Exhibit 99.1
IN
THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
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IN
RE BLADE AIR MOBILITY, INC. |
C.A. No. 2023-____-_____ |
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VERIFIED
PETITION FOR RELIEF PURSUANT TO 8 DEL. C. § 205
Petitioner
Blade Air Mobility, Inc. (“Blade” or the “Company”), by and through its undersigned counsel, brings this petition
pursuant to 8 Del. C. § 205 (the “Petition”), seeking to have this Court validate potentially defective corporate
acts described below as follows:
NATURE
OF THE ACTION
1. This
Petition asks the Court to validate its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Exhibit A, the “New Certificate
of Incorporation”) adopted in connection with its business combination with BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc., which, among other
things, increased the aggregate number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company (the “Class A Increase Amendment”).
While the proposal to adopt the New Certificate of Incorporation received votes from a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Common
Stock, it did not receive votes from a majority of Class A Common Stock. This Court’s decision in Garfield v. Boxed, Inc.,
2022 WL 17959766 (Del. Ch. Dec. 27, 2022) creates uncertainty as to the validity of the New Certificate of Incorporation, and
thus the Class A Increase Amendment, threatening the Company with irreparable harm as described more fully herein.
2. Increasing
the number of authorized shares of a corporation requires an amendment to the certificate of incorporation under Section
242 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). Section 242(b)(2) provides that separate classes—but not
separate series—are entitled to vote separately as a class on certificate of incorporation amendments increasing the authorized
share count. Section 242(b)(2) provides in relevant part:
The
holders of the outstanding shares of a class shall be entitled to vote as a class upon a proposed amendment, whether or not entitled
to vote thereon by the certificate of incorporation, if the amendment would increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares
of such class . . . . The number of authorized shares of any such class or classes of stock may be increased or decreased . . . by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the corporation entitled to vote irrespective of this subsection, if so
provided in the . . . certificate of incorporation . . . .
8
Del. C. § 242(b)(2).
3. Section
242(b)(2) thus provides that an amendment to change the number of authorized shares of a class of stock requires a separate vote
of such class unless the certificate of incorporation contains a so-called “Section 242(b)(2) opt- out” provision specifically
denying the class that entitlement. Many special purpose acquisition companies’ (“SPAC”) certificates of incorporation,
including the Company’s September 12, 2019 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Exhibit B, the “Old Certificate
of Incorporation”), did not contain a Section 242(b)(2) opt-out provision. Despite not having a “Section 242(b)(2) opt-out”
provision, the Company has held the good-faith belief that the Class A Increase Amendment was legally and validly adopted under the terms
of the Old Certificate of Incorporation because under the language of the Old Certificate of Incorporation, the Class A Common Stock
was not a separate class of Common Stock, but instead, a series of the class of Common Stock.
4.
However, this Court’s decision in Boxed cast doubt on this good faith belief. There, in a decision on a mootness fee application
in the context of a SPAC that had amended its merger agreement and public disclosures to seek a separate vote of the Class A Common Stock
after receiving a demand letter, the Court indicated that it agreed with the plaintiff’s interpretation that the Class A Common
Stock was a class rather than a series and was therefore entitled to a separate class vote under Section 242.
5.
As a result of the Boxed decision, the capital structures of many SPACs, including the Company, which did not seek separate votes
of the Class A Common Stock in connection with their de-SPAC transactions have been thrown into doubt, inhibiting their ability to perform
basic, fundamental corporate functions, such as issuing stock or undertaking any of the numerous transactions customarily requiring the
Company to make representations regarding its capital structure. Moreover, the New Certificate of Incorporation itself is potentially
invalid on the basis of the improperly effected Class A Increase Amendment, jeopardizing other material amendments the Company made to
the Old Certificate of Incorporation.
6.
Relief is needed to re-establish the validity of the New Certificate of Incorporation so that the Company may issue stock in reliance
on the Class A Increase Amendment and ensure stockholders receive securities under the terms set forth in the New Certificate of Incorporation.
As such, this Petition seeks entry of an order under 8 Del. C. § 205 validating the New Certificate of Incorporation and
the Class A Increase Amendment.
FACTUAL
ALLEGATIONS
| A. | The
Company is Incorporated and Goes Public |
7.
The Company is a Delaware corporation originally incorporated on May 24, 2019, as a SPAC under the name Experience Investment Corp. (“EIC”).
8.
The Company consummated its IPO on September 17, 2019. In connection with its IPO, the Company amended and restated its certificate of
incorporation to read in its entirety as set forth in the Old Certificate of Incorporation. The Old Certificate of Incorporation set
forth the Company’s capitalization structure as follows:
The
total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized
to issue is 111,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 110,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”),
including (i) 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Class A Common Stock”), and (ii) 10,000,000
shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the
“Preferred Stock”).
Ex.
B at Art. IV, § 4.1 (emphasis in original).
| B. | The
Company Acquires Blade |
9.
On December 14, 2020, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which
BLADE Urban Air Mobility Inc. would become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). Following the Merger,
the Company, now named Blade Air Mobility Inc., is in the business of providing urban air mobility as a cost-effective and time-efficient
alternative to ground transportation for passengers and last-mile critical cargo.
10.
On April 6, 2021, the Company filed a proxy statement (Exhibit C, the “2021 Proxy”), identifying seven proposals to be voted
on at a special meeting of stockholders scheduled for May 5, 2021 (the “Special Meeting”). Among them was a proposal to amend
and restate the Old Certificate of Incorporation to read in its entirety as set forth in the New Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate
of Incorporation Proposal”). The New Certificate of Incorporation would affect several changes to the Old Certificate of Incorporation,
including, among others:
| · | an
increase in the number of the Company’s authorized shares, including the Class A Increase
Amendment, which increased the number of authorized Class A Common Stock from 100,000,000
shares to 400,000,000 shares; |
| · | providing
that certain transactions are not “corporate opportunities” and that certain
“Identified Persons,” including non-employee directors and their affiliates as
defined in the New Certificate of Incorporation, are not subject to the doctrine of corporate
opportunity and do not have any fiduciary duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly
in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company or any of
its subsidiaries; and |
| · | amending
Article X to opt out of Section 203 of the DGCL, which places certain restrictions on a corporation’s
ability to engage in business combinations with interested stockholders, and to instead include
a provision in the New Certificate of Incorporation substantially similar to, but different
from, Section 203. |
Ex.
C at 132.
11. The
Company set forth in detail the rationale for each proposed amendment. The purpose of the increase in the number of authorized
shares was to:
provide[]
for the issuance of 48,125,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock necessary to consummate the [Merger and related agreements] including,
without limitation, the PIPE Investment, and also provide[] shares of EIC Class A common stock to reserve for issuance upon exercise
of the EIC Options and necessary to allow future equity awards to be made under the Incentive Plan after the closing of the [Merger and
related agreements], as well as flexibility for future issuances of common stock determined by the Board to be in the best interests
of EIC without incurring the risk, delay and potential expense incident to obtaining stockholder approval for a particular issuance.
Id.
at 132. The rationale behind providing that certain transactions are not “corporate opportunities” was “because
each Identified Person should not be restricted from investing in or operating similar businesses and such parties would be unwilling
or unable to enter into the [Merger and related agreements] without such assurances due to their activities as investors in a wide range
of companies.” Id. at 132-33. Finally, the amended Article X, opting out of Section 203, would “help to prevent a
third party from acquiring ‘creeping control’ of EIC without paying a fair premium to all stockholders” and thus serve
“the best interests of EIC and its stockholders.”
Id.
at 133.
12.
The 2021 Proxy stated that the Certificate of Incorporation Proposal would “require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of EIC common stock.” Ex. C at 133.
| C. | The
de-SPAC is Approved and Consummated |
| 13. | The
Special Meeting to approve the de-SPAC and New Certificate of Incorporation
was held on May 5, 2021. |
14. As
of the record date of the Special Meeting, there were 34,375,000 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding and entitled
to vote consisting of 27,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 6,875,000 shares of Class B Common Stock. As disclosed in the Company’s
May 6, 2021 Form 8-K (Exhibit D, the “Voting Results Form 8-K”), the Certificate of Incorporation Proposal received the affirmative
vote of 19,418,816 shares, a majority of the 34,375,000 shares outstanding and entitled to vote. As such, the Company believed the Certificate
of Incorporation Proposal had received the requisite stockholder vote and disclosed in the Voting Results Form 8-K that the Certificate
of Incorporation Proposal had been approved.
15. The
Certificate of Incorporation Proposal was not approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. Of the 27,500,000
shares of Class A Common Stock then outstanding and entitled to vote, only 12,543,816 voted in favor.
16.
As disclosed in the Company’s May 13, 2021 Form 8-K (Exhibit E, the “Merger Closing Form 8-K”), the Company proceeded
to file the New Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State and to consummate its acquisition of Blade on May 7,
2021. At the effective time of the acquisition, each of the then issued and outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock
of EIC automatically converted on a one-for-one basis into a share of Class A Common Stock of the combined company – i.e.,
Blade. As a result, immediately following the Merger, the Company’s outstanding capital stock consisted of 78,903,021 shares of
outstanding Class A Common Stock and warrants to purchase approximately 14,166,667 shares of Common Stock. As of February 7, 2023, 71,975,045
shares of Common Stock were issued and outstanding and 21,606,594 shares of Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon exercise of
warrants, options and other securities. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding or reserved for issuance
immediately following the Merger was and at all times through the date hereof has remained less than the 100,000,000 authorized shares
of Class A Common Stock originally provided for under the Old Certificate of Incorporation. The Class A Common Stock now trades
on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “BLDE.”
17.
The Boxed decision calls into question the validity of the New Certificate
of Incorporation and the Class A Increase Amendment. The defendant corporation in Boxed had sought stockholder approval to amend
its certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A common stock in connection with a de-SPAC transaction.
2022 WL 17959766, at *1. Before the stockholder vote, the plaintiff wrote a letter to the company’s board asserting that the voting
standard provided for that amendment violated the Class A common stockholders’ voting rights under Section 242(b). Id. The
company amended its merger agreement and supplemented its proxy statement to require the separate vote of the holders of its Class A
common stock. Id. The plaintiff filed an action in this Court seeking attorneys’ fees and expenses for the benefits he allegedly
conferred on the company and its stockholders by facilitating this change. Id. In determining whether the plaintiff had conferred
a corporate benefit that would warrant a fee award, the Court considered whether the plaintiff’s demand was meritorious, which
in turn required evaluating whether the voting standard complied with Section 242(b)(2). Id. at *4. The Court ultimately concluded
the company’s Class A common stock and Class B common stock were classes for several reasons. Id. at *9. First, the Court
pointed to the fact that the certificate of incorporation only used the word “class” and not “series” to describe
the authorized common shares. Id. at *8. Second, the Court observed that Section 102(a)(4) of the DGCL requires the certificate
of incorporation to set forth the number of shares of all classes and of each class and whether the shares are par or no-par, whereas
no similar recitation is required for series. Id. Because the certificate of incorporation listed the number of authorized shares
and the par values for each of the Class A common stock, the Class B common stock, and the preferred stock, the Court reasoned that Section
102(a)(4) suggested each was a class. Id. at *9. Third and finally, the Court reasoned that the charter provision governing preferred
stock empowered the board to “fix series by resolution” in keeping with Section 102(a)(4), which empowers companies to include
such provisions in their charters. Id. Because, the Court continued, the charter provision governing common stock did not similarly
empower the board to create series of common stock, that suggested to the Court that the common stock were classes. The Court thus held,
under the “meritorious when filed” standard applicable under the corporate benefit doctrine, that “Class A and Class
B are each a class of common stock, not series.” Id.
18.
Like the certificate of incorporation in Boxed, (i) the Old Certificate
of Incorporation refers to the authorized common shares as classes, (ii) Section 4.1 of the Old Certificate of Incorporation sets forth
the number of shares and par value of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, and Preferred Stock, and (iii) Section 4.2 of
the Old Certificate of Incorporation vests the Board with authority to provide for “one or more series of Preferred Stock”
and establish “the number of shares to be included in each such series” by resolution, whereas no such prescription exists
for Common Stock. While the Court’s merits discussion in Boxed is not a final ruling on the merits and the Company believes
that the conclusion in Boxed that the Class A Common Stock was a separate class and not a series of the class of Common Stock
is incorrect, the decision suggests that the Court would view the Company’s Class A Common Stock as a separate class of capital
stock. Under that view, the Class A Increase Amendment required a separate vote of the Class A Common Stock, which was not received.
Moreover, the Court could potentially view the New Certificate of Incorporation as invalid altogether, not just the Class A Increase
Amendment, thereby invalidating other material amendments to the Old Certificate of Incorporation.
19.
As a result of the uncertainty regarding this issue raised by the Boxed decision, the validity of the New Certificate of Incorporation,
and any shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued in reliance thereon, will be uncertain.
| E. | The
Court’s Authority to Validate Defective Corporate Acts Under Section 205(a) |
20.
Under Section 205(a)(3), this Court may “[d]etermine the validity and effectiveness of any defective corporate act not ratified
.. . . pursuant to § 204” and under Section 205(a)(4), this Court may “[d]etermine the validity of any corporate
act or transaction and any stock, rights or options to acquire stock.” 8 Del. C. § 205(a)(3), (4). A “defective
corporate act” is defined, in pertinent part, as “any act or transaction purportedly taken by or on behalf of the corporation
that is, and at the time such act or transaction was purportedly taken would have been, within the power of a corporation . . . but is
void or voidable due to a failure of authorization.” 8 Del. C. § 204(h)(1). Finally, a “failure of authorization”
is defined, in pertinent part, as “the failure to authorize or effect an act or transaction in compliance with (A) the provisions
of this title, (B) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation, or (C) any plan or agreement to which the corporation
is a party or the disclosure set forth in any proxy or consent solicitation statement, if and to the extent such failure would render
such act or transaction void or voidable.” 8 Del. C. § 204(h)(2).
21.
Here, if a separate vote of the Class A Common Stock was required to approve the Class A Increase Amendment under Section 242(b)(2),
it was not obtained, which would constitute a “failure of authorization” for purposes of Sections 204 and 205. As a result
of this failure of authorization, the filing of the New Certificate of Incorporation (which effected the Class A Increase Amendment)
and any shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock to be issued in reliance on the effectiveness thereof may be invalid and would
constitute “defective corporate acts” and/or “putative stock” under Sections 204 and 205.
22. Thus,
the Court has the power under Section 205 to ratify and validate the New Certificate of Incorporation.
| F. | Consideration
of Statutory Validation Factors under Section 205(d) |
23. Section
205(d) sets forth certain factors that the Court may consider when determining whether to ratify and validate a defective corporate act:
In
connection with the resolution of matters pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Court of Chancery may consider the
following:
(1)
Whether the defective corporate act was originally approved or effectuated with the belief that the approval or effectuation was in compliance
with the provisions of this title, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation;
(2)
Whether the corporation and board of directors has treated the defective corporate act as a valid act or transaction and whether any
person has acted in reliance on the public record that such defective corporate act was valid;
(3)
Whether any person will be or was harmed by the ratification or validation of the defective corporate act, excluding any harm that would
have resulted if the defective corporate act had been valid when approved or effectuated;
(4)
Whether any person will be harmed by the failure to ratify or validate the defective corporate act; and
(5)
Any other factors or considerations the Court deems just and equitable.
8
Del. C. § 205(d).
24. Belief
in the Amendment’s Validity. With respect to the factor set forth in Section 205(d)(1), the Company demonstrated its good faith
belief that the Class A Increase Amendment had been properly approved through its actions taken in connection with the closing of the
Merger. In the Voting Results Form 8-K, the Company disclosed that the Class A Increase Amendment had been approved by the stockholders.
The New Certificate of Incorporation and a certificate of merger with respect to the closing of the Merger were filed with the Delaware
Secretary of State based on the belief that the Class A Increase Amendment was validly approved.
25. Treatment
of the Amendment as Valid. With respect to the factor set forth in Section 205(d)(2), the Company represented to its public stockholders
in the Voting Results Form 8-K that the Certificate of Incorporation Proposal was validly approved and in the Merger Closing Form 8-K
that the shares of Class A Common Stock had been issued to the Company’s stockholders in connection with the closing of the Merger.
In numerous public filings since the closing of the Merger, the Company has disclosed to its stockholders that it is currently authorized
to issue 400,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock.
26.
Harm Arising from Validation. With respect to the factor set forth in Section 205(d)(3), the Company does not believe that any
person would be harmed by the ratification and validation of the Company’s capital structure that would be obtained if this Petition
is granted. Indeed, unlike other SPACs, the Company never received a single demand letter alleging that a separate vote of the
Class A Common Stock was necessary to approve the Class A Increase Amendment. The purpose of the ratification is to provide certainty
to the capital structure of the Company by ensuring that the New Certificate of Incorporation that the Company and its stockholders have
been operating under since May 2021 is valid and effective.
27.
Harm Arising from Failure to Validate. Indeed, with respect to the factor set forth in Section 205(d)(4), there are many parties
that would be harmed if the Company’s capital structure is not ratified and validated by this Court.
28.
Blade stockholders relied on the validity of the New Certificate of Incorporation because it set forth the terms of the securities they
received as a result of the Merger. These terms include (i) the headroom for the Company to issue up to 400 million shares of Class A
Common Stock, (ii) that certain persons, as defined in the New Certificate of Incorporation, are not subject to the doctrine of corporate
opportunity, (iii) that the Company has opted out of DGCL Section 203, and (iv) other terms arising out of amendments to the Old Certificate
of Incorporation approved by the Company’s stockholders and effected by the New Certificate of Incorporation. In the absence of
validation of the New Certificate of Incorporation, it is unclear whether these provisions are currently effective. Third parties who
purchased Class A Common Stock or options, warrants or other securities convertible or exercisable for Class A Common Stock will not
have certainty with respect to the rights of those securities. If securityholders seek to rescind or pursue damages as a result,
the Company’s stockholders will suffer a diminution in the value of the Company.
29.
Furthermore, the uncertainty regarding the Company’s capital structure created by the Boxed decision is causing (and will
continue to cause) the Company harm. The Company proposed the Class A Increase Amendment in anticipation of issuing additional shares
of Class A Common Stock to support its ongoing business operations after the Merger. Uncertainty as to the validity of outstanding shares
will potentially cause market disruption, disturb the Company’s corporate relationships, result in claims from holders of such
shares, and lead to consequent loss of value for the Company’s stockholders and loss of eligibility to remain listed on the Nasdaq
Stock Market.
30. The
uncertainty regarding the Company’s capital structure also threatens to jeopardize the Company’s current and potential financing
arrangements and operational matters. The Company may need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan and continue ongoing
operations. The uncertainty regarding the validity of the Company’s stock would likely prevent the Company from raising that additional
capital through other sales of securities. Moreover, the Company is required to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K by March 31, 2023.
Because there now exists uncertainty regarding the validity of the New Certificate of Incorporation and the Class A Increase Amendment,
there is likewise uncertainty as to the statements and representations the Company is required to make in its Form 10-K, which could
in turn impact the ability of the Company’s auditors to provide their required consent for the filing of such Form 10-K. The Company
also has an upcoming annual meeting that is expected to be held in May 2023 and needs confirmation of the validity of the Class A Increase
Amendment to determine which proposals need to be presented to the Company’s stockholders at the meeting. Absent clarity and the
ability to take these necessary actions, the Company’s ability to maintain its listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market could be jeopardized.
31.
Other Factors. With respect to the factor set forth in Section 205(d)(5), at least two “other factors” support granting
the relief requested in this Petition.
32.
First, “self-help” ratification by the Company’s stockholders under Section 204 may not be an effective alternative
available to the Company. The Company would need to incur significant costs and expenses in connection with preparing and filing a proxy
statement and calling a meeting of stockholders to approve the ratification, a process that could take several months. In addition, under
the self-help method of Section 204, whether approved solely by the Board or by the stockholders as well, the Company would need to file
a certificate of validation with the Delaware Secretary of State to effectively ratify the New Certificate of Incorporation. 8 Del.
C. § 204(e)(3) (requiring the filing of a certificate of validation in circumstances where the defective act ratified
relates to a certificate previously filed with the Delaware Secretary of State). The Company understands that processing times for certificates
of validation can take as long as 3-4 months, and that while a certificate of validation is being processed by the Delaware Secretary
of State, the Company would not be able to obtain certificates of good standing, pay its annual franchise taxes or make any other filings
with the Delaware Secretary of State. These additional costs and expenses and the additional months of uncertainty regarding the Company’s
capital structure could be avoided if the Court grants the current relief requested by the Company.
33. Second,
the Court should provide direction as to whether stockholders can rely on a SPAC’s capital structure. This is a problem that affects
more than just the Company and its stockholders. Numerous publicly traded Delaware corporations who accessed public markets via de-SPAC
transactions in the past several years face the same post-Boxed cloud of uncertainty over their capital structures and related
dilemma as to how to proceed in light of the issues discussed above. See In re Lordstown, C.A. No. 2023-0083-LWW (Del. Ch.), In
re Lucid Group Inc, C.A. No. 2023-0116-LWW (Del. Ch.); In re ChargePoint Hldgs. Inc., C.A. No. 2023-0113-LWW; In re Fisker
Inc., C.A. No. 2023-0119-LWW (Del. Ch.); In re EVgo Inc., C.A. No. 2023-0132-LWW (Del. Ch.). Granting these petitions offers
other SPAC’s a solution to a widespread problem. Crafting a sensible, equitable, and prompt solution would be in keeping
with both this Court’s and the State of Delaware’s reputations as the United States’ preeminent caretakers of corporate
law and governance.
34. The
Company respectfully seeks this Court’s assistance to validate the New Certificate of Incorporation to prevent significant harm
to the Company, its business prospects, and its stockholders.
COUNT
ONE
(Validation
of Defective Corporate Act and Putative Stock
Under
8 Del. C. § 205)
| 35. | The
Company repeats and reiterates the allegations above as if fully set forth herein. |
36.
The Company is authorized to bring this petition under 8 Del. C.
§ 205(a), which provides that this Court may determine the validity and effectiveness of any defective corporate act.
37. The
Company filed the New Certificate of Incorporation and effectuated the Class A Increase Amendment in the good faith belief they were
adopted in compliance with Delaware law.
38.
The Company has treated the New Certificate of Incorporation as valid and treated all acts in reliance on the New Certificate of Incorporation
as valid.
39.
Third parties, including financing sources, key business partners, stockholders, employees and directors, have relied on the validity
of the New Certificate of Incorporation and treated all acts in reliance on the New Certificate of Incorporation as valid.
40.
On information and belief, no persons would be harmed by the validation of the New Certificate of Incorporation and Class A Increase
Amendment. The results of the Special Meeting and the filing of the New Certificate of Incorporation, including the Class A Increase
Amendment, were all disclosed publicly, and actions have been taken in reliance thereon.
41.
As previously noted, the Company, its prospects and its stockholders may be irreparably and significantly harmed absent relief from this
Court.
PRAYER
FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE,
the Company respectfully requests that this Court enter an order as follows:
A. Validating
and declaring effective the New Certificate of Incorporation, including the filing and effectiveness thereof;
B. Granting
such other and further relief as this Court deems proper.
|
/s/ Kevin M. Gallagher |
|
Kevin M. Gallagher (#5337) |
|
Edmond S. Kim (#6835) |
|
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. |
|
920 North King Street |
|
Wilmington, Delaware 19801 |
|
(302) 651-7700 |
|
|
|
Attorneys for Petitioner Blade Air |
|
Mobility, Inc. |
|
|
Dated: February 8, 2023 |
|
Exhibit A
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION OF
Experience Investment Corp.
* * * * *
The present name of the corporation is Experience
Investment Corp. (the “Corporation”). The Corporation was incorporated by the filing of the Corporation’s original
Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 24, 2019. This Second Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), which restates and integrates
and also further amends the provisions of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and restated, was duly adopted
in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
The Certificate of Incorporation is being amended
and restated in connection with the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 14,
2020, by and among the Corporation, Experience Merger Sub, Inc. and BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc. (as amended, modified, supplemented
or waived from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”). As part of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement,
all shares of the Class B Common Stock of the Corporation were converted on a 1-for-1 basis into shares of Class A Common Stock
of the Corporation such that, at the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation, only Class A Common Stock remains outstanding.
All Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation and all Class A
Common Stock issued as part of the Merger Agreement and the Subscription Agreements contemplated by the Merger Agreement shall be Common
Stock for all purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation.
The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation,
as amended and restated, is hereby amended, integrated and restated to read in its entirety as follows:
Article I
NAME
The name of the Corporation is Blade Air Mobility,
Inc.
Article II
REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT
The address of the registered office of the Corporation
in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19808, and the
name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
Article III
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in
any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (the “DGCL”).
Article IV
CAPITAL STOCK
The total number of shares of all classes of stock
that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 402,000,000, which shall be divided into two classes as follows:
| (i) | 400,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”); and |
| (ii) | 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Stock”). |
A. Capital
Stock.
| 1. | The board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution
or resolutions, at any time and from time to time, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of
Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix, without further stockholder approval, the number of shares constituting
such series and the designation of such series, the powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional
and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of such series of Preferred Stock. The powers (including
voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof, of each series of Preferred Stock, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. |
| 2. | Each holder of record of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such
holder on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally, including the election or removal of directors. Except as
otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation
(including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding
series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or
more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating
to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL. |
| 3. | Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to only such voting rights, if any,
as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to such
series of Preferred Stock). |
| 4. | Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series
of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, dividends
may be declared and paid ratably on the Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are legally available for this purpose
at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine. |
| 5. | Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other
liabilities of the Corporation and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class
or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets
of the Corporation upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled
to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number
of shares held by them. |
| 6. | The number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares
thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), and no vote
of the holders of any of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor, unless a vote
of any such holder is required pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any
series of Preferred Stock). |
Article V
AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
A.
The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend, change, add to, rescind or repeal, in whole or in
part, the bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect from time to time, the “Bylaws”) without the assent or vote of the
stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Investor
Rights Agreement.
Article VI
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
A.
Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation
shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to the Investor
Rights Agreement or any certificate of designation with respect to any series of Preferred Stock, the total number of directors shall
be determined from time to time exclusively by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. The directors (other than those directors
elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series,
as the case may be) shall be divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist,
as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of such directors. Class I directors shall initially serve for a term expiring
immediately following the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2021, Class II
directors shall initially serve for a term expiring immediately following the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders for the calendar
year ended December 31, 2022 and Class III directors shall initially serve for a term expiring immediately following the Company’s
annual meeting of stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2023. Commencing with the annual meeting of stockholders
for the calendar year ended December 31, 2021, the directors of the class to be elected at each annual meeting shall be elected for
a three year term. If the number of such directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to
maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any such additional director of any class elected to fill
a newly created directorship resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining
term of that class, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors remove or shorten the term of any incumbent director. Any
such director shall hold office until the annual meeting at which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected
and qualified, or his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. The Board of Directors is
authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to their respective class.
B.
Without limiting the rights of any party to the Investor Rights Agreement, any newly-created directorship on the Board of
Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors (whether by death,
resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors
then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director or by the stockholders. Any director elected to fill a vacancy
or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and
until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification
or removal.
C.
Without limiting the rights of any party to the Investor Rights Agreement, any or all of the directors (other than the directors
elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, voting separately as a series or together with one or more
other such series, as the case may be) may be removed at any time either with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority in
voting power of all outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.
D.
Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.
E.
During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional directors, then upon
commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number
of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (ii) each such
additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s
right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to such director’s earlier death,
resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions
establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested
of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of
such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors,
shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such director thereupon shall cease to be qualified as, and shall cease to be, a director)
and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be reduced accordingly.
F.
As used in this Article VI only, the term “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person, and the term “Person”
means any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any
other entity.
Article VII
LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY
A.
To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation
shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation
or its stockholders.
B.
Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate
of Incorporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely
affect any right or protection of a current or former director of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption
or modification.
Article VIII
CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS IN LIEU OF MEETING, ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
A. Any
action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special
meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders; provided, however, that any action
required or permitted to be taken by the holders of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one
or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so
provided by the applicable certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock.
B.
Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings
of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the Board
of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
C.
An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction
of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, on such date, and at such time as
shall be fixed exclusively by resolution of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof.
Article IX
COMPETITION AND CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES
A.
In recognition and anticipation that (i) certain directors, principals, officers, employees and/or other representatives
of the Original Sponsor and its Affiliates (as defined below) may serve as directors, officers or agents of the Corporation, (ii)
the Original Sponsor and its Affiliates, including (I) any portfolio company in which they or any of their respective investment
fund Affiliates have made a debt or equity investment (and vice versa) or (II) any of their respective limited partners, non-managing
members or other similar direct or indirect investors may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related
lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap
with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, and (iii) members of the Board of Directors
who are not employees of the Corporation (“Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates, including (I) any
portfolio company in which they or any of their respective investment fund Affiliates have made a debt or equity investment (and vice
versa) or (II) any of their respective limited partners, non-managing members or other similar direct or indirect investors may now
engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly
or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly
or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs
of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve any of the Original Sponsor,
the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors,
officers and stockholders in connection therewith.
B. None
of (i) the Original Sponsor or (ii) any Non-Employee Director (including any Non-Employee Director who serves as an
officer of the Corporation in both his or her director and officer capacities) or his or her Affiliates (the Persons (as defined
below) identified in (i) and (ii) above being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and,
individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain
from directly or indirectly (1) engaging in and possessing interests in other business ventures of every type and description,
including those engaged in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its
subsidiaries now engages or proposes to engage or (2) competing with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, on its own account,
or in partnership with, or as an employee, officer, director or shareholder of any other Person, and, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation
for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the
fullest extent permitted from time to time by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or
expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that may be a corporate opportunity
for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section (C) of this Article IX.
Subject to said Section (C) of this Article IX, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a
potential transaction or matter that may be a corporate or other business opportunity for such Identified Person or any of such
Identified Person’s Affiliates, and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, have no duty (fiduciary, contractual or otherwise) to communicate or present such transaction or matter to
the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, as the case may be and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to
the Corporation or its stockholders or to any subsidiary of the Corporation for breach of any duty (fiduciary, contractual or
otherwise) as a stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation by reason of the fact that such Identified Person, directly or
indirectly, pursues or acquires such opportunity for itself, herself or himself, directs such opportunity to another Person or does
not present such opportunity to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
C.
The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director (including
any Non-Employee Director who serves as an officer of this Corporation) if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely
in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section (B) of this Article IX
shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.
D.
In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a corporate opportunity shall
not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (i) the Corporation
is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted to undertake, (ii) from its nature, is not in the line of the
Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (iii) is one in which the Corporation has no interest
or reasonable expectancy.
E. For
purposes of this Article IX, (i) “Affiliate” shall mean (a) in respect of the Original
Sponsor, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Original Sponsor (as applicable), controls the Original
Sponsor (as applicable) or is under common control with (as applicable) and shall include any principal, member, director, partner,
stockholder, officer, employee or other representative of any of the foregoing (other than the Corporation and any entity that is
controlled by the Corporation), (b) in respect of a Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is
controlled by such Non-Employee Director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) and
(c) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation; and
(ii) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.
F.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, any Person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of capital
stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article IX.
Article X
DGCL SECTION 203 AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
A.
The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.
B.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point
in time at which the Corporation’s Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with any interested
stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder,
unless:
| 1. | prior to such time, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder
becoming an interested stockholder, or |
| 2. | upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder
owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding
for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those
shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants
do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer,
or |
| 3. | at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special
meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the
Corporation that is not owned by the interested stockholder, or |
| 4. | the stockholder became an interested stockholder inadvertently and (i) as soon as practicable divested itself of ownership of
sufficient shares so that the stockholder ceased to be an interested stockholder and (ii) was not, at any time within the three-year
period immediately prior to a business combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, an interested stockholder but for the
inadvertent acquisition of ownership. |
C.
For purposes of this Article X, references to:
| 1. | “affiliate” means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled
by, or is under common control with, another person. |
| 2. | “associate,” when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated
association or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of 20% or
more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a 20% beneficial interest or
as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or
any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person. |
| 3. | “business combination,” when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation,
means: |
| (i) | any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with
the interested stockholder, or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger
or consolidation is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section (B) of this Article X
is not applicable to the surviving entity; |
| (ii) | any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except
proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise,
of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority- owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate
market value equal to 10% or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated
basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation; |
| (iii) | any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect
majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder,
except: (a) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible
into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested
stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or
distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible
into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders
of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an
exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer
of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection (iii) shall there be
an increase in the interested stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the
voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments); |
| (iv) | any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation that has the effect,
directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the
stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary that is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result
of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused,
directly or indirectly, by the interested stockholder; or |
| (v) | any receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation),
of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (i)-(iv)
above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary. |
| 4. | “control,” including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under
common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management
and policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of 20% or
more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to
have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing
this Article X, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group
have control of such entity. |
| 5. | “interested stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned
subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, (ii) is
an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the wner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the
Corporation at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether
such person is an interested stockholder or (iii) the affiliates and associates of any such person described in clauses (i) and
(ii); provided, however, that “interested stockholder” shall not include any person whose ownership of
shares in excess of the 15% limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided,
that such person specified in this clause (b) shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares
of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of (x) further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such
person or (y) an acquisition of a de minimis number of such additional shares. For the purpose of determining whether a person
is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the
person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the
Corporation that may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants
or options, or otherwise. |
| 6. | “owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to
any stock, means a person that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates: |
| (i) | beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly; or |
| (ii) | has (a) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant
to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;
provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by
such person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or
(b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person
shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding
to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10)
or more persons; or |
| (iii) | has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting
pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in item (b) of subsection (ii) above), or disposing of such stock
with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose affiliates or associates beneficially
own, directly or indirectly, such stock. |
| 7. | “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity. |
| 8. | “stock” means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity
interest. |
| 9. | “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and,
with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing
body of such entity. Every reference in this Article X to a percentage of voting stock shall refer to such percentage of the
votes of such voting stock. |
Article XI
MISCELLANEOUS
A.
Forum.
| 1. | Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware
(or, if such court does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive
forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation; (ii) any action asserting a claim of
breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director or officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or
the Corporation’s stockholders; (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director
or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Corporation’s Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws (as either may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time); (iv) any action
asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director or officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by
the internal affairs doctrine; or (v) any action asserting an “internal corporate claim” as that term is defined in Section 115
of the DGCL. For the avoidance of doubt, this Article XI(A)(1) shall not apply to any action or proceeding asserting a claim
under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act. |
| 2. | Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States
of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities
Act. |
B.
Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Article XI(A)
above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the
name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal
courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Article XI(A)
above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any
such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
C.
Severability. If any provision or provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provision or provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions
in the Certificate of Incorporation and the application of such provision or provisions to other persons or entities and circumstances
shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
D.
Any person (as defined in Article X) purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any security
of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and provided consent to this Article XI.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused
this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 7th day
of May, 2021.
|
Experience Investment Corp. |
|
Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit B
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
EXPERIENCE INVESTMENT CORP.
September 12, 2019
Experience Investment Corp., a corporation organized
and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
1. The name of the Corporation is “Experience
Investment Corp.” The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware on May 24, 2019 (the “Original Certificate”).
2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
(the “Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the Original Certificate,
was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from
time to time (the “DGCL”).
3. This Amended and Restated Certificate shall
become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
4. The text of the Original Certificate is hereby
restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Experience Investment
Corp. (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in
any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL. In addition to the powers and privileges conferred
upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges
that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation, including, but
not limited to, effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination,
involving the Corporation and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”).
ARTICLE III
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the Corporation’s registered
office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, 19808,
and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITALIZATION
Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock.
The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized
to issue is 111,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 110,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”),
including (i) 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Class A Common Stock”), and (ii) 10,000,000
shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (b) 1,000,000 shares of
preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”).
Section 4.2 Preferred Stock. Subject
to Article IX of this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”)
is hereby expressly authorized to provide out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock for one or more series of Preferred Stock
and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights, if any, designations,
powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such series and any qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance
of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a “Preferred Stock Designation”) filed pursuant
to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full extent provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt
any such resolution or resolutions.
Section 4.3 Common Stock.
(a) Voting.
(i) Except as otherwise required by law or
this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the shares of Common Stock shall exclusively
possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by law or
this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled
to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of the Common
Stock are entitled to vote.
(iii) Except as otherwise required by law
or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders
of the Corporation, holders of the Class A Common Stock and holders of the Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single
class, shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the
stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any
Preferred Stock Designation), holders of shares of any series of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended
and Restated Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more
outstanding series of Preferred Stock or other series of Common Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock or Common
Stock, as applicable, are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant
to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.
(b) Class B Common Stock.
(i) Shares of Class B Common Stock shall
be convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis (the “Initial Conversion Ratio”)
automatically on the closing of the Business Combination.
(ii) Notwithstanding the Initial Conversion
Ratio, in the case that additional shares of Class A Common Stock, or Equity-linked Securities (as defined below), are issued or
deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in the Corporation’s initial public offering of securities (the “Offering”)
and related to the closing of the initial Business Combination, all issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall automatically
convert into shares of Class A Common Stock at the time of the closing of the initial Business Combination at a ratio for which:
| · | the numerator shall be equal to the sum of (A) 25% of all shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable (upon the conversion
or exercise of any Equity-linked Securities or otherwise) by the Corporation, related to or in connection with the consummation of the
initial Business Combination (excluding any securities issued or |
issuable to any seller in the initial Business Combination
) plus (B) the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial Business
Combination; and
| · | the denominator shall be the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial
Business Combination. |
As used herein, the term “Equity-linked
Securities” means any securities of the Corporation which are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common
Stock.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, (i) the foregoing adjustment to the Initial Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance or deemed issuance
of additional shares of Class A Common Stock or Equity-linked Securities by the written consent or agreement of holders of a majority
of the shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding consenting or agreeing separately as a single class in the manner provided
in Section 4.3(b)(iii), and (ii) in no event shall the Class B Common Stock convert into Class A Common
Stock at a ratio that is less than one-for-one.
The foregoing conversion ratio shall also be adjusted
to account for any subdivision (by stock split, subdivision, exchange, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise)
or combination (by reverse stock split, exchange, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or similar reclassification or recapitalization
of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares occurring after the original filing of
this Amended and Restated Certificate without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination or similar reclassification or
recapitalization of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock.
Each share of Class B Common Stock shall convert
into its pro rata number of shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Section 4.3(b). The pro
rata share for each holder of Class B Common Stock will be determined as follows: Each share of Class B Common Stock
shall convert into such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as is equal to the product of one (1) multiplied by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which all of the issued and outstanding shares
of Class B Common Stock shall be converted pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) and the denominator of which shall
be the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock at the time of conversion.
(iii) Voting. Except as otherwise
required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), for so long as any shares of Class B
Common Stock shall remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the prior vote or written consent of the holders of a majority
of the shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding, voting separately as a single class, amend, alter or repeal any provision
of this Amended and Restated Certificate, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, if such amendment, alteration or repeal would
alter or change the powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other or special rights of the Class B Common Stock.
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders of Class B Common Stock may be taken without a meeting,
without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the
holders of the outstanding Class B Common Stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize
or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of Class B Common Stock were present and voted and shall be delivered to the
Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of
the Corporation having custody of the book in which minutes of proceedings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s
registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Prompt written notice of the taking of
corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent of the holders of Class B Common Stock shall, to the extent
required by law, be given to those holders of Class B Common Stock who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been
taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date
that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders of Class B Common Stock to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.
(c) Dividends. Subject to applicable
law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of Article IX hereof,
the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or
capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the
Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a
per share basis in such dividends and distributions.
(d) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up
of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred
Stock and the provisions of Article IX hereof, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders
of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders,
ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (on an as converted basis with respect to the Class B
Common Stock) held by them.
Section 4.4 Rights and Options.
The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation
any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved
by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights,
warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof
may not be less than the par value thereof.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Board Powers. The
business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority
expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws of the Corporation (“Bylaws”),
the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation,
subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate, and any Bylaws adopted by the stockholders
of the Corporation; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior
act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term.
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation,
other than those who may be elected by the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock voting separately by class or series,
shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board.
(b) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof,
the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I, Class II and Class III.
The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III. The term of
the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness
of this Amended and Restated Certificate; the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of
the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate; and the term of the initial
Class III Directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness
of this Amended and Restated Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the
first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate, each
of the successors elected to replace the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall 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. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors that constitute the Board is changed, any increase
or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal
as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors
pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, the election of directors shall be determined. Directors shall be elected
by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon.
The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to
the aforesaid classes at the time this Amended and Restated Certificate
(and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.
(c) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof,
a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has
been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
(d) Unless and except to the extent that the
Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have
cumulative voting rights.
Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships
and Vacancies. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the
number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause
may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a
sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of
the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been
elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 5.4 Removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof,
any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of
a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors, voting together as a single class.
Section 5.5 Preferred Stock - Directors.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders
of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors,
the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the
terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation)
and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article V unless expressly
provided by such terms.
ARTICLE VI
BYLAWS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers
conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors present at a regular or special meeting of the Board at which there is
a quorum or by unanimous written consent. The Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided,
however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by
this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority
of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors,
voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders of the Corporation to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws;
and provided further, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act
of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
ARTICLE VII
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY
WRITTEN CONSENT
Section 7.1 Special Meetings. Subject
to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special
meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation,
or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders of the Corporation to call
a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders of the
Corporation may not be called by another person or persons.
Section 7.2 Advance Notice. Advance
notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the
stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
Section 7.3 Action by Written Consent.
Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation)
relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, subsequent to the consummation of the Offering, any
action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting
of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders other than with respect to our Class B Common
Stock with respect to which action may be taken by written consent.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Limitation of Director Liability.
A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL
as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless a director violated his or her duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders,
acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or
unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from his or her actions as a director. Any amendment, modification or repeal
of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of
any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
Section 8.2 Indemnification and Advancement
of Expenses.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made
a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she
is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request
of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise
or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the
basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity
while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation,
attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such
indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses
(including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its
final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final
disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts
so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.2 or
otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be contract
rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure
to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a),
except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses
to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof)
was authorized by the Board.
(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement
of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any
indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders
or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by
the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate
inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent
such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted
prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment
or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced
or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent
provision.
(d) This Section 8.2 shall
not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses
to persons other than indemnitees.
ARTICLE IX
BUSINESS COMBINATION REQUIREMENTS; EXISTENCE
Section 9.1 General.
(a) The provisions of this Article IX shall
apply during the period commencing upon the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate and terminating upon the consummation
of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination and no amendment to this Article IX shall be effective prior
to the consummation of the initial Business Combination unless approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-five
percent (65%) of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock.
(b) Immediately
after the Offering, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds
of any exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation’s registration
statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 23, 2019, as amended (the “Registration
Statement”), shall be deposited in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), established for the
benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described in the Registration Statement. Except for
the withdrawal of interest to pay taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), none of the funds held in
the Trust Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account until
the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of the Offering
Shares (as defined below) if the Corporation is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing
of the Offering or (iii) the redemption of shares in connection with a vote seeking to amend any provisions of this Amended and Restated
Certificate (a) to modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if
the Corporation does not complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering or (b) relating
to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in Section 9.7). Holders of
shares of Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Offering (the “Offering Shares”) (whether such
Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not such holders are Experience
Sponsor LLC or officers or directors of the Corporation, or affiliates of any of the foregoing) are referred to herein as “Public
Stockholders.”
Section 9.2 Redemption Rights.
(a) Prior
to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall provide all holders of Offering Shares with the opportunity
to have their Offering Shares redeemed upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination pursuant to, and subject to the limitations
of, Sections 9.2(b) and 9.2(c) (such rights of such holders to have their Offering Shares redeemed
pursuant to such Sections, the “Redemption Rights”) hereof for cash equal to the applicable redemption price
per share determined in accordance with Section 9.2(b) hereof (the “Redemption Price”);
provided, however, that the Corporation will only redeem or repurchase Offering Shares so long as (after such redemption) the Corporation’s
net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “Exchange Act”) (or any successor rule)), will be at least $5,000,001 or any greater net tangible asset
or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to the initial Business Combination either immediately prior to
or upon consummation of the initial Business Combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (such
limitation hereinafter called the “Redemption Limitation”).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate, there shall be no Redemption Rights or liquidating
distributions with respect to any warrant issued pursuant to the Offering.
(b) If the Corporation offers to redeem the
Offering Shares other than in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination with a proxy solicitation pursuant
to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (or any successor rules or regulations) and filing proxy materials with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares upon the consummation
of the initial Business Combination, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2(a) hereof
pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation)
(such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “Tender Offer Rules”) which it shall commence prior
to the consummation of the initial Business Combination and shall file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to the consummation of
the initial Business Combination that contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination
and the Redemption Rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation) (such rules and
regulations hereinafter called the “Proxy Solicitation Rules”), even if such information is not required under
the Tender Offer Rules; provided, however, that if a stockholder vote is required by law to approve the proposed initial Business Combination,
or the Corporation decides to submit the proposed initial Business Combination to the stockholders for their approval for business or
other legal reasons, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares, subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance
with the provisions of Section 9.2(a) hereof in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the Proxy Solicitation
Rules (and not the Tender Offer Rules) at a price per share equal to the Redemption Price calculated in accordance with the following
provisions of this Section 9.2(b). In the event that the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares pursuant to
a tender offer in accordance with the Tender Offer Rules, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the
Offering Shares tendering their Offering Shares pursuant to such tender offer shall be 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 initial Business Combination,
including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its taxes by (ii) the total number of then outstanding Offering
Shares. If the Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on the proposed initial Business
Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares
exercising their Redemption Rights shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the aggregate amount on deposit in
the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest not previously
released to the Corporation to pay taxes by (b) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares.
(c) If the Corporation offers to redeem the
Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation, a Public Stockholder,
together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group”
(as defined under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), shall be restricted from seeking Redemption Rights with respect to
more than an aggregate of 15% of the Offering Shares without the prior consent of the Corporation.
(d) In the event that the Corporation has not
consummated an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering, the Corporation shall (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 Offering Shares in consideration of a per-share price, payable in cash,
equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not
previously released to the Corporation to pay its taxes (less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the
total number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including
the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible
following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve
and liquidate, subject in each case to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other
requirements of applicable law.
(e) If the Corporation offers to redeem the
Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall consummate the proposed
initial Business Combination
only if (i) such initial Business Combination is approved by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to consider
such initial Business Combination and (ii) the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.
(f) If the Corporation conducts a tender offer
pursuant to Section 9.2(b), the Corporation shall consummate the proposed initial Business Combination only if the Redemption
Limitation is not exceeded.
Section 9.3 Distributions from the
Trust Account.
(a) A Public Stockholder shall be entitled to
receive funds from the Trust Account only as provided in Sections 9.2(a), 9.2(b), 9.2(d) or 9.7 hereof.
In no other circumstances shall a Public Stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in or to distributions from the Trust Account,
and no stockholder other than a Public Stockholder shall have any interest in or to the Trust Account.
(b) Each Public Stockholder that does not exercise
its Redemption Rights shall retain its interest in the Corporation and shall be deemed to have given its consent to the release of the
remaining funds in the Trust Account to the Corporation, and following payment to any Public Stockholders exercising their Redemption
Rights, the remaining funds in the Trust Account shall be released to the Corporation.
(c) The exercise by a Public Stockholder of
the Redemption Rights shall be conditioned on such Public Stockholder following the specific procedures for redemptions set forth by the
Corporation in any applicable tender offer or proxy materials sent to the Public Stockholders relating to the proposed initial Business
Combination. Payment of the amounts necessary to satisfy the Redemption Rights properly exercised shall be made as promptly as practical
after the consummation of the initial Business Combination.
Section 9.4 Share Issuances. Prior
to the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall not issue any additional shares of
capital stock of the Corporation that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the Trust Account or vote on any initial
Business Combination or on any amendment to this Article IX.
Section 9.5 Transactions with Affiliates.
In the event the Corporation enters into an initial Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with the Sponsor, or
the directors or officers of the Corporation, the Corporation, or a committee of the independent directors of the Corporation, shall obtain
an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or an independent
accounting firm that such Business Combination is fair to the Corporation from a financial point of view.
Section 9.6 No Transactions with Other
Blank Check Companies. The Corporation shall not enter into an initial Business Combination with another blank check company or a
similar company with nominal operations.
Section 9.7 Additional
Redemption Rights. If, in accordance with Section 9.1(a), any amendment is made to Section 9.2(d) to
modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to redeem (i) 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation
has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the date of the closing of the Offering or (ii) with respect
to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, the Public Stockholders shall
be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon the approval of any such amendment, at a per-share price, payable
in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation
to pay its taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, The Corporation’s ability to provide such opportunity
is subject to the Redemption Limitation.
Section 9.8 Minimum
Value of Target. The Corporation’s initial Business Combination must occur 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.
ARTICLE X
CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY
Prior to the consummation of the Corporation’s
initial Business Combination, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to
the Corporation or any of its officers or directors in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine to a corporate opportunity
would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Amended and Restated Certificate
or in the future, and the Corporation renounces any expectancy that any of the directors or officers of the Corporation will offer any
such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to the Corporation. In addition to the foregoing, prior to the consummation
of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall not apply to any other corporate
opportunity with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation unless such corporate opportunity is offered to such person
solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually
permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue and the director or officer is permitted to refer
that opportunity to the Corporation without violating any legal obligation.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right at any time
and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any
Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added
or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth
in Article VIII, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors
or any other persons by and pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted
subject to the right reserved in this Article XI; provided, however, that Article IX of
this Amended and Restated Certificate may be amended only as provided therein.
ARTICLE XII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS
Section 12.1 Forum. Unless
the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law, the
Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to
bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach
of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders,
(iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision
of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate or the By-Laws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation,
its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing
the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel except any action (A) as to which
the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the
Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days
following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery,
(C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) any action arising under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, as to which the Court of Chancery and the federal district court for the District of Delaware shall have concurrent
jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 12.1 will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability
or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
Section 12.2 Consent to Jurisdiction.
If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 12.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a
court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder
shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware
in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 12.1 immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement
Action”) and
(ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any
such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
ARTICLE XIII
SEVERABILITY
If any provision or provisions (or any part thereof)
of this Amended and Restated Certificate shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance
for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions
in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate (including, without limitation, each
portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable
that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and
circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (ii) the provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate
(including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Amended and Restated Certificate containing any such provision held
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees
and agents from personal liability in respect of their faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted
by law.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Experience Investment Corp.
has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer
as of the date first set forth above.
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Experience Investment Corp. |
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By: |
/s/ Eric Affeldt |
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Name: |
Eric Affeldt |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation]
Exhibit C
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration Statement No. 333-252529
PROXY STATEMENT OF
EXPERIENCE INVESTMENT CORP.
PROSPECTUS FOR
35,625,000 SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK
CONSENT SOLICITATION STATEMENT FOR
BLADE URBAN AIR MOBILITY, INC.
Dear Experience Investment Corp. Stockholders,
On behalf of EIC’s board of directors (the “Board”), we cordially invite you to a special meeting (the “special meeting”) of stockholders of Experience Investment Corp., a Delaware corporation (“EIC,” “we” or “our”), to be held via live webcast at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on May 5, 2021. The special meeting can be accessed by visiting https://web.lumiagm.com/230208333 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 special meeting by means of remote communication.
On December 14, 2020, EIC entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among EIC, Experience Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct wholly owned subsidiary of EIC (“Merger Sub”), and BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Blade”), providing for, among other things, and subject to the terms and conditions therein, a business combination between Blade and EIC pursuant to the proposed merger of Merger Sub with and into Blade, with Blade continuing as the surviving entity (the “Merger”). Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, certain accredited investors (the “PIPE Investors”), including an affiliate of Experience Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), entered into subscription agreements (the “PIPE Subscription Agreements”) pursuant to which the PIPE Investors have committed to purchase 12,500,000 shares (the “PIPE Shares”) of EIC’s Class A common stock (the “EIC Class A common stock”) at a purchase price per share of $10.00 and an aggregate purchase price of $125,000,000 (the “PIPE Investment”). The purchase of the PIPE Shares is conditioned upon, among other conditions, and will be consummated concurrently with, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”). The Merger, together with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the related agreements, are referred to herein as the “Transactions.”
The proposed Merger is expected to be consummated after the required approval by the stockholders of EIC and by the stockholders of Blade, and the satisfaction or waiver of certain other conditions summarized below. At the reference price of $10.00 (the “Reference Price”) per share of EIC Class A common stock, the total merger consideration of 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock (which amount assumes all of the EIC Options (as defined below) are net exercised) would have a value of $356,250,000. However, the valuation ascribed to the Blade business and EIC Class A common stock issued as Merger Consideration may not be indicative of the price that will prevail in the trading market following the business combination and the trading price of EIC Class A common stock may fluctuate substantially and may be lower than the reference price. As a result, Blade stockholders cannot be sure of the value of the shares of EIC Class A common stock they will receive.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger:
(a) each outstanding share of Blade common stock, including shares that are subject to vesting conditions (the “Blade Restricted Shares” and, together with shares of Blade common stock, the “Blade Common Stock”) that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than treasury stock) will be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive a number of shares of EIC Class A common stock calculated pursuant to the Merger Agreement (the “Common Stock Share Consideration”). The Common Stock Share Consideration issued in respect of Blade Restricted Shares will be subject to the same vesting restrictions as in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger;
(b) each outstanding share of Blade Series Seed Preferred Stock, Blade Series A Preferred Stock and Blade Series B Preferred Stock (collectively, the “Blade Preferred Stock” and, together with the Blade Common Stock, the “Blade Stock”) that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive a number of shares of EIC
Class A common stock calculated pursuant to the Merger Agreement (the “Preferred Stock Share Consideration” and, together with the Common Stock Share Consideration, the “Share Consideration”); and
(c) each option to acquire Blade Common Stock (each, a “Blade Option”) that is outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, will be assumed and automatically converted into an option to purchase a number of shares of EIC Class A common stock at the exercise price calculated pursuant to the Merger Agreement (the “EIC Options” and, together with the Share Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”).
As described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, EIC’s stockholders are being asked to consider and vote upon the Merger and the other proposals set forth herein. Each of the proposals is more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, which we encourage you to read carefully and in its entirety before voting. Only holders of record of EIC’s common stock at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on March 17, 2021 are entitled to notice of the special meeting and to vote and have their votes counted at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
After careful consideration, the Board has determined that the Merger and the other proposals described in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement are fair to and in the best interests of EIC and its stockholders and unanimously recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” the approval of the Merger and the other proposals. When you consider the Board’s recommendation of these proposals, you should keep in mind that our directors and officers have interests in the Transactions that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of EIC’s stockholders generally. Please see the section entitled “The Merger — Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination” for additional information. The Board was aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Transactions and in recommending to EIC’s stockholders that they vote in favor of the proposals presented at the special meeting.
The Blade board of directors has unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and recommends that Blade stockholders consent to the adoption of the Merger Agreement and approval of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby.
Consummation of the Transactions is conditioned on (a) the approval of EIC’s stockholders of each of the business combination proposal, the charter proposal, the incentive plan proposal and the Nasdaq proposal (as described herein) and (b) the consent of the requisite Blade stockholders (as described herein) to adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the transactions contemplated thereby. If any of such proposals is not approved, or the consent of the requisite Blade stockholders is not received, we will not consummate the Transactions. EIC and Blade are sending you this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement to ask you to vote in favor of these and the other matters described in this document.
In connection with the Merger Agreement: (a) EIC entered into an amended letter agreement with Blade and the Sponsor (the “Sponsor Letter Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed to, among other things, vote its shares in favor of the business combination proposal and the other proposals included in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement; and (b) certain Blade stockholders that collectively hold 58.83% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and 56.36% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Stock delivered Support Agreements pursuant to which such Blade stockholders agreed to irrevocably and unconditionally execute a written consent in respect of such shares of Blade Stock held by such Blade stockholders to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement. The directors and executive officers of Blade and their affiliates, collectively hold 47.2% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and 56.7% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Stock. The obligations of the Blade stockholders that are party to the Support Agreements apply whether or not the Merger or any other action described in the Support Agreements is recommended by the Blade board of directors or the Blade board of directors has withdrawn or modified its recommendation that Blade stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger and the other Transactions.
The following table illustrates varying ownership levels in the post-combination company, assuming no redemptions by EIC’s public stockholders and the maximum redemptions by EIC’s public stockholders as described above:
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Assuming No
Redemptions(1)
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Assuming Maximum
Redemptions(1)(2)
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EIC’s public stockholders (other than the PIPE Investors)
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33.3% |
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—% |
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PIPE Investors (other than the Sponsor and its affiliates)
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12.7% |
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19.1% |
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Sponsor (and its affiliates)
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10.8% |
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16.1% |
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Current holders of Blade Stock and Blade Options(3)
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43.2% |
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64.8% |
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(1)
Assumes 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock are issued as Merger Consideration and reflects the shares of EIC Class A common stock underlying the EIC Options (assuming that the payment of the exercise price for such EIC Options is net settled) as issued and outstanding as of the closing of the Merger.
(2)
Assumes all 27,500,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock will be redeemed.
(3)
Certain Blade stockholders have committed to purchase an aggregate of 210,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock in the PIPE Investment. Those shares are excluded from the ownership amounts for current holders of Blade Stock and Blade Options.
All EIC stockholders are cordially invited to attend the special meeting and we are providing the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and proxy card in connection with the solicitation of proxies to be voted at the special meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof). To ensure your representation at the special meeting, however, you are urged to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct your broker or bank on how to vote your shares or, if you wish to attend the special meeting and vote, obtain a proxy from your broker or bank.
This proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement covers: 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock (which amount assumes all of the EIC Options are net exercised) being issued or reserved for issuance as the Merger Consideration pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
EIC’s units, shares of EIC Class A common stock and EIC’s public warrants are currently listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbols EXPCU, EXPC and EXPCW, respectively.
Pursuant to EIC’s current certificate of incorporation, a holder of public shares may demand that EIC redeem such shares for cash if the business combination is consummated. Holders of public shares will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if, no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on May 3, 2021 (two (2) business days prior to the date of the special meeting), they:
(i) submit a written request to EIC’s transfer agent that EIC redeem their public shares for cash,
(ii) certify in such demand for redemption that they “ARE” or “ARE NOT” acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined in Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), and
(iii) deliver such public shares to EIC’s transfer agent (physically or electronically).
If the business combination is not completed, these shares will not be redeemed. If a holder of public shares properly demands redemption, regardless of whether such holder votes or votes “FOR” or “AGAINST” the business combination proposal, EIC will redeem each public share for a full pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account holding the proceeds from EIC’s initial public offering, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the business combination. Holders of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. Holders may instruct their broker to do so, or if a holder holds units registered in its own name, the holder must contact EIC’s transfer agent directly and instruct them to do so. Public stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares even if they vote “FOR” the business combination proposal.
EIC is, and, immediately following consummation of the Transactions, will continue to be, an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and has elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements.
This proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement provides you with detailed information about the Transactions and other matters to be considered at the special meeting of EIC’s stockholders. We encourage you to carefully read this entire document, including the Annexes attached hereto. You should also carefully consider the risk factors described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 44.
Your vote is important regardless of the number of shares you own. Whether you plan to attend the special meeting or not, please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the envelope provided. If your shares are held in “street name” or are in a margin or similar account, you should contact your broker to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted.
The Transactions described in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission passed upon the merits or fairness of the business combination or related Transactions, or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the disclosure in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Thank you for your participation. We look forward to your continued support.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Eric Affeldt
Eric Affeldt
Chairman of the Board of Directors
This proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement is dated April 6, 2021 and is first being mailed to EIC stockholders on or about April 8, 2021.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The accompanying document is the proxy statement of EIC for the special meeting, the prospectus for the 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock being issued or reserved for issuance as the Merger Consideration pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the consent solicitation statement for Blade stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger and the Transactions. This registration statement and the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement is available without charge to public shareholders of EIC upon written or oral request. This document and other filings by EIC with the Securities and Exchange Commission may be obtained by either written or oral request to:
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: EXPC.info@investor.morrowsodali.com
The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may obtain copies of the materials described above at the commission’s internet site at www.sec.gov.
In addition, if you have questions about the proposals to be voted on at the special meeting or the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, would like additional copies of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, or need to obtain proxy cards or other information related to the proxy solicitation, please contact Morrow Sodali LLC, the proxy solicitor for EIC, toll-free at 1 (800) 662-5200. You will not be charged for any of the documents that you request.
See the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” of the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement for further information.
Information contained on the EIC website, or any other website, is expressly not incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement.
To obtain timely delivery of the documents, you must request them no later than five business days before the date of the special meeting, or no later than April 28, 2021.
EXPERIENCE INVESTMENT CORP.
100 St. Paul St., Suite 800
Denver, CO 80206
NOTICE OF
SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 5, 2021
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF EXPERIENCE INVESTMENT CORP.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of stockholders of Experience Investment Corp., a Delaware corporation (“EIC,” “we” or “our”), will be held via live webcast at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on May 5, 2021. The special meeting can be accessed by visiting https://web.lumiagm.com/230208333, 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 special meeting by means of remote communication.
On behalf of EIC’s board of directors (the “Board”), you are cordially invited to attend the special meeting, to conduct the following business items:
(1)
Proposal No. 1 — To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the business combination described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, including (a) adopting the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 14, 2020 (as the same has been or may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”) by and among EIC, Experience Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct wholly owned subsidiary of EIC (“Merger Sub”), and BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Blade”), a copy of which is attached to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement as Annex A, which provides for, among other things, and subject to the terms and conditions therein, a business combination between Blade and EIC pursuant to the proposed merger of Merger Sub with and into Blade, with Blade continuing as the surviving entity (the “Merger” and, together with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Transactions”) and (b) approving the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and related agreements described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement — we refer to this proposal as the “business combination proposal”;
(2)
Proposal No. 2 — To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and adopt the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation of EIC in the form attached to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement as Annex F (the “second amended and restated certificate of incorporation”) — we refer to this proposal as the “charter proposal”;
(3)
Proposal No. 3 — To consider and vote upon, on a non-binding advisory basis, certain governance provisions in the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, presented separately in accordance with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) requirements — we refer to this proposal as the “governance proposal”;
(4)
Proposal No. 4 — To consider and vote on a proposal to approve and adopt the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) and the material terms thereunder, including the authorization of the initial share reserve thereunder — we refer to this proposal as the “incentive plan proposal.” A copy of the Incentive Plan is attached to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement as Annex E;
(5)
Proposal No. 5 — To consider and vote upon a proposal to elect seven (7) directors to serve staggered terms on the Board until immediately following the annual meeting of EIC stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, as applicable, and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified — we refer to this proposal as the “director election proposal”;
(6)
Proposal No. 6 — To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve, for purposes of complying
with the applicable provisions of Nasdaq (as defined below) Rules 5635(a), (b) and (d), the issuance of (a) more than 20% of EIC’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock in connection with the Transactions, including, without limitation, the issuance of shares of EIC Class A common stock as Merger Consideration and the PIPE Investment (as described below), and the issuance of more than 20% of EIC’s issued and outstanding shares to a single holder (which may constitute a change of control under the Nasdaq Rules) and (b) shares of EIC Class A common stock to a director, officer or Substantial Shareholder (as defined by Nasdaq Rule 5635(e)(3)) in connection with the Transactions — we refer to this proposal as the “Nasdaq proposal”; and
(7)
Proposal No. 7 — To consider and vote upon a proposal to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the business combination proposal, the charter proposal, the governance proposal, the incentive plan proposal, the director election proposal or the Nasdaq proposal — we refer to this proposal as the “adjournment proposal.”
Each of these proposals is more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, which we encourage you to read carefully and in its entirety before voting. Only holders of record of EIC common stock at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on March 17, 2021 are entitled to notice of the special meeting and to vote and have their votes counted at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.
After careful consideration, the Board has determined that the business combination proposal, the charter proposal, the governance proposal, the incentive plan proposal, the director election proposal, the Nasdaq proposal and the adjournment proposal are fair to and in the best interests of EIC and its stockholders and unanimously recommends that you vote or give instruction to vote “FOR” the business combination proposal, “FOR” the charter proposal, “FOR” the governance proposal, “FOR” the incentive plan proposal, “FOR” the director election proposal, “FOR” the Nasdaq proposal and “FOR” the adjournment proposal, if presented. When you consider the Board’s recommendation of these proposals, you should keep in mind that our directors and officers have interests in the business combination that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of EIC stockholders generally. Please see the section entitled “The Merger — Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination” for additional information. The Board was aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Transactions and in recommending to the EIC stockholders that they vote in favor of the proposals presented at the special meeting.
In connection with the Merger Agreement: (a) EIC entered into an amended letter agreement with Blade and the Sponsor (the “Sponsor Letter Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed to, among other things, vote its shares in favor of the business combination proposal and the other proposals included in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement; and (b) certain Blade stockholders that collectively hold 58.83% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and 56.36% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Stock delivered Support Agreements pursuant to which such Blade stockholders agreed to irrevocably and unconditionally execute a written consent in respect of such shares of Blade Stock held by such Blade stockholders to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement. The directors and executive officers of Blade and their affiliates, collectively hold 47.2% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and 56.7% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Stock. The obligations of the Blade stockholders that are party to the Support Agreements apply whether or not the Merger or any other action described in the Support Agreements is recommended by the Blade board of directors or the Blade board of directors has withdrawn or modified its recommendation that Blade stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger and the other Transactions.
Consummation of the Transactions is conditioned on the approval of each of the business combination proposal, the charter proposal, the incentive plan proposal and the Nasdaq proposal. If any of these proposals is not approved, or the consent of the requisite Blade stockholders is not received, we will not consummate the Transactions.
To raise additional proceeds to fund the Transactions, concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, certain accredited investors (the “PIPE Investors”), including an affiliate of the Sponsor, entered into subscription agreements (the “PIPE Subscription Agreements”) pursuant to which the PIPE Investors have committed to purchase 12,500,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock (the “PIPE Shares”) at a purchase price per share of $10.00 and an aggregate purchase price of $125,000,000 (the “PIPE Investment”). The purchase of the PIPE Shares is conditioned upon, among other conditions, and will be consummated concurrently with, the closing of the Merger.
Pursuant to EIC’s current certificate of incorporation, a holder of public shares may demand that EIC redeem such shares for cash if the business combination is consummated. Holders of public shares will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if, no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on May 3, 2021 (two (2) business days prior to the date of the special meeting), they:
(i) submit a written request to EIC’s transfer agent that EIC redeem their public shares for cash,
(ii) certify in such demand for redemption that they “ARE” or “ARE NOT” acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined in Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), and
(iii) deliver such public shares to EIC’s transfer agent (physically or electronically).
If the business combination is not completed, these shares will not be redeemed. If a holder of public shares properly demands redemption, regardless of whether such holder votes or votes “FOR” or “AGAINST” the business combination proposal, EIC will redeem each public share for a full pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account holding the proceeds from EIC’s initial public offering, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the business combination. Holders of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and Public Warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. Holders may instruct their broker to do so, or if a holder holds units registered in its own name, the holder must contact EIC’s transfer agent directly and instruct them to do so. Public stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares even if they vote “FOR” the business combination proposal.
All EIC stockholders are cordially invited to attend the special meeting and we are providing the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and proxy card in connection with the solicitation of proxies to be voted at the special meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof). To ensure your representation at the special meeting, however, you are urged to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must instruct your broker or bank on how to vote your shares or, if you wish to attend the special meeting and vote, obtain a proxy from your broker or bank.
Your vote is important regardless of the number of shares you own. Whether you plan to attend the special meeting or not, please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the envelope provided. If your shares are held in “street name” or are in a margin or similar account, you should contact your broker to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted.
Thank you for your participation. We look forward to your continued support.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Eric Affeldt
Eric Affeldt
Chairman of the Board of Directors
April 6, 2021
IF YOU RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD WITHOUT AN INDICATION OF HOW YOU WISH TO VOTE, YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF EACH OF THE PROPOSALS.
TO EXERCISE YOUR REDEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU MUST ELECT TO HAVE EIC REDEEM YOUR SHARES FOR A PRO RATA PORTION OF THE FUNDS HELD IN THE TRUST ACCOUNT AND TENDER YOUR SHARES TO EIC’s TRANSFER AGENT NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. (NEW
YORK CITY TIME) ON MAY 3, 2021 (TWO (2) BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE VOTE AT THE SPECIAL 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 COMPANY’S DWAC (DEPOSIT AND 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. PLEASE SEE THE SECTION ENTITLED “SPECIAL MEETING OF EIC STOCKHOLDERS — REDEMPTION RIGHTS” FOR MORE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS.
BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc.
499 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016
NOTICE OF SOLICITATION OF WRITTEN CONSENT
To Stockholders of BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc.,
Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 14, 2020 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc. (“Blade”), Experience Investment Corp. (“EIC”) and EIC Merger Sub, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of EIC (“Merger Sub”), Blade will merge with and into Merger Sub, with Blade surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of EIC (the “Merger”).
The consent solicitation statement attached to this notice is being delivered to you on behalf of the Blade board of directors to request that holders of the outstanding shares of Blade common stock and Blade preferred stock execute and return written consents to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.
The attached consent solicitation statement describes the proposed Merger and the actions to be taken in connection with the Merger and provides additional information about the parties involved. Please give this information your careful attention. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Annex A to this consent solicitation statement.
A summary of the appraisal rights that may be available to you is described in “Appraisal Rights.” Please note the Merger has been approved by the Blade board of directors.
The Blade board of directors has considered the Merger and the terms of the Merger Agreement and has unanimously determined that the Merger and the Merger Agreement are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Blade and its stockholders and recommends that Blade stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby.
Please complete, date and sign the written consent furnished to you and return it promptly to Blade by one of the means described in “Blade’s Solicitation of Written Consents.”
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Robert S. Wiesenthal
Chief Executive Officer
Table of Contents
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F-1
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Annexes
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FREQUENTLY USED TERMS
Unless otherwise stated in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement or the context otherwise requires, references to:
“Blade” are to BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc., a Delaware corporation;
“Blade Common Stock” are to the shares of Blade’s common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, including Blade Restricted Shares;
“Blade Options” are to each option to acquire Blade Common Stock granted pursuant to the Fly Blade, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan that is outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, whether vested or unvested;
“Blade Preferred Stock” are to, collectively, the shares of Blade’s Series Seed Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, Blade’s Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share, and Blade’s Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.00001 per share;
“Blade Restricted Shares” are to the shares of Blade Common Stock granted to employees or other service providers of Blade that are subject to vesting conditions;
“Blade Stock” are to, collectively, the Blade Common Stock and Blade Preferred Stock;
“Board” or “EIC Board” are to the board of directors of EIC, or a committee thereof, as applicable;
“Closing” are to the consummation of the Merger;
“Closing Date” are to the date on which the Transactions are consummated;
“common stock” are to the EIC Class A common stock and EIC Class B common stock;
“completion window” are to the period following the completion of EIC IPO at the end of which, if EIC has not completed an initial business combination, it will redeem 100% of the public shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law and certain conditions. The completion window ends on September 17, 2021;
“current certificate of incorporation” are to EIC’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation in effect as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement;
“DGCL” are to the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended;
“EIC” are to Experience Investment Corp., a Delaware corporation, which will be renamed Blade Air Mobility, Inc. in connection with the consummation of the Transactions;
“EIC Class A common stock” are, prior to consummation of the Transactions, to EIC’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share and, following consummation of the Transactions, to the Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share of the post-combination company;
“EIC Class B common stock” are to EIC’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share;
“EIC IPO” are to the initial public offering by EIC which closed on September 17, 2019;
“EIC Options” are to the Blade Options assumed by EIC pursuant to the Merger Agreement at Closing, which shall automatically convert into options to purchase EIC Class A common stock;
“Exchange Act” are to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
“Founder Shares” are to the 6,875,000 shares of EIC Class B common stock and the shares of EIC Class A common stock issued upon the automatic conversion thereof at the time of EIC’s initial business combination. The Founder Shares are held of record by the Sponsor as of the record date;
“HSR Act” are to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended;
“Investor Rights Agreement” are to the Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2020 (and effective as of the Closing), by and among EIC, the Sponsor and certain other parties thereto;
“KSL Capital Partners” are to KSL Capital Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, an affiliate of our Sponsor;
“Merger” are to the merger of Merger Sub with and into Blade, with Blade surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of EIC;
“Merger Agreement” are to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 14, 2020, by and among EIC, Merger Sub and Blade, providing for, among other things, and subject to the terms and conditions therein, a business combination between Blade and EIC pursuant to the proposed merger of Merger Sub with and into Blade, as the same has been or may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time;
“Merger Consideration” are to the Share Consideration and the EIC Options;
“Merger Sub” are to Experience Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct wholly owned subsidiary of EIC;
“Net Tangible Assets” are to the net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act) of EIC immediately following the Closing (after giving effect to the exercise by EIC’s public stockholders of their right to redeem their shares of EIC Class A common stock into their pro rata share of the funds held in EIC’s trust account in accordance with EIC’s current certificate of incorporation, the PIPE Investment and the other Transactions contemplated to occur upon the Closing, including the payment of expenses relating to the Transactions);
“PIPE Investment” are to the private placement pursuant to which EIC entered into subscription agreements with certain investors whereby such investors have committed to purchase 12,500,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock at a purchase price per share of $10.00 and an aggregate purchase price of $125,000,000. The PIPE Investment will be consummated concurrently with, and is conditioned upon, among other things, the Closing;
“PIPE Investors” are to the investors participating in the PIPE Investment;
“PIPE Subscription Agreements” are to the subscription agreements relating to the PIPE Investment entered into by and among EIC, on the one hand, and certain accredited investors (including an affiliate of the Sponsor), on the other hand, in each case entered into on or after December 14, 2020 and prior to the Closing;
“Private Placement Warrants” are to the warrants issued by EIC to the Sponsor in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of the EIC IPO. The Private Placement Warrants are exercisable for an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock at a purchase price of $11.50 per share;
“public shares” are to the 27,500,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock sold as part of the units in the EIC IPO (whether they were purchased in the EIC IPO or thereafter in the open market);
“public stockholders” are to the holders of EIC’s public shares, including the Sponsor and EIC’s officers and directors to the extent the Sponsor and EIC’s officers or directors purchase public shares, provided that each of their status as a “public stockholder” shall only exist with respect to such public shares;
“Public Warrants” are to the redeemable warrants issued by EIC and sold as part of the units in the EIC IPO (whether they were purchased in the EIC IPO or thereafter in the open market). The Public Warrants are exercisable for an aggregate of 9,166,666 shares of EIC Class A common stock at a purchase price of $11.50 per share. Following the consummation of our initial business combination, references to the Public Warrants also include any Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants that are not held by our Sponsor or its permitted transferees;
“SEC” are to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;
“Share Consideration” are to the shares of EIC Class A common stock to be issued as consideration for the outstanding shares of Blade Common Stock and Blade Preferred Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement;
“Sponsor” are to Experience Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners and EIC in which certain of EIC’s directors and officers hold membership interests;
“Sponsor Letter Agreement” are to the Amended and Restated Sponsor Letter Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2020, by and among EIC, the Sponsor and Blade, which amended and restated that certain letter agreement, dated as of September 12, 2019, between the Sponsor, EIC and the other parties thereto;
“Steele ExpCo” are to Steele ExpCo Holdings, LLC, the managing member of the Sponsor;
“Support Agreements” are to the Support Agreements, dated as of December 14, 2020, entered into by EIC and certain Blade stockholders, pursuant to which certain Blade stockholders that collectively hold 58.83% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and 56.36% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Stock agreed to irrevocably and unconditionally execute a written consent in respect of such shares of Blade Stock held by such Blade stockholders to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement;
“Transactions” are to the Merger, together with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the related agreements;
“trust account” are to the trust account of EIC that holds the proceeds from the EIC IPO;
“units” are to the 27,500,000 units sold in the EIC IPO, with each unit consisting of one public share and one-third (1/3) of one Public Warrant, each whole Public Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of EIC Class A common stock for $11.50 per share;
“warrants” are to the Public Warrants, the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants; and
“Working Capital Warrants” are to the warrants to purchase shares of EIC Class A common stock if loans are made by the Sponsor pursuant to the Sponsor Letter Agreement in an amount of up to $1,500,000 and not repaid, such warrants to be on terms identical to the terms of the Private Placement Warrants.
SUMMARY OF THE MATERIAL TERMS OF THE TRANSACTIONS
This summary term sheet, together with the sections entitled “Questions and Answers” and “Summary,” summarizes certain information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, but does not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should read carefully this entire proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, including the attached Annexes, for a more complete understanding of the matters to be considered at the special meeting. In addition, for definitions used commonly throughout this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, including this summary term sheet, please see the section entitled “Frequently Used Terms.”
•
Experience Investment Corp., a Delaware corporation, which we refer to as “EIC,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” is a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on May 24, 2019 and formed solely for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
•
On September 17, 2019, EIC consummated its initial public offering of 27,500,000 units, including 2,500,000 units under the underwriters’ over-allotment option, with each unit consisting of one share of EIC Class A common stock and one-third (1/3) of one Public Warrant, each whole Public Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of EIC Class A common stock for $11.50 per share. The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $275,000,000. Simultaneously with the consummation of the EIC IPO, EIC consummated the private placement of 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant, generating total proceeds of $7,500,000. Transaction costs amounted to $15,613,880 consisting of $5,500,000 of underwriting fees, $9,625,000 of deferred underwriting fees and $488,880 of other offering costs. In addition, $1,999,979 of cash was held outside of the trust account upon closing of the EIC IPO and was available for working capital purposes and for the payment of offering expenses.
•
Following the consummation of the EIC IPO, $275,000,000 was deposited into a U.S.-based trust account with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC acting as trustee. Except as described in the prospectus for the EIC IPO, these proceeds will not be released until the earlier of the completion of an initial business combination and EIC’s redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares upon its failure to consummate a business combination within the completion window.
•
Blade is a technology-powered, air mobility platform committed to reducing travel friction by providing cost-effective air transportation alternatives to some of the most congested ground routes in the United States and abroad. See the sections entitled “Information About Blade,” “Blade’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Management after the Business Combination.”
•
On December 14, 2020, EIC entered into the Merger Agreement with Merger Sub and Blade, providing for, among other things, and subject to the terms and conditions therein, a business combination between Blade and EIC pursuant to the proposed merger of Merger Sub with and into Blade, with Blade continuing as the surviving entity.
•
Subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the reference price of $10.00 per share of EIC Class A common stock, the total Merger consideration of 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock (which amount assumes all of the EIC Options are net exercised) would have a value of $356,250,000. However, the valuation ascribed to the Blade business and EIC Class A common stock issued as Merger Consideration may not be indicative of the price that will prevail in the trading market following the business combination and the trading price of EIC Class A common stock may fluctuate substantially and may be lower than the reference price. As a result, Blade stockholders cannot be sure of the value of the shares of EIC Class A common stock they will receive.
•
In connection with the Merger Agreement: (a) EIC entered into the Sponsor Letter Agreement, pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed to, among other things, vote its shares in favor of the business combination proposal and the other proposals included in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement; and (b) certain Blade stockholders that collectively hold 58.83% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and 56.36% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Stock delivered Support Agreements pursuant to which such Blade
stockholders agreed to irrevocably and unconditionally execute a written consent in respect of such shares of Blade Stock held by such Blade stockholders to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement.
•
Pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements, EIC has agreed to issue and sell to the PIPE Investors, and the PIPE Investors have agreed to buy from EIC 12,500,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share for an aggregate commitment of $125,000,000. The PIPE Investment is conditioned upon, among other conditions, and will be consummated concurrently with, the closing of the Merger.
•
It is anticipated that, upon completion of the business combination: (a) EIC’s public stockholders (other than the PIPE Investors) will retain an ownership interest of approximately 33.3% in the post-combination company; (b) the PIPE Investors (other than the Sponsor and its affiliates) will own approximately 12.7% of the post-combination company; (c) the Sponsor (and its affiliates) will own approximately 10.8% of the post-combination company; and (d) current holders of Blade Stock and Blade Options will collectively own approximately 43.2% of the post-combination company (excluding shares purchased by current Blade stockholders in the PIPE Investment). These levels of ownership interest: (i) exclude the impact of the shares of EIC Class A common stock underlying the warrants and those reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan and (ii) assume that no EIC public stockholder exercises redemption rights with respect to its public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in EIC’s trust account and that 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock are issued as Merger Consideration and are outstanding as of the closing of the Merger (which assumes all EIC Options have been exercised and the payment of the exercise price for such EIC Options is net settled).
•
EIC management and the Board considered various factors in determining whether to approve the Merger Agreement and the Transactions, including the Merger. For more information about the reasons that the Board considered in determining its recommendation, please see the section entitled “The Merger — EIC’s Board of Directors’ Reasons for the Approval of the Transactions.” When you consider the Board’s recommendation of these proposals, you should keep in mind that our directors and officers have interests in the business combination that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of EIC stockholders generally. Please see the section entitled “The Merger — Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination” for additional information. The Board was aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Transactions and in recommending to the EIC stockholders that they vote “FOR” the proposals presented at the special meeting.
•
At the special meeting, EIC’s stockholders will be asked to consider and vote on the following proposals:
•
a proposal to approve the business combination described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, including adopting the Merger Agreement and the Transactions described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal”;
•
a proposal to approve and adopt the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation of EIC. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 2 — The Charter Proposal”;
•
a proposal to vote upon, on a non-binding advisory basis, certain governance provisions in the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, presented separately in accordance with requirements of the SEC. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 3 — The Governance Proposal”;
•
a proposal to approve and adopt the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) and the material terms thereunder, including the authorization of the initial share reserve thereunder. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 4 — The Incentive Plan Proposal”;
•
a proposal to elect seven (7) directors to serve staggered terms on the Board until immediately following the annual meeting of EIC stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, as applicable, and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 5 — The Director Election Proposal”;
•
a proposal to approve, for purposes of complying with the applicable provisions of Nasdaq Rules 5635(a), (b) and (d), the issuance of (a) more than 20% of EIC’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock in connection with the Transactions, including, without limitation, the Merger Consideration and the PIPE Investment (as described below), and the issuance of more than 20% of EIC’s issued and outstanding shares to a single holder (which may constitute a change of control under the Nasdaq Rules) and (b) shares of EIC Class A common stock to a director, officer or Substantial Shareholder (as defined by Nasdaq Rule 5635(e)(3)) in connection with the Transactions. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 6 — The Nasdaq Proposal”; and
•
a proposal to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the business combination proposal, the charter proposal, the governance proposal, the incentive plan proposal, the director election proposal or the Nasdaq proposal. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 7 — The Adjournment Proposal.”
•
Upon consummation of the Transactions, the Board anticipates each Class I director will have a term that expires immediately following EIC’s annual meeting of stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2021, each Class II director will have a term that expires immediately following EIC’s annual meeting of stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2022 and each Class III director will have a term that expires immediately following EIC’s annual meeting of stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2023, or in each case until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation, removal or death. Please see the sections entitled “Proposal No. 5 — The Director Election Proposal” and “Management After the Business Combination” for additional information.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The questions and answers below highlight only selected information from this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and only briefly address some commonly asked questions, which are grouped into the following three categories: (a) Questions and Answers About the Proposed Business Combination; (b) Questions and Answers About the Special Meeting and the Proposals to be Presented at the Special Meeting; and (c) Questions and Answers About the Blade Consent Solicitation. The following questions and answers do not include all the information that is important to you. EIC and Blade stockholders are urged to read carefully this entire proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, including the Annexes and the other documents referred to herein, to fully understand the proposed business combination, the voting procedures for the special meeting and the procedures for the consent solicitation.
Questions and Answers About the Proposed Business Combination
Q.
Why am I receiving this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement?
A.
EIC and Blade have agreed to a business combination under the terms of the Merger Agreement that is described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached hereto as Annex A, and EIC and Blade encourage their stockholders to read it in its entirety.
This document constitutes a proxy statement of EIC, a prospectus of EIC and a consent solicitation statement of Blade.
This document is a proxy statement because the Board is soliciting from EIC stockholders proxies for the special meeting using this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement. At the special meeting, EIC’s stockholders are being asked to consider and vote upon, among other proposals set forth herein, a proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and the Transactions, which, among other things, includes provisions for a business combination between Blade and EIC pursuant to the proposed merger of Merger Sub with and into Blade, with Blade continuing as the surviving entity. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal.”
This document is a prospectus because EIC, in connection with the Merger, is offering 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock (which amount assumes all of the EIC Options are net exercised) as Merger Consideration. The valuation of the Merger Consideration will fluctuate based on the trading price of EIC’s Class A common stock. As a result, Blade stockholders cannot be sure of the value of the shares of EIC Class A common stock they will receive.
This document is a consent solicitation statement because the Blade board of directors is soliciting written consents from Blade stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Transactions, including the Merger. For more information about the Blade consent solicitation, see “Questions and Answers About the Blade Consent Solicitation” below.
This proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and its Annexes contain important information about the proposed business combination and the other matters to be acted upon at the special meeting. You should read this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and its Annexes carefully and in their entirety. Your vote (in the case of EIC stockholders) or consent (in the case of Blade stockholders) is important. You are encouraged to submit your proxy or consent, as applicable, as soon as possible after carefully reviewing this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and its Annexes.
Q.
Why is EIC proposing the business combination?
A.
EIC was formed solely for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
On September 17, 2019, EIC consummated its initial public offering of 27,500,000 units, including 2,500,000 units under the underwriters’ over-allotment option, with each unit consisting of one share of EIC Class A common stock and one-third (1/3) of one Public Warrant, each whole Public Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of EIC Class A common stock for $11.50 per share. The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $275,000,000.
Simultaneously with the consummation of the EIC IPO, EIC consummated the private placement of 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant, generating total proceeds of $7,500,000. Since the EIC IPO, EIC’s activity has been limited to the evaluation of business combination candidates.
Blade is a technology-powered, air mobility platform committed to reducing travel friction by providing cost-effective air transportation alternatives to some of the most congested ground routes in the U.S. and abroad.
Based on its due diligence investigations of Blade and the industry in which it operates, including the financial and other information provided by Blade in the course of their negotiations in connection with the Merger Agreement, EIC believes that Blade is positioned for a leadership position in air mobility with a significant total addressable market and growth expansion opportunities and strong management team that will benefit from the consummation of the Transactions and infusion of additional capital improving Blade’s ability to grow.
As a result, EIC believes that a business combination with Blade will provide EIC’s stockholders with an opportunity to participate in the ownership of a company with significant growth potential. Please see the section entitled “The Merger — EIC’s Board of Directors’ Reasons for Approval of the Transactions.”
Q.
What will happen in the business combination?
A.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, EIC will acquire Blade through the merger of Merger Sub with and into Blade, with Blade continuing as the surviving entity, which merger we refer to as the “Merger.”
As a result of the Merger, EIC will own 100% of the outstanding common stock of Blade and each share of Blade Common Stock and Blade Preferred Stock will be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive a portion of the Share Consideration (Share Consideration issued in respect of Blade Restricted Shares will be subject to the same restrictions as in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger). In addition, each Blade Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, whether vested or unvested, will be assumed by EIC and automatically converted into an EIC Option. For more information, see “The Merger” and “The Merger Agreement — Treatment of Blade Securities.”
We also use the term “business combination” in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement to refer to the combination of Blade and EIC into a single business.
Q.
Following the business combination, will EIC’s securities continue to trade on a stock exchange?
A.
Yes. We intend to apply to continue the listing of the EIC Class A common stock and Public Warrants on Nasdaq. In connection with the business combination, EIC will change its name to Blade Air Mobility, Inc. and the EIC Class A common stock and Public Warrants will begin trading on the Nasdaq under the symbols “BLDE” and “BLDEW” respectively. As a result, our publicly traded units will separate into the component securities upon consummation of the business combination and will no longer trade as a separate security.
Q.
How will the business combination impact the shares of EIC outstanding after the business combination?
A.
As a result of the business combination and the consummation of the Transactions, including, without limitation, the PIPE Investment, the amount of EIC Class A common stock outstanding will increase by approximately 140% to approximately 82,500,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock (assuming that no shares of EIC Class A common stock are elected to be redeemed by EIC stockholders and the other assumptions described under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information”). Additional shares of EIC Class A common stock may be issuable in the future as a result of the issuance of additional shares that are not currently outstanding, including issuance of shares of EIC Class A common stock upon exercise of the warrants and issuances under the Incentive Plan. The issuance and sale of such shares in the public market could adversely impact the market price of the EIC Class A common stock, even if our business is doing well. Pursuant to the Incentive Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex E, following the closing of the business combination and subject to
the approval of the applicable award agreements by the post-combination Board, EIC may grant an aggregate amount of up to 8,250,000 additional shares of EIC Class A common stock (subject to annual increases).
Q.
Will the management of Blade change in the business combination?
A.
We anticipate that all of the executive officers of Blade will remain with the post-combination company. In addition, Eric Affeldt (Chairman), Jane Garvey, Kenneth Lerer, Susan Lyne, Edward Philip, Robert Wiesenthal and David Zaslav will each be nominated to serve as directors of EIC following completion of the business combination. Please see the sections entitled “Proposal No. 5 — The Director Election Proposal” and “Management After the Business Combination” for additional information.
Q.
What equity stake will current stockholders of Blade, the PIPE Investors, EIC’s Public Stockholders and the Sponsor hold in the post-combination company after the Closing?
Based on the Merger Consideration of 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock in the aggregate and 34,375,000 shares of EIC’s common stock outstanding as of the date hereof, upon completion of Transactions it is expected that: (i) EIC’s public stockholders (other than the PIPE Investors) will retain an ownership interest of approximately 33.3% in the post-combination company; (ii) the PIPE Investors (other than the Sponsor and its affiliates) will own approximately 12.7% of the post-combination company; (iii) the Sponsor (and its affiliates) will own approximately 10.8% of the post-combination company; and (iv) current holders of Blade Stock and Blade Options will collectively own approximately 43.2% of the post-combination company (excluding shares purchased by current Blade stockholders in the PIPE Investment). These levels of ownership interest: (a) exclude the impact of the shares of EIC Class A common stock underlying the warrants and those reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan, and (b) assume that no EIC public stockholder exercises redemption rights with respect to its shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account and that 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock are issued as Merger Consideration and are outstanding as of the closing of the Merger (which assumes all EIC Options have been exercised and the payment of the exercise price for such EIC Options is net settled).
For more information, please see the sections entitled “Summary — Impact of the Business Combination on the Post-Combination Company’s Public Float,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” and “Proposal No. 4 — The Incentive Plan Proposal.”
Q.
Will EIC obtain new financing in connection with the Transactions?
A.
Yes. EIC has entered into subscription agreements with the PIPE Investors, pursuant to which EIC has agreed to issue and sell to the PIPE Investors and the PIPE Investors have agreed to purchase from EIC 12,500,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock at a purchase price per share of $10.00 and an aggregate purchase price of $125,000,000. As part of the PIPE Investment, Steele ExpCo, the managing member of the Sponsor, has committed to purchase 2,005,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock for $20,050,000. Based on the closing price per share of EIC Class A common stock on April 1, 2021, the shares of EIC Class A common stock to be purchased by Steele ExpCo as part of the PIPE Investment had an aggregate market value of approximately $21.1 million. Please see the section entitled “The Merger — Sources and Uses for the Business Combination.”
Q.
What conditions must be satisfied to complete the business combination?
A.
There are a number of closing conditions in the Merger Agreement, including the approval by the stockholders of EIC of the business combination proposal, the Nasdaq proposal, the charter proposal and the incentive plan proposal. In addition, Blade’s stockholders must adopt the Merger Agreement and thereby approve the Transactions, including the Merger. For a summary of the conditions that must be satisfied or waived prior to completion of the business combination, please see the section entitled “The Merger Agreement — Conditions to the Closing of the Merger.”
Q.
Are there any arrangements to help ensure that EIC will have sufficient funds, together with the proceeds in its trust account and from the PIPE Investment, to consummate the Transactions?
A.
While the Merger Consideration consists entirely of securities of EIC, the Merger Agreement provides
that the consummation of the Transactions is conditioned upon, among other things, (a) after taking into account the PIPE Investment and after giving effect to exercise by the holders of the public shares of their right to redeem their shares of EIC Class A common stock into their pro rata share of the trust account in accordance with EIC’s certificate of incorporation, immediately prior to Closing and without giving effect to any of the other Transactions (and without deducting expenses related to the Transactions that are to be paid at or after Closing), EIC having, on a consolidated basis, at least $100,000,000 in cash and cash equivalents and (b) immediately following Closing and after giving effect to all of the other Transactions (including the payment of expenses related to the Transactions that are to be paid at or after Closing), EIC having at least $5,000,001 of Net Tangible Assets.
Assuming the PIPE Investment is funded in accordance with the terms of the PIPE Subscription Agreements, EIC will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents immediately prior to Closing and sufficient net tangible assets as of Closing to meet the above conditions even if all public shares eligible for redemption are properly tendered for redemption by the holders thereof in connection with the Transactions.
Please see the section entitled “The Merger — Sources and Uses for the Business Combination.”
Q.
When do you expect the business combination to be completed?
A.
It is currently anticipated that the business combination will be consummated promptly following the EIC special meeting which is set for May 5, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions; however, such meeting could be adjourned, as described herein. For a description of the conditions to the completion of the business combination, please see the section entitled “The Merger Agreement — Conditions to the Closing of the Merger.”
Q.
What happens if either EIC or Blade elects not to complete the business combination?
A.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, either EIC or Blade may choose not to complete the business combination under certain circumstances. Such circumstances include the enactment of a final, non-appealable law or order that enjoins the Transactions and the failure to obtain requisite shareholder approvals, among others. There is no termination fee associated with such termination in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.
For a description of the terms of termination under the Merger Agreement, please see the section entitled “The Merger Agreement — Termination.”
Q.
What do I need to do now?
A.
EIC urges you to read carefully and consider the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, including the Annexes, and to consider how the business combination will affect you as a stockholder and/or warrant holder of EIC. EIC stockholders should then vote as soon as possible in accordance with the instructions provided in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and on the enclosed proxy card or, if you hold your shares through a brokerage firm, bank or other nominee, on the voting instruction form provided by the broker, bank or other nominee.
Questions and Answers About the Special Meeting and the Proposals to be Presented at the Special Meeting
Q.
When and where is the Special Meeting?
A.
The special meeting will be held via live webcast on May 5, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time). The special meeting can be accessed by visiting https://web.lumiagm.com/230208333 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 special meeting by means of remote communication.
Q.
What are the proposals on which I am being asked to vote at the special meeting?
A.
The stockholders of EIC will be asked to consider and vote on the following proposals at the special meeting:
1.
a proposal to approve the business combination described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, including adopting the Merger Agreement and approving the Transactions described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal”;
2.
a proposal to approve and adopt the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation of EIC. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 2 — The Charter Proposal”;
3.
a proposal to vote upon, on a non-binding advisory basis, certain governance provisions in the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, presented separately, in accordance with the requirements of the SEC. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 3 — The Governance Proposal”;
4.
a proposal to approve and adopt the Incentive Plan and the material terms thereunder, including the authorization of the initial share reserve thereunder. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 4 — The Incentive Plan Proposal”;
5.
a proposal to elect seven (7) directors to serve staggered terms on the Board until immediately following the annual meeting of EIC stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, as applicable, and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 5 — The Director Election Proposal”;
6.
a proposal to approve, for purposes of complying with the applicable provisions of Nasdaq Rules 5635(a), (b) and (d), the issuance of (a) more than 20% of EIC’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock in connection with the Transactions, including, without limitation, the Merger Consideration and the PIPE Investment, and the issuance of more than 20% of EIC’s issued and outstanding shares to a single holder (which may constitute a change of control under the Nasdaq Rules) and (b) shares of EIC Class A common stock to a director, officer or Substantial Shareholder (as defined by Nasdaq Rule 5635(e)(3)) in connection with the Transactions. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 6 — The Nasdaq Proposal”; and
7.
a proposal to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the business combination proposal, the charter proposal, the governance proposal, the incentive plan proposal, the director election proposal or the Nasdaq proposal. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 7 — The Adjournment Proposal.”
EIC will hold the special meeting of its stockholders to consider and vote upon these proposals. This proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement contains important information about the proposed business combination and the other matters to be acted upon at the special meeting. Stockholders should read it carefully.
Consummation of the Transactions is conditioned on the approval of each of the business combination proposal, the charter proposal, the incentive plan proposal and the Nasdaq proposal. If any of these proposals is not approved, or the consent of the requisite Blade stockholders is not received, we will not consummate the Transactions.
The vote of EIC’s stockholders is important. EIC stockholders are encouraged to vote as soon as possible after carefully reviewing this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement.
Q.
Why is EIC providing stockholders with the opportunity to vote on the business combination?
A.
Under EIC’s current certificate of incorporation, we must provide all holders of public shares with the opportunity to have their public shares redeemed upon the consummation of our initial business combination either in conjunction with a tender offer or in conjunction with a stockholder vote. For business and other reasons, including those described under “Proposal No. 6 — The Nasdaq Proposal,” we have elected to provide our stockholders with the opportunity to have their public shares redeemed in connection with a stockholder vote rather than a tender offer. Therefore, we are seeking to obtain the approval of our stockholders of the business combination proposal in order to allow our public
stockholders to effectuate redemptions of their public shares in connection with the closing of the business combination.
Q.
What constitutes a quorum at the special meeting?
A.
A majority of the voting power of all issued and outstanding shares of EIC’s common stock entitled to vote as of the record date at the special meeting must be present via the virtual meeting platform, or represented by proxy, at the special meeting to constitute a quorum and in order to conduct business at the special meeting. Abstentions will be counted as present for the purpose of determining a quorum. As of the record date for the special meeting, 17,187,501 shares of our common stock would be required to be present at the special meeting to achieve a quorum.
The Sponsor and EIC’s officers and directors will count toward this quorum and have agreed to vote the Founder Shares and any public shares purchased during or after the EIC IPO in favor of the business combination proposal (and the other proposals included in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement).
Q.
What vote is required to approve the proposals presented at the special meeting?
A.
The approval of each of the business combination proposal, the governance proposal (which is a non-binding advisory vote), the incentive plan proposal, the Nasdaq proposal and the adjournment proposal require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of EIC’s outstanding shares of common stock represented at the special meeting by attendance via the virtual meeting website or by proxy and entitled to vote at the special meeting. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is established, an EIC stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote at the special meeting with regard to the business combination proposal, the governance proposal, the incentive plan proposal, the Nasdaq proposal or the adjournment proposal will have no effect on such proposals.
The approval of the charter proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of EIC’s outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is established, an EIC stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote at the special meeting with regard to the charter proposal will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” such proposal.
Directors are elected by a plurality of all of the votes cast by holders of shares of EIC’s common stock represented at the special meeting by attendance via the virtual meeting website or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting. This means that the seven (7) director nominees who receive the most affirmative votes will be elected. EIC stockholders may not cumulate their votes with respect to the election of directors. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is established, an EIC stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote at the special meeting with regard to the director election proposal will have no effect on such proposal.
Our Sponsor has agreed to vote the Founder Shares in favor of the business combination proposal and the other proposals to be presented at the special meeting. The Sponsor owns 20% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Accordingly, if all of our outstanding shares of common stock were to be voted at the special meeting, we would need the affirmative vote of approximately 38% of the remaining shares of our outstanding common stock to approve the business combination proposal.
Q.
How many votes do I have at the special meeting?
A.
EIC stockholders are entitled to one vote on each proposal presented at the special meeting for each share of common stock held of record as of March 17, 2021, the record date for the special meeting. As of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the record date, there were 34,375,000 outstanding shares of our common stock.
Q.
What happens if I sell my shares of EIC Class A common stock before the special meeting?
A.
The record date for the special meeting is earlier than the date that the business combination is expected to be completed. If you transfer your shares of EIC Class A common stock after the record date, but before the special meeting, unless the transferee obtains from you a proxy to vote those shares, you will retain your right to vote at the special meeting. However, you will not be able to seek
redemption of your shares of EIC 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 EIC Class A common stock prior to the record date, you will have no right to vote those shares at the special meeting or redeem those shares for a pro rata portion of the proceeds held in our trust account.
Q.
Why is EIC proposing the governance proposal?
A.
As required by applicable SEC guidance, EIC is requesting that its stockholders vote upon, on a non-binding advisory basis, a proposal to approve certain governance provisions contained in the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation that materially affect stockholder rights. This separate vote is not otherwise required by Delaware law separate and apart from the charter proposal, but pursuant to SEC guidance, EIC is required to submit these provisions to its stockholders separately for approval. However, the stockholder vote regarding this proposal is an advisory vote, and is not binding on EIC or the Board (separate and apart from the approval of the charter proposal). Furthermore, the business combination is not conditioned on the separate approval of the governance proposal (separate and apart from approval of the charter proposal). Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 3 — The Governance Proposal.”
Q.
Did the Board obtain a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in determining whether or not to proceed with the business combination?
A.
The Board did not obtain a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in connection with its determination to approve the business combination with Blade. The officers and directors of EIC have substantial experience in evaluating the operating and financial merits of companies from a wide range of industries and concluded that their experience and backgrounds together with the experience and sector expertise of EIC’s financial and other advisors, as well as having consulted with a leading consulting firm regarding Blade’s market opportunities and competitive landscape, including the growth and strategic plan of Blade, enabled them to perform the necessary analyses and make determinations regarding the Transactions. In addition, EIC’s officers and directors and EIC’s advisors have substantial experience with mergers and acquisitions. Accordingly, investors will be relying solely on the judgment of the Board in valuing Blade’s business, and assuming the risk that the Board may not have properly valued such business.
Q.
Does the Sponsor and/or any of the EIC directors or officers have interests in the business combination proposal and the other proposals that may differ from or be in addition to the interests of EIC’s stockholders?
A.
The Sponsor, EIC’s executive officers and directors may have interests in the business combination proposal and the other proposals that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of EIC’s stockholders generally. These interests may cause the Sponsor and the directors and executive officers of EIC to view the business combination proposal and the other proposals differently than EIC’s stockholders generally may view them. The Board was aware of and considered these interests to the extent such interests existed at the time, among other matters, in approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger, and in recommending that the business combination proposal and other proposals be approved by EIC’s stockholders. For more information on the interests of the Sponsor and/or EIC’s directors and executive officers in the Merger, see “The Merger — Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination.”
Q.
Do I have redemption rights?
A.
If you are a holder of public shares, you have the right to demand that EIC redeem such shares for a pro rata portion of the cash held in EIC’s trust account regardless of whether you vote or vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the business combination proposal. EIC sometimes refers to these rights to demand redemption of the public shares as “redemption rights.”
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of public shares, together with any affiliate of his or any other person with whom such holder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) will be restricted from seeking redemption with respect to more than 15% of the public shares. Accordingly, all public shares in excess of 15% held by a public stockholder, together with
any affiliate of such holder or any other person with whom such holder is acting in concert or as a “group,” will not be redeemed.
Under EIC’s current certificate of incorporation, the business combination may be consummated only if EIC has at least $5,000,001 of Net Tangible Assets.
Q.
How do I exercise my redemption rights?
A.
If you are a holder of public shares and wish to exercise your redemption rights, no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on May 3, 2021 (two (2) business days prior to the date of the special meeting), you must:
(i)
submit a written request to EIC’s transfer agent that EIC redeem your public shares for cash,
(ii)
certify in such demand for redemption that you “ARE” or “ARE NOT” acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined in Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), and
(iii)
deliver such public shares to EIC’s transfer agent (physically or electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian) system).
Holders of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and Public Warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. Holders may instruct their broker to do so, or if a holder holds units registered in its own name, the holder must contact EIC’s transfer agent directly and instruct them to do so. Public stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares even if they vote “FOR” the business combination proposal.
Any holder of public shares will be entitled to demand that such holder’s shares be redeemed for a full pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account (which, for illustrative purposes, was approximately $276.9 million (or $10.07 per share) as of March 17, 2021, the record date for the special meeting). Such amount, less any owed but unpaid taxes on the funds in the trust account, will be paid promptly upon consummation of the business combination. However, under Delaware law, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to claims which could take priority over those of EIC’s public stockholders exercising redemption rights, regardless of whether such holders vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the business combination proposal.
Therefore, the per-share distribution from the trust account in such a situation may be less than originally anticipated due to such claims. Your vote on any proposal other than the business combination proposal will have no impact on the amount you will receive upon exercise of your redemption rights.
Any request for redemption, once made by a holder of public shares, may be withdrawn at any time up to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on May 3, 2021. If you deliver your shares for redemption to EIC’s transfer agent and later decide not to elect redemption, you may request that EIC’s transfer agent return the shares (physically or electronically). You may make such request by contacting EIC’s transfer agent at the address listed at the end of this section and must do so no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on May 3, 2021.
Any corrected or changed proxy card must be received by EIC’s transfer agent prior to the vote taken on the business combination proposal at the special meeting. No demand for redemption will be honored unless the holder’s stock has been delivered (either physically or electronically) to the transfer agent prior to the vote at the special meeting.
If demand is properly made as described above, then, if the business combination is consummated, EIC will redeem these shares for a pro rata portion of funds deposited in the trust account. If you exercise your redemption rights, then you will be exchanging your shares of EIC Class A common stock for cash.
Q.
Do I have appraisal rights if I object to the proposed business combination?
A.
No. Neither EIC stockholders nor its unit or warrant holders have appraisal rights in connection with the business combination under the DGCL. Please see the section entitled “Special Meeting of EIC Stockholders — Appraisal Rights.”
Q.
What happens to the funds deposited in the trust account after consummation of the business combination?
A.
The net proceeds of the EIC IPO, a total of $275,000,000, were placed in the trust account immediately following the EIC IPO. After consummation of the business combination, the funds in the trust account will be used to pay holders of the public shares who exercise redemption rights, to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the business combination (including aggregate fees of up to $9,625,000 as deferred underwriting commissions) and to fund future growth of the post-combination company. Please see the section entitled “The Merger — Sources and Uses for the Business Combination.”
Q.
What happens if a substantial number of public stockholders vote in favor of the business combination proposal and exercise their redemption rights?
A.
EIC’s public stockholders may vote in favor of the business combination and still exercise their redemption rights. Accordingly, the business combination may be consummated even though the funds available from the trust account and the number of public stockholders are substantially reduced as a result of redemptions by public stockholders. In the event a substantial number of public stockholders vote in favor of the business combination proposal and exercise their redemption rights, fewer funds in the trust account will be available to the post-combination company to fund future growth.
Q.
What happens if the business combination is not consummated?
A.
If EIC does not complete the business combination with Blade for whatever reason, EIC would search for another target business with which to complete a business combination. If EIC does not complete a business combination with Blade or another target business by September 17, 2021 (the end of the completion window), EIC must redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the amount then held in the trust account divided by the number of outstanding public shares. The Sponsor has no redemption rights in the event a business combination is not effected in the completion window, and, accordingly, the Founder Shares will be worthless. Additionally, in the event of such liquidation, there will be no distribution with respect to EIC’s outstanding warrants. Accordingly, the warrants will be worthless.
Q.
How does the Sponsor intend to vote on the proposals?
A.
The Sponsor owns of record and is entitled to vote an aggregate of 6,875,000 shares (or 20.0%) of EIC’s common stock as of the record date. None of EIC’s directors and officers own any public shares as of the date hereof. The Sponsor and EIC’s officers and directors have agreed to vote any Founder Shares and any public shares held by them as of the record date in favor of the Transactions. The Sponsor and EIC’s officers and directors may have interests in the business combination that may conflict with your interests as a stockholder. Please see the sections entitled “Summary — Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination” and “The Merger — Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination.”
Q.
How do I vote?
A.
The special meeting will be held via live webcast at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on May 5, 2021. The special meeting can be accessed by visiting https://web.lumiagm.com/230208333 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 special meeting by means of remote communication.
If you are a holder of record of EIC common stock on March 17, 2021, the record date for the special meeting, you may vote at the special meeting via the virtual meeting platform or by submitting a proxy for the special meeting. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope. If you hold your shares in “street name,” which means your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or nominee, you should contact your broker to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted. In this regard, you must provide the broker, bank or nominee with instructions on how to vote your shares or, if you wish to attend the meeting and vote, obtain a proxy from your broker, bank or nominee.
Q.
If my shares are held in “street name,” will my broker, bank or nominee automatically vote my shares for me?
A.
No. Under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, your broker, bank or nominee cannot vote your shares with respect to non-routine 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. We believe the proposals presented to the stockholders at the special meeting will be considered non-routine and, therefore, your broker, bank or nominee cannot vote your shares without your instruction on any of the proposals presented at the special meeting. If you do not provide instructions with your proxy, your broker, bank or other nominee may deliver a 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 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.
Q.
How will a broker non-vote impact the results of each proposal?
A.
Broker non-votes will count as a vote “AGAINST” the charter proposal but will not have any effect on the outcome of any other proposals.
Q.
May I change my vote after I have mailed my signed proxy card?
A.
Yes. Stockholders of record may send a later-dated, signed proxy card to EIC’s transfer agent at the address set forth at the end of this section so that it is received prior to the vote at the special meeting or attend the special meeting and vote. Stockholders also may revoke their proxy by sending a notice of revocation to EIC’s transfer agent, which must be received prior to the vote at the special meeting.
Q.
What happens if I fail to take any action with respect to the special meeting?
A.
If you fail to take any action with respect to the special meeting and the business combination is approved by stockholders, the business combination will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. In addition, failure to vote either “FOR” or “AGAINST” the business combination proposal means you will not have any redemption rights in connection with the business combination to exchange your shares of common stock for a pro rata share of the funds held in EIC’s trust account. If you fail to take any action with respect to the special meeting and the business combination is not approved, we will not consummate the business combination.
Q.
What will happen if I sign and return my proxy card without indicating how I wish to vote?
A.
Signed and dated proxies received by us without an indication of how the stockholder intends to vote on a proposal will be voted “FOR” each proposal presented to the stockholders. The proxyholders may use their discretion to vote on any other matters which properly come before the special meeting.
Q.
What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?
A.
Stockholders may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and multiple 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 proxy card. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast a vote with respect to all of your EIC shares.
Q.
Who can help answer my questions?
A.
If you have questions about the proposals to be voted on at the Special Meeting or if you need additional copies of the proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card you should contact:
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: EXPC.info@investor.morrowsodali.com
To obtain timely delivery, EIC stockholders must request any additional materials no later than five business days prior to the special meeting. You may also obtain additional information about EIC from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” If you are a holder of public shares and you intend to seek redemption of your public shares, you will need to deliver your stock (either physically or electronically) to EIC’s transfer agent at the address below prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on May 3, 2021. See the section entitled “The Merger — Redemption Rights for EIC Stockholders.”
If you have questions regarding the certification of your position or delivery of your stock, please contact:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219
Attention: AST Shareholder Services
(800) 937 5449
Email: Info@astfinancial.com
Questions and Answers About the Blade Consent Solicitation
Q.
Who is entitled to give a written consent for Blade?
A.
The Blade board of directors (the “Blade Board”) has set March 26, 2021 as the record date (the “Blade record date”) for determining Blade stockholders entitled to sign and deliver written consents with respect to this consent solicitation. Holders of outstanding shares of Blade Common Stock or Blade Preferred Stock as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Blade record date will be entitled to give a consent using the form of written consent to be furnished to them.
Q.
What approval is required by the holders of Blade Stock to adopt the Merger Agreement?
A.
The Merger cannot be completed unless Blade stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement and thereby approve the Transactions, including the Merger. The adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Merger requires the approval of (i) the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Common Stock and Blade Preferred Stock (on an as-converted-to-Blade Common Stock basis) as of the Blade record date, voting as a single class and (ii) the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock, as of the Blade record date, voting as a separate class (together, the “Blade Merger Approval”).
Q.
Did the Blade Board approve the business combination and the Merger Agreement?
A.
Yes. After consideration, the Blade Board unanimously approved and declared that the Merger Agreement and the business combination are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Blade and Blade’s stockholders and recommends that Blade stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger and the other Transactions. See the section entitled “Blade’s Solicitation of Written Consents — Recommendation of the Blade Board of Directors” of this consent solicitation.
Q.
Did the Blade Board obtain a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in determining whether or not to proceed with the Merger?
A.
The Blade Board did not obtain a third-party valuation or fairness opinion in connection with their determination to approve the Merger. The members of the Blade Board have substantial experience in evaluating the operating and financial merits of companies from a wide range of industries and concluded that its experience and backgrounds, together with the assistance of management and Blade’s financial advisor (Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC), enable the Blade Board to make the necessary analysis and determinations regarding the Merger. In addition, Blade’s advisors have substantial experience with mergers and acquisitions. Accordingly, investors will be relying solely on the judgment of the Blade Board and management team (after consultation with advisors) in valuing the Merger in the context of that collective experience.
Q.
Do any of the Blade directors or officers have interests in the Merger that may differ from or be in addition to the interests of Blade’s stockholders?
A.
Blade’s executive officers and certain non-employee directors may have interests in the Merger that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of Blade’s stockholders generally. These interests may cause the directors and executive officers of Blade to view the Merger differently than Blade’s stockholders generally may view them. The Blade Board was aware of and considered these interests to the extent such interests existed at the time, among other matters, in approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger, and in recommending that the Merger Agreement and the Merger be approved by Blade’s stockholders. For more information on the interests of Blade’s directors and executive officers in the Merger, see “The Merger — Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination.”
Q.
I am an employee of Blade who holds equity awards of Blade. How will my equity awards be treated in the Merger?
A.
As described in more detail in “The Merger Agreement — Treatment of Blade Securities,” at the effective time of the Merger:
•
The Merger will automatically cause the vesting of all Blade Options that were granted before December 14, 2020; provided that, to the extent (if at all) necessary to avoid an excise tax under Code Section 4999 or lost deductibility under Code Section 280G, certain vesting will be subject to approval of Blade’s stockholders.
•
Each Blade Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will be assumed by EIC and automatically converted into an EIC Option equal to the product of (1) the number of shares of Blade Common Stock that were issuable upon exercise of such Blade Option immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger multiplied by (2) the Closing Per Share Stock Consideration (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of EIC Class A common stock, with no cash being payable for any fractional share eliminated by such rounding), at an exercise price per share of EIC Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the exercise price per share of Blade Common Stock under such Blade Option immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger by the Closing Per Share Stock Consideration (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (rounded up to the nearest whole cent); and
•
Each Blade Restricted Share that is outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will be assumed and automatically converted into the right to receive a number of shares of EIC Class A common stock calculated pursuant to the Merger Agreement. Such shares of EIC Class A common stock will be subject to the same restrictions as in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (such restrictions are set forth in the applicable award agreement and the plan documents).
Q.
How can I return my written consent?
A.
If you hold shares of Blade Common Stock or Blade Preferred Stock as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Blade record date and you wish to submit your consent, you must fill out the written consent to be furnished to you, date and sign it, and promptly return it to Blade. Once you have completed,
dated and signed your written consent, deliver it to Blade by faxing your written consent to Blade, Attention: General Counsel, at (212) 967-1009 by emailing a .pdf copy of your written consent to investors@flyblade.com or by mailing your written consent to Blade at 31 Hudson Yards 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001.
Blade does not intend to hold a stockholders’ meeting to consider the Merger and, unless Blade decides to hold a stockholders’ meeting for such purposes, you will be unable to vote in person by attending a stockholders’ meeting.
Q.
What is the deadline for returning my written consent?
A.
The Blade Board has set 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on April 19, 2021 as the targeted final date for the receipt of written consents. Blade reserves the right to extend the final date for the receipt of written consents beyond April 19, 2021. Any such extension may be made without notice to Blade stockholders.
Under the Merger Agreement, Blade has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the Blade Merger Approval by the date that is ten (10) business days after this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement is declared effective by the SEC. Your prompt return of the written consent is important.
Q.
What happens if I do not return my written consent?
A.
If you hold shares of Blade as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Blade record date and you do not return your written consent, it will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the Transactions.
However, on December 14, 2020, certain Blade stockholders that collectively hold 58.83% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and 56.36% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Stock as of such date delivered Support Agreements pursuant to which such Blade stockholders agreed to irrevocably and unconditionally execute a written consent in respect of such shares of Blade Stock held by such Blade stockholders to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement. Each such Blade stockholder obligated to deliver its written consent within ten (10) business days after this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement is declared effective by the SEC. The obligations of the Blade stockholders that are party to the Support Agreements apply whether or not the Merger or any other action described in the Support Agreements is recommended by the Blade board of directors or the Blade board of directors has withdrawn or modified its recommendation that Blade stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger and the other Transactions. For more information on the Support Agreements, see the section entitled “Blade’s Solicitation of Written Consents — Support Agreements.”
Therefore, a failure of any other Blade stockholder to deliver a written consent is not expected to have any effect on the approval of the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the Transactions.
Q.
Can I dissent and require appraisal of my shares of Blade Common Stock or Blade Preferred Stock?
A.
Holders of Blade Stock who (i) do not consent to the adoption of the Merger Agreement, (ii) follow the procedures set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL (including making a written demand of appraisal to Blade within 20 days after the date of mailing of the notice of appraisal rights) and (iii) have not otherwise waived the appraisal rights, will be entitled, under Section 262 of the DGCL, to have their shares appraised by the Delaware Court of Chancery and to receive payment in cash of the “fair value” of the shares, exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger, together with interest, if any, to be paid on the amount determined to be “fair value.” The “fair value” of their shares as so determined could be more than, the same as or less than the consideration payable pursuant to the Merger Agreement. Failure to follow the procedures specified under Section 262 of the DGCL may result in the loss of appraisal rights. See “Appraisal Rights” herein and Section 262 of the DGCL attached as Annex I. However, pursuant to the Blade Amended and Restated Voting Agreement, Blade stockholders parties thereto have agreed to, among other things, refrain from exercising any dissenters’ or appraisal rights with respect to any such approved “Change of Control Transaction”
under applicable law, including the DGCL, and to vote all shares that are owned or controlled by the Blade stockholders in favor of any such approved Change of Control Transaction.
The Merger has been approved by the Blade Board. If it is approved by the holders of a majority of outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and a majority-in-interest of the Blade founders in compliance with the Blade Amended and Restated Voting Agreement, and assuming that the Blade stockholders will own less than a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of EIC after the closing of the Transactions, the Merger will constitute a “Change of Control Transaction” under the Blade Amended and Restated Voting Agreement. Holders of at least a majority of outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and a majority-in-interest of the Blade founders have committed to vote in favor of the Merger pursuant to the Support Agreements.
Q.
Can I change or revoke my written consent?
A.
Yes. You may change or revoke your consent to the proposal at any time before 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on April 19, 2021; however, such change or revocation is not expected to have any effect, as the delivery of the written consents contemplated by the Support Agreements will constitute the Blade Merger Approval at the time of such delivery. If you wish to change or revoke your consent before April 19, 2021 you may do so by sending in a new written consent with a later date by one of the means described in the section entitled “Blade’s Solicitation of Written Consents — Executing Consents; Revocation of Consents.”
Q.
What are the material United States federal income tax consequences of the Merger to Blade stockholders?
A.
Blade and EIC intend the Merger to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Merger so qualifies, Blade stockholders generally should not recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the receipt of shares of EIC Class A common stock issued in connection with the Merger (other than in respect of cash received in lieu of fractional shares, if any). Each Blade stockholder who receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of EIC Class A common stock should generally recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received in lieu of such fractional share and the stockholder’s tax basis allocable to such fractional share.
The obligations of Blade and EIC to complete the Merger are not conditioned on the receipt of opinions from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (counsel to EIC), Proskauer Rose LLP (counsel to Blade), or any other U.S. tax counsel to the effect that the Merger will qualify as a reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Merger does not qualify as a reorganization, it will be treated as a taxable stock sale and each Blade stockholder will generally recognize capital gain or loss, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, on the receipt of EIC Class A common stock issued to such Blade stockholder and on any cash received in lieu of fractional shares in connection with the Merger.
For a more detailed discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger, see “The Merger — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Business Combination.”
The consequences of the Merger to any particular stockholder will depend on that stockholder’s particular facts and circumstances. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your tax advisor to determine your tax consequences from the Merger, including the applicability and effect of U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax laws in light of your particular circumstances.
Q.
Should Blade stockholders send in their stock certificates now?
A.
No. Blade stockholders SHOULD NOT send in any stock certificates now. If the Merger Agreement is adopted and the Merger is consummated, transmittal materials, with instructions for their completion, will be provided under separate cover to Blade stockholders who hold physical stock certificates and the stock certificates should be sent at that time in accordance with such instructions.
Q.
Whom should I contact if I have any questions about the Blade consent solicitation?
A.
If you have any questions about the Merger or how to return your written consent, or if you need additional copies of this consent solicitation statement or a replacement written consent, you should contact investors@flyblade.com.
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement 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 special meeting, including the business combination proposal, you should read this entire document carefully, including the Merger Agreement attached as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement. The Merger Agreement is the legal document that governs the transactions that will be undertaken in connection with the business combination. It is also described in detail in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement in the section entitled “The Merger Agreement.”
The Parties
EIC
Experience Investment Corp., is a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on May 24, 2019 and formed solely for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. EIC is sponsored by the Sponsor, which is an indirect portfolio company of KSL Capital Partners V, L.P. and its parallel funds and is controlled by KSL Capital Partners V GP, LLC.
On September 17, 2019, EIC consummated its initial public offering of 27,500,000 units, including 2,500,000 units under the underwriters’ over-allotment option, with each unit consisting of one share of EIC Class A common stock and one-third (1/3) of one Public Warrant, each whole Public Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of EIC Class A common stock for $11.50 per share. The units were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds of $275,000,000. Simultaneously with the consummation of the EIC IPO, EIC consummated the private placement of 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant, generating total proceeds of $7,500,000.
Following the consummation of the EIC IPO, $275,000,000 was deposited into a U.S. based trust account with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC acting as trustee. Except as described in the prospectus for the EIC IPO, these proceeds will not be released until the earlier of the completion of an initial business combination and EIC’s redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares upon its failure to consummate a business combination within the completion window.
The units, EIC Class A common stock and Public Warrants are listed on the Nasdaq under the symbols EXPCU, EXPC and EXPCW, respectively.
The mailing address of EIC’s principal executive office is 100 St. Paul St., Suite 800, Denver, CO, 80206. Its telephone number is (720) 284-6400. After the consummation of the business combination, its principal executive office will be that of Blade.
Merger Sub
Experience Merger Sub, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of EIC formed solely for the purpose of effectuating the Merger described herein. Merger Sub was incorporated under the laws of Delaware as a corporation on December 8, 2020. Merger Sub owns no material assets and does not operate any business.
The mailing address of Merger Sub’s principal executive office is 100 St. Paul St., Suite 800, Denver, CO, 80206. Its telephone number is (720) 284-6400. After the consummation of the business combination, Merger Sub will cease to exist as a separate legal entity.
Blade
Blade is an asset-light, technology-powered, air mobility platform committed to reducing travel friction by providing cost-effective air transportation alternatives to some of the most congested ground routes in the United States and abroad.
Blade neither owns nor operates aircraft, leveraging an asset-light business model that relies on third-party, contracted operators to provide aircraft. All of the costs of owning and operating the aircraft
are borne by the third-party operators, including pilots, maintenance, hangar, insurance and fuel. The asset-light model provides Blade the flexibility to utilize aircraft best suited for a specific route. Blade believes that this asset-light model will better position the company to transition to Electric Vertical Aircraft (“EVA”), once they are available, given that Blade is not constrained by the ownership of current generation aircraft. To date, no EVA aircraft have been certified by the FAA and, to our knowledge, none has been denied certification.
Blade typically pre-negotiates fixed hourly rates and flight times with third-party aircraft operators, and only pays for flights actually flown, creating a predictable and flexible cost structure. However, if such third-party operators do not perform adequately, terminate their relationships with Blade, or are unable to match the company’s growth in demand, Blade’s costs may increase or it may be forced to reduce the number of flights it offers.
Blade was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on December 22, 2014. The mailing address of Blade’s principal executive office is 31 Hudson Yards 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001. Its telephone number is (212) 967-1009.
Emerging Growth Company
EIC is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As such, it is eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in their periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find EIC’s securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for EIC’s securities and the prices of its securities may be more volatile.
EIC will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following September 17, 2024, the fifth anniversary of the completion of the EIC IPO, (b) in which EIC has total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which EIC is deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of EIC’s common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the end of the prior fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter; and (2) the date on which EIC has issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
EIC will continue to be an “emerging growth company” immediately following consummation of the Transactions.
The Business Combination Proposal
Structure of the Transactions
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions therein, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Blade, with Blade surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of EIC. In connection with the consummation of the Transactions, EIC will change its name to “Blade Air Mobility, Inc.”
Merger Consideration
Subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the total Merger Consideration will consist of an aggregate of 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock (which amount assumes all of the EIC Options are net exercised). At the Reference Price of $10.00 per share of EIC Class A common stock, the total Merger Consideration would have a value of $356,250,000.
For more information regarding the sources and uses of the funds utilized to consummate the Transactions, please see the section entitled “The Merger — Sources and Uses for the Business Combination.”
Related Agreements
Sponsor Letter Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Sponsor entered into a Sponsor Letter Agreement with EIC, Blade and KSL Advisors, LLC that amended and restated the prior letter agreement in its entirety with respect to Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed, among other things, (a) to appear at the EIC special meeting or otherwise cause its shares to be counted as present for the purpose of establishing quorum; (b) to vote in person or by proxy, or cause to be voted at such special meeting in person, or by proxy, in favor of the Merger and the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions; and (c) to vote in person, or by proxy, against any action that would reasonably be expected to materially impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the Transactions or result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of the Sponsor under the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Sponsor Letter Agreement, prior to the valid termination of the Merger Agreement, the Sponsor is subject to certain non-solicitation restrictions restricting the Sponsor and its affiliates from, among other things, soliciting, discussing or entering into agreements for alternative business combinations.
The Sponsor also agreed, subject to the Investor Rights Agreement and subject to certain exceptions, not to transfer any Founder Shares (or any shares of EIC Class A common stock issuable upon conversion thereof) or any Private Placement Warrants (or any shares of EIC Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) until the earlier of (a) 180 days after the completion of the Merger or (b) such future date following the completion of the Merger on which EIC completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or similar transaction that results in all of EIC’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of EIC Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property. For additional information, see “Certain Other Agreements Relating to the Transactions — Sponsor Letter Agreement.”
Blade Stockholder Support Agreements
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain Blade stockholders that collectively hold 58.83% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and 56.36% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Stock delivered Support Agreements dated December 14, 2020, pursuant to which, among other things, such Blade stockholders agreed to irrevocably and unconditionally execute a written consent in respect of such shares of Blade Stock held by such Blade stockholders to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement within ten (10) business days after the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement is a part is declared effective by the SEC. The directors and executive officers of Blade and their affiliates, collectively hold 47.2% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and 56.7% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blade Stock. The obligations of the Blade stockholders that are party to the Support Agreements apply whether or not the Merger or any other action described in the Support Agreements is recommended by the Blade board of directors or the Blade board of directors has withdrawn or modified its recommendation that Blade stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger and the other Transactions. For additional information, see “Certain Other Agreements Relating to the Transactions — Blade Stockholder Support Agreements.”
Investor Rights Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, EIC entered into the Investor Rights Agreement with the Sponsor and certain stockholders of Blade, including Robert Wiesenthal and other executive officers of Blade. The Investor Rights Agreement will become effective upon the closing of the Transactions.
Pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement, the Board will nominate a number of individuals designated by the Sponsor for election as its directors at any meeting of its stockholders (each a “Sponsor Director”) such that, following the election of any directors and taking into account any director continuing to serve as such without the need for re-election, the number of Sponsor Directors serving as directors of EIC will be equal to: (a) if the Sponsor (or its permitted transferees) continues to beneficially own at least 50% of the shares of EIC Class A common stock beneficially owned by the Sponsor at the closing of the Merger (in each case, including the shares of EIC Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement
Warrants and upon conversion of the Founder Shares), two directors, and (b) if the Sponsor (or its permitted transferees) continues to beneficially own at least 25% (but less than 50%) of the shares of EIC Class A common stock beneficially owned by the Sponsor at the closing of the Merger (in each case, including the shares of EIC Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and upon conversion of the Founder Shares), one director. The Board also agrees to take all actions (to the extent such actions are not prohibited by applicable law and within the Board’s control) to cause the chief executive officer of EIC to be one of its directors.
Pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement, certain parties will be entitled to certain registration rights, including, among other things, customary demand, shelf and piggy-back rights, subject to customary cut-back provisions. Pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement, certain parties will agree not to sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of shares of EIC Class A common stock or warrants to purchase shares of EIC Class A common stock they receive in connection with the Transactions or otherwise beneficially own at Closing for certain time periods specified therein. For additional information, see “Certain Other Agreements Relating to the Transactions — Investor Rights Agreement.”
PIPE Subscription Agreements
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, EIC entered into the PIPE Subscription Agreements with respect to the PIPE Investment. Pursuant to the PIPE Subscription Agreements, certain accredited investors, including an affiliate of the Sponsor, have committed to purchase 12,500,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock at a purchase price per share of $10.00 and an aggregate purchase price of $125,000,000. The closing of the PIPE Investment is conditioned on all conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement having been satisfied or waived and other customary closing conditions, and will be consummated concurrently with the closing of the Merger. As part of the PIPE Investment, Steele ExpCo, the managing member of the Sponsor, has committed to purchase 2,005,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock for $20,050,000. Based on the closing price per share of EIC Class A common stock on April 1, 2021, the shares of EIC Class A common stock to be purchased by Steele ExpCo as part of the PIPE Investment had an aggregate market value of approximately $21.1 million.
For additional information, see “Certain Other Agreements Relating to the Transactions — PIPE Subscription Agreements,” “The Merger — Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination” and “The Merger — Sources and Uses for the Business Combination.”
Lockup Agreements.
Certain stockholders have agreed that they will not during the Lock-Up Period (as defined below), directly or indirectly, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise dispose of any shares of common stock of the post-combination company, or any options or warrants to purchase any shares of common stock of the post-combination company, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of common stock of the post-combination company, or any interest in any of the foregoing. The Lock-Up Period begins on the closing date of the Merger and continues for a period of six months after the closing date, unless terminated earlier by mutual consent of the parties. For a more detailed description of the Lockup Agreements, see the section titled “Certain Other Agreements Relating to the Transaction — Lockup Agreements.”
Incentive Plan
On April 5, 2021, the Board adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the Incentive Plan for the purpose of providing a means through which to attract, motivate and retain key personnel and to provide a means whereby our directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors can acquire and maintain an equity interest in us, or be paid incentive compensation, including incentive compensation measured by reference to the value of our Class A common stock, thereby strengthening their commitment to our welfare and aligning their interests with those of our stockholders. Stockholders are being asked to consider and approve the Incentive Plan, which will reserve 8,250,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock (the “Absolute Share Limit”) for issuance pursuant to grants made under the Incentive Plan, except that the Absolute Share Limit will be increased (A) on the first day of each fiscal year after the fiscal year in which the closing of the Merger occurs in an amount equal to the least of (x) 4,125,000 shares of EIC Class A common
stock, (y) 5.0% of the total number of shares of EIC Class A common stock outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (z) a lower number of shares of EIC Class A common stock as determined by the Board and (B) for any shares of EIC Class A common stock underlying awards outstanding under the Fly Blade, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan that, on or after the closing date of the Merger, expire or are canceled, forfeited, terminated, or otherwise are not issued (e.g., due to settlement in cash). Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 4 — The Incentive Plan Proposal — Material Terms of the Incentive Plan.”
Impact of the Business Combination on the Post-Combination Company’s Public Float
It is anticipated that, upon completion of the Transactions: (a) EIC’s public stockholders (other than the PIPE Investors) will retain an ownership interest of approximately 33.3% in the post-combination company; (b) the PIPE Investors (other than the Sponsor and its affiliates) will own approximately 12.7% of the post-combination company; (c) the Sponsor (and its affiliates) will own approximately 10.8% of the post-combination company; and (d) current holders of Blade Stock and Blade Options will collectively own approximately 43.2% of the post-combination company (excluding shares purchased by current Blade stockholders in the PIPE Investment). These levels of ownership interest: (a) exclude the impact of the shares of EIC Class A common stock underlying the warrants and those reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan and (b) assume that no EIC public stockholder exercises redemption rights with respect to its shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in EIC’s trust account and that 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock are issued as Merger Consideration and are outstanding as of the closing of the Merger (which assumes all EIC Options have been exercised and the payment of the exercise price for such EIC Options is net settled).
For more information, please see the sections entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” and “Proposal No. 4 — The Incentive Plan Proposal.”
The following table illustrates varying ownership levels in the post-combination company, assuming no redemptions by EIC’s public stockholders and the maximum redemptions by EIC’s public stockholders as described above:
|
|
|
Assuming No
Redemptions(1)
|
|
|
Assuming Maximum
Redemptions(1)(2)
|
|
EIC’s public stockholders (other than the PIPE Investors)
|
|
|
|
|
33.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
—% |
|
|
PIPE Investors (other than the Sponsor and its affiliates)
|
|
|
|
|
12.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
19.1% |
|
|
Sponsor (and its affiliates)
|
|
|
|
|
10.8% |
|
|
|
|
|
16.1% |
|
|
Current holders of Blade Stock and Blade Options(3)
|
|
|
|
|
43.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
64.8% |
|
|
(1)
Assumes 35,625,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock are issued as Merger Consideration and reflects the shares of EIC Class A common stock underlying the EIC Options (assuming that the payment of the exercise price for such EIC Options is net settled) as issued and outstanding as of the closing of the Merger.
(2)
Assumes all 27,500,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock will be redeemed.
(3)
Certain Blade stockholders have committed to purchase an aggregate of 210,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock in the PIPE Investment. Those shares are excluded from the ownership amounts for current holders of Blade Stock and Blade Options.
Matters Being Voted On
The stockholders of EIC will be asked to consider and vote on the following proposals at the special meeting:
1.
a proposal to approve the business combination described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, including adopting the Merger Agreement and approving the Transactions described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 1 — The Business Combination Proposal”;
2.
a proposal to approve and adopt the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation of EIC. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 2 — The Charter Proposal”;
3.
a proposal to vote upon, on a non-binding advisory basis, certain governance provisions in the second amended and restated certificate of incorporation, presented separately in accordance with requirements of the SEC. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 3 — The Governance Proposal”;
4.
a proposal to approve and adopt the Incentive Plan and the material terms thereunder, including the authorization of the initial share reserve thereunder. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 4 — The Incentive Plan Proposal”;
5.
a proposal to elect seven (7) directors to serve staggered terms on the Board until immediately following the annual meeting of EIC stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, as applicable, and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 5 — The Director Election Proposal”;
6.
a proposal to approve, for purposes of complying with the applicable provisions of Nasdaq Rules 5635(a), (b) and (d), the issuance of (a) more than 20% of EIC’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock in connection with the Transactions, including, without limitation, the Merger Consideration and the PIPE Investment, and the issuance of more than 20% of EIC’s issued and outstanding shares to a single holder (which may constitute a change of control under the Nasdaq Rules) and (b) shares of EIC Class A common stock to a director, officer or Substantial Shareholder (as defined by Nasdaq Rule 5635(e)(3)) in connection with the Transactions. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 6 — The Nasdaq Proposal”; and
7.
a proposal to adjourn the special meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary, to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for, or otherwise in connection with, the approval of the business combination proposal, the charter proposal, the governance proposal, the incentive plan proposal, the director election proposal or the Nasdaq proposal. Please see the section entitled “Proposal No. 7 — The Adjournment Proposal.”
Date, Time and Place of Special Meeting of EIC’s Stockholders
The special meeting of stockholders of EIC will be held via live webcast at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on May 5, 2021. The special meeting can be accessed by visiting https://web.lumiagm.com/230208333, 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 special meeting by means of remote communication,
At the special meeting, stockholders will be asked to consider and vote upon the business combination proposal, the charter proposal, the governance proposal, the incentive plan proposal, the director election proposal, the Nasdaq proposal and, if necessary, the adjournment proposal to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies if EIC is not able to consummate the Transactions.
Voting Power; Record Date
Stockholders will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the special meeting if they owned shares of EIC common stock at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on March 17, 2021, which is the record date for the special meeting. Stockholders will have one vote for each share of EIC common stock owned at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the record date. If your shares are held in “street name” or are in a margin or similar account, you should contact your broker to ensure that votes related to the shares you beneficially own are properly counted. EIC warrants do not have voting rights. On the record date, there were 34,375,000 shares of EIC common stock outstanding, of which 27,500,000 were public shares with the rest being held by the Sponsor.
Quorum and Vote of EIC Stockholders
A quorum of EIC stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present at the EIC special meeting if a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting are represented in person or by proxy. Proxies that are marked “abstain” will be treated as shares present for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum on all matters. 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 special meeting.
The Sponsor owns of record and is entitled to vote an aggregate of 6,875,000 shares (or 20.0%) of EIC’s common stock as of the record date. None of EIC’s directors and officers own any public shares as of the date hereof. The Sponsor and EIC’s officers and directors have agreed to vote any Founder Shares and any public shares held by them as of the record date in favor of the Transactions.
The proposals presented at the special meeting will require the following votes:
•
the approval of each of the business combination proposal, the governance proposal (which is a non-binding advisory vote), the incentive plan proposal, the Nasdaq proposal and the adjournment proposal require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by holders of EIC’s outstanding shares of common stock represented at the special meeting by attendance via the virtual meeting website or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is established, an EIC stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote at the special meeting with regard to the business combination proposal, the governance proposal, the incentive plan proposal, the Nasdaq proposal and the adjournment proposal will have no effect on such proposals;
•
the approval of the charter proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of EIC’s outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is established, an EIC stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote at the special meeting with regard to the charter proposal will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” such proposal; and
•
directors are elected by a plurality of all of the votes cast by holders of shares of EIC’s common stock represented at the special meeting by attendance via the virtual meeting website or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting. This means that the seven (7) director nominees who receive the most affirmative votes will be elected. EIC stockholders may not cumulate their votes with respect to the election of directors. Accordingly, if a valid quorum is established, an EIC stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote at the special meeting with regard to the director election proposal will have no effect on such proposal.
Abstentions will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the charter proposal, but will have no effect on the other proposals. Please note that holders of the public shares cannot seek redemption of their shares for cash unless they affirmatively vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the business combination proposal.
Consummation of the Transactions is conditioned on the approval of each of the business combination proposal, the charter proposal, the incentive plan proposal and the Nasdaq proposal. If any of these proposals are not approved, or the consent of the requisite Blade stockholders is not received, we will not consummate the Transactions.
Redemption Rights
Pursuant to EIC’s current certificate of incorporation, a holder of public shares may demand that EIC redeem such shares for cash if the business combination is consummated. Holders of public shares will be entitled to receive cash for these shares only if, no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on May 3, 2021 (two (2) business days prior to the date of the special meeting), they:
(i)
submit a written request to EIC’s transfer agent that EIC redeem their public shares for cash,
(ii)
certify in such demand for redemption that they “ARE” or “ARE NOT” acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined in Section 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), and
(iii)
deliver such public shares to EIC’s transfer agent (physically or electronically).
If the business combination is not completed, these shares will not be redeemed. If a holder of public shares properly demands redemption, regardless of whether such holder votes or votes “FOR” or “AGAINST” the business combination proposal, EIC will redeem each public share for a full pro rata
portion of the funds held in the trust account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the business combination. As of March 17, 2021, the record date for the special meeting, this would amount to approximately $10.07 per share. If a holder of public shares exercises its redemption rights, then it will be exchanging its shares of EIC common stock for cash and will no longer own the shares. Please see the section entitled “Special Meeting of EIC Stockholders — Redemption Rights” for a detailed description of the procedures to be followed if you wish to redeem your shares for cash.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of public shares, together with any affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than 15% of the public shares.
Accordingly, all public shares in excess of 15% held by a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such holder or any other person with whom such holder is acting in concert or was a “group,” will not be redeemed for cash.
The business combination will not be consummated if EIC has Net Tangible Assets of less than $5,000,001.
Holders of warrants will not have redemption rights with respect to such securities.
Appraisal Rights
EIC stockholders, unitholders and warrantholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with the Transactions under the DGCL.
Blade stockholders who wish to exercise appraisal rights, or preserve the ability to do so, must not deliver a signed written consent adopting the Merger Agreement. For additional information, see “Appraisal Rights.” However, pursuant to the Blade Amended and Restated Voting Agreement, Blade stockholders parties thereto have agreed to, among other things, refrain from exercising any dissenters’ or appraisal rights with respect to any such approved “Change of Control Transaction” under applicable law, including the DGCL, and to vote all shares that are owned or controlled by the Blade stockholders in favor of any such approved Change of Control Transaction.
The Merger has been approved by the Blade Board. If it is approved by the holders of a majority of outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and a majority-in-interest of the Blade founders in compliance with the Blade Amended and Restated Voting Agreement, and assuming that the Blade stockholders will own less than a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of EIC after the closing of the Transactions, the Merger will constitute a “Change of Control Transaction” under the Blade Amended and Restated VotingAgreement. Holders of at least a majority of outstanding shares of Blade Preferred Stock and a majority-in interest of the Blade founders have committed to vote in favor of the Merger pursuant to the Support Agreements.
Proxy Solicitation
Proxies may be solicited by mail, telephone or in person. EIC has engaged Morrow Sodali LLC (“Morrow Sodali”) to assist in the solicitation of proxies. If a stockholder grants a proxy, it may still vote its shares during the meeting if it revokes its proxy before the special meeting. A stockholder may also change its vote by submitting a later-dated proxy as described in the section entitled “Special Meeting of EIC Stockholders — Revoking Your Proxy.”
Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination
In considering the recommendation of the Board to vote in favor of approval of the business combination proposal and the other proposals, stockholders should keep in mind that the Sponsor and the officers and directors of EIC or Blade have interests in such proposals that are different from, or in addition to, those of stockholders generally. In particular:
•
If the Transactions or another business combination are not consummated by September 17, 2021 (the end of the completion window), EIC will cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, redeeming 100% of the outstanding public shares for cash and, subject to the approval of its
remaining stockholders and the Board, dissolving and liquidating. In such event, the Founder Shares held by the Sponsor would be worthless because the holders thereof are not entitled to participate in any redemption or distribution with respect to such shares. Such shares had an aggregate market value of approximately $83.9 million based upon the closing price of $12.20 per share on the Nasdaq on March 17, 2021, the record date for the special meeting.
•
The Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants from EIC for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000 (or $1.50 per warrant). These purchases took place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of the EIC IPO. A portion of the proceeds EIC received from these purchases was placed in the trust account. Such warrants had an aggregate market value of approximately $15.7 million based upon the closing price of $3.13 per warrant on the Nasdaq on March 17, 2021, the record date for the special meeting. The Private Placement Warrants will become worthless if EIC does not consummate a business combination by September 17, 2021 (the end of the completion window).
•
Eric Affeldt and Edward Philip will become directors of the post-combination company after the closing of the Transactions. As such, in the future each may receive cash fees, stock options or stock awards that the post-combination board of directors determines to pay to its executive and non-executive directors.
•
Eric Affeldt holds economic interests in the Sponsor equivalent to 605,250 shares of EIC Class A common stock and 350,000 Private Placement Warrants. In addition, Rafael Pastor, Edward Philip and Brian Witherow hold economic interests in the Sponsor equivalent to 50,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock that are subject to forfeiture in the event their status as a director of EIC terminates for any reason prior to the date of consummation of the initial business combination. Charlie Martin, Michael Mohapp and Martin Newburger are employed by an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners but did not receive any compensation for their services as an officer or director, as applicable, of EIC.
•
If EIC is unable to complete a business combination within the completion window, the Sponsor will be liable under certain circumstances to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by EIC for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to EIC. If EIC consummates a business combination, on the other hand, EIC will be liable for all such claims.
•
EIC’s officers and directors and their affiliates are entitled to reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on EIC’s behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of expenses that may be reimbursed, however, to date, the aggregate amount of expenses reimbursed has been less than $0.1 million. If EIC fails to consummate a business combination within the completion window, they will not have any claim against the trust account for reimbursement. Accordingly, EIC may not be able to reimburse these expenses if the Transactions or another business combination are not completed within the completion window.
•
The continued indemnification of EIC’s current directors and officers and the continuation of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
•
EIC has entered into a PIPE Subscription Agreement with Steele ExpCo pursuant to which Steele ExpCo has committed to purchase 2,005,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock in the PIPE Investment for an aggregate commitment of $20,050,000. Steele ExpCo is the managing member of the Sponsor. Based on the closing price per share of EIC Class A common stock on April 1, 2021, the shares of EIC Class A common stock to be purchased by Steele ExpCo as part of the PIPE Investment had an aggregate market value of approximately $21.1 million.
•
If the Sponsor makes working capital loans to us, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into Working Capital Warrants. The terms of any such Working Capital Warrants are identical to the terms of EIC’s existing Private Placement Warrants held by the Sponsor. No such working capital loans by the Sponsor are expected to be outstanding as of the Closing.
•
In January 2021, Blade entered into an agreement with Ross Aviation, which is an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners, to launch air commuter service between the Westchester/Connecticut area and New
York City and both Blade and Ross Aviation also agreed to work together to mutually develop plans for vertical landing infrastructure (“vertiports”) in Westchester and to offer Blade services at Ross Aviation locations in Massachusetts and California.
Certain of Blade’s executive officers and directors may have interests in the Merger that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of Blade stockholders. The members of the Blade Board were aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, when they approved the Merger Agreement and recommended that Blade stockholders approve the proposals required to effect the Merger. See “The Merger — Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination.”
Board of Directors following the Business Combination
Upon consummation of the Transactions, the Board anticipates each Class I director will have a term that expires immediately following EIC’s annual meeting of stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2021, each Class II director will have a term that expires immediately following EIC’s annual meeting of stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2022 and each Class III director will have a term that expires immediately following EIC’s annual meeting of stockholders for the calendar year ended December 31, 2023, or in each case until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation, removal or death.
Eric Affeldt (Chairman), Jane Garvey, Kenneth Lerer, Susan Lyne, Edward Philip, Robert Wiesenthal and David Zaslav will each be nominated to serve as directors of the post-combination company upon completion of the Transactions.
Please see the sections entitled “Proposal No. 5 — The Director Election Proposal” and “Management After the Business Combination” for additional information.
Recommendation of the EIC Board of Directors
The Board believes that the business combination proposal and the other proposals to be presented at the special meeting are fair to and in the best interest of EIC’s stockholders and unanimously recommends that its stockholders vote “FOR” the business combination proposal, “FOR” the charter proposal, “FOR” the governance proposal, “FOR” the incentive plan proposal, “FOR” the director election proposal, “FOR” the Nasdaq proposal and “FOR” the adjournment proposal, if presented.
When you consider the Board’s recommendation of these proposals, you should keep in mind that our directors and officers have interests in the business combination that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of EIC stockholders generally. Please see the section entitled “The Merger — Interests of Certain Persons in the Business Combination” for additional information. The Board was aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Transactions and in recommending to the EIC stockholders that they vote “FOR” the proposals presented at the special meeting.
Recommendation of the Blade Board of Directors
After consideration, the Blade Board adopted resolutions determining that the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Blade and its stockholders, adopting and approving the Merger Agreement and the Transactions, including the Merger, and directing that the Merger Agreement be submitted to the holders of Blade Stock for consideration. The Blade Board recommends that Blade stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement by submitting a written consent and thereby approve the Merger and the Transactions by executing and delivering the written consent furnished with this consent solicitation.
For a description of various factors considered by the Blade Board in reaching its decision to adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger and the Transactions, see the section titled “The Merger — Blade’s Board of Directors’ Reasons for Approval of the Transactions.”
Conditions to the Closing of the Business Combination
General Conditions
Consummation of the Transactions is conditioned on the approval of the business combination proposal, the charter proposal, the incentive plan proposal and the Nasdaq proposal, as described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement.
In addition, consummation of the Transactions is subject to customary conditions of the respective parties, including, among others:
•
the following conditions to both parties’ obligation to consummate the Transactions: (i) the Merger shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the stockholders of EIC and the stockholders of Blade; (ii) the applicable waiting period(s) pursuant to the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated (which condition has been waived for so long as Blade does not satisfy the “size of person” test under the HSR Act); (iii) EIC shall have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets immediately following the Closing (after giving effect to the exercise by the holders of EIC's public shares of their right to redeem their shares into their pro rata share of the trust account in accordance with EIC's certificate of incorporation, the PIPE Investment and the other transactions contemplated to occur upon the Closing, including the payment of transaction expenses); (iv) this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement is approved by the SEC and declared effective and no stop-order suspending its effectiveness shall be in effect and no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the SEC; (v) the Class A common stock to be issued in connection with the Transactions shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq or NYSE (or with the written consent of Blade, another nationally recognized stock exchange), subject, if applicable, to official notice of issuance thereof; (vi) taking into account the PIPE Investment and after giving effect to exercise by the holders of EIC’s public shares of their right to redeem their shares into their pro rata share of the trust account in accordance with EIC’s certificate of incorporation, immediately prior to Closing and without giving effect to any of the other Transactions (and without deducting expenses related to the Transactions that are to be paid at or after Closing), EIC shall have, on a consolidated basis, at least $100,000,000 in cash and cash equivalents; (vii) EIC's certificate of incorporation shall be amended and restated in the form attached hereto as Annex F; and (viii) no governmental authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any order that is in effect and has effect of making the Transactions illegal, or otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of such Transactions or causing any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement to be rescinded following completion thereof; and
•
the following conditions to either party’s obligation to consummate the Transactions: (i) there has been no Material Adverse Effect (in the case of EIC) or Acquiror Material Adverse Effect (in the case of Blade) (each, as defined in the Merger Agreement) that is continuing with respect to the other party since the date of the Merger Agreement; (ii) accuracy of the other party’s representations and warranties at the Closing, subject to the materiality standards set forth in the Merger Agreement, (iii) performance or compliance in all material respects by the other party of its covenants to be performed or complied with as of or prior to the Closing; and (iv) delivery by the other party of customary closing certificates and the continued effectiveness of certain additional agreements.
For more information, see “The Merger Agreement — Conditions to the Closing of the Merger” and “Certain Other Agreements Relating to the Transactions.”
Tax Consequences of the Business Combination
For a description of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Transactions and the exercise of redemption rights, please see the information set forth in “The Merger — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Business Combination.”
Anticipated Accounting Treatment
The Transactions will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, EIC will be treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. This determination was based primarily on Blade having the ability to appoint a majority of the initial Board of the combined entity, Blade’s senior management comprising the majority of the senior management of the combined company, and the ongoing operations of Blade comprising the ongoing operations of the combined company. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Transactions will be treated as the equivalent of Blade issuing shares for the net assets of EIC, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of EIC will be stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded. Operations prior to the Transactions will be those of Blade.
Regulatory Matters
Under the HSR Act and the rules that have been promulgated thereunder by the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”), certain transactions may not be consummated unless information has been furnished to the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “Antitrust Division”) and the FTC and certain waiting period requirements have been satisfied. Based on Blade’s balance sheet as of September 30, 2020, Blade would not satisfy the “size of person” test to make a filing under the HSR Act. EIC, Merger Sub and Blade have waived the requirements to make filings under the HSR Act under the Merger Agreement and the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act as a condition to their obligations under the Merger Agreement for so long as Blade does not satisfy the “size of person” test under the HSR Act.
At any time before or after consummation of the Transactions, the applicable competition authorities could take such action under applicable antitrust laws as each deems necessary or desirable in the public interest, including seeking to enjoin the consummation of the Transactions. Private parties may also seek to take legal action under the antitrust laws under certain circumstances. There is no assurance that the Antitrust Division, the FTC, any state attorney general, or any other government authority will not attempt to challenge the Transactions on antitrust grounds, and, if such a challenge is made, we cannot assure you as to its result.
Neither EIC nor Blade is aware of any material regulatory approvals or actions that are required for completion of the Transactions. It is presently contemplated that if any such regulatory approvals or actions are required, those approvals or actions will be sought. There can be no assurance, however, that any additional approvals or actions will be obtained.
Litigation Matters
On February 5 and 9, 2021, a putative class action complaint and an individual complaint captioned, respectively, Castillo v. Experience Investment Corp., et al. (No. 020521-110) and Digennaro v. Experience Investment Corp., et al. (No. 020921-104) were filed in New York state court. On March 25, 2021, an amended complaint was filed in the Castillo action. The operative complaints in both actions name Experience Investment Corp.; its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Eric Affeldt; and its directors Mr. Martin J. Newburger, Mr. Brian C. Witherow, Mr. Rafael Pastor, and Mr. Edward Philip. Additionally, the Digennaro complaint names Experience Merger Sub, Inc. and BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc. The complaints assert claims for breach of fiduciary duty against Experience’s officer and directors and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty against the entities in connection with alleged material misstatements and omissions made in the Company’s Form S-4, filed January 29, 2021. The complaints seek, inter alia, injunctive relief enjoining or rescinding the Transaction, injunctive relief directing the filing of an amended registration statement, and damages.
Risk Factors
In addition to the other information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, including the matters addressed under the heading “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” you should carefully consider all of the risks and uncertainties described in the section of this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement captioned “Risk Factors” following this Summary. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
Risks Related to Blade’s Business and Growth Strategy
•
Blade has incurred significant losses since inception, and it expects to incur losses in the future and may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability;
•
The duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and similar public health threats that Blade may face in the future, could result in additional adverse effects on its business operations and financial results;
•
The markets for Blade’s offerings are still in relatively early stages of growth, and if such markets do not continue to grow, grow more slowly than Blade expects or fail to grow as large as it expects, Blade’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected;
•
The success of Blade’s business will be highly dependent on its ability to effectively market and sell air transportation as a substitute for conventional methods of transportation;
•
Blade’s operations are concentrated in a small number of metropolitan areas and airports which makes the business particularly susceptible to natural disasters, outbreaks and pandemics, economic, social, weather, growth constraints and regulatory conditions or other circumstances affecting these metropolitan areas;
•
Electric Vertical Aircraft (“EVA’’), or as known within the aerospace community, Electrical Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft (“eVTOL’’), may not be successfully developed and certified for public use. EVA may not be adopted by the market or Blade’s third-party aircraft operators, EVA may not be certified by transportation authorities or EVA may not deliver the expected reduction in operating costs, which could adversely affect Blade’s prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations;
•
If Blade is not able to successfully enter into new markets and offer new routes and services and enhance its existing offerings, Blade’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected;
•
Blade expects to face intense competition in the urban air mobility industry;
•
If Blade experiences harm to its reputation and brand, Blade’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected;
•
Blade is especially vulnerable to delays, cancellations or flight rescheduling, as it relies on maintaining a high daily aircraft usage rate, and needs to aggregate fliers on its by-the-seat flights to lower direct costs to third-party operators;
•
System failures, defects, errors or vulnerabilities in our website, applications, backend systems or other technology systems or those of third-party technology providers could harm Blade's reputation and brand and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations;
•
Blade relies on its information technology systems to manage numerous aspects of its business and a cyberattack of Blade’s information technology systems could disrupt Blade’s ability to deliver services and lead to increased costs, decreased sales and harm to Blade's reputation;
Risks Related to Blade’s Dependence on Third-Party Providers
•
Blade relies on its third-party operators to provide and operate aircraft to move its fliers. If such third-party operators do not perform adequately or terminate their relationships with Blade, Blade’s costs may increase and the Blade’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected;
•
If Blade’s third-party aircraft operators are unable to match the company’s growth in demand or Blade is unable to add additional third-party aircraft operators to its platform to meet demand, Blade’s costs may increase and Blade’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected;
•
If Blade encounters problems with any of its third-party aircraft operators or third-party service providers, such as workforce disruptions, Blade’s operations could be adversely affected by a resulting decline in revenue or negative public perceptions about its services;
•
Operation of aircraft involves a degree of inherent risk. Blade could suffer losses and adverse publicity stemming from any accident involving small aircraft, helicopters or charter flights and in particular from any accident involving its third-party aircraft operators;
Legal and Regulatory Risks Related to Blade’s Business
•
Blade’s business is subject to a wide variety of extensive and evolving laws and regulations, which may result in increases in its costs, disruptions to Blade’s operations, limits on its operating flexibility, reductions in the demand for air travel, and competitive disadvantages;
•
Blade may be blocked from or limited in providing or offering its services in certain jurisdictions, and may be required to modify its business model in those jurisdictions as a result;
•
Failure to comply with federal, state and foreign laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer protection, or the expansion of current or the enactment of new laws or regulations in these areas, could adversely affect Blade’s business and its financial condition;
•
Blade has identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. If Blade’s remediation of these material weaknesses is not effective or Blade otherwise fails to maintain an effective system of internal controls, Blade may not be able to accurately or timely report its financial condition or results of operations, which may adversely affect the value of the EIC Class A common stock and Blade’s ability to comply with applicable regulations, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the continued listing standards of the Nasdaq;
Risks Related to the Business Combination and Ownership of EIC’s common stock and warrants
•
The Sponsor and EIC’s officers and directors have agreed to vote in favor of the business combination, regardless of how EIC’s public stockholders vote, and may have interests in the business combination that are different from or are in addition to other stockholders in recommending that public stockholders vote “FOR” the business combination proposal and the other proposals described herein;
•
Following the consummation of the Transactions, the Nasdaq may not continue to list EIC’s securities and/or an active market for EIC’s securities may not continue or develop, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and may adversely impact the value of EIC’s securities;
•
The Board did not obtain a third party valuation or fairness opinion in determining whether or not to proceed with the business combination;
•
Activities taken by existing EIC stockholders to increase the likelihood of approval of the business combination proposal and the other proposals described herein could have a depressive effect on EIC’s securities; For example, as a result of actions taken to incentivize an investor or holder to vote their shares in favor of the business combination proposal, such investor or holder may have the ability to effectively purchase shares of EIC Class A common stock at a price lower than market and may therefore be more likely to sell the shares they own, either prior to or immediately after the special meeting, which sales could depress the trading price of the EIC Class A common stock.
•
EIC’s public stockholders will experience dilution and have reduced influence on EIC as a consequence of, among other transactions, the issuance of EIC Class A common stock as consideration in the business combination and the PIPE Investment;
•
A significant portion of the outstanding EIC Class A common stock following the business combination will be restricted from immediate resale, but may be sold into the market in the future which could cause the market price of EIC Class A common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well;
•
If the business combination’s benefits do not meet the expectations of investors, stockholders or financial analysts, the market price of EIC’s securities may decline;
Risks Related to the Redemption
•
A failure to timely tender your shares of EIC Class A common stock and/or vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the business combination proposal will make your shares of EIC Class A common stock ineligible for redemption;
•
Redeeming your public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account may not put you in a better future economic position; and
Risks If the Adjournment Proposal Is Not Approved
•
If the adjournment proposal is not approved, the Board will not have the ability to adjourn the special meeting to a later date in order to solicit further votes in favor of the business combination, and, therefore, the business combination may not occur.
In evaluating the proposals to be presented at the special meeting, you should carefully read this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and especially consider the factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors.”
EIC’S SUMMARY HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
EIC is providing the following summary historical financial information to assist you in your analysis of the financial aspects of the Transactions.
EIC’s balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and statement of operations data for the year ended December 31, 2020 and the period from May 24, 2019 (inception) through December 31, 2019 are derived from EIC’s audited financial statements, included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement.
This information is only a summary and should be read in conjunction with EIC’s financial statements and related notes and “Information About EIC” and “EIC’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The historical results included below and elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement are not indicative of the future performance of EIC.
Statement of Operations Data:
|
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, 2020
|
|
|
Period from
May 24, 2019
(inception) through
December 31, 2019
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
Formation and operating costs
|
|
|
|
$ |
678 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
268 |
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
|
|
(678) |
|
|
|
|
|
(268) |
|
|
Other income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest on marketable securities held in trust account
|
|
|
|
|
1,017 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,262 |
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
338 |
|
|
|
|
|
993 |
|
|
Benefit (provision) for income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
(210) |
|
|
|
|
|
(209) |
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
|
$ |
128 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
785 |
|
|
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, common stock subject to possible redemption
|
|
|
|
|
26,160,492 |
|
|
|
|
|
26,187,830 |
|
|
Basic and diluted net income per share, common stock subject to possible redemption
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, common stock
|
|
|
|
|
8,214,508 |
|
|
|
|
|
7,170,375 |
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per common share, common stock
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.05) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.01) |
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands, except share data)
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
|
$ |
846 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,306 |
|
|
Marketable securities held in trust account
|
|
|
|
$ |
276,943 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
276,262 |
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
|
$ |
277,839 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
277,692 |
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
|
$ |
10,016 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,996 |
|
|
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption, 26,136,620 and 26,180,927 shares at redemption value as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively
|
|
|
|
$ |
262,824 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
262,696 |
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
$ |
277,839 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
277,692 |
|
|
BLADE’S SUMMARY HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following tables present summary historical consolidated financial information of Blade for the periods presented. The consolidated statement of operations data for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 and the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2020 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020, September 30, 2019 and 2020 have been derived from Blade’s audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement.
You should read the summary financial data presented below in conjunction with “Blade’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Blade’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement. Historical operating results are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended December 31,
|
|
|
Year Ended September 30,
|
|
Statement of Operations Data:
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
Revenue
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,986 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,223 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
23,434 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
31,196 |
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
|
|
|
6,322 |
|
|
|
|
|
5,757 |
|
|
|
|
|
21,107 |
|
|
|
|
|
26,497 |
|
|
Software development
|
|
|
|
|
186 |
|
|
|
|
|
230 |
|
|
|
|
|
861 |
|
|
|
|
|
751 |
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
|
|
3,411 |
|
|
|
|
|
3,008 |
|
|
|
|
|
9,292 |
|
|
|
|
|
10,476 |
|
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
|
|
435 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,032 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,533 |
|
|
|
|
|
5,013 |
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
10,354 |
|
|
|
|
|
10,027 |
|
|
|
|
|
33,793 |
|
|
|
|
|
42,737 |
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
|
|
(2,368) |
|
|
|
|
|
(4,804) |
|
|
|
|
|
(10,359) |
|
|
|
|
|
(11,541) |
|
|
Other non-operating income (expense)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
91 |
|
|
|
|
|
200 |
|
|
|
|
|
718 |
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
(15) |
|
|
Total other income
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
91 |
|
|
|
|
|
199 |
|
|
|
|
|
703 |
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
$ |
(2,361) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(4,713) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(10,160) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(10,838) |
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted(1)
|
|
|
|
|
12,616,039 |
|
|
|
|
|
12,508,608 |
|
|
|
|
|
12,512,567 |
|
|
|
|
|
12,409,010 |
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per common share(2)
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.19) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.38) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.81) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.87) |
|
|
|
|
|
As of
December 31
2020
|
|
|
As of
September 30
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
|
$ |
18,332 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
17,715 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
26,619 |
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
|
$ |
8,336 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
6,635 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,884 |
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,996 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
11,080 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
20,735 |
|
|
(1)
Excluded from the calculation of weighted average dilutive common shares were stock options to purchase 13,391,751 and 11,754,833 shares of common stock as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and 22,116,811 and 22,116,811 shares of Convertible Preferred Stock as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. Excluded from the calculation of weighted average dilutive common shares were stock options to purchase 10,040,803 and 7,793,765 shares of common stock as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and 22,116,811
shares of Convertible Preferred Stock as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.
(2)
Diluted loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, plus the impact of common shares, if dilutive, resulting from the exercise of outstanding stock options.
SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data (the “summary pro forma data”) gives effect to the business combination and the Transactions described in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.” Operations prior to the Transactions will be those of Blade. The Transactions will be accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, EIC will be treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes.
Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Transactions will be treated as the equivalent of Blade issuing shares of common stock for the net assets of EIC, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of EIC will be recognized at fair value (which is expected to be consistent with carrying value), with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020 combines the historical audited balance sheet of EIC as of December 31, 2020 with the historical unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of Blade as of December 31, 2020, giving effect to the Transactions as if they had been consummated on that date, including the following: (a) the PIPE Investment was funded in full and 12,500,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share were issued, of which 2,005,000 shares will be purchased by Steele ExpCo, (b) the estimated transaction costs of approximately $32.0 million to be incurred with the Transactions are capitalized, (c) no Working Capital Warrants were issued, (d) all 6,875,000 outstanding shares of EIC Class B common stock were converted to shares of EIC Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, (e) the repayment of Blade’s unsecured loan (“PPP Loan”) in the principal amount of $1.2 million pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) under the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), (f) 26,074,271 shares of EIC Class A common stock were issued in exchange for outstanding shares of Blade Common Stock and Blade Preferred Stock and (g) 9,550,690 shares of EIC Class A common stock were issued upon the exercise of EIC Options at a weighted average exercise price of $0.19 per share (which EIC Options were issued pursuant to the assumption and conversion of Blade Options to purchase an aggregate of 13,391,751 shares of Blade Common Stock at a weighted average exercise price of $0.14 per share) and assuming that the payment of the exercise price for such EIC Options was net settled.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations data for the three months ended December 31, 2020 combines the historical unaudited condensed statement of operations of EIC for the three months ended December 31, 2020 with the historical unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of Blade for the three months ended December 31, 2020. The historical unaudited condensed statement of operations of EIC for the three months ended December 31, 2020 was derived by subtracting the historical unaudited condensed statement of operations of EIC for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from the historical audited statement of operations of EIC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations data for the twelve months ended September 30, 2020 combines the unaudited condensed statement of operations of EIC for the twelve months ended September 30, 2020 with the historical audited consolidated statement of operations of Blade for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. The unaudited condensed statement of operations of EIC for the twelve months ended September 30, 2020 was derived by adding the historical unaudited condensed statement of operations of EIC for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, and the historical audited statement of operations for EIC for the period from May 24, 2019 (inception) through December 31, 2019, and subtracting the historical unaudited condensed statement of operations of EIC for the period from May 24, 2019 (inception) through September 30, 2019. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations data of the Combined Entity for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and twelve months ended September 30, 2020 give effect to the Transactions as if they had consummated on October 1, 2019.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined data have been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and the accompanying notes in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.” The summary unaudited pro forma data is based upon, and should be read in conjunction with, the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes of EIC and Blade for the applicable
periods included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement. The summary unaudited pro forma data is for illustrative purposes only and is based on information currently available and management’s assumptions and estimates. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not necessarily reflect what the Combined Entity’s financial condition or results of operations would have been had the Transactions occurred on the dates indicated. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information also may not be useful in predicting the future financial condition and results of operations of the combined company.
The actual financial position and results of operations may differ significantly from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared assuming two redemption scenarios after giving effect to the Transactions, as follows:
•
Assuming No Redemptions: this scenario assumes that no EIC public stockholder exercises redemption rights with respect to its public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in EIC’s trust account; and
•
Assuming Maximum Redemptions: this scenario assumes that EIC public stockholders holding 27.5 million of EIC’s public shares (i.e., all of EIC’s public shares) exercise their redemption rights and that such shares are redeemed for their pro rata share (assuming $10.00 per share) of the funds in EIC’s trust account for aggregate redemption proceeds of $275.0 million. Under the Merger Agreement, the consummation of the Transactions is conditioned upon, among other things, (1) immediately prior to Closing and without giving effect to any of the other Transactions (and without deducting expenses related to the Transactions that are to be paid at or after Closing), EIC having, on a consolidated basis, at least $100,000,000 in cash and cash equivalents and (2) immediately following Closing and after giving effect to all of the other Transactions (including the payment of expenses related to the Transactions that are to be paid at or after Closing), EIC having at least $5,000,001 of Net Tangible Assets. This scenario gives effect to the maximum number of redemptions that meet these conditions.
|
|
|
Assuming No
Redemptions
|
|
|
Assuming
Maximum
Redemptions
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined
Statements of Operations Data for the Three Months Ended
December 31, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
$ |
(2,703) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(2,703) |
|
|
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding, basic and diluted
|
|
|
|
|
82,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
55,000,000 |
|
|
Net loss per share of Class A common stock, basic and diluted
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.03) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.05) |
|
|
Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined
Statements of Operations Data for the Twelve Months Ended
September 30, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
$ |
(11,607) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(11,607) |
|
|
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding, basic and diluted
|
|
|
|
|
82,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
55,000,000 |
|
|
Net loss per share of Class A common stock, basic and diluted
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.14) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.21) |
|
|
Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance
Sheet Data as of December 31, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
|
$ |
384,345 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
107,402 |
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
|
$ |
388,006 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
111,063 |
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,325 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,325 |
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,536 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
7,536 |
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
$ |
380,470 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
103,527 |
|
|
SUMMARY COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA
The following table sets forth selected historical comparative share information for EIC and Blade, respectively, and unaudited pro forma condensed combined per share information of EIC after giving effect to the Transactions, assuming two redemption scenarios as follows:
•
Assuming No Redemptions: this scenario assumes that no EIC public stockholder exercises redemption rights with respect to its public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in EIC’s trust account; and
•
Assuming Maximum Redemptions: this scenario assumes that EIC public stockholders holding 27.5 million of EIC’s public shares (i.e., all of EIC’s public shares) exercise their redemption rights and that such shares are redeemed for their pro rata share (assuming $10.00 per share) of the funds in EIC’s trust account for aggregate redemption proceeds of $275.0 million. Under the Merger Agreement, the consummation of the Transactions is conditioned upon, among other things, (1) immediately prior to Closing and without giving effect to any of the other Transactions (and without deducting expenses related to the Transactions that are to be paid at or after Closing), EIC having, on a consolidated basis, at least $100,000,000 in cash and cash equivalents and (2) immediately following Closing and after giving effect to all of the other Transactions (including the payment of expenses related to the Transactions that are to be paid at or after Closing), EIC having at least $5,000,001 of Net Tangible Assets. This scenario gives effect to the maximum number of redemptions that meet these conditions.
The pro forma book value information reflects the following Transactions as if they had occurred on December 31, 2020: (a) the PIPE Investment was funded in full and 12,500,000 shares of EIC Class A common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share were issued, of which 2,005,000 shares will be purchased by Steele ExpCo, (b) the estimated transaction costs of approximately $32.0 million to be incurred with the Transactions are capitalized, (c) no Working Capital Warrants were issued, (d) all 6,875,000 outstanding shares of EIC Class B common stock were converted to shares of EIC Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, (e) the repayment of Blade’s PPP Loan in the principal amount of $1.2 million, (f) 26,074,271 shares of EIC Class A common stock were issued in exchange for outstanding shares of Blade Common Stock and Blade Preferred Stock and (g) 9,550,690 shares of EIC Class A common stock were issued upon the exercise of EIC Options at a weighted average exercise price of $0.19 per share (which EIC Options were issued pursuant to the adoption and conversion of Blade Options to purchase an aggregate of 13,391,751 shares of Blade Common Stock at a weighted average exercise price of $0.14 per share) and assuming that the payment of the exercise price for such EIC Options was net settled.
This information is only a summary and should be read together with the selected historical financial information included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, and the audited and unaudited financial statements of EIC and Blade and related notes that are included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement. The unaudited EIC and Blade pro forma combined per share information is derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined loss per share information below does not purport to represent the earnings per share which would have occurred had the companies been combined during the periods presented, nor earnings per share for any future date or period. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined book value per share information below does not purport to represent what the value of EIC and Blade would have been had the companies been combined during the period presented.
|
|
|
Historical Blade(1)
|
|
|
Historical EIC(1)
|
|
|
Pro Forma Combined
|
|
|
|
|
As of and for
the Three
Months Ended
December 31,
2020
|
|
|
As of and for
the Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
2020
|
|
|
As of and for
the Year Ended
December 31,
2020
|
|
|
As of and for the
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2020
|
|
|
Assuming No
Redemptions
|
|
|
Assuming
Maximum
Redemptions
|
|
Book value per share(2)
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.28 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.61 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.61 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
4.61 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1.88 |
|
|
Weighted average shares of EIC Class A common stock outstanding, basic and diluted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,208,043 |
|
|
|
|
|
8,214,508 |
|
|
|
|
|
82,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
55,000,000 |
|
|
Net loss per share of EIC Class A common stock, basic and
diluted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.03) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.05) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.03) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.05) |
|
|
Weighted average shares of Blade Common Stock outstanding, basic and diluted
|
|
|
|
|
12,616,039 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share of Blade Common Stock, basic and diluted
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.19) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Historical Blade(1)
|
|
|
Historical EIC(1)
|
|
|
Pro Forma Combined
|
|
|
|
|
As of and for the
Year Ended
September 30,
2020
|
|
|
As of and for
the Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
2020
|
|
|
As of and for
the period from
May 24, 2019
(inception)
through
December 31,
2019
|
|
|
As of and for the
Year Ended
September 30, 2020
|
|
|
Assuming No
Redemptions
|
|
|
Assuming
Maximum
Redemptions
|
|
Weighted average shares of EIC Class A common stock outstanding, basic and diluted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,208,043 |
|
|
|
|
|
7,170,375 |
|
|
|
|
|
82,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
55,000,000 |
|
|
Net loss per share of EIC Class A common stock, basic and
diluted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.03) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.01) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.14) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.21) |
|
|
Weighted average shares of Blade Common Stock outstanding, basic and diluted
|
|
|
|
|
12,512,567 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per share of Blade Common Stock, basic and diluted
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.81) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
Neither EIC nor Blade declared or paid any cash dividends during the periods presented.
(2)
Book value per share is equal to total stockholders’ equity divided by total outstanding shares classified in permanent equity.
The earnings per share amounts exclude the anti-dilutive impact from shares of EIC Class A common stock underlying the warrants.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement includes statements that express EIC’s and Blade’s 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/consent solicitation statement and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, the Transactions, the benefits of the Transactions, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the markets in which Blade operates. Such forward-looking statements are based on available current market material and management’s expectations, beliefs and forecasts concerning future events impacting EIC and Blade. Factors that may impact such forward-looking statements include:
•
loss of Blade’s customers;
•
decreases in Blade’s existing market share;
•
effects of competition;
•
effects of pricing pressure;
•
the inability of Blade’s customers to pay for Blade’s services;
•
the loss of Blade’s existing relationships with operators;
•
the loss of key members of Blade’s management team;
•
changes in Blade’s regulatory environment, including aviation law and FAA regulations;
•
the inability to implement information systems or expand Blade’s workforce;
•
changes in Blade’s industry;
•
heightened enforcement activity by government agencies;
•
interruptions or security breaches of Blade’s information technology systems;
•
the expansion of privacy and security laws;
•
Blade’s ability to expand Blade’s infrastructure network;
•
Blade’s ability to identify, complete and successfully integrate future acquisitions;
•
Blade’s ability to remediate any material weaknesses or maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting;
•
the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement;
•
the inability to complete the Transactions due to the failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of EIC, the approval of stockholders of Blade or other conditions to closing in the Merger Agreement;
•
the ability to meet applicable listing standards following the consummation of the Transactions;
•
the risk that the proposed Transactions disrupt current plans and operations of Blade as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Transactions;
•
the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the post-combination company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees;
•
costs related to the proposed business combination;
•
the possibility that EIC or Blade may be adversely affected by other political, economic, business and/or competitive factors;
•
the impact of COVID-19 and its related effects on EIC’s or Blade’s projected results of operations, financial performance or other financial metrics;
•
the inability or unavailability to use or take advantage of the shift, or lack thereof, to EVA technology;
•
pending or potential litigation associated with the proposed business combination;
•
other factors disclosed in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement; and
•
other factors beyond EIC’s or Blade’s control.
The forward-looking statements contained in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement are based on EIC’s and Blade’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Transactions and Blade. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting EIC and/or Blade will be those that EIC or Blade has anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond either EIC’s or Blade’s 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. EIC and Blade 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 an EIC stockholder grants its proxy or instructs how its vote should be cast at the special meeting, or a Blade stockholder returns its written consent, as applicable, it should be aware that the occurrence of the events described in the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement may adversely affect EIC and Blade.
RISK FACTORS
Stockholders should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with all of the other information included in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, before they decide whether to vote or instruct their vote to be cast to approve the proposals described in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement. The following risk factors apply to the business and operations of Blade and will also apply to the business and operations of the post-combination company following the completion of the business combination. 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 an adverse effect on the business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations of the post-combination company. You should also carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information included in this proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, including matters addressed in the section entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” EIC or Blade may face additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known to us or Blade, or that we or Blade currently deem immaterial, which may also impair our or Blade’s business or financial condition. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes to the financial statements of both EIC and Blade included herein.
Risks Related to Blade’s Business and Growth Strategy
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this subsection to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to the business of Blade prior to the consummation of the business combination, which will be the business of EIC and its subsidiaries following the consummation of the business combination.
We have incurred significant losses since inception, we expect to incur losses in the future and we may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability.
We have incurred significant losses since inception. While we currently generate revenue from the sale of air transportation, it is difficult for us to predict our future operating results. As a result, our losses may be larger than anticipated, and we may not achieve profitability when expected, or at all, and even if we do, we may not be able to maintain or increase profitability. Further, our future growth is heavily dependent upon the availability of EVA. There can be no assurance that regulatory approval and availability of EVA, or consumer acceptance of EVA, will occur in a timely manner, if at all. In addition, there may be additional costs associated with the initial build out of EVA infrastructure needed to service our routes and we cannot be sure that EVA will result in expected cost savings or efficiencies, which could in turn affect our profitability.
The duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and similar public health threats that we may face in the future, could result in additional adverse effects on our business operations and our financial results.
The COVID-19 outbreak, along with the measures governments and private organizations worldwide have implemented in an attempt to contain the spread of this pandemic, have resulted in a severe decline in demand for air travel and have adversely affected our business, operations and financial condition to an unprecedented extent. Measures such as travel restrictions, “shelter in place” and quarantine orders, limitations on public gatherings, cancellation of public events and many other restrictions have resulted in a precipitous decline in demand for business and leisure travel generally, including demand for our air mobility services. For example, historically our business has been comprised of business travel and commuter traffic, which largely has been replaced by “virtual meeting” and teleconferencing products or become unnecessary as a result of the significant number of people now working from home.
As a result of COVID-19, we paused our New York airport transfer service beginning in March 2020 and significantly reduced the number of our Northeast commuter flights. As a result of the substantial decline in demand for our services, we also reduced our employee headcount. In addition, we did not renew agreements with certain of our operators for charter services, and there is no guarantee that we will be able to enter into new agreements with such operators and corporate customers when flight operations resume. The duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic remain uncertain, and there can be no assurance that these actions will sustain our business and operations through this pandemic.
On April 8, 2020, we received a loan in the principal amount of approximately $1,200,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act. We used the proceeds of the PPP Loan to help sustain our employee payroll costs and rent due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There can be no assurance that similar government-backed loans or other assistance would be available to us in the future if our other sources of liquidity, including operating revenue, are not sufficient to meet our cash requirements.
The full extent of the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on our longer-term operational and financial performance will depend on future developments, many of which are outside our control, including the duration and spread of COVID-19, the availability and acceptance of vaccines, travel advisories, curfews or “shelter in place” health orders, the impact of COVID-19 on overall long-term demand for air travel, increasing acceptance of employees working from home, government mandates restricting air service, sickness or quarantine of our employees or third-party aircraft operators resulting from exposure to COVID-19, and the impact of COVID-19 on the financial health and operations of our business partners, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. At this time, we are not able to predict whether the COVID-19 pandemic will result in permanent changes to our customers’ behavior or their demand for our urban air mobility services.
The markets for our offerings are still in relatively early stages of growth, and if such markets do not continue to grow, grow more slowly than we expect or fail to grow as large as we expect, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Blade’s urban air mobility service has grown rapidly since we launched our business in 2014, though it is still relatively new, and it is uncertain to what extent market acceptance will continue to grow, if at all. Further, we currently operate in a limited number of metropolitan areas. The success of these markets to date and the opportunity for future growth in these markets may not be representative of the potential market for urban air mobility in other metropolitan areas. Our success will depend to a substantial extent on regulatory approval and availability of EVA technology, as well as the willingness of commuters and travelers to widely-adopt urban air mobility as an alternative for ground transportation. If the public does not perceive urban air mobility as beneficial, or chooses not to adopt urban air mobility as a result of concerns regarding safety, affordability or for other reasons, then the market for our offerings may not further develop, may develop more slowly than we expect or may not achieve the growth potential we expect, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The New York airport transfer market has not been served on a by-the-seat air transportation basis since U.S. Helicopter offered helicopter service in the 2000s. Furthermore, some of the other markets where we plan to expand have never been served by by-the-seat helicopter services. As a result, the number of potential fliers using our urban air mobility services cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to operate in a profitable manner in any of our current or targeted future markets.
Growth of our business will require significant investments in our infrastructure, technology and marketing and sales efforts. Historically, cash flow from operations has not been sufficient to support these needs. If our business does not generate the level of available cash flow required to support these investments, our results of operations will be negatively affected. Further, our ability to effectively manage growth and expansion of our operations will also require us to enhance our operational systems, internal controls and infrastructure, human resources policies and reporting systems. These enhancements will require significant capital expenditures and allocation of valuable management and employee resources.
The success of our business will be highly dependent on our ability to effectively market and sell air transportation as a substitute for conventional methods of transportation.
We generate substantially all of our revenue from the sale of air transportation. Our success depends in part on our ability to cost-effectively attract new fliers, retain existing fliers and increase utilization of our platform by existing fliers. Historically, we have made, and expect that we will need to continue to make, significant investments and implement strategic initiatives in order to attract new fliers, such as flier acquisition campaigns and the launching of new scheduled routes. For example, for the years ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, flier acquisition campaigns represented approximately 10% and 18% of our revenues, respectively. These investments and initiatives may not be effective in generating sales growth or
profits. In addition, marketing campaigns can be expensive and may not result in the acquisition of additional fliers in a cost-effective manner, if at all. As our brand becomes more widely known, future marketing campaigns or brand content may not attract new fliers at the same rate as past campaigns or brand content. If we are unable to attract new fliers, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.
Our fliers have a wide variety of options for transportation, including business aviation, commercial airlines, private aircraft operators, personal vehicles, rental cars, taxis, public transit and ridesharing offerings. To expand our flier base, we must appeal to new fliers who have historically used other forms of transportation. If fliers do not perceive our urban air mobility services to be reliable, safe and cost-effective, or if we fail to offer new and relevant services and features on our platform, we may not be able to attract or retain fliers or increase their utilization of our platform. If we fail to continue to grow our flier base, retain existing fliers or increase the overall utilization of our platform, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The EVA industry may not continue to develop, EVA may not be adopted by the market or our third-party aircraft operators, EVA may not be certified by transportation authorities or EVA may not deliver the expected reduction in operating costs, any of which could adversely affect our prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations.
EVA involves a complex set of technologies, which we rely on original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) to develop and our third-party aircraft operators to adopt. However, before EVA can fly passengers, OEMs must receive requisite approvals from federal transportation authorities. No EVA aircraft are currently certified by the FAA for commercial operations in the United States, and there is no assurance that OEM research and development will result in government certified aircraft that are market-viable or commercially successful in a timely manner or at all. In order to gain government certification, the performance, reliability and safety of EVA must be proven, none of which can be assured. Even if EVA aircraft are certified, individual operators must conform EVA aircraft to their licenses, which requires FAA approval, and individual pilots also must be licensed and approved by the FAA to fly EVA aircraft, which could contribute to delays in any widespread use of EVA and potentially limit the number of EVA operators available to our business.
Additional challenges to the adoption of EVA, all of which are outside of our control, include:
•
market acceptance of EVA;
•
state, federal or municipal licensing requirements and other regulatory measures;
•
necessary changes to infrastructure to enable adoption, including installation of necessary charging equipment; and
•
public perception regarding the safety of EVA.
There are a number of existing laws, regulations and standards that may apply to EVA, including standards that were not originally intended to apply to electric aircraft. Regulatory changes that address EVA more specifically could delay the ability of OEMs to receive type certification by transportation authorities and thus delay our third-party aircraft operators’ ability to utilize EVA for our flights. In addition, there can be no assurance that the market will accept EVA, that we will be able to execute on our business strategy, or that our offerings utilizing EVA will be successful in the market. There may be heightened public skepticism of this nascent technology and its adopters. In particular, there could be negative public perception surrounding EVA, including the overall safety and the potential for injuries or death occurring as a result of accidents involving EVA, regardless of whether any such safety incidents occur involving Blade. Any of the foregoing risks and challenges could adversely affect our prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we are not able to successfully enter into new markets and offer new routes and services and enhance our existing offerings, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our growth will depend in part on our ability to successfully enter into new markets, create and introduce new routes, and expand our existing routes by adding more frequent flights. Significant changes to our
existing routes or the introduction of new and unproven routes may require us to obtain and maintain applicable permits, authorizations or other regulatory approvals. If these new or expanded routes are unsuccessful or fail to attract a sufficient number of fliers to be profitable, or we are unable to bring new or expanded routes to market efficiently, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. Furthermore, new third-party aircraft operator or flier demands regarding our services, including the availability of superior routes or a deterioration in the quality of our existing routes, could negatively affect the attractiveness of our platform and the economics of our business and require us to make substantial changes to and additional investments in our routes or our business model.
Developing and launching new routes or enhancements to our existing routes involves significant risks and uncertainties, including risks related to the reception of such routes by existing and potential future third-party aircraft operators and fliers, increases in operational complexity, unanticipated delays or challenges in implementing such routes or enhancements, increased strain on our operational and internal resources (including an impairment of our ability to accurately forecast flier demand and the number of third-party aircraft operators using our platform) and negative publicity in the event such new or enhanced routes are perceived to be unsuccessful. We have scaled our business rapidly, and significant new initiatives have in the past resulted in such operational challenges affecting our business. In addition, developing and launching new routes and enhancements to our existing routes may involve significant upfront investment, such as additional marketing and terminal buildout, and such investments may not generate return on investment. Any of the foregoing risks and challenges could negatively impact our ability to attract and retain qualified third-party aircraft operators and fliers and our ability to increase utilization of our routes, and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Operation of aircraft involves a degree of inherent risk. We could suffer losses and adverse publicity stemming from any accident involving small aircraft, helicopters or charter flights and in particular from any accident involving our third-party aircraft operators.
The operation of aircraft is subject to various risks, and demand for air transportation, including our urban air mobility services, has and may in the future be impacted by accidents or other safety issues regardless of whether such accidents or issues involve Blade flights, our third-party aircraft operators or aircraft flown by our third-party aircraft operators. Air transportation hazards, such as adverse weather conditions and fire and mechanical failures, may result in death or injury to personnel and passengers and which could impact client or passenger confidence in a particular aircraft type or the air transportation services industry as a whole and could lead to a reduction in passenger volume, particularly if such accidents or disasters were due to a safety fault. Safety statistics for air travel are reported by multiple parties, including the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) and National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”), and are often separated into categories of transportation. Because our urban air mobility services include a variety of transportation methods, fliers may have a hard time determining how safe urban air mobility services are and their confidence in urban air mobility may be impacted by, among other things, the classification of accidents in ways that reflect poorly on urban air mobility services or the transportation methods urban air mobility services utilize.
While we do not own, operate or maintain aircraft, we believe that safety and reliability are two of the primary attributes fliers consider when selecting air transportation services. Our failure to maintain standards of safety and reliability that are satisfactory to our fliers may adversely impact our ability to retain current customers and attract new customers. We are at risk of adverse publicity stemming from any public incident involving our company, our people or our brand. Such an incident could involve the actual or alleged behavior of any of our employees or third-party aircraft operators. Further, if our personnel, one of our third-party operators’ aircraft, one of our third-party operators’ Blade-branded aircraft, or a type of aircraft in our third-party operators’ fleet that is used by us is involved in a public incident, accident, catastrophe or regulatory enforcement action, we could be exposed to significant reputational harm and potential legal liability. The insurance we carry may be inapplicable or inadequate to cover any such incident, accident, catastrophe or action. In the event that our insurance is inapplicable or inadequate, we may be forced to bear substantial losses from an incident or accident. In addition, any such incident, accident, catastrophe or action involving our employees, one of the Blade-branded aircraft used by us belonging to our third-party operators’ fleet (or personnel and aircraft of our third-party operators), or the same type of aircraft could create an adverse public perception, which could harm our reputation, result in air travelers being reluctant
to use our services, and adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. If one or more of our third-party aircraft operators were to suffer an accident or lose the ability to fly certain aircraft due to safety concerns or investigations, we may be required to cancel or delay certain flights until replacement aircraft and personnel are obtained.
Our operations may also be negatively impacted by accidents or other safety-related events or investigations that occur in or near the airports and heliports we utilize for our urban air mobility services. For example, if an accident were to occur at a heliport we rely on for certain flights, we may be unable to fly into or out of that heliport until the accident has been cleared, any damages to the facilities have been repaired and any insurance, regulatory or other investigations have be completed.
We expect to face intense competition in the urban air mobility industry.
The urban air mobility industry is still developing and evolving, but we expect it to be highly competitive. Our potential competitors may be able to devote greater resources to the development of their current and future technologies or the promotion and sale of their offerings, or offer lower prices. For example, some multimodal transportation providers have expressed interest in air mobility, and Uber Technologies, Inc. has a significant investment in a company that is developing EVA aircraft. Moreover, potential manufacturers of EVAs may choose to develop vertically integrated businesses, or they may contract with competing air mobility service providers rather than entering into operating contracts with us, which would be a threat to our business. Our potential competitors also may establish cooperative or strategic relationships among themselves or with third parties, including regional or national helicopter or heliport operations that we rely on to offer our urban air mobility services, which may further enhance their resources and offerings. It is possible that domestic or foreign companies or governments, some with greater experience in the urban air mobility industry or greater financial resources than we possess, will seek to provide products or services that compete directly or indirectly with ours in the future. Any such foreign competitor could benefit from subsidies or other protective measures provided by its home country.
We believe our ability to compete successfully as an urban air mobility service will depend on a number of factors, which may change in the future due to increased competition, including the price of our offerings, consumer confidence in the safety of our offerings, consumer satisfaction for the experiences we offer, and the routes, frequency of flights and availability of seats offered through our platform. If we are unable to compete successfully, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
If we experience harm to our reputation and brand, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Continuing to increase the strength of our reputation and brand for reliable, experience-driven and cost-effective urban air mobility is cr