EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1854480
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 1854480_10-K_2024_0001140361-24-018430.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1.
BUSINESS
Overview
We are a blank check company with a mission to amplify social impact by investing in a high-growth company that is meaningfully aligned with one or more of four UN SDGs: Three (Good Health and Well-being); Four (Quality Education); Eight (Decent Work and Economic Growth); and Ten (Reduced Inequality). We define such businesses as “Social-Forward Companies,” and we believe meaningful alignment can be achieved through, among other things, a company’s business model, leadership, investment in its employees and commitment to its community. Through our focus, we hope to increase public market access for Social-Forward Companies and emphasize their potential competitive advantages in today’s markets and going forward.
In pursuit of this mission, Focus Impact Acquisition Corporation was formed as a Delaware corporation with a dual purpose: first, to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar transaction with one or more businesses (the “initial business combination”); and second, to encourage the development, deployment and amplification of financially and socially value-accretive operating practices and policies in the post-combination business.
We believe executing this dual purpose will simultaneously enhance our target business’ competitiveness while also advancing social impact. We find support both in credible research and in our management team’s professional experience for a connection between a business’s social commitments and competitive advantages. A National Bureau of Economic Research study found that employment opportunities that are social responsibility-oriented attract 25% more applicants, and those who they attract are more productive and produce higher quality work. Another study by a marketing agency found that 79% of Americans surveyed say they are more loyal as customers to purpose-driven brands than traditional brands. There is additional evidence that diversity of leadership correlates positively with financial performance and innovation; firms that invest in employee development have less churn and outperform; and a robust ESG framework mitigates risks. We believe we have seen evidence of such connections and more in our own leadership experience.
We also believe there are a large number of potential Social-Forward Companies. To narrow our search, we plan to focus on high-growth businesses in the education technology (EdTech), technology-enabled manufacturing and services, financial technology (FinTech) and healthcare technology (Health Tech) sectors, as well as on compelling companies in these or other sectors led by, founded by or serving BIPOC or women. As we discuss in more detail below, our four target sectors had an estimated combined global market size, measured by revenues, of approximately $688 billion at the time of our initial public offering, and the universe of BIPOC- and women-led or focused businesses expands our target pool further. Within this universe, we will identify companies well-positioned to generate financial and social value when provided access to public markets, support from our leadership and our strategic partners and networks.
We believe that many companies in our four target sectors are either providing or capable of providing greater access for disadvantaged populations to essential services and opportunities in education, health and professional development. Further, we believe that BIPOC and women-led or focused businesses have been disadvantaged in terms of access to capital and therefore undervalued by markets. We believe elevating talented BIPOC and women executives into the public markets would contribute to reducing inequality by further improving the visibility of under-represented leaders. We believe that responsibly delivering capital to these sectors-and to BIPOC and women leaders-can be socially beneficial in and of itself.
Our team has particular expertise in our four target sectors, which we believe will position us to be a like-minded, operationally and financially sophisticated partner for the Social-Forward Companies that we target and provide us with an advantage in the market for such businesses. Additionally, we believe that our network and affiliation with Auldbrass Partners, an investment management fund and investor in our sponsor, will enhance our ability to source and execute an attractive initial business combination and provide us with differentiated access to pre-IPO businesses, particularly within our target industries.
While we may pursue an initial business combination in any industry or geographic location, we intend to focus our search in the United States. Our target business does not need to already be a leader relative to its peers in terms of social forward-best practices. We intend to work with the target to unlock the value of its social investments in its business model, leadership, employees or commitment to its community.
Proposed Business Combination
On September 12, 2023, we entered into a Business Combination Agreement (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement” and the transactions contemplated thereby, collectively, the “Business Combination”), by and among FIAC, Focus Impact Amalco Sub Ltd., a company existing under the laws of the Province of British Columbia (“Amalco Sub”) and DevvStream Holdings Inc., a company existing under the Laws of the Province of British Columbia (“DevvStream”). Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, among other things FIAC will acquire DevvStream for consideration of shares in FIAC following its continuance to the Province of Alberta (as further explained below). The terms of the Business Combination Agreement, which contains customary representations and warranties, covenants, closing conditions and other terms relating to the mergers and the other transactions contemplated thereby, are summarized below.
Structure of the Business Combination
The acquisition is structured as a continuance followed by an amalgamation transaction, resulting in the following:
1.
prior to the effective time of the Amalgamation (as defined below) (the “Effective Time”), FIAC will continue (the “FIAC Continuance”) from the State of Delaware under the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) to the Province of Alberta under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) (“ABCA”) and change its name to DevvStream Corp. (“New PubCo”).
2.
following the FIAC Continuance, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Plan of Arrangement and the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “BCBCA”), Amalco Sub and DevvStream will amalgamate to form one corporate entity (“Amalco”) in accordance with the terms of the BCBCA (the “Amalgamation”), and as a result of the Amalgamation, (i) each multiple voting share of DevvStream, without par value (the “Multiple Voting Company Shares”) and each subordinate voting share of DevvStream, without par value (the “Subordinated Voting Company Shares” and together with the Multiple Voting Company Shares, the “Company Shares”)
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be automatically exchanged for that certain number of common shares of New PubCo (“New PubCo Common Shares”) equal to the applicable Per Common Share Amalgamation Consideration (as defined below), (ii) each option to purchase Company Shares (each a “Company Option”) and each restricted stock unit representing the right to receive payment in Company Shares (a “Company RSU”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into an option to purchase a number of New PubCo Common Shares (“Converted Options”) and New PubCo restricted stock units, representing the right to receive a number of New PubCo Common Shares (“Converted RSUs”), respectively, in an amount equal to the Company Shares underlying such Company Option or Company RSU, respectively, multiplied by the Common Conversion Ratio (as defined below, and, for Company Options, at an adjusted exercise price equal to the exercise price for such Company Option prior to the Effective Time divided by the Common Conversion Ratio), (iii) each warrant exercisable for Company Shares (a “Company Warrant”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall become exercisable for New PubCo Common Shares in an amount equal to the Company Shares underlying such Company Warrant multiplied by the Common Conversion Ratio (and at an adjusted exercise price equal to the exercise price for such Company Warrant prior to the Effective Time divided by the Common Conversion Ratio), (iv) each holder of convertible notes to be issued by DevvStream (the “Company Convertible Notes”), if any, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will first receive Company Shares and then New PubCo Common Shares in accordance with the terms of such Company Convertible Notes and (v) each common share of Amalco Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be automatically exchanged for one common share of Amalco (the FIAC Continuance and the Amalgamation, together with the other transactions related thereto, the “Proposed Transactions”).
The “Per Common Share Amalgamation Consideration” means (i) with respect to each Multiple Voting Company Share, an amount of New PubCo Common Shares equal to (a) ten (10), multiplied by (b) the Common Conversion Ratio, and (ii) with respect to the Subordinated Voting Company Share, an amount of New PubCo Common Shares equal to the Common Conversion Ratio. The “Common Conversion Ratio” means, in respect of a common share of DevvStream, the number equal to the Common Amalgamation Consideration divided by the Fully Diluted Common Shares Outstanding. The “Common Amalgamation Consideration” means (a)(i) $145 million plus (ii) the aggregate exercise price of all in-the-money Company Options and Company Warrants outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (or exercised in cash prior to the Effective Time) divided by (b) $10.20. The “Fully Diluted Common Shares Outstanding” means, without duplication, at any measurement time (a)(i) ten (10), multiplied by (ii) the aggregate number of Multiple Voting Company Shares that are issued and outstanding, plus (b) the aggregate number of Subordinated Voting Company Shares that are issued and outstanding, plus (c) the aggregate number of Subordinated Voting Company Shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise and conversion of the Company Options in accordance therewith, plus (d) the aggregate number of Subordinated Voting Company Shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise and conversion of the Company Warrants in accordance therewith, plus (e) the aggregate number of Subordinated Voting Company Shares to be issued pursuant to the vesting of the Company RSUs in accordance therewith.
3.
Simultaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, FIAC and the sponsor entered into a Sponsor Side Letter (as defined below), pursuant to which, among other things, the sponsor agreed to forfeit (i) 10% of its founder shares effective as of the consummation of the FIAC Continuance at the closing of the Proposed Transactions and (ii) with the sponsor’s consent, up to 30% of its founder shares and/or private placement warrants in connection with financing or non-redemption arrangements, if any, entered into prior to consummation of the Business Combination. Pursuant to the Sponsor Side Letter, the sponsor also agreed to (1) certain transfer restrictions with respect to our securities, lock-up restrictions (terminating upon the earlier of: (A) 360 days after the closing date of the Business Combination (the “Closing Date”), (B) a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of New PubCo’s stockholders having the right to exchange their equity for cash, securities or other property or (C) subsequent to the Closing Date, the closing price of the New Pubco Common Shares equaling or exceeding $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”)) and (2) to vote any FIAC shares held by it in favor of the Business Combination Agreement, the arrangement resolution and the Proposed Transactions, and provided customary representations and warranties and covenants related to the foregoing.
4.
In addition, contemporaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, DevvStream, FIAC and each of Devvio, Inc., the majority and controlling shareholder of DevvStream, and DevvStream’s directors and officers (the “Core Company Securityholders”) entered into Company Support & Lock-Up Agreements (the “Company Support Agreements”), pursuant to which, among other things, (i) each of the Core Company Securityholders agreed to vote any Company Shares held by him, her or it in favor of the Business Combination Agreement, the arrangement resolution and the Proposed Transactions, and provided customary representations and warranties and covenants related to the foregoing, and (ii) each of the Core Company Securityholders has agreed to certain transfer restrictions with respect to DevvStream securities prior to the Effective Time and lock-up restrictions with respect to the New PubCo Common Shares to be received by such Core Company Securityholder under the Business Combination Agreement, which lock-up restrictions are consistent with those agreed to by the sponsor in the Sponsor Side Letter.
Consideration
The aggregate consideration to be paid to DevvStream shareholders and securityholders is that number of New PubCo Common Shares (or, with respect to Company Options, Company RSUs and Company Warrants, a number of Converted Options, Converted RSUs and Converted Warrants consistent with the aforementioned conversion mechanics) equal to (a) (i) $145 million plus (ii) the aggregate exercise price of all in-the-money options and warrants immediately prior to the Effective Time (or exercised in cash prior to the Effective Time) divided by (b) $10.20 (the “Share Consideration”). The Share Consideration is allocated among DevvStream shareholders and securityholders as set forth in the Business Combination Agreement.
Closing
The Closing will be on a date no later than two business days following the satisfaction or waiver of all of the closing conditions. It is expected that the Closing will occur on or before June 12, 2024.
Representations, Warranties and Covenants
The Business Combination Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of (a) DevvStream and (b) FIAC and Amalco Sub relating to, among other things, their ability and authority to enter into the Business Combination Agreement and their capitalization and operations.
Conditions to Closing
General Conditions
The obligation of the parties to consummate the Proposed Transactions is conditioned on, among other things, the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) by FIAC and DevvStream of the following conditions: (a) the stockholders of FIAC have approved and adopted the SPAC Shareholder Approval Matters (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); (b) the shareholders of DevvStream have approved and adopted the Company Shareholder Approval Matters (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement); (c) absence of a law that makes the Proposed Transactions illegal or otherwise prohibits or enjoins the parties from consummating the same; (d) the registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC; (e) the New PubCo Common Shares have been approved for listing on Nasdaq; (f) shareholders of DevvStream have approved and adopted the arrangement resolution in accordance with the Interim Order; (g) the Interim Order and the Final Order (as such terms are defined in the Business Combination Agreement) have been obtained on terms consistent with the Business Combination Agreement and (h) the FIAC Continuance has been consummated.
FIAC and Amalco Sub Conditions to Closing
The obligations of FIAC, and Amalco Sub to consummate the Proposed Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or waiver by FIAC (where permissible) of the following additional conditions:
•
The (i) Company Specified Representations (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) are true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein) in all material respects as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date immediately prior to the Effective Time as if made on the Closing Date immediately prior to the Effective Time (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date), (ii) representations and warranties set forth in Article V (other than Section 5.5), are true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein) as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date immediately prior to the Effective Time as if made on the Closing Date immediately prior to the Effective Time (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date), except, in each case, the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, has not had a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and (iii) the representations and warranties of DevvStream contained in Section 5.5 shall be true and correct, except for any de minimis failures to be so true and correct, as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct, except for any de minimis failures to be so true and correct, on and as of such earlier date) (collectively, the “DevvStream Representation Condition”).
•
DevvStream shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by the Business Combination Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date (the “DevvStream Covenant Condition”).
•
There has been no event that is continuing that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect (the “DevvStream MAE Condition”).
•
Each of the Key Employees (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) shall be actively employed or engaged with DevvStream as of the Closing Date.
•
DevvStream shall have delivered to FIAC a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of DevvStream, certifying as to the satisfaction of the DevvStream Representation Condition, the DevvStream Covenant Condition and the DevvStream MAE Condition (as it relates to DevvStream).
•
DevvStream shall have delivered a certificate, signed by the secretary of DevvStream, certifying that true, complete and correct copies of its organizational documents, as in effect on the Closing Date, and the resolutions of DevvStream’s board of directors authorizing and approving the Proposed Transactions are attached to such certificate.
•
DevvStream shall have delivered counterparts of the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below) executed by each holder of shares, options or warrants of Devvstream.
•
The Core Company Securityholders shall be party to a Company Support Agreement.
•
DevvStream shall have delivered executed counterparts of all Key Employment Agreements (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement).
•
DevvStream shall have delivered a properly executed certification, dated as of the Closing Date, that meets the requirements of U.S. Treasury Regulations Sections 1.897-2(h) and 1.1445-2(c)(3), certifying that DevvStream is not and has not been a “United States real property holding corporation” (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code).
Devvstream Conditions to Closing
The obligations of DevvStream to consummate the Proposed Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible) of the following additional conditions:
•
The (i) SPAC Specified Representations (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) are true and correct (without giving any effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth therein) in all material respects as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date), (ii) representations and warranties set forth in Articles III and IV (other than the SPAC Specified Representations and those contained in Section 3.5 and Section 4.5 of the Business Combination Agreement), without giving effect to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or similar qualifications, are true and correct in all respects at and as of the Closing Date as though such representations and warranties were made at and as of the Closing Date (other than in the case of any representation or warranty that by its terms addresses matters only as of another specified date, which will be so true and correct only as of such specified date), except to the extent the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a SPAC Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and (iii) the representations and warranties of FIAC and Amalco Sub, respectively, contained in Section 3.5 and Section 4.5 shall be true and correct, except for any de minimis failures to be so true and correct, as of the date of the Business Combination Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, and in such case, shall be true and correct, except for any de minimis failures to be so true and correct, on and as of such earlier date) (the “FIAC Representation Condition”).
•
Each of FIAC and Amalco Sub, respectively, shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by the Business Combination Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date (the “FIAC Covenant Condition”).
•
FIAC shall have delivered to DevvStream a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by an authorized officer of FIAC, certifying as to the satisfaction of the FIAC Representation Condition and the FIAC Covenant Condition.
•
FIAC shall have delivered to DevvStream, dated the Closing Date, signed by the Secretary of FIAC certifying certifying that true, complete and correct copies of its organizational documents (after giving effect to the FIAC Continuance), as in effect on the Closing Date, and as to the resolutions of FIAC’s board of directors unanimously authorizing and approving the Proposed Transactions and respective stockholders or members, as applicable, authorizing and approving the Proposed Transactions.
•
DevvStream shall have received counterparts of the Registration Rights Agreement executed by New PubCo.
•
FIAC and New PubCo shall have delivered to DevvStream resignations of certain directors and executive officers of FIAC and Amalco Sub.
Termination
The Business Combination Agreement may be terminated at any time by DevvStream and FIAC with mutual written consent and by DevvStream or FIAC, respectively, as follows:
(i)
By FIAC or DevvStream, if (i) the Required Company Shareholder Approval (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) is not obtained at Company Meeting (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), (ii) if the required approvals are not obtained at the SPAC Special Meeting (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), (iii) a law or orders prohibits or enjoins the consummation of the arrangement and has become final and nonappealable, or (iv) the Effective Time does not occur on or before June 12, 2024 subject to a one-time thirty (30)-day extension upon written agreement of the parties (provided, that, if the registration statement shall not have been declared effective by the SEC as of the Outside Date, the FIAC shall be entitled to one sixty (60)-day extension upon notice to DevvStream) (the “Outside Date”) (provided, however, that the right to terminate the Business Combination Agreement under the clause described in this clause will not be available to a party if the inability to satisfy such conditions was due to the failure of such party to perform any of its obligations under the Business Combination Agreement).
(ii)
By FIAC or DevvStream if DevvStream’s board of directors or any committee thereof has withdrawn or modified, or publicly proposed or resolved to withdraw, the recommendation that DevvStream shareholders vote in favor of DevvStream shareholder approval or DevvStream enters into a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement).
(iii)
By DevvStream upon written notice to FIAC, in the event of a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of FIAC or Amalco Sub, such that the FIAC Representation Condition or FIAC Covenant Condition would not be satisfied at the Closing, and which, (i) with respect to any such breach that is capable of being cured, is not cured by FIAC within 30 business days after receipt of written notice thereof, or (ii) is incapable of being cured prior to the Outside Date; provided, that DevvStream will not have the right to terminate if it is then in material breach of the Business Combination Agreement.
(iv)
By FIAC upon written notice to DevvStream, in the event of a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of DevvStream, such that DevvStream Representation Condition or DevvStream Covenant Condition would not be satisfied at the Closing, and which, (i) with respect to any such breach that is capable of being cured, is not cured by DevvStream within 30 business days after receipt of written notice thereof, or (ii) is incapable of being cured prior to the Outside Date; provided, that FIAC will not have the right to terminate the Business Combination Agreement if it is then in material uncured breach of the Business Combination Agreement.
(v)
By FIAC upon written notice to DevvStream if there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect which is not cured by DevvStream within 30 business days after receipt of written notice thereof.
Expenses
The Business Combination Agreement provides for the following with respect to expenses related to the Proposed Transactions:
•
If the Proposed Transactions are consummated, New PubCo will bear expenses of the parties, including the SPAC Specified Expenses (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), all deferred expenses, including any legal fees of the FIAC initial public offering due upon consummation of a Business Combination and any Excise Tax Liability (as defined below). The Excise Tax Liability was incurred in connection with two meetings of the stockholders of FIAC to extend the date upon which a business combination could occur, where upon holders of an aggregate of 21,282,422 public shares of FIAC properly exercised their right to redeem their shares. This resulted in an excise tax liability in the amount of $2,235,006 as of December 31, 2023 (the “Excise Tax Liability”).
•
If (a) FIAC or DevvStream terminate the Business Combination Agreement as a result of a mutual written consent, the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) not being obtained, or the Effective Time not occurring by the Outside Date or (b) DevvStream terminates the Business Combination Agreement due to a breach of any representation or warranty by FIAC or Amalco Sub, then all expenses incurred in connection with the Business Combination Agreement and the Proposed Transactions will be paid by the party incurring such expenses, and no party will have any liability to any other party for any other expenses or fees.
•
If (a) FIAC or DevvStream terminate the Business Combination Agreement due to the Required Company Shareholder Approval not being obtained or (b) DevvStream terminates the Business Combination Agreement due to a change in recommendation, or the approval, or authorization by DevvStream’s board of directors or DevvStream entering into a Superior Proposal or (c) FIAC terminates the Business Combination Agreement due to a breach of any representation or warranty by DevvStream or a Company Material Adverse Effect, DevvStream will pay to FIAC all expenses incurred by FIAC in connection with the Business Combination Agreement and the Proposed Transactions up to the date of such termination (including (i) SPAC Specified Expenses incurred in connection with the transactions, including SPAC Extension Expenses (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and (ii) any Excise Tax Liability provided that, solely with respect to Excise Tax Liability, notice of such termination is provided after December 1, 2023).
Sponsor Side Letter
In connection with signing the Business Combination Agreement, FIAC and the sponsor entered into a letter agreement, dated September 12, 2023 (the “Sponsor Side Letter”), pursuant to which the sponsor agreed to forfeit (i) 10% of its founder shares effective as of the consummation of the FIAC Continuance at the closing of the Proposed Transactions and (ii) with the sponsor’s consent, up to 30% of its founder shares and/or private placement warrants in connection with financing or non-redemption arrangements, if any, entered into prior to consummation of the Business Combination if any, negotiated by the Effective Date. Pursuant to the Sponsor Side Letter, the sponsor also agreed to (1) certain transfer restrictions with respect to our securities, lock-up restrictions (terminating upon the earlier of: (A) 360 days after the Closing Date, (B) a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of New PubCo’s stockholders having the right to exchange their equity for cash, securities or other property or (C) subsequent to the Closing Date, the closing price of the New Pubco Common Shares equaling or exceeding $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Closing) and (2) to vote any FIAC shares held by it in favor of the Business Combination Agreement, the arrangement resolution and the Proposed Transactions, and provided customary representations and warranties and covenants related to the foregoing.
Company Support & Lock-up Agreement
In connection with signing the Business Combination Agreement, Devvstream, FIAC and the Core Company Securityholders entered into the Company Support Agreements, dated September 12, 2023, pursuant to which (i) each of the Core Company Securityholders agreed to vote any Company Shares held by him, her or it in favor of the Business Combination Agreement, the arrangement resolution and the Proposed Transactions, and provided customary representations and warranties and covenants related to the foregoing, and (ii) each of the Core Company Securityholders has agreed to certain transfer restrictions with respect to DevvStream securities prior to the Effective Time and lock-up restrictions with respect to the New PubCo Common Shares to be received by such Core Company Securityholder under the Business Combination Agreement, which lock-up restrictions are consistent with those agreed to by the sponsor in the Sponsor Side Letter.
Registration Rights Agreement
At the closing of the Business Combination, it is anticipated that the FIAC, the sponsor, and certain existing holders of Devvstream securities (the “Legacy Devvstream Holders”) will enter into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Legacy Devvstream Holders and the sponsor will be granted customary registration rights with respect to shares of the post-Business Combination company.
For additional information about the Business Combination, please refer to our registration statement on Form S-4 initially filed with the SEC on December 4, 2023, as amended from time to time.
Our Mission
Our mission is to amplify social impact by elevating the profile of Social-Forward Companies in public markets. We observe that, traditionally, companies create economic value through the deployment of strategic capital into their goods, services, people and processes for the benefit of shareholders. However, we believe that in addition to such traditional methods of value creation, businesses can incrementally increase economic value by intentionally pursuing social impact and generating positive outcomes for their stakeholders. Although there are many ways to pursue social impact, we chose to focus on those companies actively or intending to become meaningfully aligned with UN SDGs Three, Four, Eight and Ten in their business models, leadership, investment in employees or commitment to community.
It is our conviction that our process of identifying and investing in a Social-Forward Company will drive an increase of attention and equity capital towards this company specifically and similar companies in general; increase awareness of social issues related to SDGs Three, Four, Eight and Ten; and contribute simultaneously to economic growth and social impact. We further believe that investing in such a business represents an attractive and underappreciated economic opportunity for the benefit of all participating stakeholders.
We intend to demonstrate the incremental value available to Social-Forward Companies not only by means of our investment criteria and operational objectives but in other aspects of our company. Recognizing value in diversity is a key component of driving social impact. Founded by a BIPOC leadership group, our company has purposefully and carefully curated a group of directors and advisors comprised of BIPOC and women leaders. In addition, we are working with BIPOC- or women-led teams for underwriting, accounting and auditing services. We believe our unique combination of experiences and perspectives will help us accomplish our mission as a partner, while enhancing our attractiveness to potential target companies.
Our hope is that our company serves not only as a precedent but also as an inspiration and catalyst for other social-forward leaders interested in creating financial and social value through public market participation.
The Current Situation and Our Opportunity
Our focus on Social-Forward Companies aligns with what we believe are prominent and long-term social and economic trends. We assert that a confluence of factors creates opportunities for a blank check company such as ours.
There is a growing body of evidence that companies with a strong social profile-that is, those with a commitment to the “S” in ESG-outperform those with a weak social profile. For example, data provider MSCI has found that, over a 13-year back-tested period, top quintile “S” companies in the MSCI World Index outperformed bottom quintile companies in terms of both return and risk-adjusted return. Non-profit organization JUST Capital has found that, for the calendar year 2021, the cumulative return of Russell 1000 companies in the top quintile when scored for workforce investment and training outperformed the broader Russell 1000 by over 5%. Our team members have each in her/his own context directly observed the organizational performance benefits of a social impact orientation, whether expressed in the social purpose of a business, contributions to a community, diversity and inclusion or other ways.
Recent years have seen a surge in attention to Environmental, Social and Governance factors as indicators of risk, opportunity and long-term, sustainable value. According to the latest Global Sustainable Investment Alliance Review in 2020, the pool of assets seeking ESG-aligned strategies that year topped $35 trillion, and we believe this number to have grown since then. Many companies are also aligning around the UN SDG framework for measuring and reporting their sustainability impacts and contributions. Per the 2020 UN Global Compact Progress Report, of the 615 companies surveyed, 84% reported taking specific action to advance the SDGs, and only 39% of companies believed their own targets were sufficiently ambitious. In the finance community, firms with assets under management of over $121 trillion had signed the UN Principles for Responsible Investment as of December 2022.
While the ESG concept is gaining traction, the attention has not been equally distributed across the E, S and G factors nor across the SDGs. A 2017 study by the New York University Stern Center for Business and Human Rights found that the “S” factors in ESG frameworks were either too vague or too limited to provide insight into corporate performance. In a 2021 BNP Paribas survey, 51% of the 356 respondents indicated that the “S” component was the most difficult element to incorporate into their investment analysis. However, COVID-19 has put into sharp focus the importance of social factors generally and unequal access to healthcare and technology among different groups in the United States in particular. We assert that the pandemic has set back our country’s progress with regard to SDGs Three, Four, Eight and Ten.
The need for corporations and the private sector to be intentional about social impact is clear. Even before COVID-19, the influential Business Roundtable Group in 2019 expanded its definition of the purpose of a corporation to consider the needs of stakeholders beyond shareholders, committing signatories to invest in employees and support communities, among other items. In the intervening months, we have observed many companies make strong commitments aligned with our select SDGs and focus on BIPOC and women. Nasdaq has proposed new board diversity listing requirements for companies on its U.S. exchange, and our underwriters of our initial public offering have both committed to expanding capital access to under-represented and under-financed minority populations. According to the 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer for institutional investors, “S” jumped from being the least important ESG factor in past years to the most important factor for U.S. participants of the survey.
As we seek to leverage these trends and findings, we choose to focus on those companies materially aligned to promote the achievement of SDGs Three (Good Health and Well-being), Four (Quality Education), Eight (Decent Work and Economic Growth) or Ten (Reduced Inequality). While we believe that all the SDGs are crucial to creating a more sustainable future, we feel our team’s combined experience is most relevant to these areas, and we further believe that there is extraordinary economic opportunity for the industries and companies addressing these themes. It is our belief that companies in our target sectors can address the underlying challenges in our select SDGs. Across EdTech, tech-enabled manufacturing and services, FinTech and Health Tech, as well as BIPOC and women-led or focused businesses, we see opportunity to invest in companies positioned to improve access to services and drive social impact in the United States.
EdTech. According to industry data, global revenues for education technology are projected to grow to over $400 billion by 2025. Growth in the sector accelerated through the COVID-19 pandemic as schools, universities and training centers reverted to remote learning, and we do not believe the world will return to the same degree of in-person instruction post-COVID. We view EdTech as being essential to providing educational and up-skilling opportunities for life-long learners regardless of where they are located. The U.S. accounted for 31% of global VC spending in the education sector from 2010 to the first half of 2020.
Tech-Enabled Manufacturing and Services. According to industry data, global revenues for the tech-enabled manufacturing sector are projected to reach $385 billion by 2025. Real-time operational optimization, robotics, robust data analytics, enhanced safety, processes in automated communication with each other and the software to manage these new networks are driving change in the workplace. While we expect that these trends will to some extent inevitably lead to the replacement of labor with capital, these changes also have the potential to improve the nature of work and introduce new types of professions.
FinTech. FinTech start-ups and growth-stage companies are disrupting the delivery and operations of financial services. In our view, such disruptive companies could not only improve the provision of financial services to existing customers but also meaningfully expand access to financial services to previously underserved groups-including BIPOC and women. We believe that traditional financial firms are foregoing a substantial market opportunity by failing to adequately provide services to BIPOC and women customers. We believe that the value of these markets will accrue to the FinTech firms expanding access to services through innovation.
Health Tech. The integration of application software, distributed connectivity, artificial intelligence, wearables, and personalization insights into the healthcare system is reshaping the healthcare sector. According to industry data, the healthcare technology sector is estimated to have generated $96.5 billion of global revenue in 2020, with North America accounting for almost 40% of this value. A 2020 McKinsey & Company report predicted that the sustained expansion of telehealth in the post-COVID period could shift $250 billion of U.S. healthcare expenditures to virtual or near-virtual care in the near future, which would equate to 20% of total 2020 office, outpatient, and home health spending. We believe that this has the potential to greatly expand access to health services and that other components of the Health Tech vertical could be equally revolutionary.
Led by, Founded by or Serving BIPOC and Women. We know that BIPOC- and women-led or focused businesses suffer from disadvantaged access to capital. In 2020, the share of venture capital flowing to women-founded companies fell from 2.8% in 2019 to 2.3%, per Crunchbase data. The World Economic Form similarly reported that, investments in Black founded startups plummeted by 45% in 2022 while, the share of venture capital funding Black women was only 0.34% of all total venture capital spent in the US. It is our conviction that BIPOC- and women-led or focused businesses are being under-financed and under-valued, and we might choose to provide capital to a compelling business outside of our four core sectors as long as it otherwise meets our investment criteria.
Our target business does not need to already be a leader relative to its peers in terms of social forward-best practices. By working with the company, we intend to unlock, together, the full value of its social investments in its business model, leadership, investment in its employees and commitment to its community. We believe our focus on Social-Forward Companies will help drive increased public market access for such companies, emphasize their competitive advantages in today’s markets and in the future, and set an example for other demonstrated or aspirational social-forward leaders. By these means, we hope to amplify corporate social impact beyond just our own efforts.
Our Team, Auldbrass Partners, and Advisory Board
Our company’s officers, directors, affiliation with Auldbrass Partners and advisors bring together complementary expertise, resources and networks in addition to their experience leading organizations and executing transactions across business cycles. Our officers, directors, and advisors as well as professionals at Auldbrass Partners also have experience transacting with and guiding growth companies in private markets. Further, several of our team have previously implemented socially-forward programs in other organizations. We believe in the corporate value of amplifying social impact based on direct experience. For these reasons, we believe we are well positioned to identify and complete an attractive business combination and can deliver upon a differentiated strategy.
Our Team
The management team consists of Carl Stanton (CEO and Director), Ernest Lyles (CFO) and Wray Thorn (CIO). Our board of directors includes Howard Sanders (Lead Director), Troy Carter (Independent Director), Dawanna Williams (Independent Director) and Dia Simms (Independent Director).
Our team is comprised of professionals with experience in investment banking, operational management, technology, marketing, corporate governance, leadership development, and other areas of potential value to our company and our target business. We are all aligned with regard to the value of Social-Forward Companies. We intend to leverage our team’s expertise and networks to both identify a range of potential target businesses and create shareholder value in the initial business combination.
Carl M. Stanton, Chief Executive Officer and Director. Carl is a Partner and Co-Founder of Focus Impact Partners, LLC and currently serves as our Chief Executive Officer and director and as the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: BHAC). Carl brings nearly three decades of experience in leading companies across transformative Private Equity/Alternative Asset management with a proven track record in creating shareholder value. Carl has unique knowledge and skills across all facets of Asset Management. He is a team builder and has managed and co-led two Alternative Asset Management firms totaling over $4.5 billion AUM, and has delivered best-in-class investment performance results along with colleagues over multiple funds. He has advised CEOs, CFOs, and boards of directors of multiple companies and spread managerial, financial, and strategic best practices with demonstrated expertise in value creation strategies including revenue growth strategies, industry transformation, cost control, supply chain management, and technology best practices. Carl has also served as Board Member to more than 15 portfolio companies across Industrial Products & Services, Transportation & Logistics and Consumer industries; including his current role as a Board Member of Skipper Pets, Inc.
Carl is former Managing Partner and Head of Private Equity for Invesco Private Capital, a division of Invesco, Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ), which managed private investment vehicles across private equity, venture capital, and real estate. At Invesco Private Capital, Carl was responsible for overseeing multiple alternative asset investment Funds and served as Chair of Investment Committee for domestic PE efforts. Prior to Invesco, Carl served as Managing Partner and co-owner at Wellspring Capital Management LLC, a private equity investment firm focused on control investments in growing companies in the industrial products & services, healthcare and consumer industries. He oversaw and approved all investments as a member of the Investment Committee. At the time of his retirement in 2015, the firm had invested more than $2.5 billion in 35 platform companies and achieved top-tier investment results.
Currently, Carl serves as the Founder of cbGrowth Partners, which focuses on sustainable investments, and serves as Advisor to Auldbrass Partners. Previously, Carl worked at Dimeling, Schreiber & Park, Peter J Solomon & Co, Associates, and Ernst & Young Corporate Finance LLC. Mr. Stanton holds a BS degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama and an MBA degree from Harvard Business School. He resides in New York with his family and serves as Trustee, Treasurer and Head of Finance and Endowment Committee of Christ Church United Methodist, a nonprofit organization. He also serves as Board of Visitors at the University of Alabama, College of Commerce. We believe Carl’s significant experience of leading companies across transformative private equity and asset management and extensive experience with special purpose acquisition companies makes him well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Ernest D. Lyles II, Chief Financial Officer. Ernest serves as our Chief Financial Officer and as the Chief Financial Officer and a director of Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: BHAC). Ernest is also the Founder and a Managing Partner of The HiGro Group, a private equity firm focused on buyout investing in the lower middle market, which he founded in 2016. In addition to serving as a board member on HiGro’s portfolio companies, Ernest co-manages all aspects of the firm’s including investment activities, growth initiatives and talent development.
Prior to founding The HiGro Group, Ernest spent a decade as an investment banker with UBS Investment Bank where his tenure included advising the world’s most notable corporations and private equity firms. As the head of Technology Enabled Services banking practice, Ernest became the most senior African-American investment banker within the firm’s industry coverage groups. In addition to his over $10 billion of transaction and advisory experience, Ernest served as Head of the Diversity Task Force and Head of the Howard University recruiting team among other internal committees.
A native of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, Ernest attended public schools and earned a full merit scholarship to attend Shepherd University, where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree with concentrations in Political Science and Business Administration. Upon graduation, Ernest enrolled in the Howard University School of Law, where he also interned at both the JC Watts Companies. Ernest has held expert discussions on entrepreneurship, mentorship, private equity, impact investing and work-life balance. His speaking engagements have included companies such as Google, HEC Paris, McGuire Woods and Nomura. An avid art collector, Ernest has also been featured in publications such as “The Black Market: A Guide to Art Collecting.
Ernest currently lives in Harlem, New York, where he is actively engaged in civic and faith initiatives including Trustee to Scan Boys and Girls Harbor, Founder of The UTULIVU Alliance, Member of the Economic Club of New York, and Fellow in the Council of Urban Professionals.
Wray T. Thorn, Chief Investment Officer. Wray is a Partner and Co-Founder of Focus Impact Partners, LLC and currently serves as our Chief Investment Officer and as the Chief Investment Officer and a director of Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: BHAC). Wray is also the Founder and Chief Executive of Clear Heights Capital, a private investment firm committed to helping companies realize their growth and development objectives and a Board Member of Skipper Pets, Inc. Wray is deeply involved in building and leading businesses to source, structure, finance and make private investments as well as helping companies, organizations and executives realize their growth and development objectives. With three decades of experience as a Chief Investment Officer, investment leader and lead director, Wray has firsthand knowledge of investment firm leadership, private investing company value creation, asset allocation strategy and practice and risk management frameworks. Wray has also been at the forefront of proactive impact investing and applying data and technology to innovate private investing.
Prior to founding Focus Impact and Clear Heights, Wray was Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer-Private Investments at Two Sigma Investments. Wray architected and led the firm’s private equity (Sightway Capital), venture capital (Two Sigma Ventures) and impact (Two Sigma Impact) investment businesses as Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer of TSPI, LP and Chair & Venture Partner of TSV. Initially on behalf of private capital and expanding to include institutional investors, Wray grew the private investment businesses during his 9-year tenure to nearly $4 billion in AUM and 90 team members and was a leader in the creation of Hamilton Insurance Group and the incubation of Two Sigma’s insurance technology activities, Prior to Two Sigma, Wray was a Senior Managing Director with Marathon Asset Management, where he developed the firm’s private equity investment activities and played a role in many new business opportunities and capital formation initiatives, including the firm’s direct lending business and its participation in the US Treasury’s Legacy Securities Public-Private Investment Program.. Prior to Marathon, Wray evaluated and executed management buyout transactions as a Director with Fox Paine & Co. and as a Principal at Dubilier & Co. Wray began his career in the financial analyst program at Chemical Bank (today, J.P. Morgan) as an Associate in the Acquisition Finance Group.
Wray has been involved in approximately 300 transactions, add-on acquisitions, realizations, corporate financings, fundraisings and other principal transactions with aggregate consideration in excess of $32 billion, including direct private equity, venture and third-party managed fund investments representing more than $3 billion in invested capital. Wray has been a part of driving shareholder value creation and corporate growth as member of boards, advisory boards and committees or as an adviser for more than 45 companies and investment funds, across industries including technology, financial services, education, consumer services and real assets. Working with both private capital organizations and institutional investors, Wray has architected and led multiple private investment businesses, defining investment objectives, devising strategy, recruiting team members, setting culture, developing investor and financing relationships, and managing investment processes and decisions.
Wray is committed to giving back to the community, serving as Co-Chair of the Board of Youth, INC, as Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Investment Committee for Futures and Options, as a grant monitor and event committee chair for Hour Children, and as an Associate of the Harvard College Fund. In his 15+ years working with Youth, INC, a venture philanthropy nonprofit organization in New York City, Wray has engaged in many aspects of the organization’s growth and development including recruiting senior leadership, leading strategic planning initiatives, chairing the governance and compensation committees and being a part of raising more than $100 million to impact the lives of NYC youth by empowering more than 175 grass-roots non-profits that serve them. Wray earned an A.B. from Harvard University.
Howard L. Sanders, Lead Director. Howard Sanders serves as our lead director and is the managing member of Auldbrass Partners, a growth-focused private equity firm investing primarily in secondaries transactions, which he founded in 2011. Mr. Sanders heads Auldbrass Partners’ transactional sourcing, deal execution, investment strategy and business development. Mr. Sanders has led successful Auldbrass Partners investments in SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), tech-enabled manufacturing and services, healthcare and EdTech companies. Before founding Auldbrass Partners, Mr. Sanders was a Managing Director at Citigroup where he was responsible for managing and directing Citi Holdings’ proprietary investments in private equity, hedge funds and real estate. Prior to Citi, Mr. Sanders was a Vice President in mergers and acquisitions for Deutsche Bank (a successor to James D. Wolfensohn and Co.). Mr. Sanders also previously served as an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School.
Mr. Sanders is currently a board member of the Partnership for New York City Foundation, the Riverside Church in the City of New York and the Undergraduate Executive Board of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Sanders holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. We believe that Mr. Sanders’ significant experience in investment management leadership, company and private equity fund evaluation and analysis and investment banking leadership make him well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Troy Carter, Independent Director. Troy serves as our independent director and is the founder and CEO of Q&A, a music technology company focused on building software solutions for recording artists via distribution and analytics. Troy currently serves as a director of Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: BHAC). He also serves as an advisor to the NBA Players Association. He previously served as an advisor to the Prince Estate. Prior to founding Q&A, Troy was Global Head of Creator Services at Spotify from 2016 to 2018 and then served in a consulting role for CEO Daniel Ek until 2019. Troy serves on the boards of WeTransfer and SoundCloud, and served as an advisor to Lyft. He is also an active early stage investor, including in companies such as Uber, Lyft, Dropbox, Spotify, Slack, Warby Parker, Gimlet Media, and Thrive Market. Troy previously founded the entertainment company, Atom Factory, in 2008, where he worked with Lady Gaga, John Legend and Meghan Trainor.
Troy is an executive member on the boards of trustees at The Aspen Institute and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as a Henry Crown Fellow. In addition, he is a member of the United Nations Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council. Troy also has served on the boards of directors of the Los Angeles Mayor’s Council for Technology & Innovation and CalArts. Troy has previously been included on Fast Company’s list of most creative people and on Billboard’s Power 100 list, an annual ranking the music industry’s top influencers. We believe Troy’s significant business experience in various technology companies and his experience serving on the boards of technology companies makes him well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Dawanna Williams, Independent Director. Ms. Williams serves as our independent director and as the managing principal at Dabar Development Partners, which Ms. Williams founded over 15 years ago. Dabar has developed over 3,000 apartments units covering more than 2 million square feet of mixed-use developments and has had principal involvement in development projects awarded by NYC’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, NYC’s Economic Development Corporation, and New York City’s Housing Authority. As managing principal, Ms. Williams is involved in all executive aspects of business operations, from developing strategic priorities to executing development projects to risk management to establishing firm values and standards. Prior to Dabar, Ms. Williams served as General Counsel at Victory Education Partners and as a senior associate in the commercial real estate group at Sidley Austin LLP.
Ms. Williams serves on the board of directors of ACRES Commercial Realty Corp. (NYSE: ACR) is a real estate investment trust that is primarily focused on originating, holding and managing commercial real estate (“CRE”) mortgage loans and other commercial real estate-related debt investments, Compass, Inc., (NYSE: COMP), a publicly-traded, technology-enabled residential real estate brokerage company and Ares Industrial Real Estate Income Trust Inc., a real estate investment trust. Ms. Williams also serves on the board of directors of the Apollo Theater, chairing the real estate committee, and on the board of directors for the New York City Trust for Cultural Resources. Ms. Williams also serves on the board of directors of the New York Real Estate Chamber. Ms. Williams earned an A.B. from Smith College in economics and government, a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Maryland School of Law. We believe that Ms. Williams’ experience in investment management, her background in transaction law and corporate governance and her public company board experience make her well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Dia Simms, Independent Director. Dia serves as our independent director and as the Executive Chairwoman of the Board of Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal, an award-winning, independent spirits brand that launched in November 2020. Before being appointed Executive Chairwoman, Dia led Lobos 1707 as its CEO, alongside Founder and Chief Creative Officer Diego Osorio with early backing by sports and cultural icon, LeBron James. Dia currently serves as a director of Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition corporation, (Nasdaq: BHAC). Dia is also Co-Founder of Pronghorn, a 10-year initiative to drive diversity, equity and inclusion in the spirits industry. Dia spent almost fifteen years working alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs at Combs Enterprises. In 2017, Dia was named President of Combs Enterprises, making her the first president in the company’s thirty-year history other than Sean Combs himself. In her role as President, she oversaw multi-billion-dollar brands under the Combs empire, including CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka, Blue Flame Agency, AQUAhydrate, Bad Boy Entertainment, Sean John and Revolt TV. Of note, Dia led the transformation of CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka from infancy to a multibillion dollar value brand.
Along with a lengthy list of accolades, Dia is Board Chair of Pronghorn, Board Vice Chair of Saint Liberty Whiskey, Advisor to Touch Capital and director on the FIAC Board. Dia holds a B.S. degree in Psychology from Morgan State University and a Master’s degree in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. We believe Dia’s significant business experience as a CEO and significant deal-making experience make her well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Our sponsor may offer incentives, including an indirect interest in our sponsor, to any members of our team who materially contribute to the identification or execution of our initial business combination. The incentives available to our team will also be available on the same terms to our advisors and affiliates of Auldbrass Partners.
Auldbrass Partners
Auldbrass Partners is a private equity firm founded in 2011 and located in New York City. Auldbrass Partners has monitored and managed approximately $1.5 billion of global investments in growth, buyout, mezzanine, and venture capital and has an expansive pricing application analyzing over 300 investment funds, with over 5,000 active underlying companies. Auldbrass Partners leverages this database (“Thesys,” now in its third iteration) to efficiently identify, evaluate and invest in private equity high growth opportunities through secondaries transactions.
Prior to the formation of Auldbrass Partners, our team (in aggregate) completed over $3.8 billion (500 funds) in secondary transactions across private equity, real estate, hedge fund side pockets, and mezzanine funds, with assets located in Europe, Asia, and North America. The Auldbrass Partners investment team also has significant primary and secondary investment experience as well as market knowledge across several alternative asset classes and maintains long-term relationships with 200 top-tier fund managers.
Through Auldbrass Partners’ activities as a leading secondaries investor in middle market and late-stage growth portfolios, the firm and its employees have deep relationships across the private equity eco-sphere, and a sophisticated database of privately-owned companies (Thesys) that includes detailed, company-level information. Auldbrass Partners has successfully utilized Thesys to drive deal flow and will assist the company in the discovery of actionable opportunities and enhance strategic analysis.
Advisory Board
Our advisory board brings a unique and powerful blend of executive, investment, corporate strategy, talent development, sales and marketing, corporate finance, and social impact experience. We have purposefully and carefully curated an advisory board, the members of which bring complementary skills. We believe our advisory board members support our ability to identify and drive value in our initial business combination through their sourcing channels, relationship networks and leadership. We are confident that our advisory board members commit meaningful time and resources to assisting our company achieve our mission.
The members of our advisory board assist our management team with sourcing and evaluating business opportunities and devising plans and strategies to optimize any business that we acquire following the consummation of our initial public offering. However, unlike our management team, members of our advisory board are not responsible for managing our day-to-day affairs and have no authority to engage in substantive discussions with business combination targets on our behalf. Members of our advisory board are neither paid nor reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the search of business combination targets before or after the consummation of our initial business combination. We have not currently entered into any formal arrangements or agreements with the members of our advisory board to provide services to us, and they will have no fiduciary obligations to present business opportunities to us.
We believe that the experience and capabilities of our management, combined with the resources of Auldbrass Partners and our board of directors and advisory board, enhance our attractiveness to potential target businesses, enable us to pursue a broad range of opportunities, strengthen our ability to complete a successful combination, and drive our pursuit of financially and socially value-accretive operating practices and policies upon the completion of the initial business combination.
With respect to the above, past performance of our management team, Auldbrass Partners, members of our advisory board or their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either (i) success with respect to a business combination that may be consummated or (ii) the ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team, Auldbrass Partners, members of our advisory board and their respective affiliates as indicative of future performance. See “Risk Factors - Past performance by our management team, Auldbrass Partners, members of our advisory board and their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.” Our management has no prior experience in operating blank check companies or special purpose acquisition companies. For a list of our executive officers and entities for which a conflict of interest may or does exist between such officers and the company, please refer to “Management - Conflicts of Interest.”
Our management team, sponsor, officers and directors may sponsor, form or participate in other blank check companies similar to ours during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target, particularly in the event there is overlap among investment mandates. However, we do not currently expect that any such other blank check company would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. In addition, our officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence.
Our Business Strategy
Although we may pursue an initial business combination in any industry or geographic location, we intend to focus on high-growth businesses in the EdTech, technology-enabled manufacturing and services, FinTech and Health Tech sectors, as well as on compelling companies in these or other sectors led by, founded by or serving BIPOC or women in the United States. Based on the experiences of our officers, directors, partner and advisors, we believe that within this universe of businesses are many promising potential targets that could become attractive public companies with long-term growth opportunities and attractive competitive positioning. We believe that there are a large number of Social-Forward Companies in these sectors.
In executing our search and initial business combination, we plan to leverage the broad networks and complementary expertise of our officers, directors, advisory board members and Auldbrass Partners. We will also seek to attract promising private businesses to our company by emphasizing our ability to amplify the socially-forward aspects of a target business and unlock greater value from even an otherwise strong business. We believe that this combination of factors will bolster our ability to successfully complete a business acquisition that will enhance the overall value of our target and fulfill our mission.
We hope that our example inspires other companies and investors to enhance their own support for health and well-being, quality education, broad-based economic growth, decent work and greater economic equality in the United States.
Our networks and expertise have been developed through the experience of our officers, directors, partner and advisor by means of:
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Sourcing, structuring, acquiring, integrating and selling businesses in and adjacent to our target sectors;
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Operating sophisticated business and non-profit organizations and executing complex transactions;
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Identifying, recruiting and developing promising talent;
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Accessing the capital markets and marketing organizations; and,
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Advising companies and boards on diverse corporate matters, including but not limited to the integration of socially positive concerns into business operations for value creation.
Our sponsor may offer incentives, including an indirect interest in our sponsor, to any members of our team who materially contribute to the identification or execution of our initial business combination.
Demonstrating Our Commitment to Social Impact
Certain members of our sponsor intend to make a meaningful donation of interests in our sponsor to a charitable cause following the consummation of our initial business combination. We believe that this commitment will be highly appealing to market-leading companies across all sectors.
Our Competitive Advantage
We believe the reputation, sourcing, valuation, diligence and execution capabilities of our officers, directors, Auldbrass Partners and members of our advisory board all contribute towards our ability to generate a pipeline of opportunities from which to select a target business, to successfully execute a combination, and to create value for our shareholders following the combination.
We further believe that conducting our company as a Social-Forward Company and demonstrating our commitment to social impact through our donations make us more attractive to potential business targets and investors, many of which we believe have aligned values.
Our competitive strengths include the following:
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Passion to fulfill our mission to develop as a successful public company using our Social-Forward criteria.
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Compelling sourcing opportunities and strategic relationships, including our highly differentiated sourcing engine provided via our relationship with secondaries investment firm Auldbrass Partners, as well as the collective networks of our officers, directors, and advisory board members.
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Extensive influence and reach through a broad network that spans a range of leaders in business, entertainment, government and philanthropy.
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Successful track record of investing, transaction and capital markets experience that demonstrates a strong ability to source, select and execute.
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Deep insights into and subject matter expertise in a target-rich universe that provides a large total addressable market.
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Values-based leadership attractive to target businesses and with the ability to amplify and validate the efforts of a Social-Forward Company.
Our Combination Criteria
Our search for a combination target will focus on businesses that we believe would benefit from becoming publicly traded companies and stand to benefit from our mission. We believe that our strategy creates a compelling alternative for a growing Social-Forward Company to become a public entity, thereby potentially increasing capital access, gaining liquidity, diversifying investors and otherwise benefiting from participation in public markets.
We have developed a set of high-level investment criteria to guide our search for a target company. In addition to seeking businesses with strong business fundamentals and defined growth opportunities, we plan to prioritize businesses that:
Either demonstrate or appreciate the value of supporting health and well-being, quality education, reducing economic inequality and promoting decent work in the United States.
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Are motivated to fulfill our mission and be positioned as, or further developed as, a Social-Forward Company.
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Are excited about working with our company to realize in parallel both shareholder and social value.
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Are positioned to materially benefit from our officers’ and directors’ knowledge of the target industry and relationships.
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Have strong management teams with a clear vision to either maintaining or, if an early-stage business, creating sustainable cash flows.
Are positioned to benefit from access to public capital markets and the merits of being a Social-Forward Company.
While not a requirement, we may prioritize companies with existing revenue and evidence of high growth.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation of a particular initial business combination might be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as on other considerations, factors and criteria that our officers and directors may deem relevant. In the event that our company decides to enter into an initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria, we would disclose that the target business diverges from the above guidelines in our shareholder communications related to the initial business combination, which, as discussed in this Report, would be in the form of tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials that we would file with the SEC.
Our Combination Process
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct an extensive due diligence review, which may encompass, as applicable and among other things, utilization of independent consultants, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities and a review of financial and other information about the target and its industry.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with or related to Auldbrass Partners, our sponsor, officers, directors or members of our advisory board. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with or related to any of Auldbrass Partners, our sponsor, officers, directors or members of our advisory board, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
First Extension of Combination Period
On April 25, 2023, we held a special meeting of stockholders (the “Extension Meeting”) to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (i) extend the date (the “Termination Date”) by which we haves to consummate a Business Combination from May 1, 2023 (the “Original Termination Date”) to August 1, 2023 (the “Charter Extension Date”) and to allow us, without another shareholder vote, to elect to extend the Termination Date to consummate a Business Combination on a monthly basis for up to nine times by an additional one month each time after the Charter Extension Date, by resolution of our board of directors if requested by the sponsor, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Termination Date, until May 1, 2024, or a total of up to twelve months after the Original Termination Date, unless the closing of our initial business combination shall have occurred prior to such date (such amendment, the “Extension Amendment” and such proposal, the “Extension Amendment Proposal”) and (ii) remove the limitation that we may not redeem public shares to the extent that such redemption would result in us having net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of less than $5,000,000 (such amendment, the “Redemption Limitation Amendment” and such proposal, the “Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal”). The shareholders of FIAC approved the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal at the Extension Meeting and on April 26, 2023, we filed the Extension Amendment and the Redemption Limitation Amendment with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
In connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, the holders of 17,297,209 public shares properly exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.40 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of $179,860,588.
As disclosed in the proxy statement relating to the Extension Meeting, the sponsor agreed that if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, it or one or more of its affiliates, members or third-party designees (the “Lender”) will contribute to the Company as a loan, within ten (10) business days of the date of the Extension Meeting, of the lesser of (a) an aggregate of $487,500 or (b) $0.0975 per share that is not redeemed in connection with the Extension Meeting, to be deposited into the trust account. In addition, in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination by August 1, 2023, the Lender may contribute to us the lesser of (a) $162,500 or (b) $0.0325 per each public share that is not redeemed in connection with the Extension Meeting as a loan to be deposited into the trust account for each of nine one-month extensions following August 1, 2023. As of December 31, 2023 a total of $1,300,000 has been deposited into the trust account, to extend the Termination Date to January 1, 2024.
Second Extension of Combination Period
On December 29, 2023, FIAC held a special meeting of stockholders (the “Second Extension Meeting”) where a proposal was approved to amend FIAC's Certificate of Incorporation to extend the Termination Date from January 1, 2024 to April 1, 2024 (the “Second Charter Extension Date”) and to allow FIAC, without the need for another stockholder vote, to elect to extend the Termination Date to consummate a business combination on a monthly basis for up to seven times, by an additional one month each time, after the Second Charter Extension Date, by resolution of FIAC’s board of directors, if requested by Sponsor (such amendment, the “Second
Extension Amendment” and such proposal, the “Second Extension Amendment Proposal”). The shareholders of the Company approved the Second Extension Amendment Proposal at the Second Extension Meeting and on December 29, 2023, the Company filed the Second Extension Amendment with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
In connection with the vote to approve the extension at the Second Extension Meeting, the holders of 3,985,213 shares of Class A Common Stock properly exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.95 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $43,640,022.
As disclosed in the proxy statement relating to the Second Extension Meeting, the sponsor agreed that if the Second Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the sponsor would deposit into the trust account the lesser of (a) $120,000 and (b) $0.06 per public share that is not redeemed in connection with the Second Extension Meeting. In addition, in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination by April 1, 2024, the Lender may contribute to us the lesser of (a) $40,000 or (b) $0.02 per each public share that is not redeemed in connection with the Extension Meeting as a loan to be deposited into the trust account for each of seven one-month extensions following April 1, 2024. Because the Second Extension Proposal was approved, the sponsor deposited $103,055 into the trust account, and the Termination Date was extended to April 1, 2024. In March 2024, the sponsor deposited $34,352 in the trust account extending the Termination Date by one month to May 1, 2024, which can be extended to November 1, 2024 (with required funding of the Trust Account).
Promissory Notes
In connection with the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, on May 9, 2023, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note in the total principal amount of up to $1,500,000 (the “Promissory Note”) to the sponsor and the sponsor funded deposits into the trust account. The Promissory Note does not bear interest and matures upon closing of the Company’s initial Business Combination. In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination, the Promissory Note will be repaid only from amounts remaining outside of the trust account, if any. Up to the total principal amount of the Promissory Note may be converted, in whole or in part, at the option of the Lender into warrants of the Company at a price of $1.00 per warrant, which warrants will be identical to the private placement warrants issued to the sponsor at the time of the Company’s initial public offering. As of December 31, 2023, an aggregate of $1,500,000 has been drawn under the Promissory Note.
In connection with the extension of the Termination Date, on December 1, 2023, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note in the total principal amount of up to $1,500,000 (the “Second
Promissory Note”) to the sponsor and the sponsor funded deposits into the trust account. The Second Promissory Note does not bear interest and matures upon closing of the Company’s initial Business Combination. In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination, the Second Promissory Note will be repaid only from amounts remaining outside of the trust account, if any. As of December 31, 2023, an aggregate of $375,000 has been drawn under the Second Promissory Note.
Conflicts of Interest
There are potential conflicts of interest that could impact our company and our search for, and pursuit of, potential business combination opportunities, including potential conflicts associated with the interests and activities of Auldbrass Partners. These potential conflicts are discussed in more detail elsewhere in this Report and are not, and are not intended to be, a complete enumeration or explanation of all of the potential conflicts of interest that may arise.
Auldbrass Partners is an indirect investor in our sponsor. In addition, Howard Sanders, our lead director, is currently affiliated with Auldbrass Partners as a Founding Partner and a Managing Director in its advisory business.
Auldbrass Partners manages or advises (and intends to manage and advise in the future) several investment programs. Funds managed by Auldbrass Partners may compete with us for acquisition opportunities. If these funds decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from procuring such opportunities. In addition, investment ideas generated within Auldbrass Partners may be suitable for both us and for a current or future Auldbrass Partners fund or investee company and may be directed to such entity rather than to us. Auldbrass Partners, our management team and members of our advisory board do not have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware. See “Risk Factors”, including “Potential conflicts of interest with other businesses of Auldbrass Partners or other businesses with which our officers, directors or members of the advisory board may have fiduciary or contractual obligations could negatively impact the performance of an investment in us.”
Our sponsor, investors in our sponsor, our directors and officers and members of our advisory board are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business. Our sponsor, investors in our sponsor, our directors and officers and members of our advisory board are also not prohibited from sponsoring, or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies prior to us completing our initial business combination. In addition, our officers and directors (including our advisory board members), in their other endeavors (including any affiliation or relationship they may have with Auldbrass Partners), may choose or be required to present potential business combinations to Auldbrass Partners or to third parties, before they present such opportunities to us. As a result, if any of our officers, directors or members of the advisory board becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will need to honor such fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, before we can pursue such opportunity. If these other entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing the same. However, we do not expect these duties to materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any business combination opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis. Our directors and officers are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. See “Risk Factors”, including those entitled “Potential conflicts of interest with other businesses of Auldbrass Partners or other businesses with which our officers, directors or members of the advisory board may have fiduciary or contractual obligations could negatively impact the performance of an investment in us”, “Certain of our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented” and “Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.” See also the section entitled “Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance - Conflicts of Interest.”
Similarly, if Auldbrass Partners becomes aware of a potential business combination opportunity that could be an attractive opportunity for our company, Auldbrass Partners is not under any obligation to source any potential opportunities for our initial business combination or refer any such opportunities to our company or provide any other services to our company, other than certain advisory and administrative services. Auldbrass Partners may have fiduciary and/or contractual duties to other entities and, as a result, may have a duty to offer business combination opportunities to those entities before other parties, including our company. Additionally, certain companies with which Auldbrass Partners has a relationship may enter into transactions with, provide goods or services to, or receive goods or services from an entity with which we seek to complete our initial business combination. Transactions of these types may present a conflict of interest if Auldbrass Partners may directly or indirectly receive a financial benefit as a result of such transaction. We believe that any such potential conflicts of interest of Auldbrass Partners and any of our officers or directors that are affiliated with Auldbrass Partners will be naturally mitigated by the differing nature of services that Auldbrass Partners typically provides to its clients, as compared to our activities related to pursuing an initial business combination.
In addition, each of our sponsor, directors and officers does, directly or indirectly, own, founder shares and/or private placement warrants following our initial public offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, such directors and officers may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. Our sponsor may offer incentives including an indirect interest in our sponsor to Auldbrass Partners employees or others who materially contribute to the identification or execution of our initial business combination.
Information regarding performance by, or business associated with, our management team, Auldbrass Partners, members of our advisory board or their respective affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past experience or performance of our management team, Auldbrass Partners, members of our advisory board or their respective affiliates or related entities is not a guarantee of either (1) our ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (2) success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team. Auldbrass Partners, members of our advisory board or their respective affiliates or related entities or any investment’s performance as indicative of the future performance of any investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. An investment in us is not an investment in Auldbrass Partners. See “Risk Factors - Past performance by our management team, Auldbrass Partners, members of our advisory board and their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.”
Our sponsor is Focus Impact Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. Our sponsor currently owns 5,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, 750,000 shares of Class B common stock and 11,200,000 private placement warrants. Our sponsor is governed by a four-member board of managers which has voting and dipositive power over the founder shares and private placement warrants held by our sponsor. Our sponsor is not “controlled” (as defined in 31 CFR 800.208) by a foreign person, such that our sponsor’s involvement in the business combination would be a “covered transaction” (as defined in 31 CFR 800.213). However, it is possible that non-U.S. persons could be involved in our business combination, which may increase the risk that our business combination becomes subject to regulatory review, including review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), and that restrictions, limitations or conditions will be imposed by CFIUS. If our business combination with a U.S. business is subject to CFIUS review, the scope of which was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”), to include certain non-passive, non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business. FIRRMA, and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force, also subjects certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If our potential business combination with a U.S. business falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that we are required to make a mandatory filing or that we will submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or to proceed with a business combination without notifying CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing a business combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our business combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such business combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company without first obtaining CFIUS clearance, which may limit the attractiveness of or prevent us from pursuing certain initial business combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete a business combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other special purpose acquisition companies which do not have similar foreign ownership issues. A failure to notify CFIUS of a transaction where such notification was required or otherwise warranted based on the national security considerations presented by an investment target may expose our sponsor and/or the combined company to legal penalties, costs, and/or other adverse reputational and financial effects, thus potentially diminishing the value of the combined company. In addition, CFIUS is actively pursuing transactions that were not notified to it and may ask questions regarding, or impose restrictions or mitigation on, a business combination post-closing.
Moreover, the process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy and we have limited time to complete our business combination. If we cannot complete a business combination by the Termination Date because the transaction is still under review or because our business combination is ultimately prohibited by CFIUS or another U.S. government entity, we may be required to liquidate. If we liquidate, our public shareholders may only receive approximately $10.20 per public share or less in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless. This will also cause you to lose the investment opportunity in a target company and the chance of realizing future gains on your investment through any price appreciation in the combined company.
Initial Business Combination
So long as our securities are then listed on Nasdaq, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate 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. If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent accounting firm with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. Nasdaq rules also require that our initial business combination be approved by a majority of our independent directors.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination such that the post-transaction company owns or acquires less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons. However, we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act.
Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. If the business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of net assets test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses and we will treat the target businesses together as the initial business combination for purposes of a tender offer or for seeking stockholder approval, as applicable. In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor. If our securities are not then listed on Nasdaq for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% of net asset test.
Our Management Team
Members of our management team are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time that any member of our management team will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the current stage of the business combination process.
We believe our management team’s operating and transaction experience and network of relationships with investment banks, private equity firms, professional advisors and senior industrial executives provide us with a substantial number of potential business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, the members of our management team have developed a broad network of contacts and corporate relationships around the world. This network has grown through the activities of our management team sourcing, acquiring and financing businesses, our management team’s relationships with sellers, financing sources and target management teams. Our management team is also highly experienced in executing transactions under varying economic and financial market conditions. See the section of this Report entitled “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” for a more complete description of our management team’s experience.
Status as a Public Company
We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company, we offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination. In this situation, the owners of the target business would exchange their shares of stock in the target business for shares of our stock or for a combination of shares of our stock and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of the sellers. Although there are various costs and obligations associated with being a public company, we believe certain target businesses will find this method a more certain and cost effective method to becoming a public company than the typical initial public offering. In a typical initial public offering, there are additional expenses incurred in marketing, road show and public reporting efforts that may not be present to the same extent in connection with a business combination with us.
Furthermore, once a proposed business combination is completed, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions, which could delay or prevent the offering from occurring or could have negative valuation consequences. Once public, we believe the target business would then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with stockholders’ interests. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are 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, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our 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 our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of the prior fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
Financial Position
With funds available for a business combination in the amount of $62,736,405 as of December 31, 2023, after taking into account redemptions in connection with the Second Extension Meeting and before fees and expenses associated with our initial business combination, we offer a target business a variety of options such as creating a liquidity event for its owners, providing access to the expertise of our management team, providing capital for the potential growth and expansion of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt or leverage ratio. Because we are able to complete our business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs and desires.
Effecting our Initial Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following our initial public offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering and the private placement of the private placement warrants, our capital stock, debt or a combination of these as the consideration to be paid in our initial business combination. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our business combination or used for redemptions of purchases of our Class A common stock, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
We may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the trust account. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such financing only simultaneously with the completion of our business combination. In the case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our tender offer documents or proxy materials disclosing the business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities or otherwise.
Sources of Target Businesses
We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment market participants, private equity groups, investment banking firms, consultants, accounting firms and large business enterprises. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses in which they think we may be interested on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read this Report and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well as their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. In addition, we expect to receive a number of proprietary deal flow opportunities that would not otherwise necessarily be available to us as a result of the business relationships of our officers and directors. If we engage the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. We will engage a finder only to the extent our management determines that the use of a finder may bring opportunities to us that may not otherwise be available to us or if finders approach us on an unsolicited basis with a potential transaction that our management determines is in our best interest to pursue.
Payment of finder’s fees is customarily tied to completion of a transaction, in which case any such fee will be paid out of the funds held in the trust account. In no event, however, will our sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, members of our advisory board or any entity with which they are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the completion of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). We have agreed to pay an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support and to reimburse our sponsor for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. Some of our officers and directors may enter into employment or consulting agreements with the post-transaction company following our initial business combination. The presence or absence of any such fees or arrangements will not be used as a criterion in our selection process of an acquisition candidate.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with or related to Auldbrass Partners, our sponsor, officers, directors or members of our advisory board. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with or related to any of Auldbrass Partners, our sponsor, officers, directors or members of our advisory board, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
As more fully discussed in the section of this Report entitled “Management - Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Our officers and directors currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of Our Initial Business Combination
Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our 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. The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community, such as discounted cash flow valuation or value of comparable businesses. If our board is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We do not intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination. Subject to this requirement, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In any case, we will only complete an initial business combination in which we own or acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquire a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. If we own or acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses, the portion of such business or businesses that are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test. There is no basis for investors in our initial public offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete our business combination.
To the extent we effect our business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review, which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us.
The time required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination, and the costs associated with this process, are not currently ascertainable with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of, and negotiation with, a prospective target business with which our business combination is not ultimately completed will result in our incurring losses and will reduce the funds we can use to complete another business combination. In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor.
Lack of Business Diversification
For an indefinite period of time after the completion of our initial business combination, the prospects for our success may depend entirely on the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities that have the resources to complete business combinations with multiple entities in one or several industries, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations and mitigate the risks of being in a single line of business. By completing our business combination with only a single business, our lack of diversification may:
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subject us to negative economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact on the particular industry in which we operate after our initial business combination; and
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cause us to depend on the marketing and sale of a single product or limited number of products or services.
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target’s Management Team
Although we intend to closely scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our business combination with that business, our assessment of the target business’ management may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management may not have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of members of our management team, if any, in the target business cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that one or more of our directors will remain associated in some capacity with us following our business combination, it is unlikely that any of them will devote their full efforts to our affairs subsequent to our business combination. Moreover, we cannot assure you that members of our management team will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with the combined company. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with the combined company will be made at the time of our initial business combination.
Following a business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that those additional managers will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination
We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, subject to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws. However, we will seek stockholder approval if it is required by law or applicable stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons.
Presented in the table below is a graphic explanation of the types of initial business combinations we may consider and whether stockholder approval is currently required under Delaware law for each such transaction.
Type of Transaction
Whether Stockholder Approval is Required
Purchase of assets
No
Purchase of stock of target not involving a merger with the Company
No
Merger of target into a subsidiary of the Company
No
Merger of the Company with a target
Yes
Under Nasdaq’s listing rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
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we issue (other than in a public offering) shares of Class A common stock that will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of shares of our Class A common stock then outstanding;
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any of our directors, officers or substantial stockholders (as defined by the Nasdaq rules) has a 5% or greater interest (or such persons collectively have a 10% or greater interest), directly or indirectly, in the target business or assets to be acquired or otherwise and the present or potential issuance of common stock could result in an increase in outstanding shares of common stock or voting power of 5% or more; or
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the issuance or potential issuance of common stock will result in our undergoing a change of control.
The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination in those instances in which stockholder approval is not required by law or applicable stock exchange rules will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on business and legal reasons, which include a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:
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the timing of the transaction, including in the event we determine stockholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek stockholder approval or doing so would place the company at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on the company;
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the expected cost of holding a stockholder vote;
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the risk that the stockholders would fail to approve the proposed business combination;
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other time and budget constraints of the company; and
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additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to stockholders.
Permitted Purchases of Our Securities
In the event we seek stockholder approval of our business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the trust account will be used to purchase shares in such transactions. They will be restricted from making any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. Subsequent to the consummation of our initial public offering, we will adopt an insider trading policy which will require insiders to refrain from purchasing shares during certain blackout periods and when they are in possession of any material non-public information and to clear all trades with our legal counsel prior to execution. We cannot currently determine whether our insiders will make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan, as such purchases will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to, the timing and size of such purchases. Depending on such circumstances, our insiders may either make such purchases pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan or determine that such a plan is not necessary.
In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules.
The purpose of such purchases would be to (i) vote such shares in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the business combination or (ii) to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. This may result in the completion of our business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our common stock may be reduced and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, which may make it difficult to maintain or obtain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential selling stockholders who have expressed their election to redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the trust account or vote against the business combination. Our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates will only purchase shares if such purchases comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Any purchases by our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates who are affiliated purchasers under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act will only be made to the extent such purchases are able to be made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has certain technical requirements that must be complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates will not make purchases of common stock if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act.
Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders Upon Completion of Our Initial Business Combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account, without taking into account interest earned on the trust account, is initially anticipated to be approximately $10.20 per public share. The per-share amount we will distribute to investors who properly redeem their shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions we will pay to the underwriters. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its shares. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed (i) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of shares of Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A commons stock and (ii) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to consummate an initial business combination by the Termination Date (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame).
Manner of Conducting Redemptions
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors described above “-Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination,” such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would require us to seek stockholder approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirement. Asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would require stockholder approval. If we structure a business combination transaction with a target company in a manner that requires stockholder approval, we will not have discretion as to whether to seek a stockholder vote to approve the proposed business combination. We intend to conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons.
If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
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conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 143e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers; and
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file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which 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, which regulates the solicitation of proxies.
Upon the public announcement of our business combination, we or our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our Class A common stock in the open market if we elect to redeem our public shares through a tender offer, to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
In the event we conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, our offer to redeem will remain open for at least 20 business days, in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange Act, and we will not be permitted to complete our initial business combination until the expiration of the tender offer period. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares which are not purchased by our sponsor, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than any net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete the initial business combination.
If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirement, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
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conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, which regulates the solicitation of proxies, and not pursuant to the tender offer rules; and
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file proxy materials with the SEC.
In the event that we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders will count toward this quorum and have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after our initial public offering in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. Following redemptions in connection with the Second Extension Meeting, the sponsor holds approximately 77% of the outstanding shares of the Company. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, no additional public shares sold in our initial public offering would need to be voted in favor of a transaction (assuming all outstanding shares are voted) in order to have our initial business combination approved. We will give at least 10 days prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
In no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than any net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed business combination may require: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners; (ii) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes; or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, and all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.
Limitation on Redemption Upon Completion of Our Initial Business Combination if We Seek Stockholder Approval
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that 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 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our initial public offering, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed business combination as a means to force us or our management to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our initial public offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in our initial public offering, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our business combination, particularly in connection with a business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our business combination.
Tendering Stock Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights
As described above, we intend to require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to, at the holder’s option, either deliver their stock certificates to our transfer agent or deliver their shares to our transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) system, prior to the date set forth in the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable. In the case of proxy materials, this date may be up to two business days prior to the date on which the vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination is initially to be held. In addition, if we conduct redemptions in connection with a stockholder vote, we intend to require a public stockholder seeking redemption of its public shares to also submit a written request for redemption to our transfer agent two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote in which the name and other identifying information of the beneficial owner of such shares is included. The proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will indicate whether we are requiring public stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have up to two business days prior to the initially scheduled vote on the initial business combination if we distribute proxy materials, or from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, as applicable, to submit or tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures disclosed in the proxy or tender offer materials, as applicable, its shares may not be redeemed. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for stockholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.
There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC system. The transfer agent will typically charge the broker submitting or tendering shares a fee of approximately $80.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the redeeming holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights to submit or tender their shares. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated.
Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered its certificate in connection with an election of redemption rights and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, such holder may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically). It is anticipated that the funds to be distributed to holders of our public shares electing to redeem their shares will be distributed promptly after the completion of our initial business combination.
If our initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to redeem their shares.
If our initial proposed initial business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete an initial business combination with a different target until the Termination Date.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if no Initial Business Combination
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed that we will have until the Termination Date to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our business combination by the Termination Date, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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 earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless if we fail to complete our business combination by the Termination Date.
Our sponsor officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have waived their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date. However, if our initial stockholders acquire public shares in or after our initial public offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date or with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A common stock unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon 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 earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes, if any, divided by the number of the then outstanding public shares.
We expect that all costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, as well as payments to any creditors, will be funded from amounts remaining out of the $224,394 held outside the trust account (as of December 31, 2023), although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. However, if those funds are not sufficient to cover the costs and expenses associated with implementing our plan of dissolution, to the extent that there is any interest accrued in the trust account not required to pay our franchise and income taxes on interest income earned on the trust account balance, we may request the trustee to release to us an additional amount of up to $100,000 of such accrued interest to pay those costs and expenses.
If we were to expend all of the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders upon our dissolution would be approximately $10.20. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than $10.20. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders. While we intend to pay such amounts, if any, we cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims.
Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver.
In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (i) $10.20 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest that may be withdrawn to pay our tax obligations, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, then our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.20 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below (i) $10.20 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay our tax obligations, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations and we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that due to claims of creditors the actual value of the per-share redemption price will not be less than $10.20 per public share.
We will seek to reduce the possibility that our sponsor will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. Our sponsor will also not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. As of December 31, 2023, we have access to $224,394 from the proceeds of our initial public offering and borrowings from related parties with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately $100,000). In the event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, stockholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims made by creditors.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our business combination by the Termination Date may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our business combination by the Termination Date, is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution. If we are unable to complete our business combination by the Termination Date, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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 earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the Termination Date and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent 10 years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account. As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending to the trust account is remote. Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the trust account are not reduced below (i) $10.20 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest withdrawn to pay our franchise and income taxes and will not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims.
If we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.20 per share to our public stockholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, our board may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Our public stockholders will be entitled receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date or (ii) with respect to any other provisions relating to the rights of holders of our Class A common stock, and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we have not consummated our business combination by the Termination Date, subject to applicable law. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, may be amended with a stockholder vote.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our business combination, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources than we do. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of a target business.
Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.
Facilities
Our executive offices are located at 1350 Avenue of the Americas, 33rd Floor, New York, NY, 10105, and our telephone number is (212) 213-0243. Our corporate website address is https://focus-impact.com/spac. Our executive offices are provided to us by an affiliate of our sponsor. Commencing on the date that the Company’s securities were first listed on Nasdaq through the earlier of the consummation of the initial business combination and the Company’s liquidation, the Company began to reimburse an affiliate of the sponsor for office space, administrative and support services provided to the Company in the amount of $10,000 per month. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We currently have three officers. Members of our management team are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time that any such person will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the current stage of the business combination process.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We have registered our units, Class A common stock and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains such reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accounting firm.
We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, these financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with GAAP or IFRS, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may conduct an initial business combination with because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with such requirements or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with such requirements. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential acquisition candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
We are required to evaluate our internal controls over financial reporting procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to have our internal control over financial reporting procedures audited. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls over financial reporting. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this Report, including the financial statements. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected. The risk factors described below are not necessarily exhaustive and you are encouraged to perform your own investigation with respect to us and our business.
Risks Relating to the Company and our Management Team
Potential conflicts of interest with other businesses of Auldbrass Partners or other businesses with which our officers or directors may have fiduciary or contractual obligations could negatively impact the performance of an investment in us.
There are potential conflicts of interest that could impact our company and our search for, and pursuit of, potential business combination opportunities, including potential conflicts associated with the interests and activities of Auldbrass Partners. These potential conflicts are discussed in more detail elsewhere in this Report and are not, and are not intended to be, a complete enumeration or explanation of all of the potential conflicts of interest that may arise.
Auldbrass Partners is an indirect investor in our sponsor. In addition, Howard Sanders, our lead director, is currently affiliated with Auldbrass Partners as a Founding Partner and a Managing Director in its advisory business.
Auldbrass Partners manages or advises (and intends to manage and advise in the future) several investment programs. Funds managed by Auldbrass Partners may compete with us for acquisition opportunities. If these funds decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from procuring such opportunities. In addition, investment ideas generated within Auldbrass Partners may be suitable for both us and for a current or future Auldbrass Partners fund or investee company and may be directed to such entity rather than to us. Auldbrass Partners, our management team and members of our advisory board do not have any obligation to present us with any opportunity for a potential business combination of which they become aware. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors”, including Item 1A. “Risk Factors-Potential conflicts of interest with other businesses of Auldbrass Partners or other businesses with which our officers, directors or members of the advisory board may have fiduciary or contractual obligations could negatively impact the performance of an investment in us.”
Our sponsor, investors in our sponsor, our directors and officers and members of our advisory board are, or may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business. Our sponsor, investors in our sponsor, our directors and officers and members of our advisory board are also not prohibited from sponsoring, or otherwise becoming involved with, any other blank check companies prior to us completing our initial business combination. In particular, Messrs. Stanton, Lyles, Thorn and Carter and Ms. Simms are officers and/or members of the board of directors of Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition company that completed its initial public offering in October 2021, which may pursue initial business combination targets in a range of businesses or industries similar to ours. Any such special purpose acquisition companies, including Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target. In addition, our officers and directors (including our advisory board members), in their other endeavors (including any affiliation or relationship they may have with Auldbrass Partners), may choose or be required to present potential business combinations to Auldbrass Partners or to third parties, before they present such opportunities to us. As a result, if any of our officers, directors or members of our advisory board becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will need to honor such fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, before we can pursue such opportunity. If these other entities decide to pursue any such opportunity, we may be precluded from pursuing the same. However, we do not expect these duties to materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any business combination opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and it is an opportunity that we are able to complete on a reasonable basis. Our directors and officers are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence.
Similarly, if Auldbrass Partners becomes aware of a potential business combination opportunity that could be an attractive opportunity for our company, Auldbrass Partners is not under any obligation to source any potential opportunities for our initial business combination or refer any such opportunities to our company or provide any other services to our company, other than certain advisory and administrative services. Auldbrass Partners may have fiduciary and/or contractual duties to other entities and, as a result, may have a duty to offer business combination opportunities to those entities before other parties, including our company. Additionally, certain companies with which Auldbrass Partners has a relationship may enter into transactions with, provide goods or services to, or receive goods or services from an entity with which we seek to complete our initial business combination. Transactions of these types may present a conflict of interest if Auldbrass Partners may directly or indirectly receive a financial benefit as a result of such transaction. We believe that any such potential conflicts of interest of Auldbrass Partners and any of our officers or directors that are affiliated with Auldbrass Partners will be naturally mitigated by the differing nature of services that Auldbrass Partners typically provides to its clients, as compared to our activities related to pursuing an initial business combination.
In addition, each of our sponsor, directors and officers does, directly or indirectly, own, founder shares and/or private placement warrants following our initial public offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, such directors and officers may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. Our sponsor may offer incentives, including an indirect interest in our sponsor to Auldbrass Partners employees or others who materially contribute to the identification or execution of our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our officers is engaged in other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation and our officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. Our directors also serve as officers or board members for other entities. If our officers’ or directors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs, please see Item 10. “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” and Item 13. “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.”
Certain of our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Until we consummate our initial business combination, we will continue to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our sponsor and officers and directors are, and may in the future become, affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business.
Our officers and directors also may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.
For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, please see Item 13. “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.”
Our officers, directors, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or officers, although we do not intend to do so. We do not have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or existing holders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement of our sponsor, officers and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. Our directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described under Item 13. “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.” Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our sponsor, officers and directors are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no preliminary discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we are not specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for a business combination as set forth in Item 1. “Business-Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of Our Initial Business Combination” and such transaction was approved by a majority of our disinterested directors.
Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm, regarding the fairness to our company from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our officers, directors or existing holders, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public stockholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
We are dependent upon our officers and directors and their departure could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our officers and directors, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of any of our other directors or officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our ability to successfully effect our business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.
In addition, the officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of a business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following our business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Our key personnel may be able to remain with the company after the completion of our business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the completion of the business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the completion of our business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. There is no certainty, however, that any of our key personnel will remain with us after the completion of our business combination. We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with us. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with us will be made at the time of our initial business combination. In addition, pursuant to an agreement entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in our initial public offering, our sponsor, upon consummation of an initial business combination, will be entitled to nominate three individuals for election to our board of directors.
Past performance by our management team, Auldbrass Partners, members of our advisory board and their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Information regarding performance by, or business associated with, our management team, Auldbrass Partners, members of our advisory board and their respective affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past experience or performance of our management team, Auldbrass Partners, members of our advisory board or their respective affiliates or related entities is not a guarantee of either (1) our ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (2) success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team, Auldbrass Partners, members of our advisory board or their respective affiliates or related entities or any investment’s performance as indicative of the future performance of any investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward. An investment in us is not an investment in Auldbrass Partners.
Members of our management team and board of directors have significant experience as founders, board members, officers or executives of other companies. As a result, certain of those persons have been, may be, or may become, involved in proceedings, investigations and litigation relating to the business affairs of the companies with which they were, are, or may in the future be, affiliated. This may have an adverse effect on us, which may impede our ability to consummate an initial business combination.
During the course of their careers, members of our management team and board of directors have had significant experience as founders, board members, officers or executives of other companies. As a result of their involvement and positions in these companies, certain persons were, are now, or may in the future become, involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings relating to the business affairs of such companies or transactions entered into by such companies. Any such litigation, investigations or other proceedings may divert our management team’s and board’s attention and resources away from identifying and selecting a target business or businesses for our initial business combination and may negatively affect our reputation, which may impede our ability to complete an initial business combination.
There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
As of December 31, 2023, we had $224,394 in cash held outside of the trust account. Further, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our business combination plans. If we are unable to raise sufficient capital when needed, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected, and we will need to significantly modify our operational plans to continue as a going concern. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to continue as a going concern.
Risks Relating to Our Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination
Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even if a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.
We may not hold a stockholder vote to approve our initial business combination unless the business combination would require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements or if we decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons. Except as required by law, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Accordingly, we may complete our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our public shares do not approve of the business combination we complete.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, after approval of our board, our initial stockholders have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
Our initial stockholders have agreed to vote their founder shares, as well as any public shares purchased during or after our initial public offering, in favor of our initial business combination. Following redemptions in connection with the Second Extension Meeting, the sponsor holds approximately 77% of the outstanding shares of the company. As a result, in addition to our initial stockholders’ founder shares, no additional public shares would need to be voted in favor of a transaction (assuming all outstanding shares are voted) in order to have our initial business combination approved. Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, after approval of our board, it is more likely that the necessary stockholder approval will be received than would be the case if our initial stockholders agreed to vote their founder shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our public stockholders.
Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination will be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek stockholder approval of the business combination.
At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of one or more target businesses. Since our board of directors may complete a business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the business combination, unless we seek such stockholder vote. Accordingly, if we do not seek stockholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our initial business combination.
The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target.
We may seek to enter into a business combination transaction agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with the business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause our net tangible assets to be less than any amount necessary to satisfy a closing condition as described above, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related business combination and may instead search for an alternate business combination. Prospective targets will be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into a business combination transaction with us.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
At the time we enter into an agreement for our initial business combination, we will not know how many stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, and therefore will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If our business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the trust account to meet such requirements, or arrange for third party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares are submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third party financing. Raising additional third party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure. The amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriters will not be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with a business combination. The per-share amount we will distribute to stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commission and after such redemptions, the per-share value of shares held by non-redeeming stockholders will reflect our obligation to pay the deferred underwriting commissions.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our initial business combination would not be consummated and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your stock.
If our business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would not be consummated is increased. If our initial business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your stock in the open market; however, at such time our stock may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your stock in the open market.
The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may decrease our ability to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date.
Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by major public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the status of U.S. and global economy, including the debt and equity markets.
A major public health crisis could impact the U.S. and global economy. Disruptions to commercial activity (such as the imposition of quarantines or travel restrictions) or, more generally, a failure to contain or effectively manage a public health crisis may adversely impact our search for a business combination and the business of any potential target business with which we consummate a business combination.
Additionally, while restrictions have generally been lifted globally, and the World Health Organization has declared the end of the COVID-19 global health emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed, and any future public health crisis could contribute, to adverse impacts on global commercial activity and supply chain operations and significant volatility in the equity and debt markets. Such volatility could impact our ability to consummate a transaction that may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing.
We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public stockholders may only receive $10.20 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed that we must complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our initial business combination within such time period. If we have not completed our initial business combination within such time period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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 earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our public stockholders may only receive $10.20 per share, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors below.
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination by the Termination Date, we may seek an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the period of time we have to complete an initial business combination beyond the Termination Date. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires that such an amendment be approved by holders of 65% of our outstanding common stock.
Because of our limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share on our redemption of our public shares, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
We have encountered and expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment partnerships), other blank check companies and other entities, domestic and international, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well-established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources or more local industry knowledge than we do and our financial resources are relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there are numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable is limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, because we are obligated to pay cash for the shares of Class A common stock which our public stockholders redeem in connection with our initial business combination, target companies will be aware that this may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination.
This may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share upon our liquidation. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors below.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares from public stockholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination, although they are under no obligation to do so. Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its redemption rights. In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The purpose of such purchases could be to vote such shares in favor of the business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the business combination, or to satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our business combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. This may result in the completion of our business combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Class A common stock and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to maintain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares. For example, we may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures, its shares may not be redeemed.
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement warrants are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target business, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means that we will have a longer period of time to complete our business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if our initial public offering were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our completion of an initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that 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 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in our initial public offering, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares,” without our prior consent. However, we would not be restricting our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our business combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions.
Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our business combination. And as a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your stock in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
If the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate until November 1, 2024 (if extended), we may be unable to complete our initial business combination, in which case our public stockholders may only receive $10.20 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire worthless.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate until November 1, 2024 (if extended), assuming that our initial business combination is not completed during that time. We believe that the funds available to us outside of the trust account are sufficient to allow us to operate until November 1, 2024; however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into a letter of intent where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share upon our liquidation. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors below.
If the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and we will depend on loans from our sponsor or management team to fund our search for a business combination, to pay our franchise and income taxes and to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of our initial public offering, the sale of the private placement warrants and borrowings from related parties, only $224,394 (as of December 31, 2023) are available to us outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our sponsor, management team or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. Neither our sponsor, members of our management team nor any of their affiliates is under any obligation to advance funds to us in such circumstances. Any such advances would be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. Consequently, our public stockholders may only receive approximately $10.20 per share on our redemption of our public shares, and our warrants will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.20 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “-If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share” and other risk factors below.
If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.20 per share.
Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including, but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. The underwriters of our initial public offering will not execute an agreement with us waiving such claims to the monies in the trust account.
Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we are unable to complete our business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.20 per share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors. Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below (i) $10.20 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest that may be withdrawn to pay our franchise and income taxes. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, then our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. We have not independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations. Therefore, our sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the trust account, the funds available for our initial business combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.20 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our initial business combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your public shares. None of our officers will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy indemnification claims of our directors and officers, and our obligation to indemnify our directors and officers may have certain adverse consequences.
We have agreed to indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, our officers and directors have agreed to waive (and any other persons who may become an officer or director prior to the initial business combination will also be required to waive) any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account and not to 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 be able to be satisfied by us only if (i) we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination and the post-combination business has sufficient funds to provide such indemnification. Our obligation to indemnify our officers and directors may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
Our directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.20 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay our franchise and income taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations.
While we currently expect that our independent directors would take legal action on our behalf against our sponsor to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.20 per share.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and we and our board may be exposed to claims of punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our stockholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:
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restrictions on the nature of our investments; and
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restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our business combination.
In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:
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registration as an investment company;
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adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and
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reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business is to identify and complete a business combination and thereafter to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account may only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. The trust account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (i) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date or (ii) with respect to any other provisions relating to the rights of holders of our Class A common stock, and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we have not consummated our business combination by the Termination Date, subject to applicable law. If we do not invest the proceeds as discussed above, we may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act.
The funds in the trust account have, since our initial public offering, been held only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. government treasury obligations and meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act. However, to mitigate the risk of us being deemed to be an unregistered investment company (including under the subjective test of Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act) and thus subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, on October 31, 2023, FIAC instructed Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the trustee with respect to the trust account, to liquidate the U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds held in the trust account and thereafter to maintain the funds in the trust account in cash in an interest-bearing demand deposit account at a bank until the earlier of the consummation of a business combination and the liquidation of FIAC. Interest on such deposit account is currently 4.5% per annum, but such deposit account carries a variable rate and FIAC cannot assure you that such rate will not decrease or increase significantly. Following such liquidation, we would likely receive minimal interest on the funds held in the trust account. However, interest previously earned on the funds held in the trust account still may be released to us to pay our taxes, if any. As a result, any decision to liquidate the investments held in the trust account and thereafter to hold all funds in the trust account in cash in an interest-bearing demand deposit account would reduce the dollar amount our public stockholders would receive upon any redemption or liquidation of FIAC.
In the adopting release for the SPAC Rules (as defined below), the SEC provided guidance that a SPAC’s potential status as an “investment company” depends on a variety of factors, such as a SPAC’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities and “is a question of facts and circumstances” requiring individualized analysis. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete a business combination. Additionally, if we were deemed to be an investment company, and we are unable to modify our activities so that we would not be deemed an investment company, we would either register as an investment company or abandon our efforts to complete an initial business combination and instead liquidate the Trust Account. As a result, our public stockholders may only receive their pro rata portion of the funds in the Trust Account that are available for distribution to public stockholders, would be unable to realize the potential benefits of an initial business combination, including the possible appreciation of the combined company’s securities and our warrants may expire worthless.
Changes in laws or regulations or how such laws or regulations are interpreted or applied, or a failure to comply with any laws or regulations, may adversely affect FIAC’s business, including its ability to negotiate and complete its initial business combination, and results of operations.
We are and will be subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments and, potentially, foreign jurisdictions. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements, its business combination may be contingent on its ability to comply with certain laws and regulations and any post-business combination company may be subject to additional laws and regulations. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time, including as a result of changes in economic, political, social and government policies, and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, including its ability to negotiate and complete its initial business combination, and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on its business, including its ability to negotiate and complete its initial business combination, and results of operations.
On January 24, 2024, the SEC adopted the previously proposed rules (the “SPAC Rules”), relating to, among other things, circumstances in which SPACs could potentially be subject to the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. Specifically, the SPAC Rules mandate additional disclosure in business combinations involving SPACs and private operating companies; condensed financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies, the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filing in connection with proposed business combination transactions, the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions. Compliance with the SPAC Rules may materially adversely affect our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination and may increase the costs and time related thereto.
Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If a corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. However, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the Termination Date in the event we do not complete our business combination and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with the foregoing procedures.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the 10 years following our dissolution. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. If our plan of distribution complies with Section 281(b) of the DGCL, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would likely be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend beyond the third anniversary of such date. Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution.
We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate of our initial business combination, and you will not be entitled to any of the corporate protections provided by such a meeting.
We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination (unless required by Nasdaq) and thus may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting of stockholders be held for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with a company’s bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to our consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.
Holders of Class A common stock will not be entitled to vote on any election of directors we hold prior to our initial business combination.
Prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the election of directors. Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on the election of directors during such time. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our founder shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. Accordingly, you may not have any say in the management of our company prior to the consummation of an initial business combination.
Since only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the election of directors prior to consummation of our initial business combination, Nasdaq may consider us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq rules and, as a result, we may qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.
Prior to consummation of our initial business combination, only holders of our founder shares will have the right to vote on the election of directors. As a result, Nasdaq will consider us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Under Nasdaq corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that:
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we have a board that includes a majority of “independent directors,” as defined under the rules of Nasdaq;
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we have a compensation committee of our board that is comprised entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and
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director nominations be made, or recommended to the full board, by our independent directors or by a nominating committee of our board that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter or resolution addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities.
We do not intend to utilize these exemptions and intend to comply with the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq, subject to applicable phase-in rules. However, if we determine in the future to utilize some or all of these exemptions, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of Nasdaq corporate governance requirements.
The grant of registration rights to our initial stockholders may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
Pursuant to an agreement entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in our initial public offering, our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the private placement warrants and the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the founder shares and the private placement warrants held by them and holders of warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register such warrants or the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants. We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Class A common stock that is expected when the securities owned by our initial stockholders or holders of working capital loans or their respective permitted transferees are registered.
Because we are not limited to a particular industry, sector or any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’ operations.
Although we expect to focus our search for a target business in the industrial sector, we may seek to complete a business combination with an operating company in any industry or sector. However, we are not, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, permitted to effectuate our business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet entered into a definitive agreement with any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’ operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our securities will ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
We may seek acquisition opportunities in industries or sectors which may or may not be outside of our management’s area of expertise.
We may consider a business combination outside of our management’s area of expertise if a business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive acquisition opportunity for our company. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in any particular business combination candidate, we cannot assure you that we will adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our securities will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors in our initial public offering than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in a business combination candidate. In the event we elect to pursue an acquisition outside of the areas of our management’s expertise, our management’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this Report regarding the areas of our management’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following our business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
A slowdown in economic growth in the markets that our business target operates in may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, the value of our securities and the trading price of our shares following our business combination.
Following the business combination, our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition may be dependent on, and may be adversely affected by, conditions in financial markets in the global economy, and, particularly in the markets where the business operates. The specific economy could be adversely affected by various factors, such as political or regulatory action, including pandemics, social disturbances, terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war, natural calamities, interest rates, inflation, commodity and energy prices and various other factors which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, the value of our securities and the trading price of our shares following the business combination.
Recent increases in inflation and interest rates in the United States and elsewhere could make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Although the U.S. inflation rate has decreased in the fourth quarter, it remains well above the historic levels over the past several decades. Such increased inflation and interest rates in the United States and elsewhere may lead to (i) increased price volatility for publicly traded securities, including ours, (ii) increased borrowing costs and higher risk-free rates, (iii) other national, regional and international economic disruptions, and (iv) uncertainty regarding the valuation of target businesses, any of which could make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we complete our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other legal reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.
We may seek acquisition opportunities with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue or earnings, which could subject us to volatile revenues or earnings or difficulty in retaining key personnel.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include volatile revenues or earnings and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm, and consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Unless we complete our business combination with an affiliated entity or our board cannot independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm that the price we are paying is fair to our company from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, related to our initial business combination.
We may issue additional common stock or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon the conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 500,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 50,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. There are currently 493,282,422 and 49,250,000 authorized but unissued shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively, available for issuance, excluding shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants and currently issuable upon conversion of Class B common stock. There are no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. Shares of Class B common stock are convertible into shares of our Class A common stock initially at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment as set forth herein, including in certain circumstances in which we issue Class A common stock or equity-linked securities related to our initial business combination. Shares of Class B common stock are also convertible at the option of the holder at any time.
We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock to redeem the warrants or upon conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote as a class with our public shares (a) on our initial business combination or on any other proposal presented to stockholders prior to or in connection with the completion of an initial business combination or (b) to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (x) extend the time we have to consummate a business combination after the Termination Date or (y) amend the foregoing provisions. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, may be amended with a stockholder vote. The issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock:
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may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in our securities;
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may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;
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could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants.
Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless.
Since our sponsor (including our officers and directors that directly or indirectly own founder shares) will lose their entire investment in us if our business combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination. In addition, as a result of the low price paid for the founder shares, our sponsor (including our officers and directors that directly or indirectly own founder shares) stands to make a substantial profit even if an initial business combination subsequently declines in value or is unprofitable for our public stockholders.
In March 2021, our sponsor purchased 7,187,500 founder shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after our initial public offering. In October 2021, our sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 founder shares resulting in our sponsor holding 5,750,000 founder shares. The founder shares will be worthless if we do not complete an initial business combination. In addition, our sponsor purchased 11,200,000 private placement warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment, at a price of $1.00 per warrant ($11,200,000 in the aggregate), that will also be worthless if we do not complete a business combination. Holders of founder shares have agreed (A) to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination and (B) not to redeem any founder shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination. In addition, we may obtain loans from our sponsor, affiliates of our sponsor or an officer or director. The personal and financial interests of our officers and directors may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination.
In addition, as a result of the low acquisition cost of our founder shares, the holders of our founder shares (including our officers and directors that directly or indirectly own founder shares) could make a substantial profit even if we select and consummate an initial business combination with an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value or is unprofitable for our public stockholders. Thus, such parties may have more of an economic incentive for us to enter into an initial business combination with a riskier, weaker performing or financially unstable business, or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, than would be the case if such parties had paid the full offering price for their founder shares.
We may engage one or more of our underwriters or one of their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after our initial public offering, which may include acting as financial advisor in connection with an initial business combination or as placement agent in connection with a related financing transaction. Our underwriters are entitled to receive deferred commissions that will be released from the trust only upon the completion of an initial business combination. These financial incentives may cause them to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after our initial public offering, including, for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
We may engage one or more of our underwriters or one of their respective affiliates to provide additional services to us after our initial public offering, including, for example, identifying potential targets, providing financial advisory services, acting as a placement agent in a private offering or arranging debt financing. We may pay such underwriter or its affiliate fair and reasonable fees or other compensation that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with any of the underwriters or their respective affiliates and no fees or other compensation for such services will be paid to any of the underwriters or their respective affiliates prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of our initial public offering, unless FINRA determines that such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with our initial public offering. The underwriters are also entitled to receive deferred commissions that are conditioned on the completion of an initial business combination. The underwriters’ or their respective affiliates’ financial interests tied to the consummation of a business combination transaction may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in providing any such additional services to us, including potential conflicts of interest in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete a business combination, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no commitments as of the date of this Report to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our business combination. We have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the trust account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per-share amount available for redemption from the trust account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
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default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
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acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
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our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand;
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our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding;
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our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;
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other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services. This lack of diversification may negatively impact our operations and profitability.
We may effectuate our business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously or within a short period of time. However, we may not be able to effectuate our business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our initial business combination with only a single business, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
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solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset; or
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dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services
This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our business combination.
We may attempt to simultaneously complete business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete our initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
In pursuing our acquisition strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. By definition, very little public information exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in a business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
We do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to complete a business combination with which a substantial majority of our stockholders do not agree.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold. As a result, we may be able to complete our business combination even if a substantial majority of our public stockholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our sponsor, officers, directors, or their affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock that are validly submitted for redemption plus any amount required to satisfy cash conditions pursuant to the terms of the proposed business combination exceed the aggregate amount of cash available to us, we will not complete the business combination or redeem any shares, all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination.
In order to effectuate our initial business combination, we may seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or governing instruments in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination but that our stockholders may not support.
In order to effectuate a business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and modified governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds and extended the time to consummate an initial business combination and, with respect to their warrants, amended their warrant agreements to require the warrants to be exchanged for cash and/or other securities. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our charter or governing instruments or extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate our initial business combination.
The provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to our pre-business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account) may be amended with the approval of holders of 65% of our common stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any of its provisions related to pre-business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of our initial public offering and the private placement of warrants into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the DGCL or Nasdaq rules. Our initial stockholders, who collectively beneficially own up to 20% of our common stock, will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which govern our pre-business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete a business combination with which you do not agree. Our stockholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date or with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A common stock unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock upon 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 earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company to pay franchise and income taxes, if any, divided by the number of the then outstanding public shares. These agreements are contained in a letter agreement that we have entered into with our sponsor, officers and directors. Our stockholders are not parties to, or third-party beneficiaries of, these agreements and, as a result, will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our sponsor, officers or directors for any breach of these agreements. As a result, in the event of a breach, our stockholders would need to pursue a stockholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
Certain agreements related to our initial public offering may be amended without stockholder approval.
Each of the agreements related to our initial public offering to which we are a party, other than the warrant agreement and the investment management trust agreement, may be amended without stockholder approval. Such agreements are: the underwriting agreement; the letter agreement among us and our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors; the registration and stockholder rights agreement among us and our initial stockholders; the private placement warrants purchase agreement between us and our sponsor; and the administrative services agreement among us, our sponsor and an affiliate of our sponsor. These agreements contain various provisions that our public stockholders might deem to be material. For example, our letter agreement and the underwriting agreement contain certain lock-up provisions with respect to the founder shares, private placement warrants and other securities held by our initial stockholders, sponsor, officers and directors. Amendments to such agreements would require the consent of the applicable parties thereto and would need to be approved by our board of directors, which may do so for a variety of reasons, including to facilitate our initial business combination. While we do not expect our board of directors to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board of directors, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement. Any amendment entered into in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination will be disclosed in our proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, related to such initial business combination, and any other material amendment to any of our material agreements will be disclosed in a filing with the SEC. Any such amendments would not require approval from our stockholders, may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities. For example, amendments to the lock-up provision discussed above may result in our initial stockholders selling their securities earlier than they would otherwise be permitted, which may have an adverse effect on the price of our securities.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
Although we believe that the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will be sufficient to allow us to complete our initial business combination, because we have not yet entered into a definitive agreement with any prospective target business we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of our initial public offering and the sale of the private placement warrants prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of our initial business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to repurchase for cash a significant number of shares from stockholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase shares in connection with our initial business combination, we may be required to seek additional financing or to abandon the proposed business combination. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.20 per share plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire worthless. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive approximately $10.20 per share on the liquidation of our trust account, and our warrants will expire worthless.
Our initial stockholders may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Our initial stockholders own shares representing 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. Accordingly, they may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of major corporate transactions. If our initial stockholders purchase any additional shares of common stock in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A common stock. In addition, our board of directors, whose members were elected by our initial stockholders, is and will be divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the business combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our initial stockholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our founder shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor. Accordingly, our initial stockholders will continue to exert control at least until the completion of our business combination.
A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
Unlike most blank check companies, if (i) we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per shares of common stock, (ii) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (iii) the Market Value is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger prices described in Exhibit 4.2 of this Report will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $10.00 per share redemption trigger price described Exhibit 4.2 of this Report will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price. This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
Our warrants and founder shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our business combination.
We issued warrants to purchase 11,500,000 shares of our Class A common stock as part of the units sold in our initial public offering and, simultaneously with the closing of our initial public offering, we issued in a private placement warrants to purchase 11,200,000 shares of Class A common stock at $11.50 per share. Prior to our initial public offering, our sponsor purchased 7,187,500 founder shares in a private placement. In October 2021, our sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 founder shares resulting in our sponsor holding 5,750,000 founder shares. The founder shares are convertible into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as set forth herein. In addition, if our sponsor makes any working capital loans, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into warrants, at the price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. Our public warrants are also redeemable by us for Class A common stock as described in Exhibit 4.2 of this Report.
To the extent we issue shares of Class A common stock to effectuate a business combination, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of these warrants and conversion rights could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and reduce the value of the shares of Class A common stock issued to complete the business combination. Therefore, our warrants and founder shares may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in our initial public offering except that, so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees, (i) they will not be redeemable by us, except as otherwise set forth herein, (ii) they (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and (iii) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis.
Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.
The federal proxy rules require that the proxy statement with respect to the vote on an initial business combination include historical and pro forma financial statement disclosure. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, or international financial reporting standards, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. These financial statements may also be required to be prepared in accordance with GAAP in connection with our current report on Form 8-K announcing the closing our initial business combination within four business days following such closing. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an acquisition.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2022. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target company with which we seek to complete our business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control over financial reporting of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company or our company’s directors, officers or other employees.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (1) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (2) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of our company to our company or our stockholders, or any claim for aiding and abetting any such alleged breach, (3) action asserting a claim against our company or any director, or officer or employee of our company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our bylaws, or (4) action asserting a claim against us or any director, or officer or employee of our company governed by the internal affairs doctrine except for, as to each of (1) through (4) above, any claim (a) as to which the Court of Chancery 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, or (c) arising under the federal securities laws, including the Securities Act, as to which the Court of Chancery and the federal district court for the District of Delaware shall concurrently be the sole and exclusive forums. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph 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 district courts of the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions 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: (x) 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 the forum provisions (an “enforcement
action”); and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such enforcement action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such stockholder.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company or its directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits.
Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
If we effect our initial business combination with a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.
If we effect our initial business combination with a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:
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higher costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations and complying with different commercial and legal requirements of overseas markets;
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rules and regulations regarding currency redemption;
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complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals;
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laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected;
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tariffs and trade barriers;
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regulations related to customs and import/export matters;
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longer payment cycles and challenges in collecting accounts receivable;
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tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States;
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currency fluctuations and exchange controls;
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rates of inflation;
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cultural and language differences;
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employment regulations;
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crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and wars;
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deterioration of political relations with the United States; and
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government appropriations of assets.
We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer, which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.
In recent years, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies preparing for an initial public offering, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available to consummate an initial business combination.
In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause targets companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns, geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination, and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.
Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
In recent months, the market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies has changed. Fewer insurance companies are offering quotes for directors and officers liability coverage, the premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable. There can be no assurance that these trends will not continue.
The increased cost and decreased availability of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify its coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-business combination entity might need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. However, any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors.
In addition, even after we were to complete an initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business combination entity may need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance”). The need for run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.
Risks Relating to the Post-Business Combination Company
Subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and our stock price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business with which we combine, we cannot assure you that this diligence will surface all material issues that may be present inside a particular target business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence, or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Although these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining post-combination debt financing.
Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Our management may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination.
We may structure a business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for us not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of Class A common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management will not be able to maintain our control of the target business. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may affect our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company, which could, in turn, negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’ management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Risks Relating to our Securities
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
Our public stockholders are entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date or (ii) with respect to any other provisions relating to the rights of holders of our Class A common stock, and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we have not consummated our business combination by the Termination Date, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if we are unable to complete an initial business combination by the Termination Date for any reason, compliance with Delaware law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then-existing stockholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our trust account. In that case, public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond the Termination Date before they receive funds from our trust account. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in the trust account. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
Our securities are currently listed on Nasdaq, however, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on Nasdaq in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on Nasdaq prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and stock price levels. In general, we must maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share, a minimum market value of our listed securities of $50 million and a minimum of 400 public holders of our securities. Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with Nasdaq’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on Nasdaq. For instance, our minimum bid price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share, the minimum market value of our listed securities must be at least $75 million and we would be required to have a minimum of 400 round lot holders of our unrestricted securities (with at least 50% of such round lot holders holding unrestricted securities with a market value of at least $2,500). We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
On October 16, 2023, we received a written notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq that we were no longer in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(2), which requires a minimum of 400 total holders for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Minimum Public Holders Rule”). Based on the plan of compliance we submitted to Nasdaq on November 17, 2023, Nasdaq granted us an extension until April 15, 2024 to regain compliance with the Minimum Public Holders Rule. In the event we do not regain compliance with the Minimum Public Holders Rule, Nasdaq will provide written notification that our securities will be delisted. At that time, we may appeal Nasdaq’s determination to a Listing Qualifications Panel.
If Nasdaq delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list such securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
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a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
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reduced liquidity for our securities;
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a determination that our Class A common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Class A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities;
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a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and
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a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because our units, Class A common stock and warrants are currently listed on Nasdaq, our units, Class A common stock and warrants qualify as covered securities under such statute. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not qualify as covered securities under such statute and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities, including in connection with our initial business combination.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time, and such registration may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such investor from being able to exercise its warrants except on a cashless basis and potentially causing such warrants to expire worthless.
We are not registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time. However, under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed that, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than twenty business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the issuance of such shares, and we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of our initial business combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement and a current prospectus relating to those shares until the warrants expire or are redeemed. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so if, for example, any facts or events arise which represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement or Report, the financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current, complete or correct or the SEC issues a stop order. If the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act in accordance with the above requirements, we will be required to permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, in which case, the number of shares of Class A common stock that you will receive upon cashless exercise will be based on a formula subject to a maximum amount of shares equal to 0.361 shares per warrant (subject to adjustment). However, no warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of residence of the exercising holder, or an exemption from registration or qualification is available. However, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the public warrants under applicable state securities laws to the extent an exemption from such registration or qualification is not available (including, without limitation, the exemption available so long as the Class A common stock is a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act or if such warrant is being exercised pursuant and in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act). Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A common stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will be required to use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws and there is no exemption available. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of Class A common stock included in the units. There may be a circumstance where an exemption from registration exists for holders of our private placement warrants to exercise their warrants while a corresponding exemption does not exist for holders of the public warrants included as part of units sold in our initial public offering. In such an instance, our sponsor and its permitted transferees (which may include our directors and officers) would be able to exercise their warrants and sell the shares of common stock underlying their warrants while holders of our public warrants would not be able to exercise their warrants and sell the underlying shares of Class A common stock. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying shares of Class A common stock for sale under applicable state securities laws and even if an exemption from such registration or qualification is not available. As a result, we may redeem the warrants as set forth above even if the holders are otherwise unable to exercise their warrants.
If you exercise your public warrants on a “cashless basis,” you will receive fewer shares of Class A common stock from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
There are circumstances in which the exercise of the public warrants may be required or permitted to be made on a cashless basis. First, if a registration statement covering the sale of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day following the consummation of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, provided that such exemption is available; if that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, in which case the number of shares of Class A common stock that you will receive upon cashless exercise will be based on a formula subject to a maximum amount of shares equal to 0.361 shares per warrant (subject to adjustment). For example, if the holder is exercising 875 warrants at $11.50 per share through a cashless exercise when the shares of our Class A common stock have a fair market value of $17.50 per share when there is no effective registration statement, then, upon the cashless exercise, the holder will receive 300 shares of our Class A common stock. The holder would have received 875 shares of our Class A common stock if the exercise price was paid in cash. This will have the effect of reducing the potential “upside” of the holder’s investment in our company because the warrant holder will hold a smaller number of shares of our Class A common stock upon a cashless exercise of the warrants they hold.
Third, if we call the warrants for redemption in the circumstances described in Exhibit 4.2 of this Report, holders who wish to exercise their warrants may do so on a cashless basis. In the event of an exercise on a cashless basis under those circumstances, a holder would receive that number of shares determined by reference to an agreed table based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of Class A common stock (See Exhibit 4.2 of this Report).
In any of these cases, this will have the effect of reducing the potential “upside” of the holder’s investment in the shares of Class A common stock received on warrant exercise because the warrant holder will receive a smaller number of shares of our Class A common stock upon a cashless exercise than upon an exercise for cash.
We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders with the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your warrants could be increased, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.
Our warrants are issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions of the warrant agreement to the description of the terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement set forth in our final prospectus, or defective provision, (ii) amending the provisions relating to cash dividends on shares of common stock as contemplated by and in accordance with the warrant agreement or (iii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the warrant agreement as the parties to the warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem to not adversely affect the rights of the registered holders of the warrants, provided that the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding public warrants is required to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the private placement warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the private placement warrants, 50% of the number of the then outstanding private placement warrants. Although our ability to amend the terms of the public warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.
We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your warrants worthless.
We have the ability to redeem outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.01 per warrant, provided that the last reported sales price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading-day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we give proper notice of such redemption and provided certain other conditions are met. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force you (i) to exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) to sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants or (iii) to accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your warrants.
In addition, we may redeem your warrants after they become exercisable for $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants prior to redemption for a number of Class A common stock determined based on the redemption date and the fair market value of our Class A common stock. Please see Exhibit 4.2 of this Report The value received upon exercise of the warrants (1) may be less than the value the holders would have received if they had exercised their warrants at a later time where the underlying share price is higher and (2) may not compensate the holders for the value of the warrants, including because the number of shares of common stock received is capped at 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment) irrespective of the remaining life of the warrants.
None of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us as (except as set forth under Exhibit 4.2 of this Report) so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees.
Because each unit contains one-half of one warrant and only a whole warrant may be exercised, the units may be worth less than units of other blank check companies.
Each unit contains one-half of one warrant. Because, pursuant to the warrant agreement, the warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares, only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time. This is different from other offerings similar to ours whose units include one share of common stock and one whole warrant to purchase one share. We have established the components of the units in this way in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of a business combination since the warrants will be exercisable in the aggregate for one-half of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a warrant to purchase one whole share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive merger partner for target businesses. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if they included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
A market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
The price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
Our warrant agreement designates the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our warrant agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the warrant agreement 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 district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our warrant agreement.
If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope of the forum provisions of the warrant agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of our warrants, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our warrant agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Class A common stock and could entrench management.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered board of directors and the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred shares, which may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
General Risk Factors
We are a recently formed company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We are a recently formed company with no operating results. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination with one or more target businesses. We may be unable to complete our business combination. If we fail to complete our business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may 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 internal controls attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of a prior fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter before that time, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our shares of Class A common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30, or (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our shares of Class A common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As an early stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss.
We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting relating to our inadequate control for the withdrawal of funds from the Trust Account as of December 31, 2023. If we are unable to develop and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results in a timely manner, which may adversely affect investor confidence in us and materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.
As described elsewhere in this Report, we have identified a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting relating to our inadequate control for the timing of withdrawals of funds from the Trust Account.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected on a timely basis.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. To respond to the material weakness we identified, we plan to incorporate enhanced communication and documentation procedures between our operations team and the individuals responsible for preparation of financial statements, as described in Part II, Item 9A: Controls and Procedures included in this Report. We continue to evaluate steps to remediate the material weakness. These remediation measures may be time consuming and costly and there is no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects.
If we identify any new material weaknesses in the future, any such newly identified material weakness could limit our ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of our accounts or disclosures that could result in a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements. In such case, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to applicable stock exchange listing requirements, investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting and our stock price may decline as a result. We cannot assure you that the measures we have taken to date, or any measures we may take in the future, will be sufficient to avoid potential future material weaknesses.
We, and following our initial business combination, the post-business combination company, may face litigation and other risks as a result of the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting.
We identified a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting. As a result of such material weakness and other matters raised or that may in the future be raised by the SEC, we face the potential for litigation or other disputes which may include, among others, claims invoking the federal and state securities laws, contractual claims or other claims arising from the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements. As of the date of this Report, we have no knowledge of any such litigation or dispute. However, we can provide no assurance that such litigation or dispute will not arise in the future. Any such litigation or dispute, whether successful or not, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition or our ability to complete a business combination.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES
Our executive offices are located at 1350 Avenue of the Americas, 33rd Floor, New York, NY, 10105, and our telephone number is (212) 213-0243. Our executive offices are provided to us by an affiliate of our sponsor. Commencing on the date that the Company’s securities were first listed on Nasdaq through the earlier of the consummation of the initial business combination and the Company’s liquidation, the Company began to reimburse an affiliate of the sponsor for office space, administrative and support services provided to the Company in the amount of $10,000 per month. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
To the knowledge of our management, there is no litigation currently pending or contemplated against us, any of our officers or directors in their capacity as such or against any of our property.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
(a)
Market Information
Our units, shares of Class A common stock and warrants are each traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “FIACU”, “FIAC” and “FIACW” respectively. Our units commenced public trading on October 27, 2021. Our shares of Class A common stock and warrants began separate trading on December 20, 2021.
(b)
Holders
As of December 31, 2023, there was one holder of record for our units, two holders of record for our shares of Class A common stock, one holder of our shares of Class B common stock and two holders of our warrants.
(c)
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of an initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial conditions subsequent to completion of an initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to an initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future. Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
(d)
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
None.
(e)
Performance Graph
Not applicable.
(f)
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities; Use of Proceeds from Registered Offerings
On November 1, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering of 23,000,000 units which included the exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase an additional 3,000,000 units. The units sold in the initial public offering and the full exercise of over-allotment option sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating total gross proceeds of $230,000,000. The securities sold in the offering were registered under the Securities Act on a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-255448). The registration statements became effective on October 27, 2021.
Simultaneously with the closing of initial public offering, the Company completed the private sale of 11,200,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant to the sponsor, generating gross proceeds to the Company of $11,200,000. Such securities were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the units sold in the initial public offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants are not transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a business combination, subject to certain limited exceptions.
Of the gross proceeds received from the initial public offering including the over-allotment option, and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, $234,600,000 was placed in the trust account.
We paid a total of $4,000,000 of underwriting commissions and $807,525 for other offering costs related to the initial public offering. The underwriters have waived any right to receive the deferred underwriting commissions of $8,650,000, and therefore will receive no additional underwriting fee in the event that the Company completes an initial business combination.
(g)
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
None.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6.
[RESERVED]

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and the notes related thereto which are included in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those set forth under “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Report.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated on February 23, 2021 as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the “Initial Business Combination”).
Our sponsor is Focus Impact Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). The registration statement for our initial public offering was declared effective on October 27, 2021. On November 1, 2021, we consummated our initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”) of 23,000,000 Units, including the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase 3,000,000 units, at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit.
Simultaneously with the closing of Initial Public Offering, we completed the private sale of 11,200,000 warrants (the “Private Placement Warrants”) at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Placement Warrant to the Sponsor, generating gross proceeds to us of $11,200,000.
Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, $10.20 per Unit sold in the Initial Public Offering (including the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and the proceeds of the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, are held in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and will be invested only in U.S. government securities with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. The trust account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (a) the completion of the Initial Business Combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of our Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with the Initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete the Initial Business Combination by the Termination Date or (ii) with respect to any other provisions relating to the rights of holders of our Class A common stock, and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we have not consummated the Initial Business Combination by the Termination Date, subject to applicable law.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have until the Termination Date to complete the Initial Business Combination. If we do not complete the Initial Business Combination by the Termination Date, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 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 earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law; and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
Extension of Combination Period
On April 25, 2023, we held the Extension Meeting to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (i) extend the Termination Date from the Original Termination Date to the Charter Extension Date and to allow us, without another shareholder vote, to elect to extend the Termination Date to consummate an Initial Business Combination on a monthly basis for up to nine times by an additional one month each time after the Charter Extension Date, by resolution of the our board of directors if requested by the Sponsor, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Termination Date, until May 1, 2024, or a total of up to twelve months after the Original Termination Date, unless the closing of our Initial Business Combination shall have occurred prior to such date and (ii) remove the limitation that we may not redeem shares of public stock to the extent that such redemption would result in us having net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of less than $5,000,000. The shareholders of the Company approved the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal at the Extension Meeting and on April 26, 2023, we filed the Extension Amendment and the Redemption Limitation Amendment with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
In connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Redemption Limitation Amendment Proposal, the holders of 17,297,209 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company properly exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.40 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of $179,860,588.
As disclosed in the proxy statement relating to the Extension Meeting, the Sponsor agreed that if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, it or one or more of its affiliates, members or third-party designees will contribute to us as a loan, within ten (10) business days of the date of the Extension Meeting, of the lesser of (a) an aggregate of $487,500 or (b) $0.0975 per share that is not redeemed in connection with the Extension Meeting, to be deposited into the Trust Account. In addition, in the event we do not consummate an Initial business combination by August 1, 2023, the Lender may contribute to us the lesser of (a) $162,500 or (b) $0.0325 per each share of public stock that is not redeemed in connection with the Extension Meeting as a loan to be deposited into the Trust Account for each of nine one-month extensions following August 1, 2023.
In association with the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, on May 9, 2023, we issued the Promissory Note to the Sponsor and the Sponsor funded deposits into the Trust Account. The Promissory Note does not bear interest and matures upon closing of our Initial Business Combination. In the event that we do not consummate an Initial Business Combination, the Promissory Note will be repaid only from amounts remaining outside of the Trust Account, if any. Up to the total principal amount of the Promissory Note may be converted, in whole or in part, at the option of the Lender into warrants of the Company at a price of $1.00 per warrant, which warrants will be identical to the Private Placement Warrants issued to the Sponsor at the time of the Initial Public Offering.
On December 29, 2023, we held the Second Extension Meeting to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (i) extend the Termination Date from January 1, 2024 to the Second Charter Extension Date and to allow us, without another stockholder vote, to elect to extend the Termination Date to consummate an Initial Business Combination on a monthly basis for up to seven times by an additional one month each time after the Second Charter Extension Date, by resolution of the Company’s board of directors if requested by the Sponsor, and upon five days’ advance notice prior to the applicable Termination Date, until November 1, 2024, or a total of up to ten months after January 1, 2024, unless the closing of our Initial Business Combination shall have occurred prior to such date. Our stockholders approved the Second Extension Amendment Proposal at the Second Extension Meeting and on December 29, 2023, we filed the Second Extension Amendment with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
In connection with the vote to approve the Second Extension Amendment Proposal, the holders of 3,985,213 shares of Class A common stock properly exercised their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.95 per share, for an aggregate redemption amount of approximately $43,640,022. As of December 31, 2023, funds related to these redemptions have not been distributed and are reported on the consolidated balance sheet as redemption payable.
As of the date of this filing, the Company has deposited an aggregate of $1,437,407 into the Trust Account to extend the Termination Date to May 1, 2024, which can be extended to November 1, 2024 (with required funding of the Trust Account).
Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock
On December 21, 2023, the Sponsor converted 5,000,000 shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock. Notwithstanding the conversions, the Sponsor will not be entitled to receive any monies held in the Trust Account as a result of its ownership of shares of Class A common stock issued upon conversion of the Class B common stock. Following such conversion and taking into account the redemptions described above, we have an aggregate of 6,717,578 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding and an aggregate of 750,000 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding.
Proposed Business Combination
On September 12, 2023, we entered into the Business Combination Agreement, by and among FIAC, Amalco Sub and DevvStream. Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, among other things FIAC will acquire DevvStream for consideration of shares in FIAC following its continuance to the Province of Alberta (as further explained below). The terms of the Business Combination Agreement, which contains customary representations and warranties, covenants, closing conditions and other terms relating to the mergers and the other transactions contemplated thereby, are summarized below.
Structure of the Business Combination
The acquisition is structured as a continuance followed by an amalgamation transaction, resulting in the following:
(a) prior to the Effective Time, FIAC will continue from the State of Delaware under the DGCL to the Province of Alberta under the ABCA and change its name to DevvStream Corp.
(b) following the FIAC Continuance, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Plan of Arrangement and the BCBCA, Amalco Sub and DevvStream will amalgamate to form one corporate entity in accordance with the terms of the BCBCA, and as a result of the Amalgamation, (i) each Company Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be automatically exchanged for that certain number of New PubCo Common Shares equal to the applicable Per Common Share Amalgamation Consideration, (ii) each Company Option and Company RSU issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into Converted Options and Converted RSUs, respectively, in an amount equal to the Company Shares underlying such Company Option or Company RSU, respectively, multiplied by the Common Conversion Ratio (and, for Company Options, at an adjusted exercise price equal to the exercise price for such Company Option prior to the Effective Time divided by the Common Conversion Ratio), (iii) each Company Warrant issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall become exercisable for New PubCo Common Shares in an amount equal to the Company Shares underlying such Company Warrant multiplied by the Common Conversion Ratio (and at an adjusted exercise price equal to the exercise price for such Company Warrant prior to the Effective Time divided by the Common Conversion Ratio), (iv) each holder of Company Convertible Notes, if any, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will first receive Company Shares and then New PubCo Common Shares in accordance with the terms of such Company Convertible Notes and (v) each common share of Amalco Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be automatically exchanged for one common share of Amalco.
(c) Simultaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, FIAC and the Sponsor entered into a Sponsor Side Letter, pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor agreed to forfeit (i) 10% of its founder shares effective as of the consummation of the Continuance at the closing of the Proposed Transactions and (ii) with the Sponsor's consent, up to 30% of its founder shares and/or private placement warrants in connection with financing or non-redemption arrangements, if any, entered into prior to consummation of the Business Combination. Pursuant to the Sponsor Side Letter, the Sponsor also agreed to (1) certain transfer restrictions with respect to our securities, lock-up restrictions (terminating upon the earlier of: (A) 360 days after the Closing Date, (B) a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of New PubCo’s stockholders having the right to exchange their equity for cash, securities or other property or (C) subsequent to the Closing Date, the closing price of the New Pubco Common Shares equaling or exceeding $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Closing) and (2) to vote any FIAC shares held by it in favor of the Business Combination Agreement, the arrangement resolution and the Proposed Transactions, and provided customary representations and warranties and covenants related to the foregoing.
(d) In addition, contemporaneously with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, DevvStream, FIAC and each of Devvio, Inc., the majority and controlling shareholder of DevvStream, and DevvStream’s directors and officers entered into the Company Support Agreements, pursuant to which, among other things, (i) each of the Core Company Securityholders agreed to vote any Company Shares held by him, her or it in favor of the Business Combination Agreement, the arrangement resolution and the Proposed Transactions, and provided customary representations and warranties and covenants related to the foregoing, and (ii) each of the Core Company Securityholders has agreed to certain transfer restrictions with respect to DevvStream securities prior to the Effective Time and lock-up restrictions with respect to the New PubCo Common Shares to be received by such Core Company Securityholder under the Business Combination Agreement, which lock-up restrictions are consistent with those agreed to by the Sponsor in the Sponsor Side Letter.
Consideration
The aggregate consideration to be paid to DevvStream shareholders and securityholders is that number of New PubCo Common Shares (or, with respect to Company Options, Company RSUs and Company Warrants, a number of Converted Options, Converted RSUs and Converted Warrants consistent with the aforementioned conversion mechanics) equal to (a) (i) $145 million plus (ii) the aggregate exercise price of all in-the-money options and warrants immediately prior to the Effective Time (or exercised in cash prior to the Effective Time) divided by (b) $10.20 (the “Share Consideration”). The Share Consideration is allocated among DevvStream shareholders and securityholders as set forth in the Business Combination Agreement.
Closing
The Closing will be on a date no later than two Business Days following the satisfaction or waiver of all of the closing conditions. It is expected that the Closing will occur on or before June 12, 2024. The Business Combination Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of (a) DevvStream and (b) FIAC and Amalco Sub relating to, among other things, their ability and authority to enter into the Business Combination Agreement and their capitalization and operations.
Expenses
The Business Combination Agreement provides for the following with respect to expenses related to the Proposed Transactions:
•
If the Proposed Transactions are consummated, New PubCo will bear Expenses of the parties, including the SPAC Specified Expenses all deferred expenses, including any legal fees of the Initial Public Offering due upon consummation of a Business Combination and any Excise Tax Liability.
•
If (a) FIAC or DevvStream terminate the Business Combination Agreement as a result of a mutual written consent, the Required SPAC Shareholder Approval not being obtained, or the Effective Time not occurring by the Outside Date or (b) DevvStream terminates the Business Combination Agreement due to a breach of any representation or warranty by FIAC or Amalco Sub, then all expenses incurred in connection with the Business Combination Agreement and the Proposed Transactions will be paid by the party incurring such expenses, and no party will have any liability to any other party for any other expenses or fees.
•
If (a) FIAC or DevvStream terminate the Business Combination Agreement due to the Required Company Shareholder Approval not being obtained or (b) DevvStream terminates the Business Combination Agreement due to a change in recommendation, or the approval, or authorization by DevvStream’s board of directors or DevvStream entering into a Superior Proposal or (c) FIAC terminates the Business Combination Agreement due to a breach of any representation or warranty by DevvStream or a Company Material Adverse Effect, DevvStream will pay to FIAC all expenses incurred by FIAC in connection with the Business Combination Agreement and the Proposed Transactions up to the date of such termination (including (i) SPAC Specified Expenses incurred in connection with the transactions, including SPAC Extension Expenses and (ii) any Excise Tax Liability provided that, solely with respect to Excise Tax Liability, notice of such termination is provided after December 1, 2023).
Sponsor Side Letter
In connection with signing the Business Combination Agreement, FIAC and the Sponsor entered into a letter agreement, dated September 12, 2023, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to forfeit (i) 10% of its founder shares effective as of the consummation of the FIAC Continuance at the closing of the Proposed Transactions and (ii) with the Sponsor's consent, up to 30% of its founder shares and/or private placement warrants in connection with financing or non-redemption arrangements, if any, entered into prior to consummation of the Business Combination if any, negotiated by the Effective Date. Pursuant to the Sponsor Side Letter, the Sponsor also agreed to (1) certain transfer restrictions with respect to our securities, lock-up restrictions (terminating upon the earlier of: (A) 360 days after the Closing Date, (B) a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of New PubCo’s stockholders having the right to exchange their equity for cash, securities or other property or (C) subsequent to the Closing Date, the closing price of the New Pubco Common Shares equaling or exceeding $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Closing) and (2) to vote any FIAC shares held by it in favor of the Business Combination Agreement, the arrangement resolution and the Proposed Transactions, and provided customary representations and warranties and covenants related to the foregoing.
Company Support & Lock-up Agreement
In connection with signing the Business Combination Agreement, Devvstream, FIAC and the Core Company Securityholders entered into the Company Support Agreements, dated September 12, 2023, pursuant to which (i) each of the Core Company Securityholders agreed to vote any Company Shares held by him, her or it in favor of the Business Combination Agreement, the arrangement resolution and the Proposed Transactions, and provided customary representations and warranties and covenants related to the foregoing, and (ii) each of the Core Company Securityholders has agreed to certain transfer restrictions with respect to DevvStream securities prior to the Effective Time and lock-up restrictions with respect to the New PubCo Common Shares to be received by such Core Company Securityholder under the Business Combination Agreement, which lock-up restrictions are consistent with those agreed to by the Sponsor in the Sponsor Side Letter.
Financial and Capital Market Advisors
The Company has engaged J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC, acting through its Cohen & Company Capital Markets division (“CCM”), to act as its (i) its financial advisor and capital markets advisor in connection with the Business Combination and (ii) its placement agent in connection with a private placement of debt, equity, equity-linked or convertible securities (the “Securities”) or other capital or debt raising transaction in connection with the Business Combination (the “Offering”, and, together with the Business Combination, each a “Transaction” and collectively the “Transactions”).
The Company will pay CCM the sum of (i) an advisory fee in an amount equal to $2,500,000 simultaneously with the closing of the Business Combination (the “Advisory Fee”) plus (ii) a transaction fee in connection with the Offering of an amount equal to 4.0% of the sum of (A) the gross proceeds raised from investors and received by Company or DevvStream simultaneously with or before the closing of the Offering and (B) the proceeds released from the Trust Account in connection with the Business Combination with respect to any stockholder of the Company that (x) entered into a non-redemption or other similar agreement or (y) did not redeem the Company’s common stock, in each instance to the extent such stockholder was identified to the Company by CCM (collectively, the “Offering Fee” and together with the Advisory Fee, the “Transaction Fee”); provided, however, CCM shall receive no fee for any gross proceeds received from, or non-redemptions obtained from any investors holding capital stock of DevvStream (other than any investor who acquired their capital stock of DevvStream in open market activities). The Transaction Fee shall be payable to CCM simultaneously with the closing of the Transaction. In addition, the Company may, in its sole discretion, pay to CCM a discretionary fee in an amount up to $500,000 (the “Discretionary Fee”), simultaneously with the closing of the Business Combination, if the Company determines in its discretion and reasonable judgment that the performance of CCM in connection with its leadership role in connection with the Transaction warrants such additional fee, taking into account, without limitation, (a) timing of the Transaction, (b) quality and delivery of services and advice hereunder, and (c) overall valuation attributable to the Transaction. No Advisory Fee, Offering Fee or Discretionary Fee shall be due to CCM if the Company does not complete the Business Combination.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Going Concern
In connection with our assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management believes that the funds which we have available following the completion of the Initial Public Offering may not enable it to sustain operations for a period of at least one-year from the issuance date of this financial statement. Based on the foregoing, management believes that we may not have sufficient working capital to meet its needs through the earlier of the consummation of an Initial Business Combination or one year from this filing. Over this time period, the Company will be using these funds for paying existing accounts payable, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Initial Business Combination.
In connection with the Company’s assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with FASB’s Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, “Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” management has determined that the mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution, should we be unable to complete an Initial Business Combination, raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We have until May 1, 2024, which can be extended to November 1, 2024 (with required funding of the Trust Account) to consummate a business combination. It is uncertain that we will be able to consummate an Initial Business Combination by this time. If an Initial Business Combination is not consummated by this date, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution. No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after May 1, 2024, which can be extended to November 1, 2024 (with required funding of the Trust Account).
Risks and Uncertainties
Our results of operations and ability to complete an Initial Business Combination may be adversely affected by various factors that could cause economic uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets, many of which are beyond our control. Our business could be impacted by, among other things, downturns in the financial markets or in economic conditions, increases in oil prices, inflation, increases in interest rates, supply chain disruptions, declines in consumer confidence and spending and geopolitical instability, such as the military conflict in the Ukraine. We cannot at this time fully predict the likelihood of one or more of the above events, their duration or magnitude or the extent to which they may negatively impact our business and our ability to complete an Initial Business Combination.
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IR Act”)
On August 16, 2022, the IR Act was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. However, for purposes of calculating the excise tax, repurchasing corporations are permitted to net the fair market value of certain new stock issuances against the fair market value of stock repurchases during the same taxable year. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. The Treasury has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the excise tax.
On December 27, 2022, the Treasury published Notice 2023-2, which provided clarification on some aspects of the application of the excise tax. The notice generally provides that if a publicly traded U.S. corporation completely liquidates and dissolves, distributions in such complete liquidation and other distributions by such corporation in the same taxable year in which the final distribution in complete liquidation and dissolution is made are not subject to the excise tax. Although such notice clarifies certain aspects of the excise tax, the interpretation and operation of aspects of the excise tax (including its application and operation with respect to SPACs) remain unclear and such interim operating rules are subject to change.
Because the application of this excise tax is not entirely clear, any redemption or other repurchase effected by the Company, in connection with an Initial Business Combination, extension vote or otherwise, may be subject to this excise tax. Because any such excise tax would be payable by the Company and not by the redeeming holders, it could cause a reduction in the value of the Company’s Class A common stock, cash available with which to effectuate an Initial Business Combination or cash available for distribution in a subsequent liquidation. Whether and to what extent the Company would be subject to the excise tax in connection with a business combination will depend on a number of factors, including (i) the structure of the business combination, (ii) the fair market value of the redemptions and repurchases in connection with the business combination, (iii) the nature and amount of any “PIPE” or other equity issuances in connection with the business combination (or any other equity issuances within the same taxable year of the business combination) and (iv) the content of any subsequent regulations, clarifications, and other guidance issued by the Treasury. Further, the application of the excise tax in respect of distributions pursuant to a liquidation of a publicly traded U.S. corporation is uncertain and has not been addressed by the Treasury in regulations, and it is possible that the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be used to pay any excise tax owed by the Company in the event the Company is unable to complete a business combination in the required time and redeem 100% of the remaining Class A common stock in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, in which case the amount that would otherwise be received by the public stockholders in connection with the Company’s liquidation would be reduced.
Results of Operations
As of December 31, 2023, we have not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from February 23, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2023 relates to our formation and the Initial Public Offering, and since the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the search for a prospective Initial Business Combination. We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. We will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our Initial Business Combination, at the earliest. We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering. We expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we had net income of $23,947 resulting from the change in fair value of warrants of $681,000, warrant transaction costs of $309,534, interest income from operating account of $14,786 and trust earnings of $5,350,288, partially offset by provision for income taxes of $1,111,731 and operating costs of $5,219,930.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had net income of $11,635,200 resulting from the change in fair value of warrants of $10,669,000, interest income from operating account of $7,413 and trust earnings of $3,433,975, partially offset by provision for income taxes of $645,442 and operating costs of $1,829,746.
Contractual Obligations
We do not have any long-term debt obligations, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations or long-term liabilities.
Administrative Services Agreement
We agreed to pay the Sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support provided to us. Upon completion of the Initial Business Combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
Registration and Stockholder Rights
The holders of the founder shares, Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and upon conversion of the founder shares) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights and stockholder agreement to be signed prior to the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, requiring us to register such securities for resale (in the case of the founder shares, only after conversion to the Class A common stock). The holders of the majority of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the Initial Business Combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
Underwriter Agreement
The underwriters were entitled to a deferred underwriting fee of approximately $0.376 per unit sold in the Initial Public Offering, or $8,650,000 in the aggregate (including the commission related to the underwriters’ exercise of the over-allotment option) upon the completion of the Company’s Initial Business Combination. In the third quarter 2023, the underwriters waived any right to receive the deferred underwriting fee and will therefore receive no additional underwriting fee in connection with the Closing of the Business Combination. As a result, the Company recognized $309,534 of income and $8,340,466 was recorded to accumulated deficit in relation to the reduction of the deferred underwriting fee. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the deferred underwriting fee is $0 and $8,650,000, respectively.
To account for the waiver of the deferred underwriting fee, the Company analogized to the SEC staff’s guidance on accounting for reducing a liability for “trailing fees”. Upon the waiver of the deferred underwriter fee, the Company reduced the deferred underwriting fee liability to $0 and reversed the previously recorded cost of issuing the instruments in the Initial Public Offering, which included recognizing a contra-expense of $309,534, which is the amount previously allocated to liability classified warrants and expensed upon the Initial Public Offering, and reduced the accumulated deficit and increased income available to Class B common stock by $8,650,000, which was previously allocated to the Class A common stock subject to redemption and accretion recognized at the Initial Public Offering date.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Warrants
We account for the warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering and Private Placement in accordance with the guidance contained in FASB ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” whereby under that provision the warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as a liability. Accordingly, we classified the warrant instrument as a liability at fair value and will adjust the instrument to fair value at each reporting period. This liability will be re-measured at each balance sheet date until the warrants are exercised or expire, and any change in fair value will be recognized in our statement of operations. The fair value of warrants was estimated using an internal valuation model. Our valuation model utilized inputs such as assumed share prices, volatility, discount factors and other assumptions and may not be reflective of the price at which they can be settled. Such warrant classification is also subject to re-evaluation at each reporting period.
Inflation
We do not believe that inflation had a material impact on our business, revenues or operating results during the period presented.
Emerging Growth Company Status
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and it may 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 independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this item.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
This information appears following Item 15 of this Report and is included herein by reference.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal period ended December 31, 2023, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that during the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the inadequate controls around account reconciliations and controls for the withdrawal of funds from the Trust Account. A material weakness, as defined in the SEC regulations, is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. In light of this material weaknesses, we performed additional analysis as deemed necessary to ensure that our financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Management plans to remediate the material weakness by enhancing our control process around the withdrawals of funds from the Trust Account. The elements of our remediation plan can only be accomplished over time, and these initiatives may not ultimately have the intended effects.
Management’s Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
As required by SEC rules and regulations implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
(1)
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of our company,
(2)
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and
(3)
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect errors or misstatements in our financial statements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2023. In making these assessments, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessments and those criteria, management determined that we did not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023.
This Report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm due to our status as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
During the year ended December 31, 2023, none of our directors or executive officers adopted or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of our securities to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) or any “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as such term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Officers and Directors
Our officers and directors are as follows:
Name
Age
Position
Carl Stanton
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Ernest Lyles
Chief Financial Officer
Wray Thorn
Chief Investment Officer
Howard Sanders
Lead Director
Troy Carter
Director
Dawanna Williams
Director
Dia Simms
Director
Carl M. Stanton, Chief Executive Officer and Director. Carl is a Partner and Co-Founder of Focus Impact Partners, LLC and currently serves as our Chief Executive Officer and director and as the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: BHAC). Carl brings nearly three decades of experience in leading companies across transformative Private Equity/Alternative Asset management with a proven track record in creating shareholder value. Carl has unique knowledge and skills across all facets of Asset Management. He is a team builder and has managed and co-led two Alternative Asset Management firms totaling over $4.5 billion AUM, and has delivered best-in-class investment performance results along with colleagues over multiple funds. He has advised CEOs, CFOs, and boards of directors of multiple companies and spread managerial, financial, and strategic best practices with demonstrated expertise in value creation strategies including revenue growth strategies, industry transformation, cost control, supply chain management, and technology best practices. Carl has also served as Board Member to more than 15 portfolio companies across Industrial Products & Services, Transportation & Logistics and Consumer industries; including his current role as a Board Member of Skipper Pets, Inc.
Carl is former Managing Partner and Head of Private Equity for Invesco Private Capital, a division of Invesco, Ltd. (NYSE: IVZ), which managed private investment vehicles across private equity, venture capital, and real estate. At Invesco Private Capital, Carl was responsible for overseeing multiple alternative asset investment Funds and served as Chair of Investment Committee for domestic PE efforts. Prior to Invesco, Carl served as Managing Partner and co-owner at Wellspring Capital Management LLC, a private equity investment firm focused on control investments in growing companies in the industrial products & services, healthcare and consumer industries. He oversaw and approved all investments as a member of the Investment Committee. At the time of his retirement in 2015, the firm had invested more than $2.5 billion in 35 platform companies and achieved top-tier investment results.
Currently, Carl serves as the Founder of cbGrowth Partners, which focuses on sustainable investments, and serves as Advisor to Auldbrass Partners. Previously, Carl worked at Dimeling, Schreiber & Park, Peter J Solomon & Co, Associates, and Ernst & Young Corporate Finance LLC. Mr. Stanton holds a BS degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama and an MBA degree from Harvard Business School. He resides in New York with his family and serves as Trustee, Treasurer and Head of Finance and Endowment Committee of Christ Church United Methodist, a nonprofit organization. He also serves as Board of Visitors at the University of Alabama, College of Commerce. We believe Carl’s significant experience of leading companies across transformative private equity and asset management and extensive experience with special purpose acquisition companies makes him well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Ernest D. Lyles II, Chief Financial Officer. Ernest serves as our Chief Financial Officer and as the Chief Financial Officer and a director of Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: BHAC). Ernest is also the Founder and a Managing Partner of The HiGro Group, a private equity firm focused on buyout investing in the lower middle market, which he founded in 2016. In addition to serving as a board member on HiGro’s portfolio companies, Ernest co-manages all aspects of the firm’s including investment activities, growth initiatives and talent development.
Prior to founding The HiGro Group, Ernest spent a decade as an investment banker with UBS Investment Bank where his tenure included advising the world’s most notable corporations and private equity firms. As the head of Technology Enabled Services banking practice, Ernest became the most senior African-American investment banker within the firm’s industry coverage groups. In addition to his over $10 billion of transaction and advisory experience, Ernest served as Head of the Diversity Task Force and Head of the Howard University recruiting team among other internal committees.
A native of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, Ernest attended public schools and earned a full merit scholarship to attend Shepherd University, where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree with concentrations in Political Science and Business Administration. Upon graduation, Ernest enrolled in the Howard University School of Law, where he also interned at both the JC Watts Companies. Ernest has held expert discussions on entrepreneurship, mentorship, private equity, impact investing and work-life balance. His speaking engagements have included companies such as Google, HEC Paris, McGuire Woods and Nomura. An avid art collector, Ernest has also been featured in publications such as “The Black Market: A Guide to Art Collecting.
Ernest currently lives in Harlem, New York, where he is actively engaged in civic and faith initiatives including Trustee to Scan Boys and Girls Harbor, Founder of The UTULIVU Alliance, Member of the Economic Club of New York, and Fellow in the Council of Urban Professionals.
Wray T. Thorn, Chief Investment Officer. Wray is a Partner and Co-Founder of Focus Impact Partners, LLC and currently serves as our Chief Investment Officer and as the Chief Investment Officer and a director of Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: BHAC). Wray is also the Founder and Chief Executive of Clear Heights Capital, a private investment firm committed to helping companies realize their growth and development objectives and a Board Member of Skipper Pets, Inc. Wray is deeply involved in building and leading businesses to source, structure, finance and make private investments as well as helping companies, organizations and executives realize their growth and development objectives. With three decades of experience as a Chief Investment Officer, investment leader and lead director, Wray has firsthand knowledge of investment firm leadership, private investing company value creation, asset allocation strategy and practice and risk management frameworks. Wray has also been at the forefront of proactive impact investing and applying data and technology to innovate private investing.
Prior to founding Focus Impact and Clear Heights, Wray was Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer-Private Investments at Two Sigma Investments. Wray architected and led the firm’s private equity (Sightway Capital), venture capital (Two Sigma Ventures) and impact (Two Sigma Impact) investment businesses as Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer of TSPI, LP and Chair & Venture Partner of TSV. Initially on behalf of private capital and expanding to include institutional investors, Wray grew the private investment businesses during his 9-year tenure to nearly $4 billion in AUM and 90 team members and was a leader in the creation of Hamilton Insurance Group and the incubation of Two Sigma’s insurance technology activities, Prior to Two Sigma, Wray was a Senior Managing Director with Marathon Asset Management, where he developed the firm’s private equity investment activities and played a role in many new business opportunities and capital formation initiatives, including the firm’s direct lending business and its participation in the US Treasury’s Legacy Securities Public-Private Investment Program.. Prior to Marathon, Wray evaluated and executed management buyout transactions as a Director with Fox Paine & Co. and as a Principal at Dubilier & Co. Wray began his career in the financial analyst program at Chemical Bank (today, J.P. Morgan) as an Associate in the Acquisition Finance Group.
Wray has been involved in approximately 300 transactions, add-on acquisitions, realizations, corporate financings, fundraisings and other principal transactions with aggregate consideration in excess of $32 billion, including direct private equity, venture and third-party managed fund investments representing more than $3 billion in invested capital. Wray has been a part of driving shareholder value creation and corporate growth as member of boards, advisory boards and committees or as an adviser for more than 45 companies and investment funds, across industries including technology, financial services, education, consumer services and real assets. Working with both private capital organizations and institutional investors, Wray has architected and led multiple private investment businesses, defining investment objectives, devising strategy, recruiting team members, setting culture, developing investor and financing relationships, and managing investment processes and decisions.
Wray is committed to giving back to the community, serving as Co-Chair of the Board of Youth, INC, as Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Investment Committee for Futures and Options, as a grant monitor and event committee chair for Hour Children, and as an Associate of the Harvard College Fund. In his 15+ years working with Youth, INC, a venture philanthropy nonprofit organization in New York City, Wray has engaged in many aspects of the organization’s growth and development including recruiting senior leadership, leading strategic planning initiatives, chairing the governance and compensation committees and being a part of raising more than $100 million to impact the lives of NYC youth by empowering more than 175 grass-roots non-profits that serve them. Wray earned an A.B. from Harvard University.
Howard L. Sanders, Lead Director. Howard Sanders serves as our lead director and is the managing member of Auldbrass Partners, a growth-focused private equity firm investing primarily in secondaries transactions, which he founded in 2011. Mr. Sanders heads Auldbrass Partners’ transactional sourcing, deal execution, investment strategy and business development. Mr. Sanders has led successful Auldbrass Partners investments in SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), tech-enabled manufacturing and services, healthcare and EdTech companies. Before founding Auldbrass Partners, Mr. Sanders was a Managing Director at Citigroup where he was responsible for managing and directing Citi Holdings’ proprietary investments in private equity, hedge funds and real estate. Prior to Citi, Mr. Sanders was a Vice President in mergers and acquisitions for Deutsche Bank (a successor to James D. Wolfensohn and Co.). Mr. Sanders also previously served as an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School.
Mr. Sanders is currently a board member of the Partnership for New York City Foundation, the Riverside Church in the City of New York and the Undergraduate Executive Board of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Sanders holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. We believe that Mr. Sanders’ significant experience in investment management leadership, company and private equity fund evaluation and analysis and investment banking leadership make him well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Troy Carter, Independent Director. Troy serves as our independent director and is the founder and CEO of Q&A, a music technology company focused on building software solutions for recording artists via distribution and analytics. Troy currently serves as a director of Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition corporation (Nasdaq: BHAC). He also serves as an advisor to the NBA Players Association. He previously served as an advisor to the Prince Estate. Prior to founding Q&A, Troy was Global Head of Creator Services at Spotify from 2016 to 2018 and then served in a consulting role for CEO Daniel Ek until 2019. Troy serves on the boards of WeTransfer and SoundCloud, and served as an advisor to Lyft. He is also an active early stage investor, including in companies such as Uber, Lyft, Dropbox, Spotify, Slack, Warby Parker, Gimlet Media, and Thrive Market. Troy previously founded the entertainment company, Atom Factory, in 2008, where he worked with Lady Gaga, John Legend and Meghan Trainor.
Troy is an executive member on the boards of trustees at The Aspen Institute and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as well as a Henry Crown Fellow. In addition, he is a member of the United Nations Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council. Troy also has served on the boards of directors of the Los Angeles Mayor’s Council for Technology & Innovation and CalArts. Troy has previously been included on Fast Company’s list of most creative people and on Billboard’s Power 100 list, an annual ranking the music industry’s top influencers. We believe Troy’s significant business experience in various technology companies and his experience serving on the boards of technology companies makes him well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Dawanna Williams, Independent Director. Ms. Williams serves as our independent director and as the managing principal at Dabar Development Partners, which Ms. Williams founded over 15 years ago. Dabar has developed over 3,000 apartments units covering more than 2 million square feet of mixed-use developments and has had principal involvement in development projects awarded by NYC’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, NYC’s Economic Development Corporation, and New York City’s Housing Authority. As managing principal, Ms. Williams is involved in all executive aspects of business operations, from developing strategic priorities to executing development projects to risk management to establishing firm values and standards. Prior to Dabar, Ms. Williams served as General Counsel at Victory Education Partners and as a senior associate in the commercial real estate group at Sidley Austin LLP.
Ms. Williams serves on the board of directors of ACRES Commercial Realty Corp. (NYSE: ACR) is a real estate investment trust that is primarily focused on originating, holding and managing commercial real estate (“CRE”) mortgage loans and other commercial real estate-related debt investments, Compass, Inc., (NYSE: COMP), a publicly-traded, technology-enabled residential real estate brokerage company and Ares Industrial Real Estate Income Trust Inc., a real estate investment trust. Ms. Williams also serves on the board of directors of the Apollo Theater, chairing the real estate committee, and on the board of directors for the New York City Trust for Cultural Resources. Ms. Williams also serves on the board of directors of the New York Real Estate Chamber. Ms. Williams earned an A.B. from Smith College in economics and government, a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Maryland School of Law. We believe that Ms. Williams’ experience in investment management, her background in transaction law and corporate governance and her public company board experience make her well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Dia Simms, Independent Director. Dia serves as our independent director and as the Executive Chairwoman of the Board of Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal, an award-winning, independent spirits brand that launched in November 2020. Before being appointed Executive Chairwoman, Dia led Lobos 1707 as its CEO, alongside Founder and Chief Creative Officer Diego Osorio with early backing by sports and cultural icon, LeBron James. Dia currently serves as a director of Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company, a special purpose acquisition corporation, (Nasdaq: BHAC). Dia is also Co-Founder of Pronghorn, a 10-year initiative to drive diversity, equity and inclusion in the spirits industry. Dia spent almost fifteen years working alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs at Combs Enterprises. In 2017, Dia was named President of Combs Enterprises, making her the first president in the company’s thirty-year history other than Sean Combs himself. In her role as President, she oversaw multi-billion-dollar brands under the Combs empire, including CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka, Blue Flame Agency, AQUAhydrate, Bad Boy Entertainment, Sean John and Revolt TV. Of note, Dia led the transformation of CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka from infancy to a multibillion dollar value brand.
Along with a lengthy list of accolades, Dia is Board Chair of Pronghorn, Board Vice Chair of Saint Liberty Whiskey, Advisor to Touch Capital and director on the FIAC Board. Dia holds a B.S. degree in Psychology from Morgan State University and a Master’s degree in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. We believe Dia’s significant business experience as a CEO and significant deal-making experience make her well qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors.
Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
We have five directors at the time of this Report. Our board of directors are divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a three-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Troy Carter, will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Howard Sanders and Carl Stanton, will expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Dawanna Williams and Dia Simms, will expire at the third annual meeting of stockholders. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after we consummate our initial business combination.
Prior to the completion of an initial business combination, any vacancy on the board of directors may be filled by a nominee chosen by holders of a majority of our founder shares. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our founder shares may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason.
Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in our initial public offering, our sponsor, upon consummation of an initial business combination will be entitled to nominate three individuals for election to our board of directors.
Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our officers may consist of a Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Director Independence
Nasdaq listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person that, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). Our board of directors has determined that Troy Carter, Dia Simms and Dawanna Williams are “independent directors” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Officer and Director Compensation
None of our officers or directors has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Commencing on the date that the Company’s securities were first listed on Nasdaq the Company began to reimburse an affiliate of the sponsor for office space, administrative and support services provided to the Company in the amount of $10,000 per month. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. No compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid to our sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. All of these fees will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.
We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after our initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has two standing committees: an audit committee and a compensation committee. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of Nasdaq and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and the rules of Nasdaq require that the nominating and compensation committees of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors. Subject to phase-in rules and a limited exception, the rules of Nasdaq require that the compensation committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors.
Audit Committee
We have established an audit committee of the board of directors. Troy Carter, Dia Simms and Dawanna Williams serve as members of our audit committee, and Dawanna Williams serves as chairman of the audit committee. Under Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, all the directors on the audit committee must be independent. Our board of directors has determined that each of Troy Carter, Dia Simms and Dawanna Williams are independent.
Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Dawanna Williams qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules, and chairs the audit committee.
We have adopted an audit committee charter, which details the principal functions of the audit committee, including:
•
the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm and any other independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us;
•
pre-approving all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm or any other registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures;
•
reviewing and discussing with the independent registered public accounting firm all relationships they have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence;
•
setting clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm;
•
setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
Compensation Committee
We have established a compensation committee of the board of directors. The members of our compensation committee are Troy Carter, Dia Simms and Dawanna Williams, and Troy Carter serves as chairman of the compensation committee. Under Nasdaq listing standards, we are required to have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. Our board of directors has determined that each of Troy Carter, Dia Simms and Dawanna Williams are independent.
We have adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:
•
reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Executive Officers’ compensation, evaluating our Executive Officers’ performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Executive Officers based on such evaluation;
•
reviewing and approving on an annual basis the compensation of all of our other officers;
•
reviewing on an annual basis our executive compensation policies and plans;
•
implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated above, other than the $10,000 per month administrative fee payable to an affiliate of our sponsor and reimbursement of expenses, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our initial stockholders, officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate the consummation of a business combination.
Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of an initial business combination, the compensation committee will only be responsible for the review and recommendation of any compensation arrangements to be entered into in connection with such initial business combination.
The charter will also provide that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such advisor. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other advisor, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such advisor, including the factors required by Nasdaq and the SEC.
Director Nominations
We do not have a standing nominating committee. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(2) of the Nasdaq rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by the board of directors.
The board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.
The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our shareholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of shareholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of shareholders). Our shareholders that wish to nominate a director for election to the board of directors should follow the procedures set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws.
We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more officers serving on our board of directors.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. A copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Conflicts of Interest
Each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present business combination opportunities to such entity. Accordingly, in the future, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. We do not believe, however, that any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers arising in the future would materially undermine our ability to complete our business combination.
Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
•
None of our officers or directors is required to commit his or her full time to our affairs and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating his or her time among various business activities.
•
In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our management may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
•
Our initial stockholders have agreed (i) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) that would modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide holders of shares of Class A common stock the right to have their shares redeemed in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination by the Termination Date or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A commons stock and (ii) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares they hold if we fail to consummate an initial business combination by the Termination Date (although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame). If we do not complete our initial business combination within such applicable time period, the proceeds of the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, and the private placement warrants will expire worthless. With certain limited exceptions, the founder shares will not be transferable, assignable by our sponsor until the earlier of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination; or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the closing price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property. With certain limited exceptions, the private placement warrants and the Class A common stock underlying such warrants, will not be transferable, assignable or saleable by our sponsor or its permitted transferees until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Since our sponsor and officers and directors may directly or indirectly own common stock and warrants following our initial public offering, our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination.
•
Our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
•
Our sponsor, officers or directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a business combination and financing arrangements as we may obtain loans from our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or any of our officers or directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
The conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
•
the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
•
the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and
•
it would not be fair to our company and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation.
Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities.
Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our executive officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations:
Individual
Entity
Entity’s Business
Affiliation
Carl Stanton
Westwood Estate Wines
Food and Beverage
Managing Partner
cbGrowth Partners
Investments
Founder
Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company
Blank Check Company
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Skipper Pets, Inc.
Consumer and Pet Services
Director
Ernest Lyles
The HiGro Group
Private Equity
Founder and Managing Partner
Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company
Blank Check Company
Chief Financial Officer and Director
Wray Thorn
Clear Heights Capital
Private Equity and Venture Capital
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Youth, Inc.
Nonprofit Organization
Co-Chair of Board of Directors
Futures and Options
Nonprofit Organization
Director and Chair of Investment Committee of Board
Sailfish Productions
Entertainment and Media
General Manager
Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company
Blank Check Company
Chief Investment Officer and Director
Skipper Pets, Inc.
Consumer and Pet Services
Director
Howard Sanders
Auldbrass Partners L.P.
Private Equity
Founder and Managing Member
Troy Carter
Q&A
Technology and Multimedia
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
The Aspen Institute
Nonprofit Organization
Executive Member on the Board of Trustees
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Museum
Executive Member on the Board of Trustees
Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company
Blank Check Company
Director
Dawanna Williams
Dabar Development Partners
Real Estate
Managing Principal
ACRES Commercial Realty Corp.
Real Estate
Director
Ares Industrial Real Estate Income Trust Inc.
Real Estate
Director
Compass, Inc.
Real Estate
Director
Dia Simms
Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal
Food and Beverages
Chief Executive Officer
Tilt Holdings Inc.
Cannabis-Focused Holding Company
Director
Focus Impact BH3 Acquisition Company
Blank Check Company
Director
Accordingly, if any of the above executive officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for any of the above entities to which he or she has current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity. We do not believe, however, that any of the foregoing fiduciary duties or contractual obligations will materially affect our ability to complete our business combination. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with or related to Auldbrass Partners, our sponsor, officers, directors or members of our advisory board. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with or related to any of Auldbrass Partners, our sponsor, officers, directors or members of our advisory board, we, or a committee of independent and disinterested directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. We are not required to obtain such an opinion in any other context.
We have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor. In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our initial stockholders have agreed to vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after the offering in favor of our initial business combination and our officers and directors have also agreed to vote any public shares purchased during or after the offering in favor of our initial business combination.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors.
We have entered into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our bylaws also permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We have purchased 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.
These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following disclosure concerns the compensation of our executive officers and directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
None of our officers or directors received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Commencing on the date that the Company’s securities were first listed on Nasdaq the Company began to reimburse an affiliate of the sponsor for office space, administrative and support services provided to the Company in the amount of $10,000 per month. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees. No compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid to our sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee has and will continue to review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. All of these fees will be fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.
We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after our initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our shares of common stock as of the date of this Report based on information obtained from the persons named below, with respect to the beneficial ownership of our shares of common stock, by:
•
each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;
•
each of our executive officers and directors that beneficially owns our shares of common stock; and
•
all our executive officers and directors as a group.
In the table below, the percentage ownership is based on 6,717,578 shares of Class A common stock (which includes Class A common stock that are underlying the units) and 750,000 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding as of as of the date of this Report. Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the private placement warrants as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this Report.
Class B common stock
Class A common stock
Name of Beneficial Owners(1)
Number of Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)
Approximate
Percentage
of Class
Number of Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)
Approximate
Percentage of
Class
Approximate
Percentage of
Common
Stock
Five Percent Holders
Focus Impact Sponsor, LLC(3) (our sponsor)
750,000
%
5,000,000
74.4
%
77.0
%
Directors and Executive Officers
Carl Stanton(4)
-
-
-
-
-
Ernest Lyles(4)
-
-
-
-
Howard Sanders(4)
-
-
-
-
-
Troy Carter(4)
-
-
-
-
-
Dawanna Williams(4)
-
-
-
-
-
Wray Thorn(4)
-
-
-
-
Dia Simms(4)
-
-
-
-
-
All officers and directors as a group (seven individuals)
-
-
-
-
-
* Less than one percent.
(1)
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 10105.
(2)
Interests shown consist of 5,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and 750,000 shares of Class B common stock. Such shares of Class B common stock are convertible into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment, as more fully described under the heading “Description of Securities-Founder Shares” of our final prospectus (File No. 333-255448), filed in connection with our initial public offering.
(3)
Our sponsor is governed by a four-member board of managers composed of Carl Stanton, Ernest Lyles, Howard Sanders and Wray Thorn. Each manager has one vote, and the approval of a majority of the managers is required to approve an action of our sponsor. Under the so-called “rule of three,” if voting and dispositive decisions regarding an entity’s securities are made by three or more individuals, and a voting and dispositive decision requires the approval of a majority of those individuals, then none of the individuals is deemed a beneficial owner of the entity’s securities. This is the situation with regard to our sponsor. Based upon the foregoing analysis, no individual manager of our sponsor exercises voting or dispositive control over any of the securities held by our sponsor, even those in which such manager directly holds a pecuniary interest. Accordingly, none of them will be deemed to have or share beneficial ownership of such shares. Carl Stanton, Ernest Lyles, Howard Sanders and Wray Thorn, individually and together with their controlled affiliates, collectively, have contributed approximately 40% of the capital in the sponsor.
(4)
Does not include any shares indirectly owned by this individual as a result of his membership interest in our sponsor.
Our sponsor, officers and directors are deemed to be our “promoter” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws.
Changes in Control
None.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
In March 2021, we issued 7,187,500 founder shares to our sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 in cash, or approximately $0.003 per share. The number of founder shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such founder shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares upon completion of our initial public offering. In October 2021, our sponsor surrendered 1,437,500 founder shares resulting in our sponsor holding 5,750,000 founder shares. The founder shares (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder.
Our sponsor has, pursuant to a written agreement, purchased 11,200,000 private placement warrants for a purchase price of $1.00 per warrant in a private placement that occurred simultaneously with our initial public offering. As such, our sponsor’s interest in this transaction is valued at $11,200,000. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at $11.50 per share. The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder.
As more fully discussed in the section of this Report entitled “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance - Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has then-current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such opportunity to such entity. Our officers and directors currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.
Commencing on the date that the Company’s securities were first listed on Nasdaq the Company began to reimburse an affiliate of the sponsor for office space, administrative and support services provided to the Company in the amount of $10,000 per month. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.
No compensation of any kind, including finder’s and consulting fees, will be paid to our sponsor, officers and directors or any of their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the completion of an initial business combination. However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
Prior to the closing of our initial public offering, our sponsor agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of our initial public offering. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of December 31, 2021 or the closing of our initial public offering. The loan was repaid upon the closing of our initial public offering out of the offering proceeds not held in the trust account.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required.
In connection with the approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal, on May 9, 2023, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note in the total principal amount of up to $1,500,000 to the sponsor and the sponsor funded deposits into the trust account. The Promissory Note does not bear interest and matures upon closing of the Company’s initial Business Combination. In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination, the Promissory Note will be repaid only from amounts remaining outside of the trust account, if any. Up to the total principal amount of the Promissory Note may be converted, in whole or in part, at the option of the Lender into warrants of the Company at a price of $1.00 per warrant, which warrants will be identical to the private placement warrants issued to the sponsor at the time of the Company’s initial public offering. As of December 31, 2023, an aggregate of $1,500,000 has been drawn under the Promissory Note.
In connection with the extension of the Termination Date, on December 1, 2023, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note in the total principal amount of up to $1,500,000 to the sponsor and the sponsor funded deposits into the trust account. The Second Promissory Note does not bear interest and matures upon closing of the Company’s initial Business Combination. In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination, the Second Promissory Note will be repaid only from amounts remaining outside of the trust account, if any. As of December 31, 2023, an aggregate of $375,000 has been drawn under the Second Promissory Note.
After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to our stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation.
We have entered into a registration rights and stockholder rights agreement pursuant to which our sponsor will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to the private placement warrants, the warrants issuable upon conversion of working capital loans (if any) and the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the foregoing and upon conversion of the founder shares, and, upon consummation of our initial business combination, to nominate three individuals for election to our board of directors, which is described under the section of the final prospectus dated October 27, 2021 entitled “Description of Securities - Registration and Stockholder Rights.”
Related Party Policy
We have not yet adopted a formal policy for the review, approval or ratification of related party transactions. Accordingly, the transactions discussed above were not reviewed, approved or ratified in accordance with any such policy.
We have adopted a code of ethics requiring us to avoid, wherever possible, all conflicts of interests, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by our board of directors (or the appropriate committee of our board) or as disclosed in our public filings with the SEC. Under our code of ethics, conflict of interest situations will include any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the company.
In addition, our audit committee, pursuant to a written charter that we have adopted, is responsible for reviewing and approving related party transactions to the extent that we enter into such transactions. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the audit committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present is required in order to approve a related party transaction. A majority of the members of the entire audit committee constitutes a quorum. Without a meeting, the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the audit committee is required to approve a related party transaction. We also require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.
These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with Auldbrass Partners or our sponsor, officers, directors or members of our advisory board unless a committee of independent and disinterested directors has obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. Furthermore, no finder’s fees, reimbursements or cash payments will be made to our sponsor, officers or directors, members of our advisory board or our or their affiliates, by us for services rendered to us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. However, the following payments will be made to our sponsor, officers or directors, members of our advisory board or our or their affiliates, none of which will be made from the proceeds of our initial public offering held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:
•
repayment of up to an aggregate of $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;
•
payment to an affiliate of our sponsor of $10,000 per month, until the Termination Date, for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support;
•
reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination; and
•
repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. Up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.00 per warrant at the option of the lender.
Our audit committee reviews on a quarterly basis all payments that were made by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, members of our advisory board or our or their affiliates.
Director Independence
Nasdaq listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person that, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). Our board of directors has determined that Troy Carter, Dia Simms and Dawanna Williams are “independent directors” as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following is a summary of fees paid or to be paid to Marcum LLP, or Marcum, for services rendered.
Audit Fees. Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements and services that are normally provided by Marcum in connection with regulatory filings. The aggregate fees billed by Marcum for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of the financial information included in our Forms 10-Q for the respective periods and other required filings with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 totaled $110,694 and $95,861, respectively. The above amounts include interim procedures and audit fees, as well as attendance at audit committee meetings.
Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related services consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include attest services that are not required by statute or regulation and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. We did not pay Marcum for consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Tax Fees. We did not pay Marcum for tax planning and tax advice for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
All Other Fees. The aggregate fees billed by Marcum for other professional services for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 totaled $41,200 and $0, respectively.
Pre-Approval Policy
Our audit committee was formed upon the pricing of our initial public offering. As a result, the audit committee did not pre-approve all of the foregoing services, although any services rendered prior to the formation of our audit committee were approved by our board of directors. Since the formation of our audit committee, and on a going-forward basis, the audit committee has and will pre-approve all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by our auditors, including the fees and terms thereof (subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in the Exchange Act which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit).
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Report:
(1)
Financial Statements:
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 688)
Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operation
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
to
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules:
None.
(3)
Exhibits
We hereby file as part of this Report the exhibits listed in the attached Exhibit Index. Exhibits which are incorporated herein by reference can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates or on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
Exhibit
Description
2.1
Business Combination Agreement, dated September 12, 2023, among the Registrant, Focus Impact Amalco Sub Ltd. and DevvStream Holdings Inc.(1)
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.(2)
3.2
Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Extension Amendment).(3)
3.3
Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Redemption Limitation Amendment).(3)
3.4
Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Extension Amendment).(4)
3.5
Amended and Restated Bylaws.(5)
4.1
Warrant Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Company.(2)
4.2
Description of Company’s Securities.*
10.1
Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement between the Company and the Sponsor.(2)
10.2
Investment Management Trust Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Company.(2)
10.3
Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement among Company and the Sponsor and certain other equityholders named therein.(2)
10.4
Letter Agreement between the Company, the Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors. (2)
10.5
Administrative Services Agreement between the Registrant and the Sponsor.(2)
10.6
Promissory Note, dated May 9, 2023, between the Registrant and the Sponsor.(6)
10.7
Promissory Note, dated December 1, 2023, between the Registrant and the Sponsor.(7)
10.8
Sponsor Side Letter, dated September 12, 2023, between the Registrant and the Sponsor.(1)
10.9
Form of Company Support & Lock-up Agreement, dated September 12, 2023, among the Registrant, DevvStream Holdings Inc. and other parties thereto.(1)
10.10
Form of Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement.(1)
21.1
List of Subsidiaries.*
31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).*
31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).*
32.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350**
32.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350**
97.1
Clawback Policy.*
101.INS
iXBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
Exhibit
Description
101.CAL
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
Cover Page Interactive Data File embedded within the iXBRL document and contained in Exhibit 101
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith
(1)
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 13, 2023.
(2)
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 1, 2021.
(3)
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 27, 2023.
(4)
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 5, 2024.
(5)
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on June 3, 2021.
(6)
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2023.
(7)
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 7, 2023.