Illumination Acquisition Corp I (ILLUU) appoints John DeMarais as COO
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Illumination Acquisition Corp I appointed John DeMarais as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective April 13, 2026. The board also approved a standard indemnification agreement for him, which is a routine protection for senior executives.
DeMarais brings investment banking and SPAC experience from Lucid Capital Markets, Craig-Hallum Capital Group, and Ernst & Young, where he supported capital markets, M&A advisory, and numerous SPAC transactions.
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8-K Event Classification
Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers
1 item
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers
Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Key Figures
COO appointment effective date: April 13, 2026
Unit composition par value: $0.0001 par value per Class A ordinary share
Warrant exercise price: $11.50 per share
+1 more
4 metrics
COO appointment effective date
April 13, 2026
Effective date of John DeMarais’s appointment as Chief Operating Officer
Unit composition par value
$0.0001 par value per Class A ordinary share
Each unit includes one Class A ordinary share at this par value
Warrant exercise price
$11.50 per share
Redeemable warrants exercisable for Class A ordinary shares at this price
Commission file number
001-43169
SEC registration identifier for Illumination Acquisition Corp I
Key Terms
emerging growth company, indemnification agreement, redeemable warrants, SPAC business combinations, +1 more
5 terms
emerging growth company regulatory
"405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ... Emerging growth company"
An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.
indemnification agreement financial
"the Company and Mr. DeMarais will enter into a standard form of indemnification agreement"
An indemnification agreement is a contract in which one party promises to cover losses, costs, or legal claims that another party might face, acting like a tailored safety net or private insurance policy. For investors, it matters because such agreements shift potential financial risk away from a company or its officers and onto the indemnifier, which can affect a company’s future liabilities, cash flow and how risky the investment appears during deal-making or litigation.
redeemable warrants financial
"Redeemable warrants, each exercisable for Class A ordinary shares at an exercise price of $11.50 per share"
A redeemable warrant is a tradable right that lets its holder buy a company’s shares at a fixed price before a set date, but the issuer has the contract power to cancel (redeem) the warrant early under agreed terms. For investors this matters because early redemption can force decision-making, change the timing of when new shares might be created, and affect potential gains or dilution—much like a store coupon that the issuer can cancel by paying you off instead of letting you use it.
SPAC business combinations financial
"He has also supported the sponsor of six SPAC business combinations and has been involved in over 20 SPAC transactions"
lower middle market transactions financial
"he participated in the sourcing and execution of over 100 lower middle market transactions"
FAQ
What executive change did ILLUU report in this 8-K filing?
Illumination Acquisition Corp I appointed John DeMarais as Chief Operating Officer, effective April 13, 2026. The board also approved a standard indemnification agreement for him, a typical legal protection for senior officers.
What is John DeMarais’s background before joining Illumination Acquisition Corp I (ILLUU)?
John DeMarais most recently worked at Lucid Capital Markets, LLC as a Director in investment banking. He previously worked at Craig-Hallum Capital Group and Ernst & Young, focusing on capital markets, M&A advisory, and financial services assurance.
What SPAC experience does the new COO of ILLUU have?
John DeMarais has supported the sponsor of six SPAC business combinations and over 20 SPAC transactions. His work has covered the full SPAC lifecycle, including capital raising, advisory, structuring, and execution across multiple growth sectors.
What education does Illumination Acquisition Corp I’s new COO, John DeMarais, have?
John DeMarais holds a B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College. His academic background supports his professional experience in investment banking, SPAC transactions, and financial services assurance roles.
What securities of ILLUU are listed on Nasdaq?
Illumination Acquisition Corp I lists units, Class A ordinary shares, and redeemable warrants on Nasdaq. The units trade as ILLUU, the Class A ordinary shares as ILLU, and the redeemable warrants as ILLUW.