Founder shares and warrants detailed in X3 Acquisition (XCBEU) S-1 update

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd. filed Amendment No. 3 to its Form S-1 as an exhibits-only update, leaving the substantive prospectus unchanged while adding updated exhibits, undertakings and signatures.

The company estimates total offering-related expenses of $750,000 excluding underwriting discounts, including $400,000 for legal fees, $110,500 for SEC/FINRA expenses and $80,000 for Nasdaq listing fees. It previously issued 5,750,000 Class B founder shares to its sponsor for $25,000, with up to 750,000 subject to forfeiture depending on any over-allotment. The sponsor has also committed to purchase 5,000,000 private warrants (up to 5,450,000 with full over-allotment) at $1.00 per warrant in a private placement. The filing details Cayman law–based indemnification protections for directors and officers and reiterates SEC limits on indemnification for Securities Act liabilities.

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As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on January 15, 2026.

Registration No. 333-290299

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549

AMENDMENT NO. 3

TO

FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Cayman Islands		6770		98-1877158
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

3033 Excelsior Blvd
Suite 343
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Telephone: 612-457-0070
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Andrew J. Redleaf
Chief Executive Officer
3033 Excelsior Blvd
Suite 343
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Telephone: 612-457-0070
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Mitchell S. Nussbaum
David J. Levine
Loeb & Loeb LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
(212) 407-4000 Stephen P. Alicanti Sidney Burke DLA Piper LLP (US) 1251 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 (212) 335-4500

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. ☐

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer		☐		Accelerated filer		☐
Non-accelerated filer		☒		Smaller reporting company		☒
				Emerging growth company		☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Amendment No. 3 (the “Amendment”) to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-290299) of X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd. (the “Registration Statement”) is being filed as an exhibits-only filing. Accordingly, this Amendment consists only of the facing page, this explanatory note, Part II of the Registration Statement, the signature page to the Registration Statement and the filed exhibit. The remainder of the Registration Statement is unchanged and has therefore been omitted.

Part II

Information not required in prospectus

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:

Legal fees and expenses			400,000
Printing and engraving expenses			40,000
Trustee fees and expenses			40,000
Accounting fees and expenses			50,000
SEC/FINRA expenses			110,500
Nasdaq listing fees			80,000
Miscellaneous			29,500
Total		$	750,000

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against willful default, willful neglect, actual fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide for indemnification of our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law, including for any liability incurred in their capacities as such, except through their own actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect. We will enter into agreements with our directors and officers to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. We may purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors. In addition, Andrew J. Redleaf, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has agreed to indemnify our officers and directors for any liability incurred in their capacities as such, except, among other things, through their own lack of lack of good faith, unauthorized settlements or willful misconduct.

Our officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account, and have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever (except to the extent they are entitled to funds from the trust account due to their ownership of public shares). Accordingly, any indemnification provided will only be able to be satisfied by us if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

On August 18, 2025, the Company issued to our sponsor 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or $0.004 per share, up to 750,000 of which are subject to forfeiture by the holders thereof depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. Such securities were issued in connection with our organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The number of founder shares outstanding was determined based on the expectation that the total size of this offering would be a maximum of 23,000,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full and therefore that such founder shares would represent approximately 20% of the outstanding shares after this offering. Up to 750,000 of these shares will be surrendered for no consideration depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised.

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Our sponsor is an accredited investor for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D. Each of the equity holders in our sponsor is an accredited investor under Rule 501 of Regulation D. The sole business of our sponsor is to act as the company’s sponsor in connection with this offering. The limited liability company agreement of our sponsor provides that its membership interests may only be transferred to our officers or directors or other persons affiliated with our sponsor, or in connection with estate planning transfers.

Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to written agreements, to purchase from us an aggregate of 5,000,000 private warrants (5,450,000 the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $1.00 per warrant (for an aggregate purchase price of $5,000,000 ($5,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full)). The private warrants will also be worthless if we do not complete our initial business combination. This purchase will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the completion of our initial public offering. This issuance will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.		Description
1.1*		Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1*		Memorandum and Articles of Association.
3.2*		Form of Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.
4.1*		Specimen Unit Certificate.
4.2*		Specimen Ordinary Share Certificate.
4.3*		Specimen Warrant Certificate (included as an exhibit to Exhibit 4.4).
4.4*		Form of Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Registrant.
5.1*		Opinion of Loeb & Loeb LLP.
5.2*		Opinion of Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP, Cayman Islands counsel to the Registrant.
10.1*		Form of Letter Agreement among the Registrant, X3 Acquisition Management LLC and each of the officers and directors of the Registrant.
10.2*		Form of Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Registrant.
10.3*		Form of Registration Rights Agreement among the Registrant, X3 Acquisition Management LLC and the holders signatory thereto.
10.4*		Form of Private Warrants Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and X3 Acquisition Management LLC.
10.5*		Form of Indemnity Agreement.
10.6*		Form of Administrative Services Agreement.
10.7*		Promissory Note dated August 5, 2025, issued to X3 Acquisition Management LLC.
10.8*		Securities Subscription Agreement dated August 5, 2025, between X3 Acquisition Management LLC and the Registrant.
14.1*		Form of Code of Ethics.
23.1**		Consent of WithumSmith+Brown, PC.
23.2*		Consent of Loeb & Loeb LLP (included on Exhibit 5.1).
23.3*		Consent of Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP (included on Exhibit 5.2).
24.1*		Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the initial filing).
99.1*		Audit Committee Charter.
99.2*		Compensation Committee Charter.
99.3*		Consent of William N. Goetzmann to be named as director nominee
99.4*		Consent of David H. Lui to be named as director nominee
99.5*		Consent of Nicholas H. Smith to be named as director nominee
99.6*		Consent of Jeffry H. von Gillern to be named as director nominee
107*		Filing Fee Table.

*	Previously filed.
**	Filed herewith.

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Item 17. Undertakings.

	(a)	The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
	(b)	Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
	(c)	The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

	(1)	For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
	(2)	For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
	(3)	For the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 of any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

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(4) For the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

	(i)	any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
	(ii)	any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned registrant;
	(iii)	the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
	(iv)	any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the 15th day of January, 2026.

	X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd.
	By:	/s/ Andrew J. Redleaf
	Name:	Andrew J. Redleaf
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name		Position		Date
/s/ Andrew J. Redleaf		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer		January 15, 2026
Andrew J. Redleaf		(principal executive officer)
/s/ Kenneth J. Weiller		Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer		January 15, 2026
Kenneth J. Weiller		(principal financial and accounting officer)
/s/ Chris Bemis		Director		January 15, 2026
Chris Bemis
/s/ Toby Maitland Hudson		Director		January 15, 2026
Toby Maitland Hudson

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AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned has signed this registration statement, solely in its capacity as the duly authorized representative of X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd., in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the 15th day of January, 2026.

By:	/s/ Andrew J. Redleaf
Name:	Andrew J. Redleaf
Title:	Chief Executive Officer

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FAQ

What does the X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd. (XCBEU) Amendment No. 3 to the S-1 do?

The Amendment No. 3 to the Form S-1 for X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd. is described as an exhibits-only filing. It updates the registration statement by providing the facing page, an explanatory note, Part II information, the signature page and a new exhibit, while leaving the rest of the prospectus unchanged.

How much does X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd. expect to spend on offering expenses?

X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd. estimates total offering expenses of $750,000 excluding underwriting discounts and commissions. This includes $400,000 in legal fees, $50,000 in accounting fees, $110,500 in SEC/FINRA expenses, $80,000 in Nasdaq listing fees and other printing, trustee and miscellaneous costs.

What founder shares has the sponsor of XCBEU received and at what price?

On August 18, 2025, the company issued its sponsor 5,750,000 Class B ordinary (founder) shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or $0.004 per share. Up to 750,000 of these shares are subject to forfeiture depending on how much of the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised.

What private warrants will the sponsor of X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd. purchase?

The sponsor has committed to purchase 5,000,000 private warrants (and 5,450,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $1.00 per warrant, for an aggregate purchase price of $5,000,000 (or $5,450,000 with full over-allotment). These warrants will be purchased in a private placement and will be worthless if the company does not complete its initial business combination.

How are the directors and officers of X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd. indemnified?

The amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide indemnification to directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted under Cayman Islands law, excluding acts such as actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect. The company plans to enter into separate indemnity agreements and may purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

What additional indemnification support has XCBEU’s CEO agreed to provide?

Andrew J. Redleaf, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has agreed to indemnify the company’s officers and directors for liabilities incurred in their capacities, except in situations including lack of good faith, unauthorized settlements or willful misconduct. Officers and directors have also agreed to waive any claims against the trust account, except related to their public share ownership.

Were the founder shares and private warrants of X3 Acquisition Corp. Ltd. registered with the SEC?

The founder shares issued on August 18, 2025 and the sponsor’s commitment to buy private warrants are described as unregistered securities issued or to be issued under the Section 4(a)(2) exemption of the Securities Act, with no underwriting discounts or commissions paid on these sales.