Chenghe Acquisition III Co. 38 Beach Road #29-11 South Beach Tower Singapore 189767 Re: Initial Public Offering Ladies and Gentlemen:
Exhibit 10.1
[●], 2025
Chenghe Acquisition III Co.
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Re: Initial Public Offering
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter (this “Letter Agreement”) is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into by and between Chenghe Acquisition III Co., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and BTIG, LLC, as the representative (the “Representative”) of the underwriters (the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “Public Offering”), of up to 12,650,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 1,650,000 units that may be purchased to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “Units”), each comprised of one of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”) and one-half of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant (each, a “Public Warrant”) entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in the Prospectus (as defined below). The Units will be sold in the Public Offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the Company has applied to have the Units listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Nasdaq”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 11 hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each of Chenghe Investment III Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Cayman Sponsor”), and Chenghe Investment III LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Delaware Sponsor”) (collectively with Cayman Sponsor, the “Co-Sponsors”), and the undersigned individuals, each of whom is, or will be, a member of the Company’s board of directors and/or management team (each of the undersigned individuals, an “Insider” and collectively, the “Insiders”), hereby agrees with the Company as follows:
1. [Reserved].
2. Business Combination Support. The Co-Sponsors and each Insider agree with the Company that if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall (i) vote any Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her in favor of any proposed Business Combination and (ii) not redeem any Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her in connection with such shareholder approval. If the Company seeks to consummate a proposed Business Combination by engaging in a tender offer, the Co-Sponsors and each Insider agree that it, he or she will not sell or tender any Ordinary Shares owned by it, him or her in connection therewith.
3. Failure to Consummate a Business Combination; Trust Account Waiver.
(a) The Co-Sponsors and each Insider hereby agree with the Company that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Charter”), the Co-Sponsors and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten (10) business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the Class A Ordinary Shares sold as part of the Units in the Public Offering (the “Offering Shares”), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account (net of amounts withdrawn to pay the Company’s taxes (excluding U.S. federal excise tax) (“Permitted Withdrawals”) and up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining shareholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject, in each case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the Company’s obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of applicable law.
(b) The Co-Sponsors and each Insider agree not to propose any amendment to the Charter (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within (i) 18 months from the closing of the Public Offering or (ii) such other time period in which the Company must consummate an initial business combination pursuant to an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, unless the Company provides its Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares in connection with any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account (net of Permitted Withdrawals), divided by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares.
(c) The Co-Sponsors acknowledge and agree that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter, it hereby waives its right to be repaid from the Trust Account for any working capital loans in excess of the Permitted Withdrawals to such date, that it or its affiliates or designees have provided to the Company.
(d) The Co-Sponsors and each Insider acknowledge that it, he or she has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or any other asset of the Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company with respect to any Founder Shares held by it, him or her. The Co-Sponsors and each Insider hereby further waive, with respect to any Founder Shares and Offering Shares held by it, him or her, if any, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with a shareholder vote to approve an amendment to the Charter (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company has not consummated a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (although the Co-Sponsors and the Insiders shall be entitled to redemption and liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter). The Co-Sponsors and each Insider further waive any claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever.
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4. [reserved]
5. Lock-Up; Transfer Restrictions.
The Co-Sponsors and each Insider agree that it, he or she shall not Transfer:
(a) any Founder Shares (the “Founder Shares Lock-up”) until the earlier of (i) six months after the completion of an initial Business Combination or earlier if, subsequent to the Company’s initial Business Combination, the closing price of the Class A Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing any time after the Company’s initial Business Combination and (ii) the date following the completion of the initial Business Combination on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property (the “Founder Shares Lock-up Period”); being acknowledged that the terms under this Section 5(a) are subject to negotiations in connections with the Company’s initial Business Combination among the parties thereto; and
(b) any Private Placement Units, the Private Placement Warrants included in the Private Placement Units, and the respective Class A Ordinary Shares underlying such units and warrants, until 30 days after the completion of an initial Business Combination (the “Units Lock-up Period,” and together with the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, the “Lock-up Periods”).
(c) During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Co-Sponsors and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, Transfer any Units, Founder Shares, Private Placement Units, the Private Placement Warrants included in the Private Placement Units (or the Ordinary Shares underlying such units and warrants), or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Ordinary Shares (but excluding Units, Ordinary Shares or Public Warrants purchased in the Public Offering or thereafter) held by it, her or him, as applicable.
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(d) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in Sections 5(a), 5(b) or 5(c) above, Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants, Private Placement Units or Ordinary Shares underlying such warrants that are held by the Co-Sponsors, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 3(d)), are permitted (a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate of the Company’s Co-Sponsors or to any member of a Co-sponsor, any of their affiliates or any employees of the Co-Sponsors, any of its affiliates or any of their respective affiliates; (b) in the case of an individual, as a gift to such person’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such person’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Founder Shares or Private Placement Warrants (as well as the Ordinary Shares underlying such warrants), as applicable, were originally purchased; (f) by virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands, with respect to Cayman Sponsor, or the laws of Delaware, with respect to Delaware Sponsor, or our Co-sponsors’ limited liability company agreements upon dissolution of our Co-Sponsors; (g) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to the completion of its initial Business Combination; or (h) in the event of completion of a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s Public Shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of an initial Business Combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions.
6. Indemnification. In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account upon the failure of the Company to consummate its initial Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter, the Co-Sponsors (the “Indemnitors”), which for purposes of clarification shall not extend to any other shareholders, members or managers of the Co-Sponsors, or any of the other undersigned, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, whether pending or threatened) to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, (ii) any prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement (a “Target”) or (iii) any taxing authority; provided, however, that such indemnification of the Company by the Indemnitors (x) shall apply only to the extent necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per Offering Share and (ii) the actual amount per Offering Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per Offering Share is then held in the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case, net of Permitted Withdrawals and up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses, (y) shall not apply to any claims by a third party or a Target which executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) and (z) shall not apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In the event that any such executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against such third party, the Indemnitors shall not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. The Indemnitors shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Indemnitors, the Indemnitors notify the Company in writing that it shall undertake such defense.
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7. Forfeiture of Founder Shares. To the extent that the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 1,650,000 Units within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus), the Co-Sponsors agree to forfeit, at no cost, a number of Founder Shares equal to 550,000 multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 1,650,000 minus the number of Units purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of its over-allotment option, if any, and (ii) the denominator of which is 1,650,000. The forfeiture will be adjusted to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Underwriters so that the Founder Shares will represent, on an as-converted basis, an aggregate of approximately 25% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares upon consummation of the Public Offering. The Initial Shareholders further agree that to the extent that the size of the Public Offering is increased or decreased, the Company will purchase or sell Class B Ordinary Shares or effect a share repurchase or share capitalization, as applicable, immediately prior to the consummation of the Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the number of Founder Shares, on an as-converted basis, at 25% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares upon consummation of the Public Offering. In connection with such increase or decrease in the size of the Public Offering, then (A) the references to 1,650,000 in the numerator and denominator of the formula in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be changed to a number equal to 15% of the number of Class A Ordinary Shares included in the Units issued in the Public Offering and (B) the reference to 550,000 in the formula set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be adjusted to such number of Founder Shares that the Co-Sponsors would have to surrender to the Company in order for the number of Founder Shares to be equal, on an as-converted basis, to an aggregate of approximately 25% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares upon consummation of the Public Offering.
8. Remedies. The Co-Sponsors and each Insider hereby agree and acknowledges that: (i) the Underwriters and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by such co-sponsor or an Insider of its, his or her obligations under paragraphs 2, 3, and 5, as applicable, of this Letter Agreement, (ii) monetary damages may not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach.
9. Representations and Warranties.
(a) The Co-Sponsors and each Insider represent and warrant that it, he or she has never been suspended or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license or registration denied, suspended or revoked. For each Insider who is or is nominated to be a director or officer of the Company, such Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all material respects and does not omit any material information with respect to the Insider’s background. For each Insider who is or is nominated to be a director or officer of the Company, such Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company is true and accurate in all respects. The Co-Sponsors and each Insider represent and warrant that: it, he or she is not subject to or a respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; it, he or she has never been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and it, he or she is not currently a defendant in any such criminal proceeding.
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(b) The Company, the Co-Sponsors and each Insider, with respect to itself, herself or himself, represent and warrant that it, she or he has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it, he or she is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and, as applicable, to serve as an officer and/or director on the board of directors of the Company and hereby consents to being named in the Prospectus as an officer and/or director of the Company.
10. [Reserved].
11. Definitions. As used herein, (i) “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Ordinary Shares” shall mean the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Company’s Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”); (iii) “Founder Shares” shall mean the 4,216,667 Class B Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding (up to 550,000 of which are subject to complete or partial forfeiture by the Co-Sponsors if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by the Underwriters); (iv) “Initial Shareholders” shall mean the Co-Sponsors and any Insider that holds Founder Shares; (v) “Private Placement Units” shall mean the 375,000 units (or up to 408,000 units if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), subject to adjustment as described in the Prospectus, that the Co-Sponsors and certain underwriters have agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of $3,750,000 (or up to $4,080,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering that are identical to the units sold in the Public Offering; (vi) “Private Placement Warrants” shall mean the warrants sold as part of the Private Placement Units; (vii) “Working Capital Units” shall mean the Private Placement-equivalent units that may be issued in connection with the conversion of any working capital loans; (viii) “Working Capital Warrants” shall mean the warrants underlying such Working Capital Units; (ix) “Public Shareholders” shall mean the holders of securities issued in the Public Offering; (x) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust account into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units shall be deposited; and (xi) “Transfer” shall mean the (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b).
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12. Director and Officer Liability Insurance. The Company will maintain an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, and each Insider who is or is nominated to be a director or officer of the Company shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available pursuant to such policy or policies for any of the Company’s directors or officers.
13. Entire Agreement. This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by (i) each Insider that is the subject of any such change, amendment, modification or waiver, (ii) the Co-Sponsors, and (iii) the Company.
14. Assignment. No party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the Company, the Co-Sponsors and each Insider and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees.
15. Third-Party Rights. Except as provided for in paragraph 6, nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof. Except as provided for in paragraph 6, all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Letter Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees.
16. Counterparts. This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original, facsimile or other electronic counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
17. Severability. This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
18. Governing Law. This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to, this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of New York City, in the State of New York, and irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
19. Notices. Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or facsimile or e-mail transmission.
20. Effect of Headings. The paragraph headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Letter Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
21. Termination. This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Periods and (ii) the liquidation of the Company; provided, however, that this Letter Agreement shall earlier terminate in the event that the Public Offering is not consummated and closed by [•], 2026; provided further that paragraphs 3 and 6 of this Letter Agreement shall survive such termination.
[Signature Page Follows]
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| Sincerely, | ||
| Chenghe Investment III Limited | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ | |
| Title: | ||
| Chenghe Investment III LLC | ||
| By: | Chenghe Investment III Limited | |
| Its Managing Member | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ | |
| Title: Authorized Signatory | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ | |
| Title: | Independent Director Nominee | |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ | |
| Title: | Independent Director Nominee | |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ | |
| Title: | Independent Director Nominee | |
| Acknowledged and Agreed: | ||
| CHENGHE ACQUISITION III CO. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]