or nominee automatically vote my shares/warrants for me? |
A: | No. Under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares or warrants with respect to non-discretionary matters unless you provide instructions on how to vote in accordance with the information and procedures provided to you by your broker, bank, or nominee. GGI believes that all of the proposals presented to the stockholders at the Stockholder Special Meeting and the warrant holders at the Warrant Holder Meeting will be considered non-discretionary and, therefore, your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your shares without your instruction on any of the proposals presented at the Stockholder Special Meeting, and your broker, bank, or nominee cannot vote your warrants without your instruction on any of the proposals presented at the Warrant Holder Meeting. |
If you do not provide instructions to vote at the Stockholder Special Meeting with your proxy, your broker, bank, or other nominee may deliver a GGI stockholder proxy card expressly indicating that it is NOT voting your shares; this indication that a broker, bank, or nominee is not voting your shares is referred to as a broker non-vote. Broker non-votes will not be counted for the purposes of determining the existence of a quorum or for purposes of determining the number of votes cast at the Stockholder Special Meeting. Your bank, broker, or other nominee can vote your shares only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares in accordance with directions you provide.
If you do not provide instructions to vote at the Warrant Holder Meeting with your proxy, your broker, bank, or other nominee may deliver a GGI warrant holder proxy card expressly indicating that it is NOT voting your warrants; this indication that a broker, bank, or nominee is not voting your warrants is referred to as a broker non-vote. Broker non-votes will not be counted for the purposes of determining the existence of a quorum or for purposes of determining the number of votes cast at the Warrant Holder Meeting. Your bank, broker, or other nominee can vote your warrants only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your warrants in accordance with directions you provide.
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Q: | May I change my vote after I have mailed my signed GGI stockholder proxy card and/or GGI warrant holder proxy card? |
A: | Yes. You may change your vote in the Stockholder Special Meeting by sending a later-dated, signed GGI stockholder proxy card to GGIs Secretary at the address listed below so that it is received by GGIs Secretary prior to the Stockholder Special Meeting, or by attending the Stockholder Special Meeting in person via the virtual meeting platform and vote. You also may revoke your proxy granted in respect of your shares by sending a notice of revocation to GGIs Secretary, which must be received by GGIs Secretary prior to the Stockholder Special Meeting. |
You may change your vote in the Warrant Holder Meeting by sending a later-dated, signed GGI warrant holder proxy card to GGIs Secretary at the address listed below so that it is received by GGIs Secretary prior to the Warrant Holder Meeting, or by attending the Warrant Holder Meeting in person via the virtual meeting platform and vote. You also may revoke your proxy granted in respect of your warrants by sending a notice of revocation to GGIs Secretary, which must be received by GGIs Secretary prior to the Warrant Holder Meeting.
Q: | What will happen if I sign and return my GGI stockholder proxy card and/or GGI warrant holder proxy card without indicating how I wish to vote? |
A: | If you sign, date and return your GGI stockholder proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be voted FOR each of the proposals presented at the Stockholder Special Meeting. The proxyholders may use their discretion to vote on any other matters that properly come before the Stockholder Special Meeting. |
If you sign, date and return your GGI warrant holder proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be voted FOR each of the proposals presented at the Warrant Holder Meeting. The proxyholders may use their discretion to vote on any other matters that properly come before the Warrant Holder Meeting.
Q: | How do I register to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting and/or the Warrant Holder Meeting virtually? |
A: | If you are a holder of GGI Common Stock on the record date, you do not need to register to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting virtually. Please follow the instructions on your GGI stockholder proxy card. If your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, you must register in advance to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting virtually. |
If you are a holder of GGI Public Warrants on the record date, you do not need to register to attend the Warrant Holder Meeting virtually. Please follow the instructions on your GGI warrant holder proxy card. If your warrants are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, you must register in advance to attend the Warrant Holder Meeting virtually.
To register to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting or Warrant Holder Meeting in person via the virtual meeting platform, you must obtain a proxy from the broker, bank or other nominee, reflecting your GGI holdings along with your name and email address and submit to legalproxy@computershare.com. Requests for registration must be labeled as Legal Proxy and be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on [●]. You will receive a confirmation of your registration by email.
Q: | If I am not going to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting or Warrant Holder Meeting via the virtual meeting platform, should I return my GGI stockholder proxy card and/or GGI warrant holder proxy card instead? |
A: | Yes. Whether or not you plan to attend the Stockholder Special Meeting or Warrant Holder Meeting, please read the enclosed proxy statement/prospectus carefully. |
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Please vote your shares by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed GGI stockholder proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided.
Please vote your warrants by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed GGI warrant holder proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided.
Q: | What happens if I fail to take any action with respect to the Stockholder Special Meeting and/or Warrant Holder Meeting? |
A: | If you fail to take any action with respect to the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Business Combination Proposal is approved by GGI stockholders and the Business Combination is consummated, you will become a holder of ADSs and/or ADWs. If you fail to take any action with respect to the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Business Combination is not approved, you will continue to be a stockholder and/or warrant holder of GGI. |
If you fail to take any action with respect to the Warrant Holder Meeting and the Business Combination Proposal is approved by GGI stockholders and the Business Combination is consummated, and the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved by GGI Public Warrant holders, you will become a holder of Class C ADSs representing Post-Combination Company Class C Shares. If you fail to take any action with respect to the Warrant Holder Meeting and the Business Combination Proposal is approved by GGI stockholders and the Business Combination is consummated, but the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved by GGI Public Warrant holders, you will become a holder of ADWs. If you fail to take any action with respect to the Warrant Holder Meeting and the Business Combination Proposal is not approved, you will continue to be a stockholder and/or warrant holder of GGI.
Q: | What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials? |
A: | You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement/prospectus, multiple GGI stockholder proxy cards or voting instruction cards, multiple GGI warrant holder proxy cards or voting instruction cards. |
For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. If you are a holder of record and your shares are registered in more than one name, you will receive more than one GGI stockholder proxy card. If you hold your GGI Public Warrants in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold GGI Public Warrants. If you are a holder of record and your GGI Warrants are registered in more than one name, you will receive more than one GGI warrant holder proxy card.
Please complete, sign, date and return each GGI stockholder proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast your vote with respect to all of your shares.
Please complete, sign, date and return each GGI warrant holder proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast your vote with respect to all of your warrants.
Q: | Who will solicit and pay the cost of soliciting proxies for the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting? |
A: | GGI will pay the cost of soliciting proxies for the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting. GGI has engaged Morrow Sodali LLC (Morrow) to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting. GGI has agreed to pay Morrow a fee of $47,500, plus disbursements, and will reimburse Morrow for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and indemnify Morrow and its affiliates against certain claims, liabilities, losses, damages and expenses. GGI will also reimburse banks, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries representing beneficial owners of shares of GGI Common Stock and GGI Public Warrants for their expenses in forwarding soliciting materials to beneficial owners of shares of GGI Common Stock and GGI Public Warrants and in |
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obtaining voting instructions from those owners. GGIs directors, officers and employees may also solicit proxies by telephone, by facsimile, by mail, on the Internet or in person. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting proxies. |
Q: | Who can help answer my questions? |
A: | If you have questions about the proposals or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement/prospectus or the enclosed proxy cards you should contact: |
Gores Guggenheim, Inc.
6260 Lookout Road
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 531-3100
Email: jchou@gores.com
You may also contact the proxy solicitor for GGI at:
Morrow Sodali LLC
470 West Avenue
Stamford, Connecticut 06902
Individuals, please call toll-free: (800) 662-5200
Banks and brokerage, please call: (203) 658-9400
Email: GGPI.info@investor.morrowsodali.com
To obtain timely delivery, GGI Stockholders must request the materials no later than [●], or five business days prior to the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting.
You may also obtain additional information about GGI from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section titled Additional Information.
If you intend to seek redemption of your GGI Public Shares, you will need to send a letter demanding redemption and deliver your GGI Public Shares (either physically or electronically) to the Transfer Agent prior to the Stockholder Special Meeting in accordance with the procedures detailed under the question How do I exercise my redemption rights? If you have questions regarding the certification of your position or delivery of your GGI Public Shares, please contact the Transfer Agent:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
Attn: Corporate Actions Voluntary Offer
150 Royall Street, Suite V
Canton, MA 02021
Email: CorporateActionsUS@computershare.com
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SUMMARY OF THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
This summary highlights selected information from this proxy statement/prospectus and does not contain all of the information that is important to you. To better understand the proposals to be submitted for a vote at the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting, including the Business Combination Proposal, you should read this entire document carefully, including the Business Combination Agreement attached as Annexes A-1 and A-2 to this proxy statement/prospectus. The Business Combination Agreement is the legal document that governs the Business Combination and the transactions that will be undertaken in connection with the Business Combination. It is also described in detail in this proxy statement/prospectus in the section titled The Business Combination Agreement.
The Parties to the Business Combination
Polestar
Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited is a limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (ListCo). ListCo intends to apply to list the Class A ADSs and the Public ADWs or Class C-1 ADSs on Nasdaq under the symbols PSNY and PSNYW, respectively, upon the Closing.
ListCo is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Polestar Automotive Holding Limited, a Hong Kong incorporated company (Parent). Prior to Closing, Parent will, and will cause its subsidiaries; ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and their respective subsidiaries to, complete the Pre-Closing Reorganization, pursuant to which, among other things, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and their respective subsidiaries will become, directly or indirectly, wholly owned subsidiaries of ListCo. Polestar Sweden is the principal operating entity, is responsible for, and is engaged in product strategy and development as well as marketing and distribution of Polestar vehicles. Polestar Sweden manages sales globally in conjunction with the local Polestar sales units. Polestar Singapore is a holding company with finance and intra-group lending operations. Polestar Singapore also imports Polestar products for sale in the Singapore market. Parent and its subsidiaries (including ListCo) are collectively referred to herein as Polestar or we, our, us, or the company.
Polestar is determined to improve society by accelerating the shift to sustainable mobility.
Polestar is a pure play, premium electric performance car brand headquartered in Sweden with global operations, including manufacturing, distribution and sales operations through Chinese subsidiaries, designing products that are engineered to excite consumers and drive change. Polestar defines market-leading standards in design, technology and sustainability. Polestar was established as a premium electric car brand by Volvo Cars and Geely Holdings in 2017. Polestar benefits from the technological, engineering and manufacturing capabilities of these established global car manufacturers. Polestar has an asset-light, highly scalable business model with immediate operating leverage. Polestar currently offers two performance car models; Polestar 1 and Polestar 2. As a UK company, headquartered in Sweden with global operations, including manufacturing, distribution and sales operations through Chinese subsidiaries, Polestar is exposed to unique risks. In particular, regulatory and other actions taken by Chinas government, could have a material adverse effect on Polestars operations and the value of securities issued by Polestar could materially change. See Risk Factors Risks Related to Polestars Business and IndustryPolestar relies heavily on manufacturing facilities based in China and its growth strategy will depend on growing its business in China. This subjects Polestar to economic, operational, regulatory and legal risk specific to China.
Polestar 1, an electric performance hybrid Grand Tourer, or GT, was launched to establish Polestar in the premium luxury electric vehicle market in 2019. With a carbon fiber body, Polestar 1 has a combined 609 horse power (hp) and 1,000 Newton-metre (Nm) of torque. Production of the Polestar 1 ceased at the end of 2021.
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Polestar 2, an electric performance fastback and our first fully electric, high volume car was launched in 2020. Polestar 2 has three variants with a combination of long- and standard range batteries as large as 78 kWh, and dual- and single-motor powertrains with up to 300 kW / 408 hp and 660 Nm of torque. Polestar 1 and Polestar 2 have received major acclaim, winning multiple globally recognized awards across design, innovation and sustainability. Highlights for Polestar 1 include Insider car of the year and GQs Best Hybrid Sports Car. Polestar 2 alone has won over 50 awards, including various Car of the Year awards, the Golden Steering Wheel, Red Dots Best of the Best Product Design and a 2021 Innovation by Design award from Fast Company.
Today Polestars cars are on the road in nineteen markets across Europe, North America, China and Asia Pacific. Polestar intends to continue its rapid market expansion with the aim that its cars will be available in an aggregate of 30 markets by the end of 2023. Polestar also plans to introduce three new electric vehicles by 2024; Polestar 3, an aerodynamically optimized Sport Utility Vehicle, or SUV; Polestar 4, a sporty SUV coupe and Polestar 5, a luxury 4 door GT. Polestars target is a production volume of approximately 290,000 vehicles per annum by the end of 2025. With these expanded markets and additional vehicles, Polestar expects to compete in segments constituting almost 80% of the global premium luxury vehicle market by volume of units sold. Polestar believes the premium luxury vehicle segment is one of the fastest growing vehicle segments, and expects the electric-only vehicle portion of this segment to grow at a faster rate than the overall segment.
Polestar has also established an important goal to create a truly climate neutral car by the end of 2030, which it refers to as the Polestar 0 project. The development of a truly climate neutral car by the end of 2030 is a significant milestone on the path to Polestars goal of becoming a climate neutral company by the end of 2040.
Polestars vehicles are currently manufactured at a plant in Luqiao, China that is owned and operated by Volvo Cars. The plant, referred to by Volvo Cars as the Taizhou plant, was acquired by Volvo Cars from Geely in December 2021. Prior to that time, the plant had been owned by Geely and operated by Volvo Cars. The Polestar 2 vehicles have been manufactured at this plant since production commenced in 2020. Commencing with the Polestar 3, Polestar intends to produce vehicles both in China and in Charleston, South Carolina in the United States (a facility operated by Volvo Cars). Polestars ability to leverage the manufacturing footprint of both Volvo Cars and Geely provides it with access to a combined installed production capacity of about 750,000 units per annum across three continents, and gives Polestars highly scalable business model immediate operating leverage. Polestar also plans on expanding its production capacity in Europe by leveraging plants that are owned and operated by Volvo Cars.
Polestar uses a digital first, direct to consumer approach that enables its customers to browse Polestars products, configure their preferred vehicle and place their order on-line. Alternatively, Polestar Locations are where customers can see, feel and test drive Polestars vehicles prior to making an on-line purchase. Polestar believes this combination of digital and physical retail presence delivers a seamless experience for its customers. Polestars customer experience is further enhanced by its comprehensive service network that leverages the existing Volvo Cars service center network. Polestar currently has over 40 permanent Polestar Locations (and over 60 temporary or pop up locations). Polestar plans to extend its retail locations to a total of over 150 in existing and new markets by the end of 2023. In addition, Polestar leverages the Volvo Cars service center network to provide access to 800 customer service points worldwide in support of its international expansion.
Polestars research and development expertise is a core competence and Polestar believes it is a significant competitive advantage. Current proprietary technologies under development include bonded aluminum chassis architectures and their manufacture, a high-performance electric motor and bi-directional compatible battery packs and charging technology.
Polestar has drawn extensively on the industrial heritage, knowledge and market infrastructure of Volvo Cars. This combination of deep automotive expertise, paired with cutting-edge technologies and an agile, entrepreneurial culture, underpins Polestars differentiation, potential for growth and success.
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ListCo
To date, ListCo has not conducted any material activities other than those incident to its formation and the pending Business Combination and only has nominal assets consisting of cash and cash equivalents.
The mailing address of Polestars principal executive office is Assar Gabrielssons Väg 9, 405 31 Göteborg, Sweden. Its agent for U.S. federal securities law purposes is Polestar Automotive USA Inc., 777 MacArthur Blvd, Mahwah, NJ 07430, Tel: (949) 735-1834. Polestar maintains a website at www.polestar.com. Information contained in, or accessible through, Polestars website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this proxy statement/prospectus.
Merger Sub
PAH UK Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo that was incorporated on September 15, 2021 to facilitate the consummation of the Business Combination. In connection with the Business Combination, Merger Sub will merge with and into GGI in the Merger, pursuant to which the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease, with GGI being the surviving corporation and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo.
The registered address of Merger Sub is 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, New Castle County, DE 19808.
GGI
GGI is a blank check company incorporated on December 21, 2020 as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting an initial business combination with one or more target businesses.
GGI Public Shares, GGI Public Units and GGI Public Warrants are currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbols GGPI, GGPIU and GGPIW, respectively.
The mailing address of GGIs principal executive office is 6260 Lookout Road, Boulder, CO 80301 and its telephone number is (303) 531-3100.
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Recent Developments
The preliminary estimated data summarized in the table below for the year ended December 31, 2021 are prepared based upon Polestar managements current best estimates and is the responsibility of Polestar management. Polestars consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 are not yet available and Polestar Automotive Holding Limiteds independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte, has not audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to any of the preliminary estimated data summarized in the table below. Accordingly, Deloitte does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto. The preliminary estimated data summarized below is not meant to be a comprehensive statement of Polestars financial results for this period and Polestars actual results may differ from these preliminary estimates. These preliminary estimates are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are not within Polestars control. See Risk Factors and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. The preliminary estimated data summarized below should be read in conjunction with the Risk Factors and Polestars Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections and the Polestar Financial Statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Operational results |
December 31, 2020 |
December 31, 2021 |
||||||
Global Volumes(1) |
10,046 | 28,850 | ||||||
- including 13 and 2,286 external vehicles with repurchase obligations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021, respectively. |
||||||||
- including 707 and 1,915 internal vehicles transferred(1) for demonstration and commercial purposes for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021, respectively, as well as vehicles transferred to Polestar employees |
||||||||
Markets(2) |
10 | 19 | ||||||
Locations(3) |
40 | 103 | ||||||
Service Points(4) |
444 | 811 |
For the year ended | ||||||||
In millions of U.S. dollars |
December 31, 2020 |
December 31, 2021 (Preliminary Estimates) (5) |
||||||
Revenue |
$ | 610.2 | $ | 1,366.1 | ||||
Cost of Sales |
(553.7 | ) | (1,365.3 | ) | ||||
Gross Profit |
56.5 | 0.8 | ||||||
Total Operating Expenses |
(497.0 | ) | (1,013.5 | ) | ||||
Operating Loss |
(440.5 | ) | (1,012.7 | ) | ||||
Finance Expense |
(30.8 | ) | (12.3 | ) | ||||
Loss Before Income Tax |
(471.3 | ) | (1,025.0 | ) | ||||
Net Loss |
(484.9 | ) | (1,025.3 | ) | ||||
Depreciation and Amortization |
216.1 | (239.2 | ) | |||||
Cash used for operating activities |
(57.1 | ) | (329.1 | ) | ||||
Cash used for investing activities |
(243.7 | ) | (129.7 | ) |
(1) | Represents total volumes of vehicles delivered, including external sales at time of invoicing and internal sales of vehicles transferred for demonstration and commercial purposes as well as vehicles transferred to Polestar employees at time of registration. Transferred vehicles for demonstration and commercial purposes are owned by Polestar and included in Inventory. |
(2) | Represents the markets in which Polestar operates. |
(3) | Represents Polestar Spaces and Polestar Destinations and Polestar Test Drive Centers. |
(4) | Represents Volvo Cars service center networks to provide access to customer service points worldwide in support of Polestars international expansion. |
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(5) | Polestars unaudited preliminary estimates of results of operations and cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2021 are managements current best estimate. Polestars audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 are not yet available and, accordingly, management has made a preliminary estimate that its results of operations and cash flow will, when financial statements are available, fall within a range. Deloitte has not performed any procedures with respect to these preliminary estimated results. The amounts set forth in this table represent the mid-point in the range set forth below: |
Low | High | |||||||
Revenue |
1,297.8 | 1,434.4 | ||||||
Cost of Sales |
(1,433.6 | ) | (1,297.0 | ) | ||||
Gross Profit |
(19.2 | ) | 20.8 | |||||
Total Operating Expenses |
(1043.9 | ) | (983.0 | ) | ||||
Operating Loss |
(1,043.1 | ) | (982.3 | ) | ||||
Finance Income (Expense), Net |
(15.3 | ) | (9.3 | ) | ||||
Loss Before Income Tax |
(1,055.7 | ) | (994.3 | ) | ||||
Net Loss |
(1,055.7 | ) | (994.3 | ) | ||||
Depreciation and Amortization |
(251.1 | ) | (227.2 | ) | ||||
Cash used for operating activities |
(345.5 | ) | (312.6 | ) | ||||
Cash used for investing activities |
(136.2 | ) | (123.3 | ) |
Polestar estimates they delivered 28,850 vehicles during the year ended December 31, 2021, of which 2,286 vehicles included buy-back agreements and 1,915 internal vehicle deliveries. Leasing revenue from the vehicles with buy-back agreements is recorded over the length of the agreements. However, Polestars preliminary estimates for revenue generated during the year ended December 31, 2021 are expected to be approximately $200.0 - $300.0 million lower than projected in Polestars financial projections provided to the GGI Board in connection with GGIs evaluation of Polestar and summarized on pages 208 and 209 in this proxy statement/prospectus. The lower estimated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021 reflects a change in sales mix resulting in lower per unit revenues than previously estimated, due to a greater proportion of total sales consisting of leasing revenue from vehicle sales with buy-back agreements. Furthermore, lower than anticipated sales of carbon credits, caused by prevailing market conditions and lower demand for carbon credits from Volvo Cars and third party original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) resulted in lower revenues from carbon credit sales during the period. For more information, see Polestars Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsFactors Affecting Future Results of Operations and The Business CombinationOpinion of GGIs Financial AdvisorCertain Financial Projections Provided to the GGI BoardRevenue, Gross Profit, Operating Expenditure and Adjusted EBIT Trends as Compared to the Financial Projections.
Polestars preliminary estimates for gross profit generated during the year ended December 31, 2021 are expected to be approximately $100.0 - $200.0 million lower than projected in Polestars financial projections provided to the GGI Board in connection with GGIs evaluation of Polestar and summarized on pages 208 and 209 in this proxy statement/prospectus. Lower estimated gross profit is primarily the result of a change in sales mix as outlined above and also lower than anticipated sales of carbon credits as outlined above, in combination with larger than estimated sales associated with buy-back agreements.
Polestars preliminary estimates for operating expenditures incurred during the year ended December 31, 2021 are expected to be approximately up to $100 million lower than projected in Polestars financial projections provided to the GGI Board in connection with GGIs evaluation of Polestar and summarized on pages 208 and 209 in this proxy statement/prospectus. This was driven by the delay of certain marketing activities due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic, alongside lower than anticipated costs set aside for contingencies.
In addition, Polestars preliminary estimated cash used for operating activities was significantly less than cash projected to be used for the same period set forth in Polestars financial projections provided to the GGI Board in connection with GGIs evaluation of Polestar and summarized on pages 208 and 209 in this proxy statement/prospectus. The decreased preliminary estimates of operating cash used during this period is due, in part, to an increase in preliminary accounts payable owed to Volvo Cars, as this balance will be paid by Polestar in 2022 and 2023.
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The increase in preliminary accounts payable also impacted the cash used by Polestar for investing activities, as Polestar used significantly less cash than was projected to be used for the same period set forth in Polestars financial projections on pages 208 and 209 in this proxy statement/prospectus. This decreased cash outflow is due to Polestar investing in intangible and tooling related assets on credit, causing less cash to be used in 2021.
Polestar management provided the information above to GGI, where GGI management presented the information on preliminary operating and preliminary investing activities as Unlevered Free Cash Flow.
Declarations of Intent by Snita and PSD Investment Limited
Polestars business is capital-intensive, and Polestar expects that the costs and expenses associated with its planned operations will continue to increase in the near term and, accordingly, ListCo anticipates that it will need to raise additional funds from time to time. Snita and PSD Investment Limited have each executed a Declaration of Intent (the Declarations of Intent). The Declarations of Intent are substantially identical and set forth the parties intention to subscribe for their pro rata share of equity or equity linked securities issued by ListCo in the event of any offering of such securities until March 31, 2024. The Declarations of Intent also provide that, (i) Polestar will actively seek appropriate debt financing and engage in raising capital from the market, and (ii) to the extent either Snita and/or PSD Investment Limited decide to make such investments, those investments will be made on market terms and conditions substantially identical to, or better than, those offered to third party investors and will be subject to all necessary corporate and/or regulatory approvals of Snita, Volvo Cars and/or PSD Investment Limited, as the case may be. The Declarations of Intent are not undertakings or guarantees, and any decision to invest in any offerings of securities by ListCo in the future are within the sole discretion of Snita and PSD Investment Limited, respectively. There can be no assurance that Snita and/or PSD Investment Limited will make any investment in the share capital of ListCo prior to March 31, 2024, or at all. There can also be no assurance that the amount of any further investment in ListCo by Snita and/or PSD Investment Limited will be sufficient to meet ListCos requirements or on terms acceptable to ListCo. See Risk FactorsRisks Related to Financing and Strategic TransactionsPolestar will require additional capital to support business growth, and this capital might not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all and Certain Relationships and Related TransactionsDeclarations of Intent by Snita and PSD Investment Limited.
The Business Combination
On September 27, 2021, GGI entered into the Business Combination Agreement with Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub. On December 17, 2021, the parties to the Business Combination Agreement amended the Business Combination to provide for certain administrative changes to reflect the New PIPE Subscription by entering into Amendment No. 1 to the Business Combination Agreement. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement and in connection therewith, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein:
| in connection with the Merger, prior to the Closing, Parent will, and will cause ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and their respective subsidiaries to, complete the Pre-Closing Reorganization; |
| following the Pre-Closing Reorganization at the Closing, Merger Sub will merge with and into GGI in the Merger, pursuant to which the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and GGI will be the surviving corporation and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo; |
| at the Effective Time and by virtue of the Merger: |
| any units of GGI that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time held by GGI stockholders will be automatically separated and the holder thereof will be deemed to hold one share of GGI Class A Common Stock and one-fifth of a GGI Public Warrant, which underlying securities will be converted as described below; |
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| each share of GGI Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than those held in treasury, will be exchanged for one Class A ADS; |
| each share of GGI Class F Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than those held in treasury, will be exchanged for one newly issued Class A ADS; and |
| all GGI Common Stock held in treasury will be canceled and extinguished without consideration; |
| in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved prior to the Effective Time, pursuant to the Class C Warrant Amendment, each GGI Public Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one Class C-1 ADS representing one Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Share. Each Post-Combination Company Class C-1 Share will be exercisable to acquire a Post-Combination Company Class A Share (in the form of a Class A ADS) at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. In addition, each GGI Private Placement Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one Class C-2 ADS representing one Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Share. Each Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Share will be exercisable to acquire a Post-Combination Company Class A Share (in the form of a Class A ADS) at an exercise price of $11.50 per share; |
| in the event that the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved prior to the Effective Time, pursuant to the Warrant Amendment Agreement, each GGI Public Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one Public ADW. In addition, each GGI Private Placement Warrant will be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one PP ADW; |
| ListCo will adopt the Post-Combination Articles, to provide for, among other things, that (i) the initial Post-Combination Company Board will include nine directors, each serving staggered three-year terms, (ii) for a period of three years following the Closing, a majority of the Post-Combination Company Board will be (a) independent under applicable stock exchange rules and (b) unaffiliated with the Volvo Cars or Geely, and (iii) for a period of three years following the Closing, except as required by applicable law, the Post-Combination Company Board may not convene a general meeting which proposes a resolution to remove an independent director unless a majority of the directors (including at least two independent directors) approve of such resolution and following any such removal, a majority of the directors (including at least two independent directors) must approve the appointment of any new independent director to fill the vacancy; |
| Parent, Parent Shareholders, ListCo, the GGI Sponsor and the independent directors of GGI entered into the Registration Rights Agreement; and |
| prior to the Closing (but after the completion of the Pre-Closing Reorganization), ListCo and Parent will approve and adopt the Equity Plan and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. |
In addition and in connection with the foregoing,
| pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Registration Rights Holders and their permitted transferees are entitled to registration rights in respect of certain Post-Combination Company securities, ADSs and ADW at the Closing; |
| pursuant to the Parent Shareholder Acknowledgement, that Parent and the Parent shareholders have undertaken that (i) the initial Post-Combination Company Board will include nine directors, a majority of whom will be independent directors, (ii) for a period of three years following the Closing, Parent and the Parent shareholders will not vote in favor of the removal any independent directors of ListCo unless at least two independent directors vote in favor of such removal, (iii) for a period of three years |
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following the Closing, Parent and the Parent shareholders will not require ListCo to convene a general meeting for the purpose of removing an independent director, and (iv) for three years following the Closing, Parent and the Parent shareholders will not vote in favor of any amendment to the Post-Combination Articles relating to the composition of the Post-Combination Company Board or the appointment or removal of ListCo directors. The GGI Sponsor will have third party beneficiary rights to enforce the aforementioned undertakings; |
| pursuant to the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, each GGI Initial Stockholder has, among other things, agreed to (i) vote their GGI Class F Common Stock in favor of the Business Combination Proposal and any other proposals for the Stockholder Special Meeting included in this proxy statement/prospectus, and against any alternative business combination, (ii) waive all adjustments to the conversion ratio set forth in the Current GGI Certificate with respect to the GGI Class F Common Stock, (iii) be bound by certain transfer restrictions with respect to their GGI Common Stock, GGI Public Warrants and GGI Private Placement Warrants, and (iv) not transfer any Class A ADSs issued pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement during the period beginning on the date of Closing and ending 180 days following the date of the Closing, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein. In addition, the GGI Sponsor has agreed to the forfeiture of up to 1,533,873 shares of GGI Class F Common Stock; |
| pursuant to the Parent Lock-Up Agreement, each Parent Shareholder has, subject to certain exceptions, among other things, agreed not to transfer any equity security of ListCo issued to them pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement or other transaction documents contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement during the period commencing the date of Closing and ending 180 days following the date of the Closing, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein; |
| pursuant to the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements, the Initial PIPE Investors have agreed to purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, an aggregate of 7.43 million Initial PIPE Shares for a purchase price of $9.09 per share in a private placement, for an aggregate amount of approximately $67.5 million. In addition, pursuant to the New PIPE Subscription Agreements, the New PIPE Investors have agreed to purchase, substantially concurrently with the Closing, an aggregate of 14.3 million New PIPE Shares for an average purchase price of $9.54 per share in a private placement, for an aggregate amount of approximately $136.0 million. The issuance of the PIPE Shares pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements is contingent upon, among other customary closing conditions, the substantially concurrent consummation of the Business Combination. Pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements, ListCo agreed to file with the SEC (at ListCos sole cost and expense), within 30 calendar days after the date of Closing, a registration statement registering the resale of the PIPE Shares, and to use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof; |
| pursuant to the Sponsor Subscription Agreement, the GGI Sponsor has agreed to purchase an additional 2.15 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs for a purchase price of $9.09 per share on the date of Closing, for an aggregate investment of approximately $19.5 million. The Sponsor Subscription Agreement, as amended, is substantially similar to the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements, except that the GGI Sponsor has the right to syndicate its commitment to acquire the Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Sponsor Subscription Agreement in advance of the Closing. The aggregate amount of the PIPE Investment and number of Class A ADSs to be purchased pursuant thereto remains unchanged; |
| pursuant to the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, Snita has agreed to purchase an additional 2.70 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs for a purchase price of $10.00 per share on the date of Closing, for an aggregate investment amount equal to approximately $27.0 million. The Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, as amended, is |
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substantially similar to the Initial PIPE Subscription Agreements, except with regard to purchase price. Snita may, in accordance with the terms of the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, syndicate its commitment to acquire the Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement in advance of the Closing. The aggregate amount of the PIPE Investment and number of Class A ADSs to be purchased pursuant thereto remains unchanged; and |
| pursuant to the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement Snita has agreed to purchase, upon and subject to the Closing, the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares for an aggregate subscription price of $10.00 per share, for an aggregate investment amount equal to $498,039,000. The proceeds of such subscription will be used to satisfy certain accounts payable that are or will be due and payable by certain subsidiaries of Parent to Volvo Cars. As of the date hereof, it is currently anticipated that all of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares will convert into Post-Combination Company Class A Shares at Closing, in accordance with, and subject to, the terms of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares. |
Consideration to Parent in the Business Combination
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, Parent will receive stock consideration. following the Pre-Closing Reorganization, Parent will hold an aggregate number of Post-Combination Company Shares equal to approximately (a) $20,003,000,000 divided by $10.00, less (b) (i) the aggregate principal amount due in respect of the Parent Convertible Notes, divided by (ii) the applicable conversion price of such notes, less (c) 49,803,900, which represents the aggregate number of Post-Combination Company Preference Shares issued pursuant to the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement.
As additional consideration for Parents contribution to ListCo of all the issued and outstanding equity securities of Polestar Sweden, Parent will be entitled to receive, subject to the terms provided in the Business Combination Agreement, earn out shares from Post-Combination Company, issuable in Post-Combination Company Class A Shares and Post-Combination Company Class B Shares up to an aggregate number equal to approximately (a) 0.075 multiplied by (b) the number of issued and outstanding Post-Combination Company Shares as of immediately after the Closing (including Post-Combination Company Shares issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreements).
Conditions to Closing of the Business Combination.
The Closing is expected to take place electronically through the exchange of documents via e-mail or facsimile as promptly as practicable (and in any event no later than 9:00 a.m., New York time, on the third business day after the date on which all of the conditions described below under the subsection Conditions to Closing of the Business Combination have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing)) or at such other time, date and location as GGI and Polestar may mutually agree in writing.
The respective obligations of each of GGI and Polestar to complete the Business Combination are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived (if legally permitted) in writing by all of such parties:
| the applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the HSR Act relating to the Business Combination will have expired, been terminated or obtained (or deemed, by applicable law, to have been obtained); |
| there will not have been enacted or promulgated any law or other legal restraint or prohibition issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental authority preventing the consummation of the Business Combination; |
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| this proxy statement/prospectus will have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, and no stop order will have been issued by the SEC and remain in effect with respect to this proxy statement/prospectus; |
| the Business Combination Proposal will have been approved; |
| the Required Parent Shareholder Approval will have been obtained; |
| after completion of the GGI stockholder redemptions and prior to the Closing, GGI will have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act); |
| the Class A ADSs that constitute the share consideration paid to GGI and Class A ADSs that are issued in connection with the PIPE Investment will have been approved for listing on Nasdaq; |
| the ADWs or the Class C-1 ADSs, as applicable, will have been approved for listing on Nasdaq; and |
| the Post-Combination Company Board will have a number of directors and composition of directors determined in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement as of the Closing. |
Conditions to Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Subs Obligations
The obligation of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub to consummate and effect the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement are subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by Parent:
| (i) the representations and warranties of GGI related to corporate organization, due authorization, capitalization and brokers will be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty will be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), (ii) representations and warranties related to the capitalization of GGI will be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty will be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of such earlier date), (iii) the representation and warranty related to the absence of certain changes will be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date and (iv) the other representations and warranties of GGI (other than the representations and warranties related to corporate organization, due authorization, capitalization and brokers) will be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitations as to materiality or any similar limitation set forth in the Business Combination Agreement) in all respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty will be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct, individually and in the aggregate has not had a GG Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); |
| the covenants and agreements of GGI contained in the Business Combination Agreement to be performed prior to the Closing will have been performed in all material respects; |
| the sum of (a) the amount in the Trust Account (after taking into account any stockholder redemptions), (b) the Sponsor Investment Amount, (c) the Volvo Cars PIPE Investment Amount and (d) the PIPE Investment Amount will be no less than $950,000,000, prior to the payment of any unpaid or contingent liabilities and fees and expenses of GGI (including, as applicable, any GGI transaction expenses) as of the Closing; and |
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| GGI will have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to Polestar, ListCo and Parent a certificate, duly executed by an authorized officer of GGI, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions specified in the first two bullets are satisfied. |
Conditions to GGIs Obligations
The obligations of GGI to consummate and effect the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement are subject to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by GGI:
| (i) certain representations and warranties of the Parent and Polestar related to corporate organization, due authorization, capitalization and brokers will be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to materiality set forth therein) in all material respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty will be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in certain representations and warrants of the Parent and Polestar related to the capitalization of Parent, Polestar and ListCo will be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty will be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of such earlier date), (iii) the representation and warranty related to the absence of certain changes with respect to Parent and Polestar will be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date and (iv) the representations and warranties of Polestar, ListCo and Merger Sub (other than the representations and warranties of Parent and Polestar related to corporate organization, due authorization, capitalization and brokers, certain representations and warranties of Parent, Polestar and ListCo relating to capitalization of equity securities) will be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect or any similar limitation set forth in the Business Combination Agreement) in all respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty will be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct, individually and in the aggregate has not had a Material Adverse Effect; |
| the covenants and agreements of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub contained in the Business Combination Agreement to be performed prior to the Closing will have been performed in all material respects; |
| the Pre-Closing Reorganization will have been completed; and |
Parent will have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to GGI a certificate duly executed by an authorized officer of Parent, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions specified in the first two bullets above are satisfied.
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Organizational Structure
The following diagram shows the current ownership structure of GGI:
(1) | For more information about the ownership interests of the GGI Initial Stockholders, including the GGI Sponsor, prior to the Business Combination, please see the section titled Beneficial Ownership of Securities. |
The following diagram shows the current ownership structure of ListCo:
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The following diagram illustrates the ownership percentages and structure of the Post-Combination Company ((i) without giving effect to any issuance of Earn Out Shares or shares pursuant to the Equity Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan, (ii) assuming no redemptions of GGI Class A Common Stock, the conversion of Polestars convertible notes and no conversion or redemption of any of the Post-Combination Company Class C Shares or Post-Combination Company Warrants, and (iii) excluding any Post-Combination Company Class C Shares issued to GGI Private Placement Warrant holders):
(1) | Including Subscription Shares to be issued to GGI Sponsor. |
(2) | Including Subscription Shares and Post-Combination Company Class A Shares converted from Post-Combination Company Preference Shares to be issued to Snita. |
(3) | Excluding Subscription Shares to be issued to GGI Sponsor and Snita. |
Impact of the Business Combination on Public Float
It is anticipated that, upon consummation of the Business Combination and without giving effect to any issuance of Earn Out Shares, any exercise of Class C ADSs or ADWs or any redemptions: (i) GGI Public Stockholders will retain an ownership interest of approximately 3.8% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs; (ii) the GGI Initial Stockholders (including the GGI Sponsor) will own approximately 1.0% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs (including 2.15 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Sponsor Subscription Agreement); (iii) the PIPE Investors will own approximately 1.0% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs; and (iv) the Parent Shareholders will own approximately 94.2% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs (including (a) 2.70 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, (b) 49.80 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs following the conversion of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares purchased under the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement and (c) Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs following the conversion at the Closing of Parent Convertible Notes).
In the event that, following the Business Combination, 159,397,500 Earn Out Shares are issued to Parent Shareholders and assuming no exercise of Class C ADSs or ADWs, no redemptions and that no additional Post-Combination Company Shares are issued between the Closing and the realization of all of the benchmark share prices in the earn out: (i) GGI Public Stockholders will retain an ownership interest of approximately 3.5% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs; (ii) the GGI Initial Stockholders (including the GGI Sponsor) will own approximately 0.9% of the Post-Combination Company
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Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs (including 2.15 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Sponsor Subscription Agreement); (iii) the PIPE Investors will own approximately 0.9% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs; and (iv) the Parent Shareholders will own approximately 94.6% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs (including (a) 2.70 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs to be purchased under the Volvo Cars PIPE Subscription Agreement, (b) 49.80 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs following the conversion of the Post-Combination Company Preference Shares purchased under the Volvo Cars Preference Subscription Agreement and (c) Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs following the conversion at the Closing of Parent Convertible Notes).
For more information, please see the sections titled The Business CombinationImpact of the Business Combination on Public Float and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.
The GGI Boards Reasons for Approval of the Business Combination
Recommendation of the GGI Board and Reasons for the Business Combination
GGI was formed for the purpose of effecting an initial business combination with one or more businesses. GGI sought to do this by utilizing the networks and industry experience of both the GGI Sponsor and the GGI Board to identify and consummate an initial business combination with one or more businesses within or outside of the United States, although GGI was not limited to a particular industry or sector.
In particular, the GGI Board considered the following positive factors, although not weighted or in any order of significance:
| Competitive Advantage in the Fast Growing EV Industry. The GGI Board took into account that Polestar already has a global market presence in the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry, favorably positioning Polestar to capitalize on the highest pockets of growth in a rapidly accelerating EV market. Specifically, the GGI Board considered that Polestar currently operates in 14 markets across three continents and that Polestar already has two award winning cars on the road, including the 47 awards Polestar 2 had won as of the signing of the Business Combination Agreement. The GGI Board also recognized that Polestar is one of only two global premium pure play EV companies already in mass production. |
| Focus on Design, Performance, Technology and Sustainability. The GGI Board noted that Polestars focus on design, performance, technology, and sustainability differentiates Polestar from other EV companies. |
| Ability to Leverage Strategic Partnerships. The GGI Board considered that Polestars ability to leverage partnerships with Volvo Cars and Geely in areas such as manufacturing, procurement, safety testing, customer delivery and after-sales support both de-risks Polestars ability to execute on its business plan and allows Polestar to focus more of its efforts on core areas of differentiation, such as avant-garde designs, sports-oriented performance, rapid adoption of latest technologies and development of industry-leading sustainability solutions. The GGI Board also noted that Polestars contract manufacturing arrangements with Volvo Cars and Geely allow Polestar to immediately benefit from operating leverage, have contracted access to production capacity required to execute its business plan, and maintain an asset-light operating model with less capital intensity than other OEMs. |
| Significant, Long-Term Growth Potential. The GGI Board took into account Polestars anticipated growth, with Polestar expecting to enter a period of rapid growth starting with the launch of its first premium electric SUV, the Polestar 3, in 2022. The GGI Board further noted Polestars plans to launch |
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production of three new models by 2024, and to expand its global distribution footprint to approximately 30 markets by 2023 with over 150 locations and 800 service points. Additionally, the GGI Board noted that with Polestars planned launch of its three additional models, Polestar is expected to capture a substantial majority of the premium/luxury market. |
| Proven Leadership Team with Deep Technology, Operations and Electric Vehicle Experience. The GGI Board noted that the Polestar management team has deep technology, operations and EV experience, and that the Polestar management team is expected to remain with the Post-Combination Company upon the Closing. Additionally, the GGI Board believes that Polestars proven management team and strategy will help enable Polestar to deliver continued strategic growth. |
| Opinion of GGIs Financial Advisor. The GGI Board took into account the opinion of Barclays, dated September 25, 2021, to the GGI Board to the effect that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions stated in its opinion, the Class A Share Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of shares of GGI Class A Common Stock, other than the GGI Sponsor and its affiliates (the Excluded Holders), in the Merger pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, after giving effect to the Pre-Closing Reorganization, is fair to the holders of shares of GGI Class A Common Stock, other than the Excluded Holders, as more fully described under the caption The Business CombinationOpinion of GGIs Financial Advisor. |
| Other Alternatives. The GGI Board believed, after a review of other business combination opportunities reasonably available to GGI, that the proposed Business Combination represents the best potential business combination for GGI based on its evaluation of Polestar and other potential acquisition targets. |
| Due Diligence. The GGI Board took into account the results of its due diligence investigation of Polestar conducted by GGIs management team and GGIs financial and legal advisors. |
| Stockholder Approval. The GGI Board considered the fact that, in connection with the Business Combination, GGI stockholders have the option to (i) remain shareholders of the Post-Combination Company, (ii) sell their shares of GGI Class A Common Stock or (iii) redeem their shares of GGI Class A Common Stock for the per share amount held in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms of the Current GGI Certificate. |
| Negotiated Terms of the Business Combination Agreement. The GGI Board considered the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement and the Business Combination. |
| Governance of the Post-Combination Company. The GGI Board evaluated the governance profile of the Post-Combination Company that was agreed upon in connection with the negotiation of the other terms and conditions of the Business Combination, including the requirement that, for the three years following the Closing, the Post-Combination Company Board must be comprised of a majority of independent directors. However, the Post-Combination Company may, as a controlled company under Nasdaq listing rules, avail itself of the exemption from having a board of directors that consists of a majority of independent directors after such three year period. See Management of the Post-Combination Company-Controlled Company. |
| Independent Director Role. The GGI Board is comprised of a majority of independent directors who are not affiliated with the GGI Sponsor and its affiliates, including The Gores Group and Gores Guggenheim. In connection with the Business Combination, GGIs independent directors, Mr. Randall Bort, Ms. Elizabeth Marcellino and Ms. Nancy Tellem, took an active role in evaluating the proposed terms of the Business Combination, including the Business Combination Agreement, the Related Agreements and the amendments to the Current GGI Certificate to take effect in connection with the Business Combination, and unanimously approved, as members of the GGI Board, the Business Combination Agreement and the Business Combination. |
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The GGI Board also considered a variety of uncertainties and risks and other potentially negative factors concerning the Business Combination, including, but not limited to, the following:
| Benefits May Not Be Achieved. The risk that the potential benefits of the Business Combination may not be fully achieved, or may not be achieved within the expected timeframe. |
| Stockholder Vote. The risk that GGI stockholders may fail to provide the votes necessary to effect the Business Combination. |
| Redemption Risk. The risk that a significant number of GGI stockholders may elect to redeem their shares prior to the consummation of the Business Combination pursuant to the Current GGI Certificate, which may potentially make the Business Combination more difficult to complete. |
| Closing Conditions. The fact that consummation of the Business Combination is conditioned on the satisfaction of certain closing conditions that are not within GGIs control. |
| Litigation. The possibility of litigation challenging the Business Combination or that an adverse judgment granting permanent injunctive relief could indefinitely enjoin consummation of the Business Combination. |
| Fees and Expenses. The fees and expenses associated with completing the Business Combination. |
| Liquidation of GGI. The risks and costs to GGI if the Business Combination is not completed, including the risk of diverting GGIs managements focus and resources from other initial business combination opportunities, which, if the Business Combination is not consummated, could result in GGI being unable to effect an initial business combination by March 25, 2023 and force GGI to liquidate and the GGI Public Warrants to expire worthless. |
| GGI Public Stockholders Holding a Minority Position in the Post-Combination Company. The risk that GGI Public Stockholders will hold a minority position in the Post-Combination Company (approximately 3.8% of the Post-Combination Company Shares by virtue of their ownership of Class A ADSs, assuming the no redemption scenario and excluding the impact of the exercise of any Class C ADSs or ADWs), which may reduce the influence that GGIs current stockholders have on the management of Polestar. |
| Risks Related to Polestars Business in China. The risks associated with Polestars reliance on manufacturing facilities based in China and its strategy to grow its business in China. |
| Risks Related to Polestars Partnerships. The risks associated with Polestar being unable to maintain agreements or partnerships with its existing strategic partners, including Geely and Volvo Cars, or enter into new agreements or partnerships. |
| Other Risks. Various other risks associated with the Business Combination, the business of Polestar and ownership of the Post-Combination Companys shares described under the section titled Risk Factors. |
In addition to considering the factors described above, the GGI Board also considered that:
| Interests of Certain Persons. Some of GGIs officers and directors may have interests in the Business Combination as individuals that are in addition to, and that may be different from, the interests of GGIs stockholders (see The Business CombinationInterests of Certain Persons in the Business CombinationInterests of the GGI Initial Stockholders and GGIs Directors and Officers). GGIs independent directors reviewed and considered these interests during the negotiation of the Business Combination and in evaluating and unanimously approving, as members of the GGI Board, the Business Combination Agreement and the Business Combination. |
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The GGI Board concluded that the potential benefits it expected GGI and its stockholders to achieve as a result of the Business Combination outweighed the potentially negative factors associated with the Business Combination. Accordingly, the GGI Board unanimously determined that the Business Combination Agreement and the Business Combination, were advisable, fair to, and in the best interests of GGI and its stockholders.
Independent Director Oversight
The GGI Board is comprised of a majority of independent directors who are not affiliated with the GGI Sponsor and its affiliates, including The Gores Group and Guggenheim. In connection with the Business Combination, GGIs independent directors, Randall Bort, Elizabeth Marcellino and Nancy Tellem, took an active role in evaluating the proposed terms of the Business Combination, including the Business Combination Agreement, the Related Agreements and the Post-Combination Articles to take effect in connection with the Closing. As part of their evaluation of the Business Combination, GGIs independent directors were aware of the potential conflicts of interest with the GGI Sponsor and its affiliates, including Guggenheim and The Gores Group, that could arise with regard to the proposed terms of the Business Combination Agreement and Related Agreements. The GGI Board did not deem it necessary to, and did not form, a special committee of the GGI Board to exclusively evaluate and negotiate the proposed terms of the Business Combination, as the GGI Board is comprised of a majority of independent and disinterested directors and did not deem the formation of a special committee necessary or appropriate. GGIs independent directors reviewed and considered these interests during the negotiation of the Business Combination and in evaluating and unanimously approving, as members of the GGI Board, the Business Combination Agreement and the Business Combination. Please see the section titled The Business CombinationIndependent Director Oversight.
Satisfaction of 80% Test
It is a requirement under the Current GGI Certificate and Nasdaq listing requirements that GGIs initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for GGIs initial business combination. As of September 27, 2021, the date of the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the balance of the Trust Account was approximately $800,036,186 (excluding $28,000,000 of deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) and 80% thereof represents approximately $640,028,949. In reaching its conclusion that the Business Combination meets the 80% asset test, the GGI Board reviewed the enterprise value of the Polestar Group of approximately $21.3 billion, which was implied based on the terms of the transaction agreed to by the parties in negotiating the Business Combination Agreement. In determining whether the enterprise value described above represents the fair market value of the Polestar Group, the GGI Board considered all of the factors described above in this section and the fact that the purchase price for Polestar was the result of an arms length negotiation. As a result, the GGI Board concluded that the fair market value of the business acquired was significantly in excess of 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account).
Special Meeting of GGI Stockholders
Date, Time and Place of Special Meeting
In light of public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Special Meeting will be held via live webcast at [●], on [●], at [●]. The Special Meeting can be accessed by visiting [●], where you will be able to listen to the meeting live and vote during the meeting. Additionally, you have the option to listen only to the Special Meeting by dialing [●] (toll-free within the U.S. and Canada) or [●] (outside of the U.S. and Canada,
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standard rates apply). The passcode for telephone access is [●], but you cannot vote or ask questions if you choose to participate telephonically. Please note that you will only be able to access the Special Meeting by means of remote communication.
Proposals at the Stockholder Special Meeting
At the Stockholder Special Meeting, GGI stockholders will vote on the following proposals:
1. | Business Combination ProposalTo consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the Business Combination Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annexes A-1 and A-2, and approve, among other things, the Business Combination (Stockholder Proposal No. 1); |
2. | Governance ProposalsTo consider and act upon, on a non-binding advisory basis, separate proposals with respect to certain governance provisions in the Post-Combination Articles, a form of which is attached hereto as Annex B, in accordance with SEC requirements (Stockholder Proposal No. 2); and |
3. | Adjournment ProposalTo consider and vote upon a proposal to allow the chairman of the Stockholder Special Meeting to adjourn the Stockholder Special Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI stockholders to approve the Business Combination Proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to this proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI stockholders (Stockholder Proposal No. 3). |
Voting Power; Record Date
Only GGI stockholders have a right to vote on the proposals that will be presented at the Stockholder Special Meeting. GGI stockholders will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the Stockholder Special Meeting if they owned shares of GGI Common Stock at the close of business on [●], which is the record date for the Stockholder Special Meeting. GGI stockholders are entitled to one vote for each share of GGI Common Stock that they owned as of the close of business on the record date. If GGI stockholders shares are held in street name or are in a margin or similar account, GGI stockholders should contact their broker, bank or other nominee to ensure that votes related to the shares GGI stockholders beneficially own are properly counted. On the record date, there were [●] shares of GGI Common Stock outstanding, of which [●] are GGI Public Shares and [●] are Founder Shares held by the GGI Initial Stockholders.
Vote of the GGI Initial Stockholders and GGIs Other Directors and Officers
The GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote any shares of GGI Common Stock owned by them in favor of the Business Combination Proposal. As of the date hereof, the GGI Initial Stockholders own shares equal to 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock. As a result, holders of approximately 38% of GGI Public Shares will need to vote in favor of the Business Combination Proposal for the Business Combination Proposal to be approved.
In addition, the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote their GGI Class F Common Stock in favor of any other proposals for the Stockholder Special Meeting included in this proxy statement/prospectus.
Quorum and Required Vote for Proposals for the Stockholder Special Meeting
A majority of the issued and outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock entitled to vote as of the record date at the Stockholder Special Meeting must be present, in person via the virtual meeting platform or represented by proxy, at the Stockholder Special Meeting to constitute a quorum and in order to conduct business at the Stockholder Special Meeting. The Business Combination Proposal (and consequently, the Business Combination
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Agreement and the Business Combination, including the Merger) will be approved only if the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Special Meeting vote FOR the Business Combination Proposal. Failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Stockholder Special Meeting, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the Business Combination Proposal. The Governance Proposals will be approved only if the holders of a majority of the votes cast by holders of the outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock represented in person via the virtual meeting platform or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Special Meeting vote FOR the Governance Proposals. Failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Stockholder Special Meeting, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote to approve the Governance Proposals. The Adjournment Proposal will be approved only if the holders of a majority of the votes cast by holders of the outstanding shares of GGI Common Stock represented in person via the virtual meeting platform or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the Stockholder Special Meeting vote FOR the Adjournment Proposal. Failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Stockholder Special Meeting, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote to approve the Adjournment Proposal.
GGI Public Warrant Holder Meeting
Date, Time and Place of Warrant Holder Meeting
In light of public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Warrant Holder Meeting will be held via live webcast at [●], on [●], at [●]. The Warrant Holder Meeting can be accessed by visiting [●], where you will be able to listen to the meeting live and vote during the meeting. Please note that you will only be able to access the Warrant Holder Meeting by means of remote communication. Please have your Control Number, which can be found on your GGI warrant holder proxy card, to join the Warrant Holder Meeting. If you do not have a control number, please contact Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the Transfer Agent.
Proposals at the Warrant Holder Meeting
At the Warrant Holder Meeting, holders of GGI Public Warrants will vote on the following proposals:
1. | Warrant Amendment ProposalTo consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the Class C Warrant Amendment, a form of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D (Warrant Holder Proposal No. 1); and |
2. | Warrant Holder Adjournment ProposalTo consider and act upon a proposal to approve the adjournment of the Warrant Holder Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, for the absence of a quorum, to solicit additional proxies from GGI warrant holders to approve the Warrant Amendment Proposal or to ensure that any supplement or amendment to this proxy statement/prospectus is timely provided to GGI warrant holders (Warrant Holder Proposal No. 2). |
Voting Power; Record Date
Only GGI Public Warrant holders have a right to vote on the proposals that will be presented at the Warrant Holder Meeting. GGI Public Warrant holders will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the Warrant Holder Meeting if they owned GGI Public Warrants at the close of business on [●], which is the record date for the Warrant Holder Meeting. GGI Public Warrant holders are entitled to one vote for each GGI Public Warrant that they owned as of the close of business on the record date. If GGI Public Warrants are held in street name or are in a margin or similar account, GGI Public Warrant holders should contact their broker, bank or other nominee to ensure that votes related to the GGI Public Warrants they beneficially own are properly counted. On the record date, there were [●] GGI Public Warrants outstanding.
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Vote of the GGI Initial Stockholders and GGIs Other Directors and Officers
The GGI Sponsor and GGIs directors and officers do not hold any GGI Public Warrants and will thus not be entitled to vote at the Warrant Holder Meeting.
Quorum and Required Vote for Proposals for the Warrant Holder Meeting
A majority of the GGI Public Warrants outstanding and entitled to vote at the Warrant Holder Meeting must be present, in person via the virtual meeting platform or represented by proxy, at the Warrant Holder Meeting to constitute a quorum and in order to conduct business at the Warrant Holder Meeting. The Warrant Amendment Proposal will be approved only if the holders of at least 50% of outstanding GGI Public Warrants vote FOR the Warrant Amendment Proposal. Failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Warrant Holder Meeting, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the Warrant Amendment Proposal. The Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal will be approved only if the holders of a majority of the votes cast by holders of GGI Public Warrant present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Warrant Holder Meeting vote FOR the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal. Failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person via the virtual meeting platform at the Warrant Holder Meeting, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote to approve the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal.
Recommendation of the GGI Board
The GGI Board believes that approval of each of the Business Combination Proposal, the Governance Proposals and the Adjournment Proposal to be presented at the Stockholder Special Meeting is in the best interests of GGI and its stockholders and unanimously recommends that its stockholders vote FOR each of the proposals.
The GGI Board also believes that approval of each of the Warrant Amendment Proposal the Warrant Holder Adjournment Proposal to be presented at the Warrant Holder Meeting is in the best interests of GGI and its GGI Public Warrant holders and unanimously recommends that its GGI Public Warrant holders vote FOR each of the proposals.
Opinion of GGIs Financial Advisor
GGI engaged Barclays Capital Inc. (Barclays) to act as its financial advisor with respect to the Business Combination. On September 25, 2021, Barclays rendered its oral opinion (which was subsequently confirmed in writing) to the GGI Board that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions stated in its opinion, the Class A Share Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of shares of GGI Class A Common Stock, other than the GGI Sponsor and its affiliates (the Excluded Holders), in the Merger pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, after giving effect to the Pre-Closing Reorganization, is fair to the holders of shares of GGI Class A Common Stock, other than the Excluded Holders.
Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination
Interests of the GGI Initial Stockholders and GGIs Directors and Officers
When considering the GGI Boards recommendation to vote in favor of approving the Business Combination Proposal, the Warrant Amendment Proposal and the other proposals described in this proxy statement/prospectus, GGIs stockholders and warrant holders should keep in mind that the GGI Sponsor and GGIs directors and officers have interests in such proposals that may be different from, or in addition to (and which may conflict with), the interests of GGI stockholders and warrant holders generally. The GGI Board was aware
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of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Business Combination, and in recommending to GGI stockholders and GGI warrant holders that they approve the proposals to be presented to GGI stockholders and GGI warrant holders, respectively. GGI stockholders and GGI warrant holders should take these interests into account in deciding whether to approve the proposals set forth in this proxy statement/prospectus.
These interests include, among other things:
| the fact that the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed not to redeem any Founder Shares or GGI Class A Common Stock held by them in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination; |
| the fact that the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to conversion price adjustments with respect to any Founder Shares they may hold in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination and therefore, the Founder Shares will convert on a one-for-one basis into Class A ADSs at the Closing; |
| the fact that the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their Founder Shares if GGI fails to complete an initial business combination by March 25, 2023; |
| the fact that the GGI Sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 for 21,562,500 Founder Shares at approximately $0.001 per share, and, after giving effect to the cancellation of 1,562,500 Founder Shares on May 9, 2021, the remaining 20,000,000 Founder Shares will become worthless if GGI fails to complete an initial business combination by March 25, 2023. In particular, in exchange for serving on the GGI Board, GGIs independent directors, Mr. Bort, Ms. Marcellino and Ms. Tellem, each received 25,000 Founder Shares at their original purchase price of $0.001 per share from the GGI Sponsor. Because these Founder Shares will become worthless if GGI fails to complete an initial business combination by March 25, 2023, GGIs independent directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate GGIs initial business combination; |
| the fact that after giving effect to the cancellation of 1,562,500 Founder Shares on May 9, 2021 and the forfeiture of up to 1,533,873 shares of GGI Class F Common Stock pursuant to the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, the remaining 18,466,127 Founder Shares that will be exchanged for Class A ADSs at the Closing will have a significantly higher value than their aggregate purchase price, which if unrestricted and freely tradable would be valued at approximately $185 million (however, given the restrictions on such shares, GGI believes such shares have a lesser value); |
| the fact that, given the differential in the purchase price that the GGI Sponsor paid for the Founder Shares as compared to the price of the GGI Public Units and the substantial number of Class A ADSs that the GGI Sponsor will receive upon exchange of the Founder Shares at the Closing, the GGI Sponsor and its affiliates may earn a positive rate of return on their investment even if the Class A ADSs trade below the price initially paid for the GGI Public Units in the GGI IPO and GGI Public Stockholders experience a negative rate of return following the completion of the Business Combination; |
| the fact that the GGI Sponsor paid an aggregate of approximately $18,000,000 for its 9,000,000 GGI Private Placement Warrants, and that such GGI Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless if an initial business combination is not consummated by March 25, 2023. The GGI Private Placement Warrants are identical to the GGI Public Warrants sold as part of the GGI Public Units except that, so long as they are held by the GGI Sponsor or its permitted transferees: (i) they will not be redeemable |
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by GGI, except as described in the Existing Warrant Agreement; (ii) they (including the GGI Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the GGI Sponsor until 30 days after the completion of an initial business combination; (iii) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis; and (iv) they are subject to registration rights. For additional information regarding the GGI Private Placement Warrants and the GGI Public Warrants, please see the Existing Warrant Agreement, attached hereto as Annex C; |
| the fact that, in connection with the Business Combination, each GGI Private Placement Warrant will, in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is approved prior to the Effective Time, be converted into the right to receive one Class C-2 ADS, issued against the deposit of an underlying Post-Combination Company Class C-2 Share, which will be exercisable to acquire a Post-Combination Company Class A Share in the form of a Class A ADS on substantially the same terms as the GGI Private Placement Warrants; |
| the fact that, in connection with the Business Combination, each GGI Private Placement Warrant will, in the event the Warrant Amendment Proposal is not approved prior to the Effective Time, be converted into the right to receive one PP ADW, issued against the deposit of an underlying Post-Combination Company Warrant, which will be exercisable to acquire a Post-Combination Company Class A Share in the form of a Class A ADS on substantially the same terms as the GGI Private Placement Warrants; |
| the continued right of the GGI Sponsor to hold the Class A ADSs to be issued to the GGI Sponsor upon exercise of Class C-2 ADSs or ADWs following the Business Combination, subject to certain lock-up periods; |
| the fact that if the Trust Account is liquidated, including in the event GGI is unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period, the GGI Sponsor has agreed to indemnify GGI to ensure that the proceeds in the Trust Account are not reduced below $10.00 per public share, or such lesser per public share amount as is in the Trust Account on the liquidation date, by the claims of prospective target businesses with which GGI has entered into an acquisition agreement or claims of any third party (other than the independent public accountants) for services rendered or products sold to GGI, but only if such a vendor or target business has not executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account; |
| the continued indemnification of the existing directors and officers of GGI and the continuation of the directors and officers liability insurance after the Business Combination; |
| the fact that the GGI Sponsor and GGIs officers and directors will lose their entire investment in GGI and will not be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses if an initial business combination is not consummated by March 25, 2023, including the expected reimbursement at the closing of an initial business combination of approximately $615,000 of an aggregate of approximately $948,000 of expenses incurred by GGI Sponsor and its affiliates as of March 1, 2022; |
| the fact that the GGI Sponsor made available to GGI a loan of up to $4,000,000 pursuant to a promissory note, of which a net amount of $2,500,000 was advanced by the GGI Sponsor to GGI as of March 1, 2022, and that the note will mature on the earlier of March 11, 2023 and the date on which GGI consummates an initial business combination; |
| the fact that GGI has entered into the Sponsor Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which the GGI Sponsor has agreed to purchase 2.15 million Post-Combination Company Class A Shares in the form of Class A ADSs at a purchase price of $9.09 per share on the date of Closing, and the GGI Sponsor has the right to syndicate its commitment to acquire such Class A ADSs in advance of the Closing; |
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| the fact that Guggenheim Securities, LLC, an affiliate of the GGI Sponsor and Andrew Rosenfield, is acting as a joint placement agent in connection with the Subscription Investments and will receive a portion of a transaction fee equal to 3% of the gross proceeds raised by the placement agents in connection with the Subscription Investments, and as a financial advisor to GGI for no additional fee; |
| the fact that the GGI Sponsor and GGIs officers and directors would beneficially own the following number of Class A ADSs at the Closing: |
Name of Person/Entity |
Number of Class A ADSs(1) |
Value of Class A ADSs(2) |
||||||
Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC(3) |
20,541,125 | $ | 205,411,250 | |||||
GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC(3) |
20,541,125 | $ | 205,411,250 | |||||
Alec Gores(3) |
20,541,125 | $ | 205,411,250 | |||||
Andrew Rosenfield (3) |
20,541,125 | $ | 205,411,250 | |||||
Mark Stone(4) |
171,841 | $ | 1,718,410 | |||||
Andrew McBride |
20,892 | $ | 208,920 | |||||
Randall Bort |
25,000 | $ | 250,000 | |||||
Elizabeth Marcellino |
25,000 | $ | 250,000 | |||||
Nancy Tellem(5) |
40,670 | $ | 406,700 |
(1) | Does not reflect beneficial ownership of Class A ADSs subject to exercise of Post-Combination Company Class C Shares or Post-Combination Company Warrants, because such shares or warrants, as applicable, are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. |
(2) | Assumes a value of $10.00 per share, the deemed value of the GGI Common Stock in the Business Combination. |
(3) | Represents shares held by Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC which is jointly controlled indirectly by Mr. Gores and GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC. GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC is controlled by Mr. Rosenfield. Each of Mr. Gores and GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC may be deemed to beneficially own 20,541,125 Class A ADSs and ultimately exercises voting and dispositive power of the securities held by Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC. Voting and disposition decisions with respect to such securities are jointly made by Mr. Gores and GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC. Each of Mr. Gores, GGP Sponsor Holdings LLC and Mr. Rosenfield disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein. |
(4) | Reflects Class A ADSs to be purchased by Mark Stone and his immediate family as New PIPE Investors. |
(5) | Includes 15,670 Class A ADSs to be purchased by Nancy Tellem as a New PIPE Investor. |
| the fact that, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the Post-Combination Company Board will include one independent director as reasonably determined by the GGI Sponsor and consented to by Parent. In addition, pursuant to the Post-Combination Articles, the Post-Combination Company Board will be subject to restrictions on its ability to convene a general meeting which proposes a resolution to remove an independent director, subject to certain conditions, and pursuant to the Shareholder Acknowledgement Agreement, Parent and the Parent Shareholders are subject to undertakings that restrict on their ability to vote in favor of the removal of independent directors on the Post-Combination Company Board, and the GGI Sponsor will have third party beneficiary rights to enforce such undertakings; |
| the fact that the GGI Initial Stockholders have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement as Registration Rights Holders, which provides such Registration Rights Holders and their permitted transferees with registration rights in respect of certain Post-Combination Company securities, ADS and ADWs at the Closing; |
| the fact that the GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote any shares of GGI Common Stock owned by them in favor of the Business Combination Proposal; |
| the fact that GGI, Parent, ListCo and the GGI Initial Stockholders have entered into the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, pursuant to which the GGI Initial Stockholders have, among other things, agreed to (i) vote their GGI Class F Common Stock in favor of each of the proposals at the Special Meeting and referenced in this proxy statement/prospectus, and against any |
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alternative business combination, (ii) waive all adjustments to the conversion ratio set forth in the Current GGI Certificate with respect to the GGI Class F Common Stock, (iii) be bound by certain transfer restrictions with respect to their GGI Common Stock, GGI Public Warrants and GGI Private Placement Warrants, and (iv) not to transfer any Class A ADSs issued pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement in respect of shares of GGI Class F Common Stock during the period beginning on the date of Closing and ending 180 days following the date of the Closing, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein; and |
| the fact that GGI will reimburse the GGI Sponsor for the fees and expenses it incurs in connection with the Business Combination; provided, that such fees and expenses, together with all of GGIs other fees and expenses in connection with the Business Combination, are not in excess of $60 million in the aggregate. |
In the aggregate, the GGI Sponsor and its affiliates have approximately $218,000,000 at risk that depends upon the completion of a business combination. Specifically, $200,000,000 of such amount is the value of the GGI Sponsors and its affiliates GGI Class F Common Stock (assuming a value of $10.00 per share, the deemed value of the GGI Common Stock in the Business Combination), and $18,000,000 of such amount is the value of the GGI Private Placement Warrants held by the GGI Sponsor (based on the purchase price of $2.00 per GGI Private Placement Warrant). There are no fees contingent upon a business combination payable to the GGI Sponsors affiliates upon consummation of the Business Combination. The foregoing interests present a risk that the GGI Sponsor and its affiliates will benefit from the completion of a business combination, including in a manner that may not be aligned with GGI Public Stockholders. As such, the GGI Sponsor may be incentivized to complete an acquisition of a less favorable target company or on terms less favorable to GGI Public Stockholders rather than liquidate.
These interests may influence the GGI Board in making their recommendation that GGI stockholders vote in favor of the approval of the Business Combination Proposal and the other proposals to be voted on at the Stockholder Special Meeting, and their recommendation that the GGI warrant holders vote in favor of the proposals to be voted on at the Warrant Holder Meeting.
Management of the Post-Combination Company
The following individuals are expected to serve as directors and executive officers of the Post-Combination Company upon consummation of the Business Combination:
Name |
Age | Title | ||||
Håkan Samuelsson |
70 | Director Nominee (Chairman) | ||||
Thomas Ingenlath |
57 | Chief Executive Officer and Director Nominee | ||||
Johan Malmqvist |
46 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Dennis Nobelius |
49 | Chief Operating Officer | ||||
Carla De Geyseleer |
53 | Director Nominee | ||||
Karen C. Francis |
59 | Director Nominee | ||||
Donghui (Daniel) Li |
51 | Director Nominee | ||||
Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann |
60 | Director Nominee | ||||
David Richter |
56 | Director Nominee | ||||
James Rowan |
56 | Director Nominee | ||||
Zhe (David) Wei |
51 | Director Nominee |
Listing of Securities
Listing of Class A ADSs and ADWs or Class C ADSs on Nasdaq
Class A ADSs and ADWs or Class C ADSs are not currently traded on a stock exchange. ListCo intends to apply to list the Class A ADSs and the Public ADWs or Class C-1 ADSs on Nasdaq under the symbols PSNY and
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PSNYW, respectively, upon the Closing. ListCo cannot assure you that the Class A ADSs and the Public ADWs or Class C-1 ADSs will be approved for listing or remain listed on Nasdaq.
Delisting of GGI Class A Common Stock and Deregistration of GGI
GGI Public Shares, GGI Public Units and GGI Public Warrants are currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbols GGPI, GGPIU and GGPIW, respectively. ListCo and GGI anticipate that, following consummation of the Business Combination, the GGI Class A Common Stock, GGI Public Units and GGI Public Warrants will be delisted from Nasdaq, and GGI will be deregistered under the Exchange Act.
Emerging Growth Company
ListCo is an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act. The Post-Combination Company will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the Closing, (b) in which the Post-Combination Company has total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion or (c) in which the Post-Combination Company is deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of Post-Combination Company Shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of the Post-Combination Companys prior second fiscal quarter, and (ii) the date on which the Post-Combination Company issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. The Post-Combination Company intends to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to most other public companies, whether or not they are classified as emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, an exemption from the provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring that the Post-Combination Companys independent registered public accounting firm provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation. The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards.
Foreign Private Issuer
As a foreign private issuer, ListCo is subject to different U.S. securities laws compared to domestic U.S. issuers. As long as the Post-Combination Company continues to qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, the Post-Combination Company will be exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including:
| the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; |
| the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and |
| the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specified information, or current reports on Form 8-K, upon the occurrence of specified significant events. |
In addition, ListCo is not required to file annual reports and financial statements with the SEC as promptly as U.S. domestic companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, and is not required to comply with Regulation FD, which restricts the selective disclosure of material information.
Further, ListCo is exempt from certain corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq by virtue of being a foreign private issuer. Although the foreign private issuer status exempts ListCo from most of Nasdaqs corporate governance requirements, ListCo has decided to voluntarily comply with these requirements, except for the
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requirement to have a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee consisting entirely of independent directors.
Subject to requirements under the Post-Combination Articles and Shareholder Acknowledgment Agreement that the ListCo Board be comprised of a majority of independent directors for the three years following the Closing, ListCo may in the future elect to avail itself of these exemptions or to follow home country practices with regard to other matters. As a result, its shareholders will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of Nasdaqs corporate governance requirements.
Controlled Company
By virtue of being a controlled company under Nasdaq listing rules, ListCo may elect not to comply with certain Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, including that:
| a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors (however, pursuant to the Post-Combination Articles and Shareholder Acknowledgment Agreement, for the three years following the Closing, the Post-Combination Company Board must be comprised of a majority of independent directors); |
| the compensation committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities; |
| the nominating and governance committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities; and |
| there be an annual performance evaluation of the compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees. |
Other than as specified above, ListCo may in the future elect to avail itself of these exemptions. As a result, its shareholders will not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of Nasdaqs corporate governance requirements.
Comparison of Stockholders Rights
There are certain differences in the rights of GGI stockholders and the holders of Post-Combination Company securities, ADSs and ADWs after the Business Combination. Please see the section titled Comparison of Stockholder Rights.
Material Tax Consequences
For a detailed discussion of material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Business Combination and a summary of material UK tax consequences of transferring ADSs and ADWs, see the sections titled Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations and Material United Kingdom Tax Considerations in this proxy statement/prospectus.
The parties to the Merger intend that the Merger, taken together with certain related transactions, qualifies as a transaction described under Section 351 of the Code, and, as discussed further below, not subject the GGI Public Stockholders to U.S. federal income tax under Section 367 of the Code (subject to entry into gain recognition agreements by any such stockholders required to enter into such agreements to preserve tax-free treatment under Section 367 of the Code) (the Intended Tax Treatment). Subject to the limitations and qualifications described below under the heading Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations, and based upon customary assumptions and representations made by Parent and GGI, as well as certain covenants and undertakings of Parent and GGI, Weil, GGIs tax counsel, is currently of the opinion that the Merger should qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment. However, the closing of the Merger is not conditioned upon the receipt of an opinion of
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counsel regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Merger, and neither GGI nor Parent intends to request a ruling from the IRS regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger. If any of the assumptions, representations, covenants or undertakings by Parent or GGI is incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate or is violated, the accuracy of the opinion may be affected and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger could differ from those described below under the heading Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations. Further, the qualification of the Merger for the Intended Tax Treatment depends on numerous facts and circumstances, some of which may change between the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and the closing of the Merger, and may cause the opinion to no longer be in effect. The opinion is given only as of the date thereof, and is not binding on the IRS or any court. No assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge the conclusions in the opinion, or that a court would not sustain such a challenge.
Anticipated Accounting Treatment
The Business Combination will be accounted for as a capital reorganization in accordance with IFRS. Under this method of accounting, GGI will be treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes, and Polestar Group will be the accounting acquirer. This determination was based on evaluation of the following facts and circumstances:
| Parent Shareholders will have the largest voting interest in the Post-Combination Company under all redemption scenarios; |
| the Post-Combination Company Board will have four members nominated by Parent, compared to only one nominated by the GGI Sponsor. Additionally, Parent will have the ability to appoint the remaining members of the Post-Combination Company Board as deemed necessary; |
| Parents senior management will be the senior management of the Post-Combination Company; |
| Polestar Group operations will substantially comprise the ongoing operations of the Post-Combination Company; and |
| Polestar Group is the larger entity, in terms of substantive operations and employee base. |
The Business Combination, which is not within the scope of IFRS 3 Business Combinations as GGI does not meet the definition of a business, will be accounted for within the scope of IFRS 2 Share-based Payment. For accounting purposes, the transaction will be treated as the equivalent of Parent issuing shares for the net assets of GGI, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of GGI will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Any excess fair value of Post-Combination Company Shares issued over the fair value of GGIs identifiable net assets acquired represents compensation for the service of a stock exchange listing for its shares and is expensed as incurred.
Redemption Rights
Pursuant to the Current GGI Certificate, holders of GGI Public Shares may elect to have their shares redeemed for cash at the applicable redemption price per share equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest not previously released to fund Regulatory Withdrawals and/or to pay franchise and income taxes, by (ii) the total number of then-outstanding GGI Public Shares. However, (x) in no event will GGI redeem shares of GGI Class A Common Stock in an amount that would result in GGIs failure to have net tangible assets equaling or exceeding $5,000,001 and (y) a GGI Public Stockholder, together with any of its affiliates or any other person with whom it is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), will be restricted from redeeming in the aggregate his, her or its
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shares or, if part of such a group, the groups shares, in excess of 15% of the shares of GGI Common Stock included in the GGI Public Units sold in the GGI IPO.
If a holder exercises its redemption rights, then such holder will be exchanging its shares of GGI Class A Common Stock for cash and will no longer own shares of the Post-Combination Company. Such a holder will be entitled to receive cash for its GGI Public Shares only if it properly demands redemption, identifies to GGI the beneficial holder of the GGI Public Shares being redeemed and delivers its shares (either physically or electronically) to GGIs Transfer Agent in accordance with the procedures described herein. Please see the section titled Special Meeting of GGI StockholdersRedemption Rights for the procedures to be followed if you wish to redeem your shares for cash.
Appraisal Rights
Appraisal rights or dissenters rights are not available to holders of shares of GGI Common Stock in connection with the Business Combination.
Proxy Solicitation
GGI is soliciting proxies on behalf of the GGI Board in connection with the Stockholder Special Meeting and the Warrant Holder Meeting. Proxies may be solicited by mail, via telephone or via e- mail or other electronic correspondence. GGI has engaged Morrow to assist in the solicitation of proxies.
If a GGI stockholder or GGI Public Warrant holder grants a proxy, such stockholder or warrant holder may still vote its shares or warrants in person via the virtual meeting platform if it revokes its proxy before the Stockholder Special Meeting or Warrant Holder Meeting. A GGI stockholder or GGI Public Warrant holder may also change its vote by submitting a later-dated proxy, as described in the sections titled Special Meeting of GGI StockholdersRevoking Your Proxy and GGI Public Warrant Holder MeetingRevoking Your Proxy.
Risk Factor Summary
In evaluating the proposals to be presented at the Stockholder Special Meeting and Warrant Holder Meeting, you should carefully read this proxy statement/prospectus and especially consider the factors discussed in the section titled Risk Factors. These risks include, but are not limited to the following:
Risks Related to Polestars Business and Industry
| Polestars operations rely heavily on a variety of agreements with its strategic partners Volvo Cars and Geely, including agreements related to research and development, purchasing, manufacturing engineering and logistics, and Polestar may come to rely on other original equipment manufacturers, vendors and technology providers. The inability of Polestar to maintain agreements or partnerships with its existing strategic partners or to enter into new agreements or partnerships could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars ability to operate as a standalone business, produce vehicles, reach its development and production targets or focus efforts on its core areas of differentiation. |
| Polestars ability to produce vehicles and its future growth depend upon its ability to maintain relationships with its existing suppliers and strategic partners, and source new suppliers for its critical components, and to complete building out its supply chain, while effectively managing the risks due to such relationships. |
| Polestar is dependent on its strategic partners and suppliers, some of which are single-source suppliers, and the inability of these strategic partners and suppliers to deliver necessary components of Polestars |
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products on schedule and at prices, quality levels and volumes acceptable to Polestar, or Polestars inability to efficiently manage these components, could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars results of operations and financial condition. |
| Polestar may not be able to accurately estimate the supply and demand for its vehicles, which could result in inefficiencies in its business, hinder its ability to generate revenue and create delays in the production of its vehicles. If Polestar fails to accurately predict its manufacturing requirements, Polestar incurs the risk of having to pay for production capacities that it reserved but will not be able to use or that Polestar will not be able to secure sufficient additional production capacities at reasonable costs in case product demand exceeds expectations. |
| Polestar may be unable to grow its global product sales, delivery capabilities and its servicing and vehicle charging partnerships, or Polestar may be unable to accurately project and effectively manage its growth. If Polestar is unable to expand its charging network and servicing capabilities, customers perception of Polestar could be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. |
| Polestar relies on its partnerships with vehicle charging networks to provide charging solutions for its vehicles. |
| Polestar relies on its strategic partners for servicing its vehicles and their integrated software. If Polestar or its strategic partners are unable to adequately address the service requirements of its customers, Polestars business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. |
| Polestar has experienced and may in the future experience significant delays in the design, development, manufacture, launch and financing of its vehicles, which could harm its business and prospects. |
| Polestar has incurred net losses each year since its inception and expects to incur increasing expenses and substantial losses for the foreseeable future. |
| Increases in costs, disruption of supply or shortage of materials, in particular for lithium-ion cells or semiconductors, could harm Polestars business. Polestar will need to maintain and significantly grow its access to battery cells, including through the development and manufacture of its own cells, and control its related costs. |
| Polestar relies on its partners to manufacture vehicles and Polestars partners have limited experience in producing electric vehicles. Further, Polestar relies on sufficient production capacity being available and/or allocated to it by its partners in order to manufacture its vehicles. Delays in the timing of expected business milestones and commercial launches, including Polestars ability to mass produce its electric vehicles and/or complete and/or expand its manufacturing capabilities, could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. |
| Polestar relies heavily on manufacturing facilities based in China and its growth strategy will depend on growing its business in China. This subjects Polestar to economic, operational, regulatory and legal risks specific to China. |
| The Chinese government may intervene in or influence Polestars or Polestars partners operations in China at any time, which could result in a material change in Polestars operations and ability to produce vehicles significantly and adversely impact the value of Polestars securities. |
| Changes in Chinese policies, regulations and rules may be quick with little advance notice and the enforcement of laws of the Chinese government is uncertain and could have a significant impact upon Polestars and its partners ability to operate profitably. |
| Polestar and its subsidiaries (i) may not receive or maintain permissions or approvals to operate in China, (ii) may inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required, or (iii) may |
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be required to obtain new permissions or approvals in the future due to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations related thereto. |
| Polestars operating and financial results forecasts and projections rely in large part upon assumptions and analyses developed by it. If the assumptions or analyses that Polestar made in connection with its projections and forecasts prove to be incorrect, Polestars actual results of operations may be materially different from its forecasted results. |
| Polestar depends on revenue generated from a limited number of models and expects this to continue in the foreseeable future. |
| Polestars distribution model is different from the currently predominant distribution model for automakers, and its long-term viability is unproven. Polestar will not have a third-party retail product distribution network in all of the countries in which it operates. Polestar may face regulatory challenges to or limitations on its ability to sell vehicles directly. |
| Insufficient reserves to cover future warranty or part replacement needs or other vehicle repair requirements, including any potential software upgrades, could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. |
| Polestar is subject to risks associated with advanced driver assistance system technology. Polestar is also working on adding autonomous driving technology to its vehicles and expects to be subject to the risks associated with this technology. Polestar cannot guarantee that its vehicles will achieve its targeted assisted or autonomous driving functionality within its projected timeframe, or ever. |
| Polestar may be unable to offer attractive leasing and financing options for its current vehicle models and future vehicles, which would adversely affect consumer demand for its vehicles. |
| Polestars vehicles will make use of lithium-ion battery cells, which have been observed to catch fire or vent smoke and flame. |
| Polestar operates in an intensely competitive market, which is generally cyclical and volatile. Should Polestar not be able to compete effectively against its competitors then it is likely to lose market share, which could have a material and adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of Polestar. |
| Polestars ability to generate meaningful product revenue will depend on consumer adoption of electric vehicles. However, the market for electric vehicles is still evolving and changes in governmental programs incentivizing consumers to purchase electric vehicles, fluctuations in energy prices, the sustainability of electric vehicles and other regulatory changes might negatively impact adoption of electric vehicles by consumers. If the pace and depth of electric vehicle adoption develops more slowly than Polestar expects, its revenue may decline or fail to grow, and Polestar may be materially and adversely affected. |
| If vehicle owners customize Polestar vehicles or change the charging infrastructure with aftermarket products, the vehicle may not operate properly, which may create negative publicity and could harm Polestars business. |
Risks Related to Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
| Any unauthorized control or manipulation of Polestars products, digital sales tools and systems could result in loss of confidence in Polestar and its products. |
| Polestar is subject to evolving laws, regulations, standards, policies, and contractual obligations related to data privacy, security and consumer protection, and any actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could harm Polestars reputation and brand, subject Polestar to significant fines and liability, or otherwise adversely affect its business. |
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Risks Related to Polestars Employees and Human Resources
| Polestars ability to effectively manage its growth relies on the performance of highly skilled personnel, including its Chief Executive Officer Thomas Ingenlath, the senior management team and other key employees, and Polestars ability to recruit and retain key employees. The loss of key personnel or an inability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel may impair Polestars ability to expand its business. |
Risks Related to Litigation and Regulation
| Polestar may choose to or be compelled to undertake product recalls or take other actions, which could result in litigation and adversely affect its business, prospects, results of operations, reputation and financial condition. |
Risks Related to Financing and Strategy Transactions
| Polestar will require additional capital to support business growth, and this capital might not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. |
| Polestars financial results may vary significantly from period to period due to fluctuations in its operating costs, product demand and other factors. |
Risks Related to GGI and the Business Combination
| The GGI Initial Stockholders have agreed to vote in favor of the Business Combination, regardless of how GGIs stockholders vote. |
| The Sponsor, certain members of the GGI Board and GGI officers have interests in the Business Combination that are different from or are in addition to other stockholders in recommending approving the Business Combination and the other matters that will be described in a proxy statement/prospectus that will be filed in connection with the Business Combination. Such conflicts of interests include that the GGI Sponsor and GGIs officers and directors will lose their entire investment in GGI if the Business Combination is not completed. |
| Because ListCo will become a publicly listed company by virtue of a merger as opposed to an underwritten initial public offering (which uses the services of one or more underwriters), less due diligence on Polestar may have been conducted as compared to an underwritten initial public offering. |
| GGI stockholders will experience dilution as a consequence of the issuance of Post-Combination Company securities and ADSs and ADWs as consideration in the Business Combination and may experience dilution from several additional sources in connection with and after the Business Combination, including any future issuances or resales of securities of ListCo. Having a minority share position may reduce the influence that GGI stockholders have on the management of the Post-Closing Company. |
| Past performance by The Gores Group, including its management team, may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in GGI or ListCo. |
| GGI and Polestar expect to incur significant transaction costs in connection with the Business Combination. Whether or not the Business Combination is completed, the incurrence of these costs will reduce the amount of cash available to be used for other corporate purposes by GGI. |
| GGI has no operating history and is subject to a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution requirement. As such, there is a risk that GGI will be unable to continue as a going concern if GGI does not consummate an initial business combination by March 25, 2023. Unless GGI amends the Current |
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GGI Certificate and certain other agreements into which it has entered to extend the life of GGI, if GGI is unable to effect an initial business combination by March 25, 2023, it will be forced to liquidate and the GGI Warrants will expire worthless. |
| If third parties bring claims against GGI, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by GGIs stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share. |
| Polestars operating and financial results forecasts, which were presented to the GGI Board, may not prove accurate. |
Risks Related to ADSs and ADWs Following the Business Combination
| If the Business Combinations benefits do not meet the expectations of investors, stockholders or financial analysts, the market price of the ADSs and ADWs may decline. |
| The requirements of being a public company may strain ListCos resources and distract its management, which could make it difficult to manage its business, particularly after ListCo is no longer an emerging growth company. |
| ListCo will be a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such it will be exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies. As a result, its shareholders may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all Nasdaq corporate governance requirements. |
| The combined Company may lose its foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in significant additional costs and expenses. |
| Polestar has identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. If ListCo is unable to remediate these material weaknesses or identifies additional material weaknesses, it could lead to errors in ListCos financial reporting, which could adversely affect ListCos business and the market price of the ADSs and ADWs. |
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement/prospectus includes statements that express ListCo, Polestar and GGIs opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results and therefore are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms believes, estimates, anticipates, expects, seeks, projects, intends, plans, may, will or should or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this proxy statement/prospectus and include statements regarding ListCo, Polestar and GGIs intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things: the Business Combination; the benefits of the Business Combination; results of operations; financial condition; liquidity; prospects; growth; strategies and the markets in which Polestar operates, including estimates and forecasts of financial and operational metrics, projections of market opportunity, market share and vehicle sales; expectations and timing related to commercial product launches, including the start of production and launch of any future products of Polestar, the performance, range, autonomous driving and other features of the vehicles of Polestar; future market opportunities, including with respect to energy storage systems and automotive partnerships; future manufacturing capabilities and facilities; future sales channels and strategies; and future market launches and expansion.
Such forward-looking statements are based on available current market information and the current expectations of ListCo, Polestar and GGI, including beliefs and forecasts concerning future developments and the potential effects of such developments on the Business Combination, ListCo, Polestar and GGI. Factors that may impact such forward-looking statements include:
| the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the Business Combination, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect GGI, Polestar or ListCo or the expected benefits of the proposed transactions, or that the approval of the GGI Public Stockholders is not obtained; |
| the amount of redemption requests made by GGI Public Stockholders; |
| failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; |
| the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against GGI or Polestar in connection with the Business Combination; |
| the ability to meet stock exchange listing standards following the consummation of the Business Combination; |
| changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; |
| Polestars ability to enter into or maintain partnerships with its strategic partners, including Volvo Cars and Geely, original equipment manufacturers, vendors and technology providers, and to source new suppliers for its critical components, and to complete building out its supply chain, while effectively managing the risks due to such relationships; |
| risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information of Polestar, including underlying assumptions regarding expected development and launch timeliness for Polestars five carlines, manufacturing in the United States starting as planned, demand for Polestars vehicles or car sale volumes, revenue and margin development based on pricing, variant and market mix, cost reduction efficiencies, logistics and growing aftersales as the total Polestar fleet of cars and customer base grow; |
| delays in the development, design, manufacture, launch and financing of Polestars vehicles and Polestars reliance on a limited number of vehicle models to generate revenues; |
| risks related to the timing of expected business milestones and commercial launches, including Polestars ability to mass produce its current and new vehicle models and complete the upgrade or tooling of its manufacturing facilities; |
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| increases in costs, disruption of supply or shortage of materials, in particular for lithium-ion cells or semiconductors; |
| Polestars reliance on its partners to manufacture vehicles at a high volume, some of which have limited experience in producing electric vehicles, and on the allocation of sufficient production capacity to Polestar by its partners in order for Polestar to be able to increase its vehicle production volumes; |
| risks related to future market adoption of Polestars offerings; |
| risk related to Polestars distribution model; |
| the effects of competition and the pace and depth of electric vehicle adoption generally on Polestars future business; |
| changes in regulatory requirements, governmental incentives and fuel and energy prices; |
| Polestars ability to rapidly innovate; |
| Polestars ability to effectively manage its growth and recruit and retain key employees, including its chief executive officer and executive team; |
| Polestars reliance on its partnerships with vehicle charging networks to provide charging solutions for its vehicles and its strategic partners for servicing its vehicles and their integrated software; |
| Polestars ability to establish its brand and capture additional market share, and the risks associated with negative press or reputational harm; |
| the outcome of any potential litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries; |
| the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on GGI and Polestars business, projected results of operations, financial performance or other financial metrics or on any of the foregoing risks; and |
| the other risks and uncertainties included in this proxy statement/prospectus in the section titled Risk Factors as well as the other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section titled Risk Factors and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in GGIs final prospectus relating to its initial public offering (File No. 333-253338) declared effective by the SEC on March 22, 2021, and other documents filed, or to be filed, with the SEC by GGI or ListCo. |
There can be no assurance that future developments affecting ListCo, Polestar and/or GGI will be those that ListCo, Polestar or GGI has anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond ListCo, Polestar or GGIs 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 the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. ListCo, Polestar or GGI will not undertake any 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.
Before a GGI stockholder or warrant holder grants its proxy or instructs how its vote should be cast or votes on the proposals included in this proxy statement/prospectus, it should be aware that the occurrence of the events described in the Risk Factors section and elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus may adversely affect ListCo, Polestar or GGI.
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You should carefully review and consider the following risk factors and the other information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus, including the financial statements and notes to the financial statements included herein, in evaluating the Business Combination and the proposals described herein. Certain of the following risk factors apply to the business and operations of Polestar and will also apply to the business and operations of Post-Combination Company following the Closing. The occurrence of one or more of the events or circumstances described in these risk factors, alone or in combination with other events or circumstances, may adversely affect the ability to complete or realize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, and may have a material and adverse effect on the business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations of the Post-Combination Company. GGI, Polestar, ListCo and the Post-Combination Company may face additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known to such entity, or that are currently deemed immaterial, which may also impair the business or financial condition of GGI, Polestar, ListCo and/or the Post-Combination Company.
Risks Related to Polestars Business and Industry
Polestars operations rely heavily on a variety of agreements with its strategic partners Volvo Cars and Geely, including agreements related to research and development, purchasing, manufacturing engineering and logistics, and Polestar may come to rely on other original equipment manufacturers, vendors and technology providers. The inability of Polestar to maintain agreements or partnerships with its existing strategic partners or to enter into new agreements or partnerships could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars ability to operate as a standalone business, produce vehicles, reach its development and production targets or focus efforts on its core areas of differentiation.
Polestars operations rely heavily on a variety of agreements, including agreements related to research and development, purchasing, manufacturing engineering and logistics, with its strategic partners, including Volvo Cars, Geely and certain other original equipment manufacturers, vendors and technology providers. Polestars reliance on these agreements subjects it to a number of significant risks, including the risk of being unable to operate as a standalone business, produce vehicles, reach its development and production targets or focus its efforts on core areas of differentiation.
Of particular importance for Polestars operations are the related party agreements with Volvo Cars and Geely. These related party agreements include agreements pertaining to research and development, manufacturing agreements, licensing agreements, purchasing agreements, component supply agreements, customer care agreements, logistics agreements and distribution agreements, amongst other areas. These agreements are described in more details in this proxy statement/prospectus under Certain Relationships and Related Person TransactionsPolestar Relationships and Related Party Transactions. These partnerships permit Polestar to benefit from the decades of experience of established auto-manufacturers while focusing its efforts on core areas of differentiation, such as design, performance and rapid adoption of the latest technologies and sustainability solutions. Polestar intends to continue to rely on these partnerships as part of its strategy. Polestar intends to rely solely on its arrangements with Volvo Cars, Geely and other contract partners to manufacture future Polestar models. If Polestar is unable to maintain agreements or partnerships with its existing strategic partners or to enter into new agreements or partnerships Polestars ability to operate as a standalone business, produce vehicles, reach its development and production targets or focus its efforts on core areas of differentiation could be materially and adversely affected.
Polestars ability to produce vehicles and its future growth depend upon its ability to maintain relationships with its existing suppliers and strategic partners, to source new suppliers for its critical components, and to complete building out its supply chain, while effectively managing the risks due to such relationships.
Polestars success will be dependent upon its ability to enter into new supplier agreements and maintain its relationships with suppliers and strategic partners who are critical and necessary to the output and production of
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its vehicles. Polestar also relies on suppliers and its strategic partners to provide it with key components and technology for its vehicles. The supplier agreements Polestar has or may enter into with key suppliers and its strategic partners in the future may have provisions where such agreements can be terminated in various circumstances, including potentially without cause. If these suppliers and strategic partners become unable to provide, or experience delays in providing components or technology, or if the supplier and related party agreements Polestar has in place are terminated, it may be difficult to find replacement components and technology. Changes in business conditions, pandemics, governmental changes and other factors beyond Polestars control or that Polestar does not presently anticipate could affect its ability to receive components or technology from its suppliers and strategic partners.
Further, Polestar has not secured supply agreements for all of its components, technology and services. Polestar may be at a disadvantage in negotiating supply agreements for the production of its vehicles due to its limited operating history as a standalone business. In addition, there is the possibility that finalizing the supply agreements for the parts and components of its vehicles will cause significant disruption to Polestars operations, or such supply agreements could be at costs that make it difficult for Polestar to operate profitably.
If Polestar does not enter into longer-term supplier agreements with guaranteed pricing for its parts or components, it may be exposed to fluctuations in prices of components, materials and equipment. Agreements for the purchase of battery cells and other components contain or are likely to contain pricing provisions that are subject to adjustment based on changes in market prices of key commodities. Substantial increases in the prices for such components, materials and equipment would increase Polestars operating costs and could reduce its margins if it cannot recoup the increased costs. Any attempts to increase the announced or expected prices of Polestars vehicles in response to increased costs could be viewed negatively by its customers or potential customers and could adversely affect Polestars business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations.
Polestar is dependent on its strategic partners and suppliers, some of which are single-source suppliers, and the inability of these strategic partners and suppliers to deliver necessary components of Polestars products on schedule and at prices, quality levels and volumes acceptable to Polestar, or Polestars inability to efficiently manage these components, could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars results of operations and financial condition.
Polestar relies on its strategic partners and suppliers for the provision and development of many of the key components and materials used in its vehicles. While Polestar plans to obtain components from multiple sources whenever possible, many of the components used in Polestars vehicles will be purchased by Polestar from a single source, and Polestars limited, and in many cases single-source, supply chain exposes it to multiple potential sources of delivery failure or component shortages for its production. Polestars suppliers may not be able to meet Polestars required product specifications and performance characteristics, which would impact Polestars ability to achieve its product specifications and performance characteristics as well. Additionally, Polestars suppliers may be unable to obtain required certifications or provide necessary warranties for their products that are necessary for use in Polestars vehicles. Polestar may also be impacted by changes in its supply chain or production needs, including cost increases from its suppliers, in order to meet its quality targets and development timelines as well as due to design changes. Likewise, any significant increases in its production may in the future require Polestar to procure additional components in a short amount of time. Polestars suppliers may not ultimately be able to sustainably and timely meet Polestars cost, quality and volume needs, requiring Polestar to replace them with other sources. If Polestar is unable to obtain suitable components and materials used in its vehicles from its suppliers or if its suppliers decide to create or supply a competing product, its business could be adversely affected. Further, if Polestar is unsuccessful in its efforts to control and reduce supplier costs, its results of operations will suffer.
In addition, Polestar could experience delays if its strategic partners and suppliers do not meet agreed upon timelines or experience capacity constraints. Any disruption in the supply of components, whether or not from a single source supplier, could temporarily disrupt production of its vehicles until an alternative supplier is able to
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supply the required material. Even in cases where Polestar may be able to establish alternate supply relationships and obtain or engineer replacement components for its single source components, it may be unable to do so quickly, or at all, at prices or quality levels that are acceptable to it. This risk is heightened by the fact that Polestar has less negotiating leverage with suppliers than larger and more established automobile manufacturers, which could adversely affect its ability to obtain necessary components and materials on favorable pricing and other terms, or at all. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect Polestars results of operations, financial condition and prospects. (See Risks Related to Polestars Business and Industry Increases in costs, disruption of supply or shortage of materials, in particular for lithium-ion cells or semiconductors, could harm Polestars business. Polestar will need to maintain and significantly grow its access to battery cells and control its related costs.)
Furthermore, as the scale of its vehicle production increases, Polestar will need to accurately forecast, purchase, warehouse and transport components internationally to manufacturing facilities and servicing locations and at much higher volumes. If Polestar is unable to accurately match the timing and quantities of component purchases to its actual needs or successfully implement automation, inventory management and other systems to accommodate the increased complexity in its supply chain, Polestar may incur unexpected production disruption, storage, transportation and write-off costs, which could have a material and adverse effect on its results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, as Polestar develops an international manufacturing footprint, it will face additional challenges with respect to international supply chain management and logistics costs. If Polestar is unable to access or develop localized supply chains in the regions where it or its partners already have or develop manufacturing facilities with the quality, costs and capabilities required, Polestar could be required to source components from distant suppliers, which would increase its logistics and manufacturing costs, increase the risk and complexity of Polestars supply chain and significantly impair Polestars ability to develop cost-effective manufacturing operations, which could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars business, results of operations and financial condition.
Furthermore, unexpected changes in business conditions, materials pricing and/or availability, labor issues, wars, governmental changes, tariffs, natural disasters, health epidemics such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors beyond Polestars and its suppliers control could also affect these suppliers ability to deliver components to Polestar on a timely basis. The loss of a strategic partner or any supplier, particularly a single- or limited-source supplier, or the disruption in the supply of components from its strategic partners or suppliers, could lead to vehicle design changes, production delays, idle manufacturing facilities and potential loss of access to important technology and parts for producing, servicing and supporting Polestars vehicles, any of which could result in negative publicity, damage to its brand and a material and adverse effect on its business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if Polestars suppliers experience substantial financial difficulties, cease operations or otherwise face business disruptions, including as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Polestar may be required to provide substantial financial support to ensure supply continuity, which could have an additional adverse effect on Polestars liquidity and financial condition.
Polestar may not be able to accurately estimate the supply and demand for its vehicles, which could result in inefficiencies in its business, hinder its ability to generate revenue and create delays in the production of its vehicles. If Polestar fails to accurately predict its manufacturing requirements, Polestar incurs the risk of having to pay for production capacities that it reserved but will not be able to use or that Polestar will not be able to secure sufficient additional production capacities at reasonable costs in case product demand exceeds expectations.
It is difficult to predict Polestars future revenues and appropriately budget for its expenses, and Polestar has limited insight into trends that may emerge and affect its business. Polestar is required to provide forecasts of its demand to certain of its strategic partners and suppliers several months prior to the scheduled delivery of vehicles to its prospective customers. Currently, there is little historical basis for making judgments about the demand for
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Polestars vehicles or its ability to develop, manufacture, and deliver vehicles, or its profitability in the future. If Polestar overestimates its requirements, its strategic partners or suppliers may have excess manufacturing capacity and/or inventory, which indirectly would increase its costs. If Polestar underestimates its requirements, its strategic partners and suppliers may have inadequate manufacturing capacity and/or inventory, which could interrupt manufacturing of its products and result in delays in shipments and revenues. In addition, lead times for materials and components that Polestars suppliers order may vary significantly and depend on factors such as the specific supplier, contract terms and demand for each component at a given time. If Polestar fails to order sufficient quantities of product components in a timely manner, the delivery of vehicles to its customers could be delayed, which would harm Polestars brand, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Polestar may be unable to grow its global product sales, delivery capabilities and its servicing and vehicle charging partnerships, or Polestar may be unable to accurately project and effectively manage its growth. If Polestar is unable to expand its charging network and servicing capabilities, customers perceptions of Polestar could be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Polestars success will depend on its ability to continue to expand its sales capabilities. As Polestar develops and grows its products worldwide, its success will depend on its ability to correctly forecast demand in various markets. If Polestar incorrectly forecasts its demand in one market, it cannot move this excess supply to another market where demand for Polestar products exists. Polestar may face difficulties with deliveries at increasing volumes, particularly in international markets requiring significant transit times. Moreover, because of Polestars unique expertise with its vehicles, Polestar recommends that its vehicles be serviced by Polestar or by certain authorized professionals. If Polestar experiences delays in adding servicing capacity or servicing its vehicles efficiently, or experiences unforeseen issues with the reliability of its vehicles, it could overburden Polestars servicing capabilities and parts inventory.
There is no assurance that Polestar will be able to ramp its business to meet its sales, delivery, manufacturing and servicing targets globally, or that Polestars projections on which such targets are based will prove accurate. These plans require significant cash investments and management resources and there is no guarantee that they will generate additional sales or manufacturing of Polestars products, or that Polestar will be able to avoid cost overruns or be able to hire additional personnel to support them. As Polestar expands, it will also need to ensure its compliance with regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions applicable to the manufacturing, sale and servicing of its products. If Polestar fails to manage its growth effectively, its brand, business, prospects, financial condition and operating results may be harmed.
Polestar has experienced and may in the future experience significant delays in the design, development, manufacture, launch and financing of its vehicles, which could harm its business and prospects.
Any delay in the financing, development, design, manufacture and launch of Polestars vehicles, including planned future models, and any future electric vehicles could materially damage Polestars business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Automobile manufacturers often experience delays in the development, design, manufacture and commercial release of new vehicle models, and Polestar has experienced in the past, and may experience in the future, such delays with regard to its vehicles. For example, in 2020, Polestar 2s intended start date for production was delayed by one month. Further, delays can also impact features in the vehicles, as seen with Polestars intended introduction of Apple CarPlay into Polestar 2. Polestars plan to commercially manufacture and sell its vehicles is dependent upon the timely availability of funds, upon Polestars finalizing of the related development, component procurement, testing, build-out and manufacturing plans in a timely manner and also upon Polestars ability to execute these plans within the planned timeline. Prior to mass production of its new models, Polestar will also need the vehicles to be fully approved for sale according to differing requirements, including but not limited to regulatory requirements, in the different geographies where Polestar intends to launch its vehicles.
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Furthermore, Polestar relies on its strategic partners and suppliers for the provision and development of many of the key components, technology and materials used in its vehicles. To the extent Polestars strategic partners or suppliers experience any delays in providing Polestar with or developing necessary components, technology and materials, Polestar could experience delays in delivering on its timelines. Any significant delay or other complication in the development, manufacture, launch and production ramp of Polestars future products, features and services, including complications associated with expanding its production capacity and supply chain or obtaining or maintaining related regulatory approvals, or the inability to manage such ramps cost-effectively, could materially damage Polestars brand, business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Increases in costs, disruption of supply or shortage of materials, in particular for lithium-ion cells or semiconductors, could harm Polestars business. Polestar will need to maintain and significantly grow its access to battery cells and control its related costs.
As Polestar produces its vehicles, it may experience increases in the cost of or a sustained interruption in the supply or shortage of materials. Any such increase, supply interruption or shortage could materially and adversely impact Polestars business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition. The production of Polestars vehicles requires lithium-ion cells and semiconductors from suppliers, as well as aluminum, steel, lithium, nickel, copper, cobalt, neodymium, terbium, praseodymium and manganese. The prices for these materials fluctuate, and their available supply may be unstable, depending on market conditions and global demand for these materials, including as a result of increased production of electric vehicles and energy storage products by Polestars competitors, and could adversely affect Polestars business and results of operations. Polestars ability to manufacture its vehicles will depend on the continued supply of battery cells for the battery packs used in its products. Polestar has limited flexibility in changing battery cell suppliers, and any disruption in the supply of battery cells from such suppliers could disrupt production of Polestars vehicles until a different supplier is fully qualified. In particular, Polestar is exposed to multiple risks relating to lithium-ion cells. These risks include:
| the inability or unwillingness of current battery manufacturers to build or operate battery cell manufacturing plants to supply the numbers of lithium-ion cells required to support the growth of the electric vehicle industry as demand for such cells increases; |
| an increase in the cost, or a decrease in the available supply, of materials, such as cobalt, used in lithium-ion cells; |
| disruption in the supply of cells due to quality issues or recalls by battery cell manufacturers; and |
| fluctuations in the value of any foreign currencies, and SEK, RMB, USD or EUR in particular, in which battery cell and related raw material purchases are or may be denominated. |
Furthermore, Polestars ability to manufacture its vehicles depends on continuing access to semiconductors and components that incorporate semiconductors. A global semiconductor supply shortage is having wide-ranging effects across multiple industries and the automotive industry in particular, and it has impacted many automotive suppliers and manufacturers, including Polestar, that incorporate semiconductors into the parts they supply or manufacture. Polestar has experienced and may continue to experience an impact on its operations as a result of the semiconductor supply shortage, and such shortage could in the future have a material impact on Polestar or its suppliers, which could delay production or force Polestar or its suppliers to pay exorbitant rates for continued access to semiconductors and could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars business, prospects and results of operations. In addition, prices and transportation expenses for these materials fluctuate depending on many factors beyond Polestars control, including fluctuations in supply and demand, currency fluctuations, tariffs and taxes, fluctuations and shortages in petroleum supply, freight charges, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other economic and political factors. Substantial increases in the prices for Polestars materials or prices charged to Polestar, such as those charged by battery cell or semiconductor suppliers, would increase Polestars operating costs, and could reduce Polestars margins if it cannot recoup the increased costs through
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increased prices. Any attempt to increase product prices in response to increased material costs could result in cancellations of orders and reservations and materially and adversely affect Polestars brand, image, business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition.
The success and growth of Polestars business depends upon its ability to continuously and rapidly innovate, develop and market new products and there are significant risks related to future market adoption of Polestars products. Polestars limited operating history makes evaluating its business and future prospects difficult and may increase the risk of your investment.
The success and growth of Polestars business depends upon its ability to continuously and rapidly innovate, develop and market new products, and there are significant risks related to future market adoption of Polestars products and government programs incentivizing consumers to purchase electric vehicles. Polestar has a limited operating history and operates in a rapidly evolving and highly regulated market. Polestar has encountered and expects to continue to encounter risks and uncertainties frequently experienced by early-stage companies in rapidly changing markets, including risks relating to its ability to, among other things:
| successfully launch commercial production and sales of its vehicles on the timing and with the specifications Polestar has planned; |
| hire, integrate and retain professional and technical talent, including key members of management; |
| continue to make significant investments in research, development, manufacturing, marketing and sales; |
| successfully obtain, maintain, protect and enforce its intellectual property and defend against claims of intellectual property infringement, misappropriation or other violations; |
| build a well-recognized and respected brand; |
| establish and refine its commercial manufacturing capabilities and distribution infrastructure; |
| establish and maintain satisfactory arrangements with its strategic partners and suppliers; |
| establish and expand a customer base; |
| navigate an evolving and complex regulatory environment; |
| anticipate and adapt to changing market conditions, including consumer demand for certain vehicle types, models or trim levels, technological developments and changes in competitive landscape; and |
| successfully design, build, manufacture and market new models of electric vehicles in the future. |
Polestar operates in an intensely competitive market, which is generally cyclical and volatile. Should Polestar not be able to compete effectively against its competitors then it is likely to lose market share, which could have a material and adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects of Polestar.
The global automotive market, particularly for electric and alternative fuel vehicles, is highly competitive, and Polestar expects it will become even more so in the future. In recent years, the electric vehicle industry has grown, with several companies that focus completely or partially on the electric vehicle market. Polestar expects additional companies to enter this market within the next several years. Polestar also competes with established automobile manufacturers in the luxury vehicle segment, many of which have entered or have announced plans to enter the alternative fuel and electric vehicle market with either fully electric or plug-in hybrid versions of their vehicles, and Polestar also expects to compete for sales with luxury vehicles with internal combustion engines from established manufacturers. Many of Polestars current and potential competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing and other resources than Polestar does and may be able to devote greater resources to the design, development, manufacturing, distribution, promotion, sale, servicing and support of their products. In addition, many of these companies have longer operating histories, greater name
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recognition, larger and more established sales forces, broader customer and industry relationships and other resources than Polestar does. Polestars competitors may be in a stronger position to respond quickly to new technologies and may be able to design, develop, market and sell their products more effectively than it does. Polestar expects competition in its industry to significantly intensify in the future in light of increased demand for alternative fuel vehicles, continuing globalization, favorable governmental policies and consolidation in the worldwide automotive industry. Polestars ability to successfully compete in its industry will be fundamental to its future success in existing and new markets. Further, sales of vehicles in the automotive industry tend to be cyclical in many markets, which may expose Polestar to further volatility as it expands and adjusts its operations. Decreases in the retail or wholesale prices of electricity from utilities or other renewable energy sources could make Polestars products less attractive to customers. There can be no assurance that Polestar will be able to compete successfully in its markets.
Polestars business and prospects depend significantly on the Polestar brand. If Polestar is unable to maintain and enhance its brand and capture additional market share or if its reputation and business are harmed, it could have a material and adverse impact on Polestars business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Polestars business and prospects will heavily depend on its ability to develop, maintain and strengthen the Polestar brand associated with design, sustainability and technological excellence. Promoting and positioning its brand will likely depend significantly on Polestars ability to provide a consistently high-quality customer experience. To promote its brand, Polestar may be required to change its customer development and branding practices, which could result in substantially increased expenses, including the need to use traditional media such as television, radio and print advertising. In particular, any negative publicity, whether or not true, can quickly proliferate on social media and harm consumer perception and confidence in Polestars brand. Polestars ability to successfully position its brand could also be adversely affected by perceptions about the quality of its competitors vehicles or its competitors success. For example, certain of Polestars competitors have been subject to significant scrutiny for incidents involving their self-driving technology and battery fires, which could result in similar scrutiny of Polestar.
In addition, from time to time, Polestars vehicles may be evaluated and reviewed by third parties. Any negative reviews or reviews which compare Polestar unfavorably to competitors could adversely affect consumer perception about its vehicles and reduce demand for its vehicles, which could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition.
Polestars sales will depend in part on its ability to establish and maintain confidence in its business prospects among consumers, analysts and others within its industry.
Consumers may be less likely to purchase Polestars products if they do not believe that its business will succeed or that its operations, including service and customer support operations, will continue for many years. Similarly, suppliers and other third parties will be less likely to invest time and resources in developing business relationships with Polestar if they are not convinced that its business will succeed. Accordingly, to build, maintain and grow its business, Polestar must establish and maintain confidence among customers, suppliers, analysts and other parties with respect to its liquidity and business prospects. Maintaining such confidence may be particularly difficult as a result of many factors, including Polestars limited operating history, others unfamiliarity with its products, uncertainty regarding the future of electric vehicles, any delays in scaling production, delivery and service operations to meet demand, competition and Polestars production and sales performance compared with market expectations. Many of these factors are largely outside of Polestars control, and any negative perceptions about Polestars business prospects, even if exaggerated or unfounded, would likely harm its business and make it more difficult to raise additional capital in the future. In addition, a significant number of new electric vehicle companies have recently entered the automotive industry, which is an industry that has historically been associated with significant barriers to entry and a high rate of failure. If these new entrants or other manufacturers of electric vehicles go out of business, produce vehicles that do not perform as
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expected or otherwise fail to meet expectations, such failures may have the effect of increasing scrutiny of others in the industry, including Polestar, and further challenging customer, supplier and analyst confidence in Polestars business prospects.
The automotive industry has significant barriers to entry that Polestar must overcome in order to manufacture and sell electric vehicles at scale.
The automobile industry is characterized by significant barriers to entry, including large capital requirements, investment costs of developing, designing, manufacturing and distributing vehicles, long lead times to bring vehicles to market from the concept and design stage, the need for specialized design and development expertise, regulatory requirements, establishing a brand name and image and the need to establish sales and service locations. Since Polestar is focused on electric vehicles, it faces a variety of added challenges to entry that a traditional automobile manufacturer would not encounter, including additional costs of developing and producing an electric powertrain that has comparable performance to a traditional gasoline engine in terms of range and power, inexperience with servicing electric vehicles, regulations associated with the transport of batteries, the need to establish or provide access to sufficient charging locations and unproven high-volume customer demand for fully electric vehicles. If Polestar is not able to overcome these barriers, its business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition will be negatively impacted, and its ability to grow its business will be harmed.
Polestar may be unable to adequately control the substantial costs associated with its operations.
Polestar will require significant capital to develop and grow its business, and will need to seek new financing in the future. Polestar has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant expenses, including leases, sales and distribution expenses as its builds its brand and markets its vehicles; expenses relating to developing and manufacturing its vehicles; tooling and expanding its manufacturing facilities; research and development expenses, raw material procurement costs; and general and administrative expenses as it scales its operations and incurs the costs of being a public company. In addition, Polestar expects to incur significant costs servicing and maintaining customers vehicles, including establishing its service operations and facilities. These expenses could be significantly higher than Polestar currently anticipates. In addition, any delays in the start of production, obtaining necessary equipment or supplies, expansion of Polestars manufacturing facilities or manufacturing agreements, or the procurement of permits and licenses relating to Polestars expected manufacturing, sales and distribution model could significantly increase Polestars expenses. In such event, Polestar could be required to seek additional financing earlier than it expects, and such financing may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
In the longer term, Polestars ability to become profitable in the future will depend on its ability not only to control costs, but also to sell in quantities and at prices sufficient to achieve its expected margins. If Polestar is unable to cost-efficiently develop, design, manufacture, market, sell, distribute and service its vehicles, its margins, profitability and prospects would be materially and adversely affected.
Polestar has incurred net losses each year since its inception and expects to incur increasing expenses and substantial losses for the foreseeable future.
As of December 31, 2020, Polestars accumulated deficit was approximately $754 million. Polestar expects to continue to incur substantial losses and increasing expenses in the foreseeable future as it:
| continues to design and develop its vehicles; |
| builds up inventories of parts and components for its vehicles; |
| manufactures an available inventory of its vehicles; |
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| develops and deploys vehicle charging partnerships; |
| expands its design, research, development, maintenance and repair capabilities; |
| increases its sales and marketing activities and develops its distribution infrastructure; and |
| expands its general and administrative functions to support its growing operations and status as a public company. |
If Polestars product development or commercialization is delayed, its costs and expenses may be significantly higher than it currently expects. Because Polestar will incur the costs and expenses from these efforts before it receives any incremental revenues with respect thereto, Polestar expects its losses in future periods will be significant.
Polestar depends on revenue generated from a limited number of models and expects this to continue in the foreseeable future.
Polestar currently depends on revenue generated from two vehicle models, Polestar 1 and Polestar 2, and in the foreseeable future will be significantly dependent on a limited number of models. Although Polestar has other vehicle models on its product pipeline, it currently does not expect to introduce another vehicle model for sale until 2023. Polestar expects to rely on sales from Polestar 1 and Polestar 2, among other sources of financing, for the capital that will be required to develop and commercialize those subsequent models (see Risks Related to Financing and Strategic TransactionsPolestar will require additional capital to support business growth, and this capital might not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.). To the extent that production of Polestars vehicles is delayed or reduced, or if the vehicles are not well-received by the market for any reason, Polestars revenues and cash flow would be adversely affected and it may need to seek additional financing earlier than it expects, and such financing may not be available to it on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
Polestar relies on its partnerships with vehicle charging networks to provide charging solutions for its vehicles.
Demand for Polestars vehicles will also depend in part on the availability of charging infrastructure. While the prevalence of charging stations has been increasing, charging station locations are significantly less widespread than gas stations. Some potential customers may choose not to purchase an electric vehicle because of the lack of a more widespread service network or charging infrastructure at the time of sale. Polestars ability to generate customer loyalty and grow its business could be impaired by a lack of satisfactory access to charging infrastructure. To the extent Polestar is unable to meet user expectations or experiences difficulties in providing charging solutions, demand for its vehicles may suffer, and Polestars reputation and business may be materially and adversely affected.
Polestar relies on its strategic partners for servicing its vehicles and on their systems, such as Dealer Management Systems and diagnostic tools. If Polestar or its strategic partners are unable to adequately address the service requirements of its customers, Polestars business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Polestars strategic partners have limited experience servicing or repairing Polestar vehicles. This risk is enhanced by Polestars limited operating history and its limited data regarding its vehicles real-world reliability and service requirements. Servicing electric vehicles is different than servicing vehicles with internal combustion engines and requires specialized skills, including high voltage training and servicing techniques. As such, there can be no assurance that Polestars service arrangements adequately address the service requirements of its customers to their satisfaction, or that Polestar and its servicing partners have sufficient resources, experience or inventory to meet these service requirements in a timely manner as the volume of vehicles Polestar delivers increases. In addition, if Polestar is unable establish a widespread service network that provides satisfactory customer service, its customer loyalty, brand and reputation could be adversely affected, which in turn could materially and adversely affect its sales, results of operations, prospects and financial condition.
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In addition, the motor vehicle industry laws in many jurisdictions require that service facilities be available to service vehicles physically sold from locations in the state. While Polestar anticipates developing a service program that would satisfy regulatory requirements in these circumstances, the specifics of its service program are still in development, and at some point may need to be restructured to comply with state law, which may impact Polestars business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Furthermore, in some jurisdictions, Polestar may be regarded as a competitor of its strategic partners in relation to servicing vehicles pursuant to applicable competition laws. Therefore, Polestar and its strategic partners sales units in those markets will be subject to strict controls over the sharing of commercially sensitive information and anti-cartel requirements that can result in reduced coordination with respect to providing servicing to customers, which in turn could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars sales, results of operations, prospects and financial condition.
Polestars customers will also depend on Polestars customer support team to resolve technical and operational issues relating to the integrated software underlying its vehicles. As Polestar grows, additional pressure may be placed on its customer support team or partners, and Polestar may be unable to respond quickly enough to accommodate short-term increases in customer demand for technical support. Polestar also may be unable to modify the future scope and delivery of its technical support to compete with changes in the technical support provided by its competitors. Increased customer demand for support, without corresponding revenue, could increase costs and negatively affect Polestars results of operations. If Polestar is unable to successfully address the service requirements of its customers, or if it establishes a market perception that it does not maintain high-quality support, its brand and reputation could be adversely affected, and it may be subject to claims from its customers, which could result in loss of revenue or damages, and its business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
If Polestars vehicles fail to perform as expected, its ability to develop, market and sell or lease its products could be harmed.
Polestars vehicles may contain defects in components, software, design or manufacture that may cause them not to perform as expected or that may require repairs, recalls and design changes, any of which would require significant financial and other resources to successfully navigate and resolve. Polestars vehicles use a substantial amount of software code to operate, and software products are inherently complex and may contain defects and errors. If Polestars vehicles contain defects in design and manufacture that cause them not to perform as expected or that require repair, or certain features of Polestars vehicles take longer than expected to become available, are legally restricted or become subject to additional regulation, Polestars ability to develop, market and sell its products and services could be harmed. Efforts to remedy any issues Polestar observes in its products could significantly distract managements attention from other important business objectives, may not be timely, may hamper production or may not be to the satisfaction of its customers. Further, Polestars limited operating history and limited field data reduce its ability to evaluate and predict the long-term quality, reliability, durability and performance characteristics of its battery packs, powertrains and vehicles. There can be no assurance that Polestar will be able to detect and fix any defects in its products prior to their sale or lease to customers.
Any defects, delays or legal restrictions on vehicle features, or other failure of Polestars vehicles to perform as expected, could harm Polestars reputation and result in delivery delays, product recalls, product liability claims, breach of warranty claims and significant warranty and other expenses, and could have a material and adverse impact on Polestars business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition. As a newer entrant to the industry attempting to build customer relationships and earn trust, these effects could be significantly detrimental to Polestar. Additionally, problems and defects experienced by other electric consumer vehicles could by association have a negative impact on perception and customer demand for Polestars vehicles.
In addition, even if its vehicles function as designed, Polestar expects that the battery efficiency, and hence the range, of its electric vehicles, like other electric vehicles that use current battery technology, will decline over time. Other factors, such as usage, time and stress patterns, may also impact the batterys ability to hold a charge,
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or could require Polestar to limit vehicles battery charging capacity, including via over-the-air or other software updates, for safety reasons or to protect battery capacity, which could further decrease Polestars vehicles range between charges. Such decreases in or limitations of battery capacity and therefore range, whether imposed by deterioration, software limitations or otherwise, could also lead to consumer complaints or warranty claims, including claims that prior knowledge of such decreases or limitations would have affected consumers purchasing decisions. There can be no assurance that Polestar will be able to improve the performance of its battery packs, or increase its vehicles range, in the future. Any such battery deterioration or capacity limitations and related decreases in range may negatively influence potential customers willingness to purchase Polestars vehicles and negatively impact its brand and reputation, which could adversely affect Polestars business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Polestar must develop complex software and technology systems, including in coordination with its strategic partners, vendors and suppliers, in order to produce its electric vehicles, and there can be no assurance such systems will be successfully developed.
Polestars vehicles use a substantial amount of externally developed and in-house software and complex technological hardware to operate, some of which is still subject to further development and testing. The development and implementation of such advanced technologies is inherently complex, and Polestar will need to coordinate with its vendors and suppliers in order to integrate such technology into its electric vehicles and ensure it interoperates with other complex technology as designed and as expected. Polestar may fail to detect defects and errors that are subsequently revealed, and its control over the performance of other parties services and systems may be limited. Any defects or errors in, or which are attributed to, Polestars technology, could result in, among other things:
| delayed production and delivery of Polestars vehicles; |
| delayed market acceptance of Polestars vehicles; |
| loss of customers or the inability to attract new customers; |
| diversion of engineering or other resources for remedying the defect or error; |
| damage to Polestars brand or reputation; |
| increased service and warranty costs; |
| legal action by customers or third parties, including product liability claims; and |
| penalties imposed by regulatory authorities. |
In addition, if Polestar is unable to develop the software and technology systems necessary to operate its vehicles, Polestars competitive position will be harmed. Polestar relies on its strategic partners and suppliers to develop a number of technologies for use in its products, including Google Android Automotive Services for the infotainment system installed in Polestar vehicles and independent developers developing third-party apps for Polestar vehicles. There can be no assurances that Polestars strategic partners and suppliers will be able to meet the technological requirements, production timing and volume requirements to support Polestars business plan. In addition, such technology may not satisfy the cost, performance useful life and warranty characteristics Polestar anticipates in its business plan, which could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, prospects and results of operations.
Polestars vehicle production relies heavily on complex machinery and involves a significant degree of risk and uncertainty in terms of operational performance and costs.
Polestars vehicle production relies heavily on complex machinery and involves a significant degree of uncertainty and risk in terms of operational performance and costs. The manufacturing plants for Polestars vehicles consist of large-scale machinery combining many components. These manufacturing plant components
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are likely to suffer unexpected malfunctions from time to time and will depend on repairs and spare parts to resume operations, which may not be available when needed.
Unexpected malfunctions of the manufacturing plant components may significantly affect the intended operational efficiency of Polestar. Operational performance and costs can be difficult to predict and are often influenced by factors outside of Polestars control, such as, but not limited to, scarcity of natural resources, environmental hazards and remediation, costs associated with decommissioning of machines, labor disputes and strikes, difficulty or delays in obtaining governmental permits, damages or defects in electronic systems, industrial accidents, pandemics, fire, seismic activity and natural disasters. Should operational risks materialize, it may result in the personal injury to or death of workers, the loss of production equipment, damage to manufacturing facilities, monetary losses, delays and unanticipated fluctuations in production, environmental damage, administrative fines, increased insurance costs and potential legal liabilities, all which could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition or prospects.
Polestar relies on its partners to manufacture vehicles and these partners have limited experience in producing electric vehicles. Further, Polestar relies on sufficient production capacity being available and/or allocated to it by its partners in order to manufacture its vehicles. Delays in the timing of expected business milestones and commercial launches, including Polestars ability to mass produce its electric vehicles and/or complete and/or expand its manufacturing capabilities, could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Although Polestar currently has manufacturing facilities that manufacture Polestar 1, Polestar intends to rely solely on its contract manufacturing arrangements with its partners to manufacture future Polestar models. Polestar cannot provide any assurance as to whether its partners will be able to develop efficient, automated, low-cost production capabilities and processes and reliable sources of component supply that will enable Polestar to meet the quality, price, engineering, design and production standards, as well as the production volumes, required to successfully mass market its vehicles. Even if Polestars partners are successful in developing high volume production capabilities and processes and reliably source their component supplies, no assurance can be given as to whether they will be able to do so in a manner that avoids significant delays and cost overruns, including as a result of factors beyond their and Polestars control such as problems with suppliers and vendors, or force majeure events, or in time to meet Polestars commercialization schedules or to satisfy the requirements of customers and potential customers. Any failure to develop such production processes and capabilities within Polestars projected costs and timelines could have a material and adverse effect on its business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition. Bottlenecks and other unexpected challenges may also arise as Polestar ramps production, and it will be important that Polestar address these challenges promptly while continuing to control its manufacturing costs. If Polestar is not successful in doing so, or if it experiences issues with its manufacturing process improvements, it could face delays in establishing and/or sustaining its production ramps or be unable to meet its related cost and profitability targets.
Polestar faces risks associated with international operations, including tariffs and unfavorable regulatory, political, tax and labor conditions, which could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Polestar has operations and subsidiaries in Europe, North America and Asia that are subject to the legal, political, regulatory and social requirements and economic conditions in these jurisdictions. Additionally, as part of its growth strategy, Polestar intends to expand its sales, maintenance and repair services and manufacturing activities to new countries in the coming years. However, Polestar has limited experience to date manufacturing, selling or servicing its vehicles, and such expansion would require it to make significant expenditures, including the hiring of local employees, in advance of generating any revenue. Polestar is subject to a number of risks associated with international business activities that may increase its costs, impact its ability to sell, service and manufacture its vehicles and require significant management attention. These risks include:
| conforming Polestars vehicles to various international regulatory requirements where its vehicles are sold, or homologation; |
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| establishing localized supply chains and managing international supply chain and logistics costs; |
| establishing sufficient charging points for Polestars customers in those jurisdictions, via partnerships or, if necessary, via development of its own charging networks; |
| difficulty in staffing and managing foreign operations; |
| difficulties attracting customers in new jurisdictions; |
| difficulties establishing international manufacturing operations, including difficulties establishing relationships with or establishing localized supplier bases and developing cost-effective and reliable supply chains for such manufacturing operations; |
| taxes, regulations and permit requirements, including taxes imposed by one taxing jurisdiction that Polestar may not be able to offset against taxes imposed upon it in another relevant jurisdiction, and foreign tax and other laws limiting its ability to repatriate funds to another relevant jurisdiction; |
| fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, including risks related to any forward currency contracts, interest rate swaps or other hedging activities Polestar undertakes; |
| United States and foreign government trade restrictions, tariffs and price or exchange controls; |
| foreign labor laws, regulations and restrictions; |
| changes in diplomatic and trade relationships, including political risk and customer perceptions based on such changes and risks; |
| political instability, natural disasters, pandemics (including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic), war or events of terrorism; and |
| the strength of international economies. |
If Polestar fails to successfully address these risks, its business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition could be materially harmed.
Polestar relies heavily on manufacturing facilities based in China and its growth strategy will depend on growing its business in China. This subjects Polestar to economic, operational, regulatory and legal risks specific to China.
Polestar relies heavily on manufacturing facilities based in China for the manufacture of its vehicles, including facilities of the Volvo Cars, Geely and its other contract partners, as well as its own manufacturing facilities in China. Polestar intends to rely solely on arrangements with its contract manufacturers, including Volvo Cars and Geely, for future Polestar models, many of which will be based in China, and its growth strategy will depend on growing its business based in China. This growing presence increases Polestars sensitivity to the economic, operational and legal risks specific to China. For example, Chinas economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many aspects, including, but not limited to, the degree of government involvement, level of corruption, control of capital investment, reinvestment control of foreign exchange, control of intellectual property, allocation of resources, growth rate and development level. Although the Chinese government has implemented measures since the late 1970s emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, including the reduction of state ownership of productive assets, and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, which are generally viewed as a positive development for foreign business investment, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the Chinese government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The Chinese government also exercises significant control over economic growth in China through allocating resources, controlling payments of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.
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While Chinas economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy, and the rate of growth has been slowing down, particularly in view of the effects of government actions to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in significant closures of businesses during a significant portion of 2020. Some of the governmental measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect on Polestar. For example, Polestars financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations. Higher inflation could adversely affect Polestars results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, certain operating costs and expenses, such as employee compensation and office operating expenses, may increase as a result of higher inflation. In addition, the Chinese government has implemented in the past certain measures to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activity, which in turn could lead to a reduction in demand for Polestars products and services, and consequently have a material and adverse effect on Polestars businesses, financial condition and results of operations.
It is unclear whether and how Polestars current or future business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations may be affected by changes in Chinas economic, political and social conditions and in its laws, regulations and policies. In addition, many of the economic reforms carried out by the Chinese government are unprecedented or experimental and are expected to be refined and improved over time. This refining and improving process may not necessarily have a positive effect on Polestars operations and business development.
Additionally, the legal system in China is not fully developed and there are inherent uncertainties that may affect the protection afforded to Polestar for its business and activities in China that are governed by the Chinese laws and regulations. Any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. Since administrative and court authorities in China have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection for Polestar than in more developed legal systems. These uncertainties may impede Polestars ability to enforce contracts and could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Chinese government may intervene in or influence Polestars and Polestars partners operations in China at any time, which could result in a material change in Polestars operations and ability to produce vehicles and significantly and adversely impact the value of Polestars securities.
The Chinese government exerts substantial influence, discretion, oversight and control over the manner in which companies incorporated under the laws and regulations of China must conduct their business activities, including activities relating to overseas offerings of securities and/or foreign investments in such companies. Polestar is incorporated under the laws of England and Wales with headquarters in Sweden, and has subsidiaries with operations in mainland China. Accordingly, Polestar is not subject to the permissions requirements of the China Securities Regulatory Commission with respect to the issuance of securities by Polestar to investors. However, Polestar cannot guarantee that the Chinese government will not seek to intervene or influence any of Polestars or its partners operations or securities offerings at any time. If Polestar or its partners were to become subject to such direct influence, intervention, discretion, oversight or control, including those over overseas offerings of securities (including foreign investments), it may result in a material adverse change in Polestars and its partners operations and cause the value of Polestars securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
The Chinese government has recently published new policies that significantly affected certain industries such as the education and internet industries, and Polestar, albeit not engaging in such industries, cannot rule out the possibility that the Chinese government will in the future release regulations or policies regarding Polestars industry that could require Polestar and its partners to seek permission from Chinese authorities to continue operating, which may adversely affect Polestars business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Changes in Chinese policies, regulations and rules may be quick with little advance notice and the enforcement of laws of the Chinese government is uncertain and could have a significant impact upon Polestars and its partners ability to operate profitably.
Polestar relies on its and its partners operations and facilities located in China. Accordingly, economic, political and legal developments in China will significantly affect Polestars business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Policies, regulations, rules and the enforcement of laws of the Chinese government can have significant effects on economic conditions in China and the ability of businesses to operate profitably. Polestars ability to operate profitably may be adversely affected by rapid and unexpected changes in policies by the Chinese government, including changes in laws, regulations, their interpretation and their enforcement.
Compliance with Chinas new Data Security Law, Cybersecurity Review Measures (revised draft for public consultation), Personal Information Protection Law, regulations and guidelines relating to the multi-level protection scheme and any other future laws and regulations may entail significant expenses and could materially affect Polestars business.
China has implemented new rules relating to data protection, and the new Data Security Law took effect in September 2021. The Data Security Law provides that the data processing activities must be conducted based on data classification and hierarchical protection system for the purpose of data protection and prohibits entities in China from transferring data stored in China to foreign law enforcement agencies or judicial authorities without prior approval by the Chinese government.
Additionally, Chinas Cyber Security Law requires companies to take certain organizational, technical and administrative measures and other necessary measures to ensure the security of their networks and data stored on their networks. Specifically, the Cyber Security Law provides that China adopt a multi-level protection scheme (MLPS), under which network operators are required to perform obligations of security protection to ensure that the network is free from interference, disruption or unauthorized access, and prevent network data from being disclosed, stolen or tampered. Under the MLPS, entities operating information systems must have a thorough assessment of the risks and the conditions of their information and network systems to determine the level to which the entitys information and network systems belong-from the lowest Level 1 to the highest Level 5 pursuant to a series of national standards on the grading and implementation of the classified protection of cyber security. The grading result will determine the set of security protection obligations that entities must comply with. Entities classified as Level 2 or above should report the grade to the relevant government authority for examination and approval.
Recently, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the CAC) has taken action against several Chinese Internet companies in connection with their initial public offerings on U.S. securities exchanges, for alleged national security risks and improper collection and use of the personal information of Chinese data subjects. According to the official announcement, the action was initiated based on the National Security Law, the Cyber Security Law and Cybersecurity Review Measures, which are aimed at preventing national data security risks, maintaining national security and safeguarding public interests. On July 10, 2021, the CAC published a revised draft of the Cybersecurity Review Measures, expanding the cybersecurity review to data processing operators in possession of personal information of over 1 million users if the operators intend to list their securities in a foreign country. On November 14, 2021, the CAC published the draft Network Data Security Management Regulation for public comments, which reiterates the requirement that data processors processing more than 1 million individuals information should apply for a cybersecurity review with the CAC, if the processors intend to list their securities in a foreign country.
It is unclear at the present time how widespread the cybersecurity review requirement and the enforcement action will be and what effect they will have on Polestar in particular. Chinas regulators may impose penalties for non-compliance ranging from fines or suspension of operations, and this could lead to us delisting from the U.S. stock market.
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Also, on August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of Chinas National Peoples Congress (NPC) passed the Personal Information Protection Law, which became effective on November 1, 2021. The Personal Information Protection Law provides a comprehensive set of data privacy and protection requirements that apply to the processing of personal information and expands data protection compliance obligations to cover the processing of personal information of persons by organizations and individuals in China, and the processing of personal information of persons in China outside of China if such processing is for purposes of providing products and services to, or analyzing and evaluating the behavior of, persons in China. The Personal Information Protection Law also provides that critical information infrastructure operators and personal information processing entities who process personal information meeting a volume threshold to be set by the CAC are also required to store in China personal information generated or collected in China, and to pass a security assessment administered by the CAC for any export of such personal information. On October 29, 2021, the CAC issued the draft Cross-border Data Transfer Security Assessment Measures for public comments, which require personal information processors who process more than 1 million individuals personal information to apply and pass the security assessment organized by the CAC before any export of personal information.. Lastly, the Personal Information Protection Law contains proposals for significant fines for serious violations of up to RMB 50 million or 5% of annual revenues from the prior year and may also be ordered to suspend any related activity by competent authorities.
Other than personal information, the Automobile Data Security Management Measures (for Trial Implementation) jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Transport on August 16, 2021 impose strict regulation on important data, which includes more than 100,000 individuals personal information. The Automobile Data Security Management Measures (for Trial Implementation) provide that important data should be stored within the territory of China in accordance with the law, and if it is really necessary to export such data due to business needs, a security assessment organized by the CAC must be passed.
Polestar uses global information systems to support its worldwide operation, but the information systems might not have servers in China and the personal information collected by Polestar in China may be constantly exported outside China to countries hosting the information systems servers. Polestar also relies on certain information systems maintained by Volvo Cars to process certain personal information, which similarly exports personal information outside China on a regular basis. Personal information processed by information systems with servers in China is stored in China, unless Polestars operations necessitate exporting such personal information.
Interpretation, application and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations evolve from time to time and their scope may continually change, through new legislation, amendments to existing legislation or changes in enforcement. Compliance with the Cyber Security Law, the Data Security Law, the Personal Information Protection Law and/or related implementing regulations could significantly increase the cost to Polestar of producing and selling vehicles, require significant changes to Polestars operations or even prevent Polestar from providing certain service offerings in jurisdictions in which Polestar currently operates or in which Polestar may operate in the future. Despite Polestars efforts to comply with applicable laws, regulations and other obligations relating to privacy, data protection and information security, it is possible that Polestars practices or offerings could fail to meet all of the requirements imposed on Polestar by the Cyber Security Law, the Data Security Law, the Personal Information Protection Law and/or related implementing regulations. Any failure on Polestars part to comply with such law or regulations or any other obligations relating to privacy, data protection or information security, or any compromise of security that results in unauthorized access, use or release of personally identifiable information or other data, or the perception or allegation that any of the foregoing types of failure or compromise has occurred, could damage Polestars reputation, discourage new and existing counterparties from contracting with Polestar or result in investigations, fines, suspension or other penalties by Chinese government authorities and private claims or litigation, any of which could materially adversely affect Polestars business, financial condition and results of operations. Even if Polestars practices are not subject to legal challenge, the perception of privacy concerns, whether or not valid, may harm Polestars reputation and adversely affect Polestars business, financial condition and results of operations (See Data privacy concerns are generally
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increasing, which could result in new legislation, in negative public perception of Polestars current data collection practices and certain of its services or technologies and/or in changing user behaviors that negatively affect Polestars business and product development plans.). Moreover, the legal uncertainty created by the Data Security Law and the recent Chinese government actions could materially adversely affect Polestars ability, on favorable terms, to raise capital; including engaging in follow-on offerings of its securities in the U.S. market.
Polestar and its subsidiaries (i) may not receive or maintain permissions or approvals from the CAC or other relevant authorities to operate in China, (ii) may inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required, or (iii) may be required to obtain new permissions or approvals in the future due to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations related thereto.
Polestar and its subsidiaries in China are not classified as a critical information infrastructure operators or network platform operators under the Cybersecurity Review Measures, nor have Polestar and its subsidiaries received any notice from the CAC defining them as the foregoing operator, which would require Polestar or its subsidiaries to apply for a cybersecurity review with the CAC. See Compliance with Chinas new Data Security Law, Cybersecurity Review Measures (revised draft for public consultation), Personal Information Protection Law, regulations and guidelines relating to the multi-level protection scheme and any other future laws and regulations may entail significant expenses and could materially affect Polestars business. However, if it is determined in the future that approvals or permissions from the CAC or other regulatory authorities are required, these regulatory authorities may impose fines, suspend Polestars relevant businesses or halt operations, revoke relevant business permits or operational license, limit Polestars ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit Polestars operating privileges in China, or take other actions that could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, as well as the trading price of ADSs and ADWs. The CAC or other relevant authorities may also take actions requiring Polestar, or making it advisable for Polestar, to halt operations before settlement and delivery of the securities offered with this proxy statement/prospectus. In addition, if the CAC or other regulatory authorities later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that Polestar or its subsidiaries obtain their approvals or accomplish any required filing or other regulatory procedures, Polestar may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties or negative publicity regarding such approval requirements could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, prospects, financial condition, reputation, and the trading price of ADSs and ADWs.
Polestar may be adversely affected by the complexity, uncertainties and changes in the regulations on internet-related business, automotive businesses and other business carried out by Polestars operating entities in China.
The Chinese government extensively regulates the internet and automotive industries and other business carried out by Polestars operating entities in China. Such laws and regulations are relatively new and evolving, and their interpretation and enforcement involve significant uncertainties. As a result, in certain circumstances it may be difficult to determine what actions or omissions may be deemed to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations.
Several regulatory authorities in China, such as the State Administration for Market Regulation, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Commerce, oversee different aspects of the electric vehicle business, and Polestars operating entities in China are required to obtain a wide range of government approvals, licenses, permits and registrations in connection with their operations in China. For example, certain filings must be made by automobile dealers through the information system for the national automobile circulation operated by the relevant commerce department within 90 days after the receipt of a business license. Furthermore, the electric vehicle industry is relatively immature in China, and the government has not adopted a clear regulatory framework to regulate the industry.
There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of the existing laws, regulations and policies and possible new laws, regulations or policies in China relating to internet-related businesses as well as automotive businesses and companies. There is no assurance that Polestar will be able to obtain all the permits
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or licenses related to its business in China, or will be able to maintain its existing permits and licenses or obtain new ones. In the event that the Chinese government considers that Polestar was or is operating without the proper approvals, licenses or permits, promulgates new laws and regulations that require additional approvals or licenses, or imposes additional restrictions on the operation of any part of Polestars business, the Chinese government has the power, among other things, to levy fines, confiscate Polestars income, revoke its business licenses and require Polestar to discontinue the relevant business or impose restrictions on the affected portion of its business. Any of these actions by the Chinese government may have a material and adverse effect on Polestars business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
If Polestar updates or discontinues the use of its manufacturing equipment more quickly than expected, it may have to shorten the useful lives of any equipment to be retired as a result of any such update, and the resulting acceleration in Polestars depreciation could negatively affect its financial results.
Polestar has invested and expects to continue to invest significantly in what it believes is state of the art tooling, machinery and other manufacturing equipment, and Polestar depreciates the cost of such equipment over its expected useful lives. However, manufacturing technology may evolve rapidly, and Polestar may decide to update its manufacturing processes more quickly than expected. Moreover, as Polestar ramps the commercial production of its vehicles, Polestars experience may cause it to discontinue the use of already installed equipment in favor of different or additional equipment. The useful life of any equipment that would be retired early as a result would be shortened, causing the depreciation on such equipment to be accelerated, and Polestars results of operations could be negatively impacted.
Polestars operating and financial results forecasts and projections rely in large part upon assumptions and analyses developed by it. If the assumptions or analyses that Polestar made in connection with its projections and forecasts prove to be incorrect, Polestars actual results of operations may be materially different from its forecasted results.
The projections, including the ListCo Projections appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, reflect Polestars estimates of future performance as of September 2021, incorporating certain financial and operational assumptions based on information available at the time the forecasts were made and should not be regarded as an indication that Polestar or any other recipient of this information considered, or now considers, it to be predictive of actual future results. In addition, such projections incorporate assumptions relating to (a) sales volumes and revenues, which could be significantly impacted by economic events and consumer demand for Polestars vehicles, (b) Polestars expectation to sell vehicles internationally, which could be impacted by trade policies, regulatory constraints and other factors, (c) projected growth in the premium vehicle market; and (d) Polestars ability to start and scale production of its electric vehicles, and introduce new models, on the timeline and at the quantities planned.
In addition, the projected financial and operating information incorporates assumptions about Polestars ability to maintain an effective cost structure, which could be impacted by the prices of commodities and other inputs, wage inflation, logistics costs, infrastructure and utilities costs, the costs of specialized equipment and tooling, research and development costs, facilities costs and numerous other factors. These assumptions were preliminary and there can be no assurance that the actual results upon which Polestars assumptions were based will be in line with its expectations at the time the forecasts were made. As an early-stage company in a rapidly evolving industry, Polestar has limited data on which to base its projections of its future performance and has limited experience forecasting revenues and volumes. The projections, including the ListCo Projections, also reflect assumptions as to certain business strategies or plans that are subject to change. As a result, the inclusion of such forecasts in this proxy statement/prospectus should not be relied on as guidance or otherwise predictive of actual future events, and actual results may differ materially from the projections, including the ListCo Projections. Whether actual operating and financial results and business developments will be consistent with the expectations and assumptions reflected in the projections, including the ListCo Projections, depend on a number of factors, many of which are outside of Polestars control, including, but not limited to, the risks and
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uncertainties described elsewhere in this section. If Polestar fails to meet its own financial or operating forecasts, including those relating to volumes and revenues, or those of securities analysts, the value of the Post-Combination Companys securities could be significantly and adversely affected.
Polestars main distribution approach is different from the currently predominant distribution model for automakers, and its long-term viability is unproven. Polestar will not have a third-party retail product distribution network in all of the countries in which it operates, and Polestar may face regulatory challenges to or limitations on its ability to sell vehicles directly.
Polestars main distribution approach is not common in the automotive industry today. Polestar vehicles are sold either directly to users (rather than through dealerships), or, in certain countries, through third parties via a franchising model. In North America, for example, all sales are conducted through trusted representatives. Polestars direct to consumer approach of vehicle distribution is relatively new and has a shorter track record to prove long-term effectiveness. It thus subjects Polestar to risks as it requires, in the aggregate, significant expenditures and may provide for slower expansion of Polestars distribution and sales systems than the traditional dealership system. For example, Polestar does not utilize long established sales channels developed through a dealership system to increase its sales volume. However, Polestar does leverage the existing Volvo Cars network of dealers as a pipeline of potential operators of Polestar Locations or distributors (depending on the distribution approach in each country). Moreover, Polestar competes with automakers with well-established distribution channels. If Polestars lack of a traditional dealer distribution network results in lost opportunities to generate sales, it could limit Polestars ability to grow. Polestars expansion of its network of retail locations and service points may not fully meet users expectations. Polestars success will depend in large part on its ability to effectively develop its own sales channels and marketing strategies. Implementing its business model is subject to numerous challenges, including obtaining permits and approvals from government authorities, and Polestar may not be successful in addressing these challenges.
Polestars experience distributing directly to consumers only started in 2019 with the launch of Polestar 1 and at a larger scale in 2020 with the launch of Polestar 2. Therefore, Polestar expects that the building of an in-house sales and marketing function will be expensive and time consuming. To the extent Polestar is unable to successfully execute on its current direct distribution plans, it may be required to change such plans, which may prove costly, time-consuming or ineffective. If Polestars use of an in-house sales and marketing team is not effective, Polestars results of operations and financial conditions could be adversely affected.
Insufficient reserves to cover future warranty or part replacement needs or other vehicle repair requirements, including any potential software upgrades, could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Polestar provides a manufacturers warranty on all vehicles, components and systems it sells. Polestar needs to maintain reserves to cover part replacement and other vehicle repair needs, including any potential software upgrades or warranty claims. In addition, Polestar provides additional warranties on installation workmanship or performance guarantees. Warranty reserves will include Polestars management teams best estimate of the
projected costs to repair or to replace items under warranty. Such estimates are inherently uncertain, particularly in light of Polestars limited operating history and the limited field data available to it, and changes to such estimates based on real-world observations may cause material changes to Polestars warranty reserves in the future. If Polestars reserves are inadequate to cover future maintenance requirements on its vehicles, its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. Polestar may become subject to significant and unexpected expenses as well as claims from its customers, including loss of revenue or damages. There can be no assurances that then-existing reserves will be sufficient to cover all claims. In addition, if future laws or regulations impose additional warranty obligations on Polestar that go beyond Polestars manufacturers warranty, Polestar may be exposed to materially higher warranty, parts replacement and repair expenses than it expects, and its reserves may be insufficient to cover such expenses.
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Polestar may be unable to offer attractive leasing and financing options for its current vehicle models and future vehicles, which would adversely affect consumer demand for its vehicles.
Polestar offers leasing and financing of its vehicles to potential customers through financing partners and currently has 18 agreements in place with such partners. Polestar believes that the ability to offer attractive leasing and financing options is particularly relevant to customers in the premium vehicle segments in which it competes, and if Polestar is unable to offer its customers an attractive option to finance the purchase or lease of its vehicles, such failure could substantially reduce the population of potential customers and decrease demand for Polestars vehicles.
Polestar is subject to risks associated with advanced driver assistance system technology. Polestar is also working on adding autonomous driving technology to its vehicles and expects to be subject to the risks associated with this technology. Polestar cannot guarantee that its vehicles will achieve its targeted assisted or autonomous driving functionality within its projected timeframe, or ever.
Polestars vehicles are designed with the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) hardware, and Polestar expects to launch automation functionalities and additional capabilities, including autonomous driving (AD), over time. ADAS/AD technologies are emerging and subject to known and unknown risks, and there have been accidents and fatalities associated with such technologies. The safety of such technologies depends in part on user interaction, and users, as well as other drivers on the roadways, may not be accustomed to using or adapting to such technologies. In addition, self-driving technologies are the subject of intense public scrutiny and interest, and previous accidents involving autonomous driving features in other vehicles, including alleged failures or misuse of such features, have generated significant negative media attention and government investigations. To the extent accidents associated with Polestars ADAS or AD technologies occur, Polestar could be subject to significant liability, negative publicity, government scrutiny and further regulation. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect Polestars results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects.
In addition, Polestar faces substantial competition in the development and deployment of ADAS/AD technologies. Many of Polestars competitors, including Tesla, established automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi and General Motors (including via its investments in Cruise Automation), and technology companies including Waymo (owned by Alphabet), Zoox.ai (owned by Amazon), Aurora (which recently announced a business combination with Ubers subsidiary focused on self-driving technologies), Argo AI (jointly owned by Ford and Volkswagen), Mobileye (a subsidiary of Intel), Aptiv, Baidu, Nuro and Ghost.ai, have devoted significant time and resources to developing ADAS/AD technologies. If Polestar is unable to develop competitive or more advanced ADAS/AD technologies in-house or acquire access to such technology via partnerships or investments in other companies or assets, it may be unable to equip its vehicles with competitive ADAS/AD features, which could damage its brand, reduce consumer demand for its vehicles or trigger cancellations of reservations and could have a material and adverse effect on its business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition. ADAS/AD technologies are also subject to considerable regulatory uncertainty, which exposes Polestar to additional risks.
Uninsured losses, including losses resulting from product liability, accidents, acts of God and other claims against Polestar, could result in payment of substantial damages, which would decrease Polestars cash reserves and could harm its cash flow and financial condition.
In the ordinary course of business, Polestar may be subject to losses resulting from product liability, accidents, acts of God and other claims against it, for which it may have no insurance coverage. While Polestar currently carries commercial general liability, commercial automobile liability, excess liability, product liability, crime, cargo stock throughput, property, workers compensation, employment practices, production and directors and officers insurance policies, it may not maintain as much insurance coverage as other companies do, and in some cases, it may not maintain any at all. Additionally, the policies it does have may include significant deductibles, and it cannot be certain that its insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover all or any future claims against it. A loss that is uninsured or exceeds policy limits may require Polestar to pay substantial amounts, which could adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations. Further, insurance coverage may not continue to
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be available to Polestar or, if available, may be at a significantly higher cost, especially if insurance providers perceive any increase in Polestars risk profile in the future.
Polestars vehicles will make use of lithium-ion battery cells, which have been observed to catch fire or vent smoke and flame.
The battery packs within Polestars vehicles make use of lithium-ion cells. On rare occasions, lithium-ion cells can rapidly release the energy they contain by venting smoke and flames in a manner that can ignite nearby materials as well as other lithium-ion cells. Any such events or failures of Polestars vehicles, battery packs or warning systems could subject Polestar to lawsuits, product recalls, or redesign efforts, all of which would be time consuming and expensive. Also, negative public perceptions regarding the suitability of lithium-ion cells for automotive applications or any future incident involving lithium-ion cells, such as a vehicle or other fire, even if such incident does not involve Polestars vehicles, could seriously harm Polestars business and reputation.
Moreover, any failure of a competitors electric vehicle or energy storage product, as well as the mishandling of battery cells or a safety issue or fire or related to the cells at partners manufacturing facilities, may cause indirect adverse publicity for Polestar and its products. Such adverse publicity could negatively affect Polestars brand and harm its business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Polestars ability to generate meaningful product revenue will depend on consumer adoption of electric vehicles. However, the market for electric vehicles is still evolving and changes in governmental programs incentivizing consumers to purchase electric vehicles, fluctuations in energy prices, the sustainability of electric vehicles and other regulatory changes might negatively impact adoption of electric vehicles by consumers. If the pace and depth of electric vehicle adoption develops more slowly than Polestar expects, its revenue may decline or fail to grow, and Polestar may be materially and adversely affected.
Polestar is only developing electric vehicles and, accordingly, its ability to generate meaningful product revenue will highly depend on sustained consumer demand for alternative fuel vehicles in general and electric vehicles in particular. If the market for electric vehicles does not develop as Polestar expects or develops more slowly than it expects, or if there is a decrease in consumer demand for electric vehicles, Polestars business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be harmed. The market for electric and other alternative fuel vehicles is relatively new and rapidly evolving and is characterized by rapidly changing technologies, price competition, additional competitors, evolving government regulations (including government incentives and subsidies) and industry standards, frequent new vehicle announcements and changing consumer demands and behaviors. Any number of changes in the industry could negatively affect consumer demand for electric vehicles in general and Polestars electric vehicles in particular.
In addition, demand for electric vehicles may be affected by factors directly impacting automobile prices or the cost of purchasing and operating automobiles such as sales and financing incentives like tax credits, prices of raw materials and parts and components, cost of fuel or electricity, availability of consumer credit and governmental regulations, including tariffs, import regulation and other taxes. Volatility in demand may lead to lower vehicle unit sales, which may result in downward price pressure and adversely affect Polestars business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Further, sales of vehicles in the automotive industry tend to be cyclical in many markets, which may expose Polestar to increased volatility, especially as it expands and adjusts its operations and retail strategies. Specifically, it is uncertain how such macroeconomic factors will impact Polestar as a newer entrant in an industry that has globally been experiencing a recent decline in sales.
Other factors that may influence the adoption of electric vehicles include:
| perceptions about electric vehicle quality, safety, design, performance and cost; |
| perceptions about the limited range over which electric vehicles may be driven on a single battery charge; |
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| perceptions about the total cost of ownership of electric vehicles, including the initial purchase price and operating and maintenance costs, both including and excluding the effect of government and other subsidies and incentives designed to promote the purchase of electric vehicles; |
| concerns about electric grid capacity and reliability; |
| perceptions about the sustainability and environmental impact of electric vehicles, including with respect to both the sourcing and disposal of materials for electric vehicle batteries and the generation of electricity provided in the electric grid; |
| the availability of other alternative fuel vehicles, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; |
| improvements in the fuel economy of the internal combustion engine; |
| the quality and availability of service for electric vehicles, especially in international markets; |
| volatility in the cost of oil, gasoline and electricity; |
| government regulations and economic incentives promoting fuel efficiency and alternative forms of energy; |
| access to charging stations and the cost to charge an electric vehicle, especially in international markets, and related infrastructure costs and standardization; |
| the availability of tax and other governmental incentives to purchase and operate electric vehicles or future regulation requiring increased use of nonpolluting vehicles; and |
| macroeconomic factors. |
The influence of any of the factors described above or any other factors may cause a general reduction in consumer demand for electric vehicles or Polestars electric vehicles in particular, either of which would materially and adversely affect Polestars business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Developments in electric vehicle or alternative fuel technology or improvements in the internal combustion engine may adversely affect the demand for Polestars vehicles.
Polestar may be unable to keep up with changes in electric vehicle technology or alternatives to electricity as a fuel source and, as a result, its competitiveness may suffer. Significant developments in alternative technologies, such as alternative battery cell technologies, hydrogen fuel cell technology, advanced gasoline, ethanol or natural gas or improvements in the fuel economy of the internal combustion engine, may materially and adversely affect Polestars business and prospects in ways it does not currently anticipate. Existing and other battery cell technologies, fuels or sources of energy may emerge as customers preferred alternative to the technologies in Polestars electric vehicles. Any failure by Polestar to develop new or enhanced technologies or processes, or to react to changes in existing technologies, could materially delay its development and introduction of new and enhanced electric vehicles, which could result in the loss of competitiveness of its vehicles, decreased revenues and a loss of market share to competitors. In addition, Polestar expects to compete in part on the basis of its vehicles range, efficiency, charging speeds and performance, and improvements in the technology offered by competitors could reduce demand for Polestars vehicles. As technologies change, Polestar plans to upgrade or adapt its vehicles and introduce new models that reflect such technological developments, but its vehicles may become obsolete, and its research and development efforts may not be sufficient to adapt to changes in alternative fuel and electric vehicle technology. Additionally, as new companies and larger, existing vehicle manufacturers continue to enter the electric vehicle space, Polestar may lose any technological advantage it may have and suffer a decline in its competitive position. Any failure by Polestar to successfully react to changes in existing technologies or the development of new technologies could materially harm its competitive position and growth prospects.
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The global COVID-19 outbreak and the global response could continue to affect Polestars business and operations.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses risks to Polestars business, including through its impact on general economic conditions; manufacturing and supply chain operations; stay-at-home orders; and global financial markets. The pandemics impact on economic conditions has led to a global decrease in vehicle sales in markets around the world. Its continued impact on the economy, even after the pandemic has subsided, could lead consumers to further reduce spending, delay purchases of Polestars vehicles or cancel their orders for Polestars vehicles. Because of Polestars premium brand positioning and pricing, an economic downturn is likely to have a heightened adverse effect on it, compared to many of its electric vehicle and traditional automotive industry competitors, to the extent that consumer demand for luxury goods is reduced in favor of lower-priced alternatives. Any economic recession or other downturn could also cause logistical challenges and other operational risks if any of Polestars suppliers, sub-suppliers or partners becomes insolvent or is otherwise unable to continue its operations. Further, the immediate or prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could significantly affect government finances and, accordingly, the continued availability of incentives related to electric vehicle purchases and other governmental support programs.
The spread of COVID-19 has also periodically disrupted the manufacturing operations of other vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers. Any such disruptions to Polestar or to its suppliers could result in delays and could negatively affect its production volume.
The pandemic has resulted in the imposition of travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns. These measures pose numerous operational risks and logistical challenges to Polestars business. In addition, regional, national and international travel restrictions may result in adverse impacts to Polestars supply chain. Further, Polestars sales and marketing activities have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected due to the cancellation or reduction of in-person sales activities, meetings, events and conferences. The transition of Polestars personnel to a mostly remote workforce has also increased demand on its information technology resources and systems and increased data privacy and cybersecurity risks. These restrictive measures could be in place for a significant period of time and may be reinstituted or replaced with more burdensome restrictions if conditions deteriorate, which could adversely affect Polestars manufacturing and sales and distribution plans and timelines.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in extreme volatility in the global financial markets, which could increase Polestars cost of capital or limit its ability to access financing when needed.
The severity, magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic and regulatory consequences are rapidly changing and uncertain. Accordingly, Polestar cannot predict the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
Polestars facilities or operations could be and have been adversely affected by events outside of its control, such as natural disasters, wars, health epidemics or pandemics or security incidents.
Polestar may be impacted by natural disasters, wars, health epidemics or pandemics or other events outside of its control. For example, flooding impacted Polestars manufacturing facility in July 2019 and stopped production for one half of a day. Further, if major disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes or other events occur, or if Polestars information system or communications network breaks down or operates improperly, Polestars facilities and manufacturing may be seriously damaged or affected, or Polestar may have to stop or delay production and shipment of its products. In addition, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted economic markets, manufacturing operations, supply chains, employment and consumer behavior in nearly every geographic region and industry across the world, and Polestar has been, and may in the future be, adversely affected as a result. Furthermore, Polestar could be impacted by physical security incidents at its facilities, which could result in significant damage to such facilities that could require Polestar to delay or discontinue production of its vehicles. Polestar may incur significant expenses or delays relating to such events outside of its control, which could have a material adverse impact on its business, results of operations and financial condition.
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The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has, and is likely to continue to, generate uncertain geopolitical conditions, including sanctions that could adversely affect Polestars business prospects and results of operations.
Russia and Ukraine are not Polestar markets, and there are no plans to launch in either market in the near future. Nevertheless, the uncertain geopolitical conditions, sanctions, and other potential impacts on the global economic environment resulting from Russias invasion of Ukraine may weaken demand for Polestars vehicles, which could make it difficult for Polestar to forecast its financial results and manage its inventory levels. The uncertainty surrounding these conditions and the current, and potentially expanded, scope of international sanctions against Russia may cause unanticipated changes in customers buying patterns, adversely impact operations of our suppliers, or interrupt Polestars ability to source products from this region.
Polestar vehicles are manufactured at facilities owned and operated by Volvo Cars. While we understand that Volvo Cars does not have any Tier 1 suppliers from Russia, car production is a complex process, with thousands of components sourced from all over the world. There can be no assurance, therefore, that there will not be some components sourced from suppliers subject to sanctions against Russia nor that the resulting disruption to the supply chain will not have an adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
In the event geopolitical tensions deteriorate further or fail to abate, additional governmental sanctions may be enacted that could adversely impact the global economy, banking and monetary systems, markets, and the operations of Polestar and its suppliers.
If vehicle owners customize Polestar vehicles or change the charging infrastructure with aftermarket products, the vehicle may not operate properly, which may create negative publicity and could harm Polestars business.
Automobile enthusiasts may seek to alter Polestars vehicles to modify their performance, which could compromise vehicle safety systems. Also, customers may customize their vehicles with after-market parts that can compromise driver safety. Polestar does not test, nor does it endorse, such changes or products. In addition, the use of improper external cabling or unsafe charging outlets can expose customers to injury from high voltage electricity. Such unauthorized modifications could reduce the safety of Polestars vehicles and any injuries resulting from such modifications could result in adverse publicity that would negatively affect Polestars brand and harm its business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
Risks Related to Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
Polestar relies on its and Volvo Carss IT systems and any material disruption to its or Volvo Carss IT systems could have a material and adverse effect on Polestar.
The availability and effectiveness of Polestars services depend on the continued operation of its information technology and communications systems. Polestar relies on its and Volvo Carss IT systems, and such systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from, among other adverse effects, fire, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, power loss, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, computer denial of service attacks or other attempts to harm its systems. Polestars products and services are also highly technical and complex and may contain errors or vulnerabilities that could result in interruptions in its services or the failure of its systems or the systems on which it relies. For more information on the data breach Volvo Cars announced on December 10, 2021 and that involved a Volvo Cars server that shared information relevant to Polestar, please see Information Related to PolestarRelated Party Agreements with Volvo Cars and Geely.
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Any unauthorized control or manipulation of Polestars products, digital sales tools and systems could result in loss of confidence in Polestar and its products.
Polestars products contain complex information technology systems. Polestar expects to collect, store, transmit and otherwise process data from vehicles, customers, employees and other third parties as part of its business operations, which may include personal data or confidential or proprietary information. Polestar also works with third parties that collect, store and process such data on its behalf and also uses digital tools to sell vehicles to its customers. Polestar has created a foundation of security polices and an information security directive and is in the process of creating and testing information security policies to deployed systems. Polestar is creating measures to implement such policies, including encryption technologies, to prevent unauthorized access and plans to continue deploying additional security measures as it grows. Polestars third-party service providers and vendors will also be obliged to take steps to protect the security and integrity of Polestars and their information technology systems and Polestars and their customers information. However, there can be no assurance that such systems and measures will not be compromised as a result of intentional misconduct, including by employees, contractors or vendors, as well as by software bugs, human error or technical malfunctions.
Furthermore, hackers may in the future attempt to gain unauthorized access to, modify, alter and use Polestars vehicles, products, digital sales tools and systems to (i) gain control of, (ii) change the functionality, user interface and performance characteristics of or (iii) gain access to data stored in or generated by, Polestars vehicles, products, digital sales tools and systems. Advances in technology, an increased level of sophistication and diversity of Polestars products, digital sales tools and services, an increased level of expertise of hackers and new discoveries in the field of cryptography could lead to a compromise or breach of the measures that Polestar or its service providers uses. Polestar and its service providers systems have in the past and may in the future be affected by security incidents. Polestars systems are also vulnerable to damage or interruption from, among other things, physical theft, fire, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, power loss, war, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, computer denial or degradation of service attacks, ransomware, social engineering schemes, domain name spoofing, insider theft or misuse or other attempts to harm its products and systems. Polestars and its service providers or vendors data centers could be subject to break-ins, sabotage and intentional acts of vandalism causing potential disruptions. Some of Polestars systems will not be fully redundant. Further, its disaster recovery planning is not yet fully developed and cannot account for all eventualities. Any problems at Polestars or its service providers or vendors data centers could result in lengthy interruptions in Polestars service. There can be no assurance that any security or other operational measures that Polestar or its service providers or vendors have implemented will be effective against any of the foregoing threats or issues.
If Polestar is unable to protect its products, digital sales tools and systems (and the information stored on such platforms) from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, destruction or other breach, such problems or security breaches could have negative consequences for its business and future prospects, subjecting Polestar to substantial fines, penalties, damages and other liabilities under applicable laws and regulations, incurring substantial costs to respond to, investigate and remedy such incidents, reducing customer demand for Polestars products, harming its reputation and brand and compromising or leading to a loss of protection of its intellectual property or trade secrets. In addition, regardless of their veracity, reports of unauthorized access to Polestars vehicles, systems or data, as well as other factors that may result in the perception that its vehicles, systems or data are capable of being hacked, could negatively affect Polestars brand. In addition, some members of the U.S. federal government, including certain members of Congress and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), have recently focused attention on automotive cybersecurity issues and may in the future propose or implement regulations specific to automotive cybersecurity. In addition, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has introduced new regulations governing connected vehicle cybersecurity, which became effective in January 2021 and are expected to apply in the European Union to all new vehicle types beginning in July 2022 and to all new vehicles produced from July 2024. Such regulations are also in effect, or expected to come into effect, in certain other international jurisdictions. These and other regulations could adversely affect Polestars business in Europe and other markets, and if such regulations or other future regulations are inconsistent with Polestars approach to automotive cybersecurity, Polestar would be required to modify its systems to comply with such regulations, which would impose additional costs and delays
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and could expose Polestar to potential liability to the extent its automotive cybersecurity systems and practices are inconsistent with such regulation.
In addition, Polestars vehicles depend on the ability of software and hardware to store, retrieve, process and manage immense amounts of data. Polestars software and hardware, including any over-the-air or other updates, may contain, errors, bugs, design defects or vulnerabilities, and its systems may be subject to technical limitations that may compromise its ability to meet its objectives. Some errors, bugs or vulnerabilities may be inherently difficult to detect and may only be discovered after code has been released for external or internal use. Although Polestar will attempt to remedy any issues it observes in its vehicles as effectively and rapidly as possible, such efforts may not be timely, may hamper production or may not be to the satisfaction of its customers. Additionally, if Polestar is able to deploy updates to the software addressing any issues, but its over-the-air update procedures fail to properly update the software, Polestars customers would then need to arrange for installing such updates to the software, and their software may be subject to deficiencies and vulnerabilities until they do so. Any compromise of Polestars intellectual property, proprietary information, systems or vehicles or inability to prevent or effectively remedy errors, bugs, vulnerabilities or defects in Polestars software and hardware may cause Polestar to suffer lengthy interruptions to its ability to operate its business and its customers ability to operate their vehicles, damage to Polestars reputation, loss of customers, loss of revenue, governmental fines, investigations or litigation or liability for damages, any of which could materially and adversely affect its business, results of operations, prospects and financial condition.
Data privacy concerns are generally increasing, which could result in new legislation, in negative public perception of Polestars current data collection practices and certain of its services or technologies and/or in changing user behaviors that negatively affect Polestars business and product development plans.
In the course of its operations, Polestar collects, uses, stores, discloses, transfers and otherwise processes personal information from its customers, employees and third parties with whom it conducts business, including names, accounts, user IDs and passwords and payment or transaction related information. Additionally, Polestar uses its vehicles electronic systems to log information about vehicle use, such as charge time, battery usage, mileage and driving behavior, in order to aid it in vehicle diagnostics, repair and maintenance, as well as to help it customize and improve the driving experience.
Data privacy concerns of consumers are generally increasing, which could result in new legislation, in negative public perception of Polestars current data collection practices and certain of its services or technologies and/or in changing user behaviors that negatively affect Polestars business and product development plans.
Polestar is subject to evolving laws, regulations, standards, policies and contractual obligations related to data privacy, security and consumer protection, and any actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could harm Polestars reputation and brand, subject Polestar to significant fines and liability, or otherwise adversely affect its business.
Due to Polestars data collection practices, products, services and technologies, Polestar is subject to or affected by a number of federal, state, local and international laws and regulations, as well as contractual obligations and industry standards, that impose certain obligations and restrictions with respect to data privacy and security and govern its collection, storage, retention, protection, use, processing, transmission, sharing and disclosure of personal information including that of Polestars employees, customers and other third parties with whom Polestar conducts business. These laws, regulations and standards may be interpreted and applied differently over time and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and it is possible that they will be interpreted and applied in ways that may have a material and adverse impact on Polestars business, financial condition and results of operations.
The global data protection landscape is rapidly evolving, and implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. Polestar may not be able to monitor and react to all developments in a timely manner. The European Union adopted the General Data Protection Regulation
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(GDPR), which became effective on May 25, 2018, and California adopted the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), which became effective in January 2020. Both the GDPR and the CCPA impose additional obligations on companies regarding the handling of personal data and provides certain privacy rights to individual persons whose data is collected. Compliance with existing, proposed and recently enacted laws and regulations (including implementation of the privacy and process enhancements called for under the GDPR and CCPA) can be costly, and any failure to comply with these regulatory standards could subject Polestar to legal and reputational risks.
Specifically, the CCPA establishes a privacy framework for covered businesses, including an expansive definition of personal information and data privacy rights for California residents. The CCPA includes a framework with potentially severe statutory damages for violations and a private right of action for certain data breaches. The CCPA requires covered businesses to provide California residents with new privacy-related disclosures and new ways to opt-out of certain uses and disclosures of personal information. As Polestar expands its operations, the CCPA may increase its compliance costs and potential liability. Some observers have noted that the CCPA could mark the beginning of a trend toward more stringent privacy legislation in the United States. Additionally, effective in most respects starting on January 1, 2023, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) will significantly modify the CCPA, including by expanding California residents rights with respect to certain sensitive personal information. The CPRA also creates a new state agency that will be vested with authority to implement and enforce the CCPA and the CPRA.
Other jurisdictions have begun to propose similar laws. Compliance with applicable privacy and data security laws and regulations is a rigorous and time-intensive process, and Polestar may be required to put in place additional mechanisms to comply with such laws and regulations, which could cause Polestar to incur substantial costs or require Polestar to change its business practices, including its data practices, in a manner adverse to its business. In particular, certain emerging privacy laws are still subject to a high degree of uncertainty as to their interpretation and application. Failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations or to secure personal information could result in investigations, enforcement actions and other proceedings against Polestar, which could result in substantial fines, damages and other liability as well as damage to Polestars reputation and credibility, which could have a negative impact on revenues and profits.
There are also ongoing complex, uncertain, rapid development and changes of data privacy and security related laws in China. Polestar and its business partners in China could be affected by intervention by the Chinese government relating to, for example, information-sharing and cybersecurity matters. The risk of such interventions could be heightened in connection with a listing of shares of Polestar or any of its business partners, and could result in prohibitions of the sale and/or marketing of certain products. For example, on July 10, 2021, the Cybersecurity Review Office (CRO) promulgated a draft Cybersecurity Review Measure (Review Measure). If the Review Measure enters into force with the current wording, it will require data processors in China who hold more than one million users personal information and plan to list on a stock exchange in a foreign country to apply for cybersecurity review. Polestar has not exceeded this threshold as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus. However, under the proposed Review Measure, the CRO could also initiate cybersecurity review under certain situations, for example, if the CRO believes a network product or service, data processing activity or stock exchange listing activity outside of China impacts or might impact Chinese national security. Furthermore, the CRO promulgated another draft of Data Cross-border Security Assessment Measure (Assessment Measure) on October 29, 2021. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the Assessment Measure is subject to further comments from the public and has not come into force yet. If the Assessment Measure is adopted eventually with the proposed requirements, data processors in China who (i) transfer important data outside of China, (ii) process personal information of 1 million individuals or (iii) provide more than 100,000 individuals personal information or more than 10,000 individuals sensitive information outside of China would be required to submit a cross-border security assessment at provincial CRO for review. As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, no final proposal has been presented and Polestar has not been able to apply for a cybersecurity review. If the Review Measure would become effective and if Polestar would be subject to such review and be found to be non-compliant with applicable data protection laws, Polestar may face
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administrative fines up to CNY 10 million. Additionally, significant restrictions may be imposed on Polestars operation in China, or relevant Chinese licenses may be completely or partially revoked. Also, other Chinese regulatory agencies might examine Polestar with regulatory scrutiny and enact sanctions. Finally, Polestar may suffer significant public opinion damage, and there is a risk that its reputation may be materially harmed. Any of these events could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars results of operation and financial position as well as on its possibilities to carry out business in China.
Polestar posts public privacy policies on its websites and provides privacy notices to the categories of persons whose personal information it collects, processes, uses or discloses. Although Polestar endeavors to comply with its published policies and other documentation, Polestar may at times fail to do so or may be perceived to have failed to do so. Moreover, despite its efforts, Polestar may not be successful in achieving compliance if its employees, contractors, service providers, vendors or other third parties fail to comply with its published policies and documentation. Such failures could carry similar consequences or subject Polestar to potential local, state and federal action if they are found to be deceptive, unfair or misrepresentative of Polestars actual practices. Claims that Polestar has violated individuals privacy rights or failed to comply with data protection laws or applicable privacy notices could, even if Polestar is not found liable, be expensive and time-consuming to defend and could result in adverse publicity that could harm its business.
Most jurisdictions have enacted laws requiring companies to notify individuals, regulatory authorities and other third parties of security breaches involving certain types of data. Such laws may be inconsistent or may change or additional laws may be adopted. In addition, Polestars agreements with certain customers may require it to notify them in the event of a security breach. Such mandatory disclosures are costly, could lead to negative publicity, penalties or fines, litigation and Polestars customers losing confidence in the effectiveness of its security measures, and could require it to expend significant capital and other resources to respond to or alleviate problems caused by the actual or perceived security breach. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Related to Polestars Employees and Human Resources
Polestars ability to effectively manage its growth relies on the performance of highly skilled personnel, including its Chief Executive Officer Thomas Ingenlath, its senior management team and other key employees, and Polestars ability to recruit and retain key employees. The loss of key personnel or an inability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel may impair Polestars ability to expand its business.
Polestars success is substantially dependent upon the continued service and performance of its senior management team and key personnel with digital, technical and automotive expertise. Although Polestar anticipates that its management and key personnel will remain in place following the Business Combination, it is possible that Polestar could lose some key personnel. For example, Polestar is highly dependent on the services of Thomas Ingenlath, its Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ingenlath has a significant influence on and is a driver of Polestars business plan and business, design and technology development. If Mr. Ingenlath were to discontinue his service to Polestar, Polestar would be significantly disadvantaged. The replacement of any members of Polestars senior management team or other key personnel likely would involve significant time and costs and may significantly delay or prevent the achievement of Polestars business objectives. Polestars future success also depends, in part, on its ability to continue to attract, integrate and retain highly skilled personnel. Competition for highly skilled personnel is frequently intense. As with any company, there can be no guarantee that Polestar will be able to attract such individuals or that the presence of such individuals will necessarily translate into Polestars profitability. Because Polestar operates in a newly emerging industry, there may also be limited personnel available with relevant business experience, and such individuals may be subject to non-competition and other agreements that restrict their ability to work for Polestar. Polestars inability to attract and retain key personnel may materially and adversely affect Polestars business operations. Any failure by Polestars management to effectively anticipate, implement and manage the changes required to sustain Polestars growth would have a material and adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Polestars manufacturing partners will need to hire and train a significant number of employees to engage in full-scale operational and commercial operations, and Polestars business could be adversely affected by labor and union activities.
Polestars manufacturing partners will need to hire and train a significant number of employees to engage in full-scale operational and commercial operations. There are various risks and challenges associated with hiring, training and managing a large workforce. If Polestars manufacturing partners are unsuccessful in hiring and training a workforce in a timely and cost-effective manner, Polestars business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Furthermore, it is common throughout the automobile industry generally for many employees at automobile companies to belong to a union, which can result in higher employee costs and increased risk of work stoppages. Moreover, regulations in some jurisdictions outside of the U.S. mandate employee participation in industrial collective bargaining agreements and work councils with certain consultation rights with respect to the relevant companies operations. Approximately 40% of Polestars workforce is covered by collective bargaining agreements in Austria, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden. Labor unions or labor organizations could also seek to organize some or all of Polestars non-unionized workforce. Future negotiations with the union or other certified bargaining representatives could divert management attention and disrupt operations, which may result in increased operating expenses and lower net income. Additionally, if Polestar is unable to reach labor agreements with any current or future unionized work groups, it may be subject to work interruptions or stoppages, which may adversely affect its ability to conduct its operations. Moreover, future agreements with unionized and non-unionized employees may be on terms that are not as attractive as Polestars current agreements or comparable to agreements entered into by Polestars competitors. Furthermore, Polestar may be directly or indirectly dependent upon companies, such as parts suppliers and trucking and freight companies, with unionized work forces, and work stoppages or strikes organized by such unions could have a material adverse impact on Polestars business, financial condition or results of operations. If a work stoppage occurs, it could delay the manufacture and sale of Polestars products and have a material and adverse effect on its business, prospects, results of operations or financial condition.
Misconduct by Polestars employees and independent contractors during and before their employment with Polestar could expose Polestar to potentially significant legal liabilities, reputational harm and/or other damages to its business.
Many of Polestars employees play critical roles in ensuring the safety and reliability of its vehicles and/or its compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Certain of Polestars employees have access to sensitive information and/or proprietary technologies and know-how. While Polestar has adopted codes of conduct for all of its employees and implemented policies relating to intellectual property, confidentiality and the protection of company assets, Polestar cannot assure you that its employees will always abide by these codes, policies and procedures, nor that the precautions Polestar takes to detect and prevent employee misconduct will always be effective. If any of Polestars employees engages in any misconduct, illegal or suspicious activities, including but not limited to misappropriation or leakage of sensitive customer information or proprietary information, Polestar and such employees could be subject to legal claims and liabilities and Polestars reputation and business could be adversely affected as a result.
In addition, while Polestar has screening procedures during the recruitment process, Polestar cannot assure you that it will be able to uncover misconduct of job applicants that occurred before Polestar offered them employment, or that Polestar will not be affected by legal proceedings against its existing or former employees as a result of their actual or alleged misconduct. Any negative publicity surrounding such cases, especially in the event that any of Polestars employees is found to have committed any wrongdoing, could negatively affect Polestars reputation and may have an adverse impact on its business.
Furthermore, Polestar faces the risk that its employees and independent contractors may engage in other types of misconduct or other illegal activity, such as intentional, reckless or negligent conduct that violates production standards, workplace health and safety regulations, fraud, abuse or consumer protection laws, other similar
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non-U.S. laws or laws that require the true, complete and accurate reporting of financial information or data. It is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by employees and other third parties, and the precautions Polestar takes to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting Polestar from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations. In addition, Polestar is subject to the risk that a person or government could allege such fraud or other misconduct, even if none occurred. If any such actions are instituted against Polestar and Polestar is not successful in defending itself or asserting its rights, those actions could have a significant impact on Polestars business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations, including, without limitation, the imposition of significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, monetary fines, disgorgement, integrity oversight and reporting obligations to resolve allegations of non-compliance, imprisonment, other sanctions, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings and curtailment of Polestars operations, any of which could adversely affect its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Litigation and Regulation
Polestar is subject to evolving laws and regulations that could impose substantial costs, legal prohibitions or unfavorable changes upon its operations or products, and any failure to comply with these laws and regulations, including as they evolve, could result in litigation and substantially harm its business and results of operations.
Polestar is or will be subject to complex environmental, manufacturing, health and safety laws and regulations at numerous jurisdictional levels, including laws relating to the use, handling, storage, recycling, disposal and human exposure to hazardous materials and with respect to constructing, expanding and maintaining its facilities. For example, Polestar is subject to laws, regulations and regulatory agencies like EU Regulation 2018/858 in the EU, the EPA and NHTSA in the United States and the Provisions on the Administration of Investments in the Automotive Industry in China. The costs of compliance, including remediating contamination if any is found on Polestars properties and any changes to Polestars operations mandated by new or amended laws, may be significant. Polestar may also face unexpected delays in obtaining permits and approvals required by such laws in connection with the manufacturing and sale of its vehicles, which would hinder its ability to conduct its operations. Such costs and delays may adversely impact its business prospects and results of operations. Furthermore, any violations of these laws may result in litigation, substantial fines and penalties, remediation costs, third party damages or a suspension or cessation of Polestars operations.
In addition, motor vehicles are subject to substantial regulation under international, federal, state and local laws. Polestar has incurred, and expects to continue to incur, significant costs in complying with these regulations. Any failures to comply could result in litigation, significant expenses, delays or fines. Generally, vehicles must meet or exceed mandated motor vehicle safety standards to be certified under applicable regulations. Rigorous testing and the use of approved materials and equipment are among the requirements for achieving certification. Any future vehicles will be subject to substantial regulation under federal, state and local laws and standards. These regulations include those promulgated by the EPA, NHTSA, other federal agencies, various state agencies and various state boards (including the California Air Resources Board), and compliance certification is required for each new model year and changes to the model within a model year. These laws and standards are subject to change from time to time, and Polestar could become subject to additional regulations in the future, which would increase the effort and expense of compliance. In addition, federal, state and local laws and industrial standards for electric vehicles are still developing, and Polestar faces risks associated with changes to these regulations, which could have an impact on the acceptance of its electric vehicles, and increased sensitivity by regulators to the needs of established automobile manufacturers with large employment bases, high fixed costs and business models based on the internal combustion engine, which could lead them to pass regulations that could reduce the compliance costs of such established manufacturers or mitigate the effects of government efforts to promote electric vehicles. Compliance with these regulations is challenging, burdensome, time consuming and expensive. If compliance results in litigation, delays or substantial expenses, Polestars business could be adversely affected.
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Polestar is also subject to laws and regulations applicable to the supply, manufacture, import, sale and service of automobiles internationally, including in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Regulations such as standards relating to vehicle safety, fuel economy and emissions, among other things, often vary materially from country to country and compliance with such regulations will therefore require additional time, effort and expense to ensure regulatory compliance in those countries. This process may include official review and certification of Polestars vehicles by foreign regulatory agencies prior to market entry, as well as compliance with foreign reporting and recall management systems requirements. The costs of achieving international regulatory compliance or the failure to achieve international regulatory compliance could harm Polestars business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Polestar may face regulatory limitations on its ability to sell vehicles directly, which requires Polestar to implement alternative consumer approaches through dealers or importers.
Polestars business model includes the direct sale of vehicles to retail consumers. The laws governing licensing of dealers and sales of motor vehicles vary from country to country and, within a country, from state to state, and the application of these local laws to Polestars operations can be difficult to predict. Certain jurisdictions require a dealer license to sell new motor vehicles within the country or state. Where required, Polestar anticipates that it can become a licensed dealer in certain countries.
In countries where Polestar is required to resort to dealers, other challenges may arise. In the United States, for example, some automobile dealers have brought a claim before the Illinois Motor Vehicle Review Board claiming that they have a right to sell Polestar vehicles because of their franchise with Volvo Cars and in accordance with the Illinois Motor Vehicle Franchise Act. Further, even in jurisdictions where Polestar believes applicable laws and regulations do not currently prohibit its direct sales model, legislatures may impose additional requirements. Because the laws vary from country to country, and within a country, from state to state, Polestars distribution model and its sales and service processes is continually monitored and adapted for compliance with the various jurisdictional requirements and may change from time to time. Regulatory compliance and likely challenges to the distribution model may add to the cost of Polestars business.
Polestar has undertaken, and in the future may choose to or be compelled to undertake, product recalls or to take other actions that could result in litigation and adversely affect its business, prospects, results of operations, reputation and financial condition.
As of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, Polestar has issued 5 recalls of its vehicles. These recalls were due to (i) the mal-production of seatbelts which could result in the early activation of the locking feature used to tightly secure a child restraint system, (ii) the too high adjustment of headlamps which could result in excessive glare for oncoming traffic, (iii) a software error causing an internal reset in the Battery Energy Control Module, resulting in the control unit opening the high voltage connectors during driving (which caused two recalls) and (iv) a supplier design issue known as tin whiskers, which caused a short circuit inside the front and rear inverters. Product recalls in the future may result in litigation and adverse publicity and may damage Polestars reputation and adversely affect its business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. In the future, Polestar may, voluntarily or involuntarily, initiate a recall if any of its electric vehicles or components (including its battery cells) prove to be defective or noncompliant with applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. If a large number of vehicles are the subject of a recall or if needed replacement parts are not in adequate supply, Polestar may be unable to service and repair recalled vehicles for a significant period of time. These types of disruptions could jeopardize Polestars ability to fulfill existing contractual commitments or satisfy demand for its electric vehicles and could also result in the loss of business to its competitors. Such recalls, whether caused by systems or components engineered or manufactured by Polestar or its suppliers, would involve significant expense and diversion of managements attention and other resources, which could adversely affect Polestars brand image in its target market and its business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
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Polestar may in the future be subject to legal proceedings, regulatory disputes and governmental inquiries that could cause it to incur significant expenses, divert its managements attention and materially harm its business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
From time to time, Polestar may be subject to claims, lawsuits, government investigations and other proceedings involving product liability, consumer protection, competition and antitrust, intellectual property, privacy, securities, tax, labor and employment, health and safety, its direct distribution model, environmental claims, commercial disputes, corporate and other matters that could adversely affect its business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. In the ordinary course of business, Polestar has been the subject of complaints or litigation, including claims related to consumer complaints and intellectual property matters. Furthermore, for example, Polestar Singapore failed to hold an annual general meeting for approving the audited report and the annual return for lodgment in Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) in Singapore and will be subject to enforcement actions by ACRA.
Litigation and regulatory proceedings may be protracted and expensive, and the results are difficult to predict. Additionally, Polestars litigation costs could be significant, even if it achieves favorable outcomes. Adverse outcomes with respect to litigation or any of these legal proceedings may result in significant settlement costs or judgments, penalties and fines, or require Polestar to modify, make temporarily unavailable or stop manufacturing or selling its vehicles in some or all markets, all of which could negatively affect its sales and revenue growth and adversely affect its business, prospects, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
The results of litigation, investigations, claims and regulatory proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, and determining reserves for pending litigation and other legal and regulatory matters requires significant judgment. There can be no assurances that Polestars expectations will prove correct, and even if these matters are resolved in Polestars favor or without significant cash settlements, these matters, and the time and resources necessary to litigate or resolve them, could harm Polestars business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. In addition, the threat or announcement of litigation or investigations by governmental authorities or other parties, irrespective of the merits of the underlying claims, may itself have an adverse impact on the trading price of ListCos securities.
Polestar may become subject to product liability claims, which could harm its financial condition and liquidity if it is not able to successfully defend or insure against such claims.
Polestar may become subject to product liability claims, which could harm its business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. The automotive industry experiences significant product liability claims, and Polestar faces inherent risks of exposure to claims in the event its vehicles do not perform or are claimed not to perform as expected or malfunction, resulting in property damage, personal injury or death. Polestar also expects that, as is true for other automakers, Polestars vehicles will be involved in crashes resulting in death or personal injury, and even if not caused by the failure of its vehicles, Polestar may face product liability claims and adverse publicity in connection with such incidents. In addition, Polestar may face claims arising from or related to failures, claimed failures or misuse of new technologies that Polestar expects to offer, including ADAS/AD features and future upgrades in its vehicles. In addition, the battery packs that Polestar utilizes make use of lithium-ion cells. On rare occasions, lithium-ion cells can rapidly release the energy they contain by venting smoke and flames in a manner that can ignite nearby materials as well as other lithium-ion cells (see Risks Related to Polestars Business and IndustryPolestars vehicles will make use of lithium-ion battery cells, which have been observed to catch fire or vent smoke and flame.). Any such events or failures of Polestars vehicles, battery packs or warning systems could subject it to lawsuits, product recalls or redesign efforts, all of which would be time consuming and expensive.
A successful product liability claim against Polestar could require it to pay a substantial monetary award. Moreover, a product liability claim against Polestar or its competitors could generate substantial negative publicity about its vehicles and business and inhibit or prevent commercialization of its future vehicles, which
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would have material and adverse effects on its brand, business, prospects and results of operations. Polestars insurance coverage might not be sufficient to cover all potential product liability claims, and insurance coverage may not continue to be available to Polestar or, if available, may be at a significantly higher cost. Any lawsuit seeking significant monetary damages or other product liability claims may have a material and adverse effect on Polestars reputation, business and financial condition.
Polestars manufacturing partners may be exposed to delays, limitations and risks related to the environmental permits and other operating permits required to operate manufacturing facilities for its vehicles.
Operation of an automobile manufacturing facility requires land use and environmental permits and other operating permits from federal, state and local government entities. Polestar plans to expand its manufacturing capacities by entering into into additional agreements with its manufacturing partners over time to achieve a future target production capacity and will be required to apply for and secure various environmental, wastewater and land use permits and certificates of occupancy necessary for the commercial operation of such expanded and additional facilities and will also rely on its partners ability to apply for and secure various environmental, wastewater and land use permits and certificates of occupancy necessary for the commercial operation of such expanded and additional facilities. Delays, denials or restrictions on any of the applications for or assignment of the permits to operate Polestars manufacturing facilities could adversely affect its ability to execute on its business plans and objectives based on its current target production capacity or its future target production capacity.
Polestar is subject to various environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that could impose substantial costs on it and cause delays in expanding its production capabilities.
Polestars manufacturing partners operations are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations in different jurisdictions and will be subject to international environmental laws, including laws relating to the use, handling, storage, disposal of and human exposure to hazardous materials. Environmental, health and safety laws and regulations are complex, and Polestar has limited experience complying with them. Moreover, Polestar may be affected by future amendments to such laws or other new environmental, health and safety laws and regulations which may require it to change its operations, potentially resulting in a material and adverse effect on its business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. These laws can give rise to liability for administrative oversight costs, cleanup costs, property damage, bodily injury, fines and penalties. Capital and operating expenses needed to comply with environmental laws and regulations can be significant, and violations could result in litigation and substantial fines and penalties, third-party damages, suspension of production or a cessation of operations.
Polestar is planning to introduce ADAS/AD technology, which is subject to uncertain and evolving regulations.
Polestar currently has and expects to introduce new ADAS/AD technologies into its vehicles over time. ADAS/AD technology is subject to considerable regulatory uncertainty as the law in different jurisdictions evolves to catch up with the rapidly evolving nature of the technology itself, all of which is beyond Polestars control. There is a variety of international, federal and state regulations that may apply to self-driving and driver-assisted vehicles, which include many existing vehicle standards that were not originally intended to apply to vehicles that may not have a driver. There are currently no federal U.S. regulations pertaining to the safety of self-driving vehicles; however, NHTSA has established recommended guidelines. Certain states have legal restrictions on self-driving vehicles, and many other states are considering them. In Europe, certain vehicle safety regulations apply to self-driving braking and steering systems, and certain treaties also restrict the legality of certain higher levels of self-driving vehicles. Self-driving laws and regulations are expected to continue to evolve in numerous jurisdictions in the U.S. and foreign countries, which increases the likelihood of a patchwork of complex or conflicting regulations that may delay products or restrict self-driving features and availability, which could
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adversely affect Polestars business. Polestars vehicles may not achieve the requisite level of autonomy that may be required in some countries or jurisdictions for certification and rollout to consumers or may not satisfy changing regulatory requirements which could require Polestar to redesign, modify or update its ADAS/AD hardware and related software systems. Any such requirements or limitations could impose significant expense or delays and could harm its competitive position, which could adversely affect Polestars business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Polestar may be subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions and similar laws, and noncompliance with such laws can subject Polestar to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, collateral consequences, remedial measures and legal expenses, all of which could adversely affect its business, results of operations, financial condition and reputation.
Polestar may be subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions, and similar laws and regulations in various jurisdictions in which it conducts activities, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the United Kingdom Bribery Act 2010 (Bribery Act) and other applicable anti-corruption laws and regulations. These applicable anti-corruption laws and regulations prohibit Polestar and its officers, directors, employees and relevant other persons acting on its behalf, from corruptly offering, promising, authorizing or providing anything of value to a foreign official for the purposes of influencing official decisions or obtaining or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. The FCPA also requires companies to make and keep books, records and accounts that accurately reflect transactions and dispositions of assets and to maintain a system of adequate internal accounting controls. Similarly, the Bribery Act also requires companies to implement adequate procedures designed to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Bribery Act. A violation of these laws or regulations could adversely affect Polestars business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations.
Polestar has direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies and state-owned affiliated entities in the ordinary course of business. It also has business collaborations with government agencies and state-owned affiliated entities. These interactions subject Polestar to an increasing level of compliance-related concerns. Polestar has implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by Polestar and its directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants, agents and business partners with applicable anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, financial and economic sanctions and similar laws and regulations, including the FCPA and the Bribery Act. However, its policies and procedures may not be sufficient and its directors, officers, employees and relevant other persons acting on its behalf could engage in improper conduct for which Polestar may be held responsible.
Non-compliance with anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering or financial and economic sanctions laws could subject Polestar to whistleblower complaints, adverse media coverage, investigations and severe administrative, civil and criminal sanctions, collateral consequences, remedial measures and legal expenses, all of which could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations.
The unavailability, reduction, elimination or the conditionality of certain government and economic programs could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Polestar has benefited from government subsidies, economic incentives and government policies that support the growth of electric vehicles. These government and economic programs are subject to certain limits as well as changes that are beyond Polestars control, and Polestar cannot assure you that future changes, if any, would be favorable to its business and could result in margin pressures. For example, if government regulations and economic programs have the effect of imposing electric vehicle production quotas on automobile manufacturers, the market for electric vehicles may become oversaturated. Further, any uncertainty or delay in collection of the government subsidies may also have an adverse impact on Polestars financial condition. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect Polestars business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Further, Polestar may not be able to obtain or agree on acceptable terms and conditions for all or a significant portion of the government grants, loans and other incentives for which it may apply. As a result, Polestars business and prospects may be adversely affected.
Although the audit report included in this prospectus is prepared by auditors who are currently inspected fully by the United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the PCAOB), there is no guarantee that future audit reports will be prepared by auditors that are completely inspected by the PCAOB and, as such, future investors may be deprived of such inspections, which could result in limitations or restrictions to the Post-Combination Companys access of the U.S. capital markets. Furthermore, trading in the Post-Combination Companys securities may be prohibited under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act or the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the SEC subsequently determines that the Post-Combination Companys audit work is performed by auditors that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely, and as a result, U.S. national securities exchanges, such as the Nasdaq, may determine to delist the Post-Combination Companys securities. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which, if enacted, would amend the HFCA Act and require the SEC to prohibit an issuers securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three.
As an auditor of companies that are registered with the SEC and publicly traded in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, Deloitte is required under the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess their compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. Although Polestar relies on its and its partners operations within China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese government authorities, Deloitte is currently inspected fully by the PCAOB.
Inspections of other auditors conducted by the PCAOB outside China have at times identified deficiencies in those auditors audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. The lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work undertaken in China prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating auditors audits and their quality control procedures. As a result, to the extent that any component of Deloittes work papers are or become located in China, such work papers will not be subject to inspection by the PCAOB. As a result, investors would be deprived of such PCAOB inspections, which could result in limitations or restrictions to the Post-Combination Companys access of the U.S. capital markets.
As part of a continued regulatory focus in the United States on access to audit and other information currently protected by national law, in particular Chinas, in June 2019, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced bills in both houses of the U.S. Congress which, if passed, would require the SEC to maintain a list of issuers for which PCAOB is not able to inspect or investigate the audit work performed by a foreign public accounting firm completely. The proposed Ensuring Quality Information and Transparency for Abroad-Based Listings on our Exchanges (EQUITABLE) Act prescribes increased disclosure requirements for these issuers and, beginning in 2025, the delisting from U.S. national securities exchanges such as the Nasdaq of issuers included on the SECs list for three consecutive years. It is unclear if this proposed legislation will be enacted. Furthermore, on May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the HFCA Act), which includes requirements for the SEC to identify issuers whose audit work is performed by auditors that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a restriction imposed by a non-U.S. authority in the auditors local jurisdiction. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the HFCA Act on December 2, 2020, and the HFCA Act was signed into law on December 18, 2020. On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCA Act. The Post-Combination Company will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies it as having a non-inspection year (as defined in the interim final rules) under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC. The SEC is assessing how to implement other requirements of the HFCA Act, including listing and trading prohibition requirements. Under the HFCA Act, the Post-Combination Companys securities may be prohibited from trading on the Nasdaq or other U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not inspected by the PCAOB for three
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consecutive years, and this ultimately could result in the Post-Combination Companys securities being delisted. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which, if enacted, would amend the HFCA Act and require the SEC to prohibit an issuers securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three. On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCA Act, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCA Act, whether the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.
There can be no assurance that the Post-Combination Company will be able to comply with requirements imposed by U.S. regulators. The market price of the Post-Combination Companys securities could be adversely affected as a result of anticipated negative impacts of these executive or legislative actions upon, as well as negative investor sentiment towards, companies reliant upon operations in China that are listed in the United States, regardless of whether these executive or legislative actions are implemented and regardless of the Post-Combination Companys actual operating performance.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
Polestar may fail to adequately obtain, maintain, enforce and protect its intellectual property and licensing rights, and may not be able to prevent third parties from unauthorized use of its intellectual property and proprietary technology. If Polestar is unsuccessful in any of the foregoing, its competitive position could be harmed and it could be required to incur significant expenses to enforce its rights.
Polestars ability to compete effectively is dependent in part upon its ability to obtain, maintain, enforce and protect its intellectual property, proprietary technology and licensing rights, but it may not be able to prevent third parties from the unauthorized use of its intellectual property and proprietary technology, which could harm its business and competitive position. Polestar establishes and protects its intellectual property and proprietary technology through a combination of licensing agreements, nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements and other contractual provisions, as well as through patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws in the United States and other jurisdictions. Despite Polestars efforts to obtain and protect intellectual property rights, there can be no assurance that these protections will be available in all cases or will be adequate or timely to prevent Polestars competitors or other third parties from copying, reverse engineering or otherwise obtaining and using Polestars technology or products or seeking court declarations that they do not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate Polestars intellectual property. Failure to adequately obtain, maintain, enforce and protect Polestars intellectual property could result in its competitors offering identical or similar products, potentially resulting in the loss of Polestars competitive advantage and a decrease in its revenue, which would adversely affect its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
The measures Polestar takes to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce its intellectual property, including preventing unauthorized use by third parties, may not be effective for various reasons, including the following:
| any patent application Polestar files may not result in the issuance of a patent; |
| Polestar may not be the first inventor of the subject matter to which it has filed a particular patent application, and/or it may not be the first party to file such a patent application; |
| the scope of Polestars issued patents may not be sufficient to protect its inventions and proprietary technology; |
| Polestars issued patents may be challenged by its competitors or other third parties and invalidated by courts or other tribunals; |
| patents have a finite term, and competitors and other third parties may offer identical or similar products after the expiration of Polestars patents that cover such products; |
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| Polestars employees, contractors or business partners may breach their confidentiality, non-disclosure and non-use obligations; |
| competitors and other third parties may independently develop technologies that are the same or similar to Polestars; |
| the costs associated with enforcing patents or other intellectual property rights, or confidentiality and invention assignment agreements may make enforcement impracticable; and |
| competitors and other third parties may circumvent or otherwise design around Polestars patents or other intellectual property. |
Patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws vary significantly throughout the world. The laws of some countries, including countries in which Polestars products are or will be sold, may not be as protective of intellectual property rights as those in the United States or Sweden, and mechanisms for obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights may be ineffectual or inadequate. Therefore, Polestars intellectual property may not be as strong or as predictably obtained or enforced outside of the United States or Sweden. Further, policing the unauthorized use of Polestars intellectual property in some jurisdictions may be difficult or too expensive to be practical. In addition, third parties may seek to challenge, invalidate or circumvent Polestars patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets or other intellectual property, or applications for any of the foregoing, which could permit Polestars competitors or other third parties to develop and commercialize products and technologies that are the same or similar to Polestars.
While Polestar has registered and applied for registration of trademarks in an effort to protect its brand and goodwill with customers, competitors or other third parties have in the past and may in the future oppose its trademark applications or otherwise challenge Polestars use of the trademarks and other brand names in which it has invested. Such oppositions and challenges can be expensive and may adversely affect Polestars ability to maintain the goodwill gained in connection with a particular trademark. In addition, Polestar may lose its trademark rights if it is unable to submit specimens or other evidence of use by the applicable deadline to perfect such trademark rights.
It is Polestars policy to enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with its employees and contractors that have developed material intellectual property for Polestar, but these agreements may not be self-executing and may not otherwise adequately protect Polestars intellectual property, particularly with respect to conflicts of ownership relating to work product generated by the employees and contractors. Furthermore, Polestar cannot be certain that these agreements will not be breached and that third parties will not improperly gain access to its trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary technology. Third parties may also independently develop the same or substantially similar proprietary technology. Monitoring unauthorized use of Polestars intellectual property is difficult and costly, as are the steps Polestar has taken or will take to prevent misappropriation.
Polestar has acquired or licensed, and plans to further acquire licenses, patents and other intellectual property from third parties, including suppliers and service providers, and it may face claims that its use of this acquired or in-licensed technology infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates the intellectual property rights of third parties. In such cases, Polestar will seek indemnification from its licensors or other applicable entities. However, Polestars rights to indemnification may be unavailable or insufficient to cover its costs and losses. Furthermore, disputes may arise with Polestars licensors or other applicable entities regarding the intellectual property subject to, and any of Polestars rights and obligations under, any license or other commercial agreement.
To prevent the unauthorized use of Polestars intellectual property, it may be necessary to prosecute actions for infringement, misappropriation or other violation of Polestars intellectual property against third parties. Any such action could result in significant costs and diversion of Polestars resources and managements attention, and there can be no assurances that Polestar will be successful in any such action, and may result in a loss of intellectual property rights. Furthermore, many of Polestars current and potential competitors have the ability to dedicate
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substantially greater resources to enforce their intellectual property rights than Polestar currently does. Accordingly, despite its efforts, Polestar may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating its intellectual property. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect Polestars business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Polestar uses other parties software and other intellectual property in its proprietary software, including open source software. Any inability to continuously use such software or other intellectual property in the future could have a material adverse impact Polestars business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Polestar uses open source software in its products and anticipates using open source software in the future. Some open source software licenses require those who distribute open source software as part of their own software product to publicly disclose all or part of the source code to such software product or to make available any derivative works of the open source code on unfavorable terms or at no cost, and Polestar may be subject to such terms. The terms of many open source licenses to which Polestar is subject have not been interpreted by U.S. or other courts, and there is a risk that open source software licenses could be construed in a manner that imposes unanticipated conditions or restrictions on Polestars ability to provide or distribute its products or services. Any actual or claimed requirement to disclose Polestars proprietary source code or pay damages for breach of contract could harm Polestars business and could help third parties, including Polestars competitors, develop products and services that are similar to or better than Polestars. While Polestar monitors its use of open source software and tries to ensure that none is used in a manner that would require it to disclose its proprietary source code or that would otherwise breach the terms of an open source agreement, such use could inadvertently occur, or could be claimed to have occurred. Additionally, Polestar could face claims from third parties claiming ownership of, or demanding release of, the open source software or derivative works that it developed using such software, which could include its proprietary source code, or otherwise seeking to enforce the terms of the applicable open source license. These claims could result in litigation and could require Polestar to make its software source code freely available, purchase a costly license or cease offering the implicated products or services unless and until it can re-engineer them to avoid infringement, which may be a costly and time-consuming process, and Polestar may not be able to complete the re-engineering process successfully.
Additionally, the use of certain open source software can lead to greater risks than use of other parties commercial software, as open source licensors generally do not provide warranties or controls on the origin of software. There is typically no support available for open source software, and Polestar cannot ensure that the authors of such open source software will implement or push updates to address security risks or will not abandon further development and maintenance. Many of the risks associated with the use of open source software, such as the lack of warranties or assurances of title or performance, cannot be eliminated, and could, if not properly addressed, negatively affect Polestars business. Any of these risks could be difficult to eliminate or manage and, if not addressed, could have a material and adverse effect on Polestars business, financial condition and results of operations.
Polestar may become subject to claims of intellectual property infringement by third parties which, regardless of merit, could be time-consuming and costly and result in significant legal liability, and could negatively impact Polestars business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Polestars competitors or other third parties may hold or obtain patents, copyrights, trademarks or other proprietary rights that could prevent, limit or interfere with Polestars ability to make, use, develop, sell or market Polestars products and services, which could make it more difficult for Polestar to operate. From time to time, the holders of such intellectual property rights may assert their rights and urge Polestar to take licenses and/or may bring suits alleging infringement or misappropriation of such rights, which could result in substantial costs, negative publicity and management attention, regardless of merit. While Polestar endeavors to obtain and protect the intellectual property rights that it expects will allow it to retain or advance its strategic initiatives, there can be no assurance that it will be able to adequately identify and protect the portions of intellectual
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property that are strategic to its business, or mitigate the risk of potential suits or other legal demands by its competitors. Accordingly, Polestar may consider entering into licensing agreements with respect to such rights, although no assurance can be given that such licenses can be obtained on acceptable terms or that litigation will not occur, and such licenses and associated litigation could significantly increase Polestars operating expenses. In addition, if Polestar is determined to have or believes there is a high likelihood that it has infringed upon a third partys intellectual property rights, it may be required to cease making, selling or incorporating certain components or intellectual property into its goods and services, to pay substantial damages and/or license royalties, to redesign its products and services and/or to establish and maintain alternative branding for its products and services. In the event that Polestar is required to take one or more such actions, its brand, business, financial condition and operating results may be harmed.
Risks Related to Tax
Unanticipated tax laws or any change in the application of existing tax laws to Polestar or Polestars customers may adversely impact its profitability and business.
Polestar operates and is subject to income and other taxes in Sweden, China, the United States and a growing number of other jurisdictions throughout the world. Existing domestic and foreign tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be interpreted, changed, modified or applied adversely to Polestar (possibly with retroactive effect), which could require Polestar to change its transfer pricing policies and pay additional tax amounts, fines or penalties, surcharges and interest charges for past amounts due, the amounts and timing of which are difficult to discern. Existing tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could also be interpreted, changed, modified or applied adversely to Polestars customers (possibly with retroactive effect) and, if Polestars customers are required to pay additional surcharges, it could adversely affect demand for Polestars vehicles. Furthermore, changes to tax laws on income, sales, use, import/export, indirect or other tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances on multinational corporations continue to be considered by countries in the European Union, the United States and other countries where Polestar currently operates or plans to operate. These contemplated tax initiatives, if finalized and adopted by countries, and the other tax issues described above may materially and adversely impact Polestars operating activities, effective tax rate, deferred tax assets, operating income and cash flows.
Transfers of ADSs or ADWs or the underlying Post-Combination Company securities may be subject to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax in the U.K., which would increase the cost of dealing in the Post-Combination Company securities.
Stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (SDRT) is imposed in the U.K. on certain transfers of chargeable
securities (which include securities in companies incorporated in the U.K.) at a rate of 0.5% of the consideration
paid for the transfer. Certain issues or transfers of securities to depositories or into clearance systems may be charged at a higher rate of 1.5%, unless an election has been made and maintained by the depository or clearance system under section 97A of the UK Finance Act 1986. We are not aware of any such election having been made.
Any stamp duty or SDRT payable on a transfer of the underlying Post-Combination Company securities to a depository or a clearance system will in practice generally be paid by the transferors or participants in the depository or a clearance system.
Transfers of ADSs and ADWs representing underlying Post-Combination Company securities that have been
deposited with the depository, which will take place in book entry form through the Depository Trust Company
(DTC), currently do not attract a charge to stamp duty or SDRT in the U.K., provided no written instrument of transfer is used to effect the transfer. If, following a change in law, transfers of Post-Combination Company AD securities effected through DTC attracted a charge to SDRT or stamp duty, then this would increase the cost of dealing in the Post-Combination Company AD securities.
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A transfer of title in the underlying Post-Combination Company securities from the depository to another person and any subsequent transfers of title in the Post-Combination Company securities will generally attract a charge to stamp duty or SDRT at a rate of 0.5% of any consideration, which is generally payable by the transferee of the underlying Post-Combination Company securities. To the extent such transfer is effected by a written instrument of transfer, then any such duty must be paid (and the relevant instrument of transfer stamped by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)) before the transfer can be registered in the register of members of the Post-Combination Company. However, if those underlying Post-Combination Company securities are redeposited with the depository, the redeposit is expected to attract stamp duty or SDRT at the rate of 1.5% of the value of the Post-Combination Company securities, which will, in practice, be required to be paid by the transferor.
ListCo may be classified as a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders of ADSs or ADWs.
A foreign corporation will be treated as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes if either (1) 75% or more of the gross income for a taxable year constitutes passive income for purposes of the PFIC rules, or (2) 50% or more of such foreign corporations assets in any taxable year is attributable to assets, including cash, that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties and certain rents. U.S. shareholders of a PFIC are subject to a disadvantageous U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by the PFIC, the distributions they receive from the PFIC, and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their interests in the PFIC.
Based on the projected composition of ListCos income and assets, ListCo does not expect to be classified as a PFIC for the taxable year that includes the date of the Merger or, to the best of its current estimates, for subsequent taxable years. However, the application of the PFIC rules is subject to u